{"id":73,"date":"2026-07-18T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/hiddensee-by-bike\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T07:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T06:51:26","slug":"hiddensee-by-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/hiddensee-by-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiddensee by bike: a car-free island in the Baltic Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hiddensee is a car-free island off the west coast of R\u00fcgen, about 17 kilometres long and in places only a few hundred metres wide. You arrive by ferry from Schaprode, rent a bike at the pier and cross the whole island in a day.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-display-band has-sketch alignwide wp-block-leitvia-pro-route\"><dl class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__facts\"><div><dt>Start<\/dt><dd>Schaprode<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Destination<\/dt><dd>Dornbusch lighthouse<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Stages<\/dt><dd>4<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Countries<\/dt><dd>1<\/dd><\/div><\/dl><svg class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__sketch\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 300\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Sketch of the route from Schaprode to Dornbusch lighthouse over 4 stages\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><polyline class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__trace\" points=\"260.6,272 139.4,248.8 176.4,150.1 171.4,71.6 186.5,28\" transform=\"translate(1.4 -1.1)\"\/><polyline class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__line\" points=\"260.6,272 139.4,248.8 176.4,150.1 171.4,71.6 186.5,28\"\/><g class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__points\"><circle class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__start\" cx=\"260.6\" cy=\"272\" r=\"6\"\/><circle cx=\"139.4\" cy=\"248.8\" r=\"10\"\/><text x=\"139.4\" y=\"248.8\" dy=\"0.35em\" text-anchor=\"middle\">1<\/text><circle cx=\"176.4\" cy=\"150.1\" r=\"10\"\/><text x=\"176.4\" y=\"150.1\" dy=\"0.35em\" text-anchor=\"middle\">2<\/text><circle cx=\"171.4\" cy=\"71.6\" r=\"10\"\/><text x=\"171.4\" y=\"71.6\" dy=\"0.35em\" text-anchor=\"middle\">3<\/text><circle cx=\"186.5\" cy=\"28\" r=\"10\"\/><text x=\"186.5\" y=\"28\" dy=\"0.35em\" text-anchor=\"middle\">4<\/text><\/g><\/svg><div class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__band\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Stages across Hiddensee\" tabindex=\"0\"><ol class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__stops\"><li class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__stop is-kind-ferry\"><a class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__card\" href=\"#ferry\"><span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__number\" aria-hidden=\"true\">1<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__day\">Morning<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__leg\">Schaprode<span aria-hidden=\"true\"> \u2192 <\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> to <\/span>Neuendorf<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__country\">Germany<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__kind\"><svg class=\"leitvia-icon leitvia-icon--ship\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2v2\"\/><path d=\"M12 9.189V13\"\/><path d=\"M19 12V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H7a2 2 0 00-2 2v6\"\/><path d=\"M19.38 19A11.6 11.6 0 0021 13l-8.188-3.639a2 2 0 00-1.624 0L3 13.001a11.6 11.6 0 002.81 7.76\"\/><path d=\"M2 20c.6.5 1.2 1 2.5 1 2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1s1.2 1 2.5 1c2.5 0 2.5-2 5-2 1.3 0 1.9.5 2.5 1\"\/><\/svg>Ferry<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__stop is-kind-bike\"><a class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__card\" href=\"#south\"><span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__number\" aria-hidden=\"true\">2<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__day\">Late morning<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__leg\">Neuendorf<span aria-hidden=\"true\"> \u2192 <\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> to <\/span>Vitte<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__country\">Germany<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__kind\"><svg class=\"leitvia-icon leitvia-icon--bike\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><circle cx=\"18.5\" cy=\"17.5\" r=\"3.5\"\/><circle cx=\"5.5\" cy=\"17.5\" r=\"3.5\"\/><circle cx=\"15\" cy=\"5\" r=\"1\"\/><path d=\"M12 17.5V14l-3-3 4-3 2 3h2\"\/><\/svg>Bike<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__stop is-kind-bike\"><a class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__card\" href=\"#kloster\"><span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__number\" aria-hidden=\"true\">3<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__day\">Afternoon<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__leg\">Vitte<span aria-hidden=\"true\"> \u2192 <\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> to <\/span>Kloster<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__country\">Germany<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__kind\"><svg class=\"leitvia-icon leitvia-icon--bike\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><circle cx=\"18.5\" cy=\"17.5\" r=\"3.5\"\/><circle cx=\"5.5\" cy=\"17.5\" r=\"3.5\"\/><circle cx=\"15\" cy=\"5\" r=\"1\"\/><path d=\"M12 17.5V14l-3-3 4-3 2 3h2\"\/><\/svg>Bike<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__stop is-kind-walk\"><a