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Insider tips on the Baltic SeaLauterbach on Rügen - where even a prince sought peace and quiet

Christian Tiedt

 · 27.05.2026

Insider tips on the Baltic Sea: Lauterbach on Rügen - where even a prince sought peace and quietPhoto: Adobe Stock/Legus Pic
In front on the right is the im-jaich home port of Lauterbach, next to it the town harbour. Putbus can be recognised on the left in the background.
Insider tips on the Baltic Sea: Lauterbach is located in the south-east of Rügen on the Greifswalder Bodden. Magnificent nature awaits you on the shore - but just a few kilometres inland, things get stately.
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Rügen at its best: Lauterbach is well hidden behind the island of Vilm in the Greifswald Bodden. If you don't know about this place, you'll quickly steer past it on your cruise around Germany's largest island. Not only is the marina beautifully situated, there are also several destinations for a shore leave - and they couldn't be more different.

  • Name: Lauterbach, Island of Rügen, Germany
  • Location: Greifswald Bodden, western Baltic Sea
  • Position: 54°20'31,5 "N; 013°30'21,2 "E
  • Distance from Kiel lighthouse: 135 nautical miles

Highlights: the Goor and Putbus

For those seeking harmony with nature: The "Path of Leisure and Knowledge" begins on the northern shore of the small bay opposite the harbour. It leads seekers to the Goor, a wooded area of copper beeches and English oaks, which is part of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve can be heard and roamed.

If you want something more sophisticated, you can take the road to Putbus. You rarely see so much splendour in such a small place: The palace and circus, the theatre in the old stables, the orangery, all in dazzling white, classicism par excellence. Plus the opulent park.

The residential town was founded in 1810 by Wilhelm Malte the First, Prince of Putbus, who also gave Rügen its first seaside resort. Only his castle is missing; it was blown up in 1962. However, there are plans to rebuild it.

For guest sailors: Home harbour Lauterbach

The im-jaich home harbour Lauterbach not only offers a complete service from the water tap to winter storage, but also a whole "holiday world": Boats share the jetties with pile houses and swimming houses, which can be hired. Berths up to 20 metres long and 3.50 metres deep are available for guests.

Further discoveries: the island of Vilm

Off Lauterbach lies the elongated island of Vilm, whose beech forests are among the oldest in Germany. It is a core zone of the biosphere reserve and access is severely restricted. Guided tours are offeredand you can cross over by passenger boat.

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Vilm was already a restricted area in GDR times, but for a different reason: back then, it was the visitors themselves who were to be protected from prying eyes by dense woodland. A holiday settlement was built for the comrades of the Council of Ministers. The thatched-roof houses still stand today. The Honeckers also came here to recuperate from their tireless efforts on behalf of the working class.

Further tips for the Baltic Sea

Christian Tiedt

Christian Tiedt

Editor Travel

Christian Tiedt was born in Hamburg in 1975, but grew up in the northern suburbs of the city - except for numerous visits to the harbor, North Sea and Baltic Sea, but without direct access to water sports for a long time. His first adventures then took place on dry land: With the classics from Chichester, Slocum and Co. After completing his vocational training, his studies finally gave him the opportunity (in terms of time) to get active on the water - and to obtain the relevant licenses. First with cruising and then, when he joined BOOTE in 2004, with motorboats of all kinds. In the meantime, Christian has been able to get to know almost all of Europe (and some more distant destinations) on his own keel and prefers to share his adventures and experiences as head of the travel department for YACHT and BOOTE in cruise reports.

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