Surf spots in Germany

From Sylt to Rügen, Germany has more to offer kiters and windsurfers than you might think.

North Sea & islands

The German North Sea coast is a tidal area: the tide comes in and goes out twice a day. At many mainland spots you can only ride around high water, while others offer standing-depth water in tideways at low tide. West to north-west wind usually blows onshore along the coast, and on Sylt, Amrum and the East Frisian Islands it brings proper North Sea waves. The water stays cool – you rarely get by without a good wetsuit.

Dangast

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
N, NW, W, NE
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Knock – Dollart

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, SW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Norddeich

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

St. Peter-Ording

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW, NW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Baltrum

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Surfing
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Bensersiel

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, N, NE
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Burhave

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Carolinensiel

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Dagebüll

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
Wind
W, SW, NW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Dorum-Neufeld

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Eckwarderhörne

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
SW, W, NW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Greetsiel

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Harlesiel

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, N, NE
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Juist

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Surfing
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Langeoog

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Otterndorf

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Pellworm

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate
View spot

Sahlenburg

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Schillig

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, N, NE
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Spiekeroog

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Surfing
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Sylt – Rantum

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, SW, NW
Season
Apr–Nov
Level
Beginner · Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Tossens

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Wangerooge

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Surfing
Wind
W, NW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate
View spot

Wremen

North Sea & islands

  • Kitesurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Baltic Sea & lagoons

There is practically no tide on the Baltic Sea – which spot works depends mainly on the wind direction. Fehmarn, the Bay of Lübeck, Rügen and Usedom have beaches for almost every direction, and the lagoons (Bodden) behind them offer flat, often standing-depth water for beginners and freestyle. In summer many beaches have swimming zones and designated kite areas.

Travemünde

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Surfing
Wind
N, NE, E
Season
Sep–Apr
Level
Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Born am Darß

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW
Season
May–Sep
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Damp

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
E, NE, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Eckernförde

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
N, NW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Graal-Müritz

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
N, NW, NE
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Großenbrode

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, NW, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Hohwacht

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
NE, N, E
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Kühlungsborn

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
Wind
N, NW, W
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Laboe

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
N, NW, W
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Pelzerhaken

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
N, NW, W
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Prerow

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Rügen – Wiek

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
W, SW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Strande

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
Wind
N, NW, W
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Zingst

Baltic Sea & lagoons

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • SUP
Wind
W, NW, N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Inland lakes

Inland lakes depend heavily on thermals and the weather pattern and are usually gustier than the coast, but there is no tide or current and they are often easy to reach. In the south, thermals and föhn bring wind to lakes such as Lake Constance, Ammersee or Walchensee; in the north and east there are lakes like Dümmer, Steinhuder Meer, Müritz and the Leipzig lakes. Many lakes have zones, time windows or kite bans – check the local rules.

Ammersee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
SW (thermal)
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Bostalsee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Brombachsee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
SW, W
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Chiemsee

Inland lakes

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
N (thermal), S (föhn)
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate · Pro
View spot

Dümmer See

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Edersee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW
Season
May–Sep
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Forggensee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
N, E
Season
Jun–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Lake Plön

Inland lakes

  • Kitesurf
  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW, NW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Möhnesee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW, NW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Müggelsee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
W, SW
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Beginner · Intermediate
View spot

Walchensee

Inland lakes

  • Windsurf
  • Wingfoil
  • SUP
Wind
S (föhn), N
Season
Apr–Oct
Level
Intermediate · Pro
View spot