Insel Hiddensee is a long, narrow island with a west-facing beach that extends over 15 kilometers. The island is not bridged to the mainland, and cars are not allowed. Access is via passenger ferry, and most visitors get around by bicycle. The island is popular with tourists, but, since it lies within a national park, it does not have large-scale development. There are many small guesthouses and private houses to rent, and many of the island's structures are thatched-roofed cottages. There are four villages: Vitte, Kloster, Grieben and Neuendorf. Vitte, toward the northern end of the island, is the main village. (The location that Google Earth and Google Maps labels as "Insel Hiddensee" is actually Vitte.) Kloster and Grieben are a little farther north than Vitte, while Neuendorf is about 5 to 6 kilometers south of Vitte.

Nudity can be practiced just about anywhere on Hiddensee away from the main beach accesses of the villages. However, most nudists cluster toward the southern part of the island, south of Neuendorf, which is the southernmost of the villages. A popular point of FKK access is the small red and white Gellen lighthouse (not to be confused with the much larger Dornbusch lighthouse at the northern end of the island). The Gellen lighthouse is located at coordinates 54.5081, 13.0743 (Map It), about 2 kilometers south of Neuendorf. Many boats anchor near the Gellen lighthouse, and it is common to see a mix of nudists and textiles among the boats. South of the lighthouse, the beach is seemingly endless, and nudity is possible as far as you'd care to walk. The bicycle path that runs parallel to the beach continues south about 2 kilometers beyond the Gellen lighthouse, then the beach continues south over 3 kilometers beyond the end of the bicycle path.

GETTING THERE:

Ferry service is available from several towns, but the shortest route and most frequent service is from the village of Schaprode. The ferry dock in Schaprode is located at coordinates 54.5134, 13.1634 (Map It), and there are a number of large parking lots in the village. (Schaprode itself is located on the island of Rügen, but Rügen is bridged to the mainland.)

There are mutliple daily ferry departures from Scharprode. At some departure times, there is ferry service to one of three villages: Neuendorf, Vittte or Kloster. At other departure times, the same ferry stops at two villages or at all three villages. The ferry dock at Neuendorf, at coordinates 54.5242, 13.0928 (Map It), is the closest to the main FKK beach, and trips from Scharprode to Neuendorf take about 30 minutes. Round-trip fare is about €15 per person, plus an additional fee if you bring your own bicycle. Bicycles can be rented at any ferry dock on the island. If you stay overnight, your accommodations may provide you with a bicycle.

Signs along the bicycle paths indicate the directions and distances to the different villages and other landmarks. In Neuendorf, watch for signs to "Leuchtturm Gellen," which is about 1.5 to 2 kilometers south of the village. (Leuchtturm means "lighthouse.")

The ferry website is in German only. Click "Fahrplan" then "Schaprode" to view the ferry schedule to the island, then "Rückfahrten" for return service. It is possible to visit Hiddensee as a day trip, staying as long as nine hours if you arrive at and depart from Neuendorf.

tourist webites, both in German only:    seebad-hiddensee.de    hiddensee.de

more info (in German) from nacktbaden.de

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 54.5076, 13.0733

municipality, district, state, country
  Insel Hiddensee, Rügen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

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