Great Summer Travel Escapes: Fehmarn, Germany

I should have been born in Europe. I have been all over the world, but the area around the Baltic Sea is where I feel truly at home. Taking the Scandlines Ferry from Denmark to Germany is one of favorite activities when it comes to short get-aways. Just down the road a few kilometers from where the ferry docks at Puttgarten, Germany is a delightful little spot called Fehmarn. Since this is off the radar for most American vacationers, you can take advantage of not having to deal with them and get a real feel for Germany in an idyllic setting.

Fehmarn is in Northern Germany and sits right there on the Baltic sea. This means it has fabulous beaches. American's may not be aware of the place, but it is a favored destination for Europeans in general, and Scandinavians in particular. To beat the crowds, then, be sure to plan your vacation to not coincide with a Swedish holiday. We come in droves during those. heh. Such was the case Wednesday, June 6: National Day in Sweden. The ferries to Germany were jam-packed. Even though it was a hot day, we skipped the beach this time and headed to the most excellent shopping streets downtown.

Fehmarn is a very old historic town and the buildings all show that. Once in awhile I like sleek, glass, and modern places... but usually I much prefer this Medieval feel. The rich history of the Hanseatic area is just palpable and adds a great deal to my enjoyment whilst dropping my Euros everywhere. I should say that although the Euro is the currency of Germany, many of the shops will accept Swedish or Danish Kronor as well since that is the main tourist demographic for Fehmarn. Only paper money, though. No foreign coins.

As with other spots throughout Germany, the folks in Fehmarn speak enough English that you can get done whatever it is you want to do with little hassle, but do please try to at least learn the basics of Deutsch. Its only polite to be able to at least try to speak the language of the country you are visiting. Even if you speak it badly, they will appreciate the effort and you will find that you make a lot of points for effort.