class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__card\" href=\"#lighthouse\"><span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__number\" aria-hidden=\"true\">4<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__day\">Evening<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__leg\">Kloster<span aria-hidden=\"true\"> \u2192 <\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> to <\/span>Dornbusch lighthouse<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__country\">Germany<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-leitvia-pro-route__kind\"><svg class=\"leitvia-icon leitvia-icon--footprints\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 16v-2.38C4 11.5 2.97 10.5 3 8c.03-2.72 1.49-6 4.5-6C9.37 2 10 3.8 10 5.5c0 3.11-2 5.66-2 8.68V16a2 2 0 1 1-4 0Z\"\/><path d=\"M20 20v-2.38c0-2.12 1.03-3.12 1-5.62-.03-2.72-1.49-6-4.5-6C14.63 6 14 7.8 14 9.5c0 3.11 2 5.66 2 8.68V20a2 2 0 1 0 4 0Z\"\/><path d=\"M16 17h4\"\/><path d=\"M4 13h4\"\/><\/svg>Walk<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ferry\">The ferry from Schaprode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schaprode is a small harbour on the west coast of R\u00fcgen with a large car park, because this is where the cars stay. Ferries cross to the three harbours of Hiddensee: Neuendorf in the south, Vitte in the middle and Kloster in the north. I took the first one to Neuendorf to ride the island from south to north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"south\">Neuendorf to Vitte through the heath<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neuendorf is a row of low white houses along the water, with no fences between them. From there a concrete track runs north through the heath of the D\u00fcnenheide, where the island is so narrow that you see water on both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-surface-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-38648931 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--l);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--l)\">\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-tip is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-41372710 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex is-style-tip--1\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border wp-container-content-ff97b86b\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-tilda-portrait.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"has-border-color\" style=\"border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent);border-width:0.1875rem;border-radius:var(--wp--preset--border-radius--pill);aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:6rem;height:6rem\"\/><\/figure>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b6bdf96d wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-015e8dcd wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-icon\"><svg style=\"color:var(--wp--preset--color--accent);width:1rem;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"has-text-color has-accent-color\" focusable=\"false\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n\t<path d=\"M2 9.5a5.5 5.5 0 0 1 9.591-3.676.56.56 0 0 0 .818 0A5.49 5.49 0 0 1 22 9.5c0 2.29-1.5 4-3 5.5l-5.492 5.313a2 2 0 0 1-3 .019L5 15c-1.5-1.5-3-3.2-3-5.5\" \/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"has-accent-color has-text-color has-heading-font-family has-body-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:italic\">My tip<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rent the bike at the pier where you arrive and return it in another village. Most rental shops on the island take bikes back in all three harbours.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"has-heading-font-family wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:italic\">Tilda Brennick<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kloster\">Kloster and the Hauptmann house<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kloster is the northern village, at the foot of the hills. The writer Gerhart Hauptmann spent his summers here and is buried in the churchyard; his house is a museum with the rooms as he left them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike.webp\" alt=\"Illustration of a bicycle on a sandy track through dunes with seagrass, the sea and a distant lighthouse behind.\" class=\"wp-image-60\" srcset=\"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike.webp 1600w, https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/ferrylight-dune-bike-600x338.webp 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The track through the dunes, with the lighthouse far ahead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lighthouse\">Up to the Dornbusch lighthouse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last part goes on foot. A path climbs from Kloster through the Dornbusch hills to the lighthouse, which has stood on the highest point of the island since 1888. In summer you can climb to the gallery and see R\u00fcgen, the mainland and, on a clear day, the Danish island of M\u00f8n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last ferry back to Schaprode leaves in the early evening. Check the time at the pier in the morning, because there is no other way off the island.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A day on Hiddensee without a car: the ferry from Schaprode, a bike from Neuendorf to Kloster, the Dornbusch lighthouse and the house of Gerhart Hauptmann.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baltic","category-by-ferry"],"leitvia_pattern_status":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73\/revisions\/111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.leitvia.com\/travel-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}