Hohwacht – Sandy Beach and Wooded Cliffs

White sandy beaches and wooded cliffs define Hohwacht on the Baltic Sea. In between, there are plenty of ways to shape your stay: a path with views across the bay, nature trails, water sports in sheltered shallow water, or culture and history by the beach.

Beach, promenade and views across the bay

The Hohwachter Flunder is right next to the main bathing beach. The sea platform features 370 m² of oak planks and a steel pylon approximately 24 metres high; it is regarded as a striking feature of the redesigned promenade and a popular photo spot. Above the 13-metre-high cliff, the spa promenade offers a walking path that is also accessible to people with disabilities. The beach slopes gently down to the Baltic Sea.

Another viewpoint is the Hohwachter Ausguck. Reach the viewing platform via the path above the wooded cliffs behind the beach promenade; from there, you can see across the entire bay. The crane observation tower also has a special connection with nature: it is used for undisturbed crane watching and opened in November 2024.

Nature trails and different routes

The Hohwachter Bucht nature trail is a 10-kilometre circular route through the municipalities of Hohwacht and Blekendorf. You can explore it on foot or by bicycle; visitor management and informative signage are part of the route’s design. The nature and adventure trail is aimed at families, children and school classes, and provides background information about nature.

Other routes have specific starting points and destinations to help you find your way. The W2 lighthouse loop starts at the Seestraße car park and follows the promenade westwards. It then runs through the dune landscape or along the beach to Lippe Marina. Route W1 leads from Hohwacht to Weissenhaus Castle, starts at the Buchholz car park and passes, among other places, through the Sehlendorfer Binnensee nature reserve. The routes therefore differ in their described paths and destinations, without requiring you to plan for a specific walking time.

The landscape itself also offers various points of interest for nature lovers. The Kronswarder nature reserve includes spit and beach-ridge habitats between the Großer Binnensee, Hohwacht and the Baltic Sea. The combination of beach, wooded cliffs and protected landscapes adds a distinctive natural dimension to your stay alongside time at the beach.

Water sports and active holiday days

The sheltered bay of Alt-Hohwacht offers suitable conditions for trying water sports for the first time in its protected shallow-water area. The surf and sailing school in Alt-Hohwacht offers courses in all categories; the range of courses may change. SUPs and kayaks are available to rent at the pier, though availability may change. Check the current course offerings and rental availability before your visit.

Another activity is offered by the Hohwacht golf facility, with a varied 18-hole course, a compact 9-hole course and the modern “Golfodrom”. If you want to include golf in your stay, you will find three different offerings within the facility, while the beach, trails and water sports provide other holiday highlights.

Culture, history and special discoveries

In St. Jürgen Church in Hohwacht, semicircular rows of pews face the open altar area. The layout is well suited to concerts and other events. The church is also home to the votive ship “Norske Loeve”.

At the main beach, you can visit historic beach huts from the 1950s in the dunes. The Hohwachter pirate camp offers a different kind of discovery: it is home to the large shipwreck “Seetiger”, which can be reached by zip line, bridge or slide. For a festive occasion, there is the traditional Strandleuchten, which has welcomed the New Year for more than 15 years. The torchlight procession runs from Alt-Hohwacht along the cliffs and beach to the “Flunder” pier. If you plan to be there for New Year’s Eve, check the event dates.

Discover more destinations: Tröndel, Blekendorf, Behrensdorf, Panker, Grebin, Futterkamp, Hohenfelde, Schwartbuck

For the main travel overview: Lütjenburg.