A fine natural beach on the Baltic Sea and a coastal forest just behind the dunes give Markgrafenheide two different sides to enjoy outdoors. You can combine the beach and shallow water with walks or bike rides in the forest; nature trails and a biodiversity station offer further points of interest. For planning, then, it’s not only the time spent by the water that matters, but also which nature and walking or cycling options you’d like to include in your trip.
Beach and Dune Path on the Baltic Sea Shore
Markgrafenheide offers a fine natural beach on the Baltic Sea. At the eastern beach, Markgrafenheide Beach, a dune path runs parallel to the water’s edge. The beach and path offer two closely connected ways to spend time by the shore and include this stretch of beach in your day’s plans.
The shallow water is also suitable for children. So, if you’re travelling with people who have different interests, you’ll find a beach where time by the water can be combined with a walk along the dunes. The coastal forest of Rostock Heath lies just behind the dunes and is ideal for walking and cycling. This means the natural beach and forest offer different ways to spend the same trip: stay by the water or plan some exercise on trails through the coastal forest.
Nature Trails and the “Moor & More” Station
In Rostock Heath, behind the dunes of Markgrafenheide, there are nature trails with discovery stations where you can explore the local flora and fauna. These add a specific nature focus to the beach and forest. If you’d like to learn more about plants and animals, the trails offer a different focus from a walk along the shore.
One special station is “Moor & More” at Thalasso-Kurweg 3. It includes a balance course, information boards and rest areas, and is part of the “Biological Diversity” discovery trail, opened by the municipal forestry office in 2018. Thalasso-Kurweg 3 runs through the southern part of the “Heiligensee and Hütelmoor” nature reserve. Its route through the protected area is another way to place the trail in context. The station itself combines exercise, information and places to rest; the nature trails and discovery stations also offer opportunities to explore local flora and fauna.
Water Sports as Another Option
The water sports centre at Strandresort Markgrafenheide offers sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). This adds activities on the water to the available options alongside the beach, forest trails and nature paths. If you’d like to plan one of these sports, check the seasonal availability before your trip.
Getting There and Planning Excursions
Bus routes 17 and 18 connect Markgrafenheide with the ferry at Hohe DĂĽne; after crossing, you can reach WarnemĂĽnde. Bus route 18 also offers a direct connection from Markgrafenheide to Rostock. Check the current timetable when planning your trip, as bus services may change. This lets you decide in advance whether to focus your days mainly on the beach and Rostock Heath or also include destinations in Rostock.
Rostock as a Wider Travel Destination
Rostock is a historic Hanseatic city on the Baltic Sea with a history spanning more than 800 years, and was once an important trading centre in northern Germany. For a different focus from the beach and nature, a walking tour of the historic centre takes you past, among other places, Universitätsplatz, the Monastery of the Holy Cross and Kröpeliner Straße, as well as to Neuer Markt and St. Mary’s Church. The tour offers insights into architecture, urban development and Hanseatic traditions.
The Hanse Sail Rostock adds its own maritime touch: 200 ships take part in one edition of the event, along with cruise ships, ferries and naval vessels. The number of participating ships may vary from one edition to the next. The comparison can help with your travel planning: Markgrafenheide stands for beaches, coastal forest and nature trails, while Rostock also offers historic city attractions and a maritime event.
Discover more destinations: Güstrow, Gehlsdorf, Lütten Klein, Amt Carbäk, Bad Doberan, Satow, Kavelstorf, Amt Bützow-Land
For the wider travel overview: Rostock.
