Fish, fishermen and bikes – cycling around Rügen island

Rügen is one of the areas with the most fish in Germany. Here, the herring is also known as the ‘Silber des Meeres’ or the ‘Silver of the Sea’. This fish has determined the lives of the people on Rügen for centuries. The themed cycle path, ‘Silber des Meeres’, is named after this important fish and takes you around Germany’s largest island.
The three stages of the Silber des Meeres cycle path take you on a 203-kilometre (126-mile) journey around Rügen. You’ll learn about herring, fish processing and fishing on the island from the 17th to the 20th century. Part of the important medieval trade route, the Heringstraße, makes up part of the cycle path. This journey through time is made possible by the Association for Protection of the Landscape of Rügen who created and manages the themed Silber des Meeres cycle path. The association has erected signs at significant historical places to tell the stories of the herring.

On this cycle path, you ride through the dreamy, flat coastal landscapes of Rügen, which with its numerous picturesque bays and inlets, offers great views of the Baltic Sea. You also explore idyllic fishing villages and Baltic resorts with their fascinating spa architecture along the way.

You’ll have lots of opportunities to learn about the historical significance of the herring and also discover its culinary delights. The Silber des Meeres cycle path takes you past traditional fish smokehouses, small fish shops and classic fish restaurants where you can try an obligatory fish roll or traditional fish dish from Western Pomeranian cuisine.

For the most part, the route runs on rather quiet, well-paved roads. There are no hills or difficult climbs en route, so this Tour is suitable for beginners who are embarking on their first multi-day Tour. At the beginning and end of each stage, you can stay overnight and stop for a bite to eat.

It is best to plan this Tour for a long weekend in three stages. Of course, you can also cycle the stages individually or staggered. You can easily get to and from the first and third stages by train as there’s a station nearby.

On the second stage, which begins in Wiek on the Wittow Peninsula, you can transport your own bicycle with the so-called RADZfatz buses from May to October.

So nothing stands in the way of your journey through time on Rügen. Simply follow the cycle path signs of a blue fish and waves and travel through the history of fishing on Rügen.