About HAM to the Baltic resorts
The Bay of Lübeck with Timmendorfer Strand and Scharbeutz is one of Germany's classic Baltic coastlines, with long sandy beaches and piers. Further north, the island of Fehmarn is known for wind, kitesurfing and the ferry link to Denmark.
How far is the beach from the arrivals hall?
- Timmendorfer Strand and Niendorf – about 85 to 95 km, usually 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Scharbeutz and Haffkrug – a few kilometres further up the bay, 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes.
- Grömitz, Kellenhusen and Dahme – further north in East Holstein, around 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Heiligenhafen – where the A1 ends, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Fehmarn – Burg and the beaches of the island, around 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.
All of these are reached via the A1 from Hamburg, after a first stretch through the city's north-east to the motorway. For Lübeck and Travemünde, see HAM to Lübeck and Travemünde.
Hamburg Airport to Timmendorfer Strand
Your driver leaves the A1 past Lübeck at the exits for the Bay of Lübeck and follows the country road down to the coast. Timmendorfer Strand stretches along the beach with the Strandallee as its main street; hotels lie between the road and the promenade. Niendorf, with its small fishing harbour, is part of the same municipality. In high season the Strandallee is slow, so a hotel entrance on a side street is often quicker. Put the exact address and any guest-entrance details into the comments.
Hamburg Airport to Scharbeutz
Scharbeutz lies just north of Timmendorfer Strand and runs into Haffkrug. Many guests stay in holiday flats in the streets behind the dune path or in the newer apartment buildings along the seafront. On summer days the beachside streets turn into a mix of pedestrians, cyclists and cars searching for parking. A quick drop at the nearest corner is usually faster than waiting in front of the door. If you are staying in a holiday park inland, give its name, not only the street.
Hamburg Airport to Fehmarn
The A1 ends at Heiligenhafen, and the B207 carries on across the Fehmarnsund Bridge onto the island. Construction for the Fehmarnbelt fixed link to Denmark affects the roads around the sound and on the island, so traffic management can change. Burg is the main town; Südstrand, the camping sites in the north and west, and the villages inland all have different access roads. For the ferry from Puttgarden to Rødby, tell your driver your sailing and plan for check-in. Wind on the bridge rarely stops cars, but it can slow larger vehicles.
Changeover Saturday and other slow days
Most holiday flats on the coast change guests on Saturdays, so the A1 north of Hamburg fills in both directions from late morning. The start of summer holidays in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and the larger states such as North Rhine-Westphalia adds more. On these days, plan an extra 30 to 60 minutes, especially for Fehmarn. Weekday arrivals in the morning are the most relaxed.
Packing the car for the coast
Beach holidays mean bulky luggage: buggies, beach shelters, bikes in bags. Pick the vehicle by volume. A saloon fits up to three guests with normal suitcases, a minivan up to seven, a minibus up to twelve; the offer in the booking form decides. Book child seats for every child. The price covers the whole vehicle and you see the total before you confirm. Enter your flight number and meet your driver at the meeting point in your confirmation. For the North Sea side, see the North Sea coast; for the region overall, Schleswig-Holstein.
