The Top 5 Travel Destinations for the Long Weekend in May, from the North Sea to Alsace

Finally a long weekend again: The public holiday on May 1st can be easily integrated into a short trip – change of scenery, get out of everyday life! But where to? After all, the journey should be as short as possible and enjoyment, experience and relaxation should be as great as possible. We looked around Germany and the immediate vicinity and came up with five places that are perfect for three to four days – no matter what the weather is like.

1. St. Peter-Ording: superlatives in the far north

If you live in the northern part of Germany, it is not far to the sea. In the west of Schleswig-Holstein, near St. Peter-Ording, the North Sea shows itself from its most beautiful side: the sandy beach is twelve kilometers long, almost two kilometers wide and lined with dykes, shifting dunes and seal banks. And it is in the midst of the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Wadden Sea. Expansive dunes and a fresh breeze convey an uplifting feeling of freedom and enough space for everyone: bathers, nature lovers and sports enthusiasts.

Admittedly, at the beginning of May, with an average water temperature of twelve degrees, swimming is not yet an option. On the other hand, chilling out in wicker beach chairs or walking along the beach along the typical stilt houses does. And should it get a bit chilly in this romantic spot, the dune thermal baths are just a few steps away. This is something special because St. Peter-Ording is the only German seaside resort that has a sulfur spring. Those who want to do something for their health can try treatments with seawater, sulfuric brine and mud, while the little ones can have fun on the water slides and in the pools with sea views.

2. Scharbeutz: love of life in the Bay of Lübeck

The longing for the beach and the sea can be perfectly satisfied for everyone who lives in the east of the republic in the Bay of Lübeck – in the municipality of Scharbeutz, which is not quite as well known as its neighbor Timmendorfer Strand. It is located in the south of the large bay and attracts with: dune golf, a thermal bath, a beach promenade, several fish sandwich stations and a fine sandy beach with cool bars and restaurants. Local people describe the atmosphere as relaxed, casual, lively and fun-loving. If you don’t just want to enjoy the first warming rays of sunshine on your skin, jump on a bike and explore the nearby coastal towns such as Haffkrug, Sierksdorf, Neustadt in Holstein, Pelzerhaken and Rettin.

On the first weekend in May there is a lot going on in Scharbeutz: As part of the Maypole Festival in the Kurpark, DJs play dance music – from oldies to hits to pop. The adventure pass awaits children between the ages of three and twelve with experiences that include shell stamps and a real treasure. Early risers can attend a photography course on Saturday, take part in fitness training on the promenade or take part in a guided llama hike. On Sunday, the special “Frühlingsflirt” invites you to energy work AKW (accelerated kundalini awakening), on Monday creative people can try their hand at brush and paint – in a watercolor course.

3. Bruges: insider tip in Belgium

Most people know Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. But Bruges? Heard it’s high on the list of Europe’s most picturesque towns, but never visited. From the west, for example from Cologne, the UNESCO World Heritage city can be reached quickly and easily in just over three and a half hours. It enchants with its cobbled streets, picturesque canals like in Venice and medieval squares framed by colorful buildings and Gothic facades.

The 122 meter high brick tower of the Church of Our Lady offers the best overview of Bruges – even as far as the Netherlands when the weather is clear. As the tallest structure in the city, the tower can be seen from every corner of the historic city. The Gothic City Hall is Belgium’s oldest building – and is also considered the most beautiful in Bruges.

Speaking of beauty, how about a visit to the Diamond Museum? The art of diamond polishing is said to have been invented here in 1450. Since then, the city has played a prominent role in the history of the diamond trade, which is shown in the museum along with many valuable diamonds. If you are just thirsty, you can quench your thirst in the beer museum, among other things. Belgium has been known for its specialty beers since the Middle Ages. Conveniently, the museum tours end in the tasting room – with a view of the medieval market square.

4. Alsace: half-timbered houses, castles, wine and fine cuisine

If you live in Baden-Württemberg, Saarland or in the direction of Frankfurt, you don’t have to go far to Alsace. The northeast of France is located in the Rhine valley on the border to Germany and Switzerland and has great things to offer for gourmets, nature lovers as well as city and castle fans. On the one hand, there are well-known cities such as Strasbourg, Colmar or Metz, which fascinate with their spruced up half-timbered houses and canals and invite you to cozy cafés. Or small wine-growing villages such as Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, which entice you with rustic wine taverns in the vineyards.

There are even more fine wines and half-timbered towns to enjoy along the Wine Route. The 170 km long panorama route is considered a paradise for gourmets. The typical tarte flambée, sauerkraut (Sürkrüt) with salted meat or fish, Bundt cake with walnuts and diced bacon and the finest French cuisine are served. Another reason that speaks for Alsace is its castles and palaces. There used to be more than 400. Many of them can still be visited today and are enthroned on the hills and rocks of the Vosges.

5. Berchtesgadener Land: Under the spell of the Königssee

Why go to Austria or Lake Garda when spectacular mountains like the Watzmann and the Königssee lie in south-east Germany? They belong to the Berchtesgadener Land district and anyone who has the opportunity to visit them in the off-season should do so. Because at the end of April, the electric boats are already driving across the emerald-green Königssee, which is embedded in the mountain landscape like a fjord – but without masses of tourists.

The trip across the crystal-clear water to the pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä is legendary: the boat stops at the echo wall in the middle of the lake. The boatman blows his flugelhorn – and the famous echo resounds. The Jennerbahn, which opens the summer season on April 29, 2023, offers a royal view of the lake. It goes effortlessly up the 1874 meter high Jenner and if you want, you can explore the Berchtesgaden National Park, the only Alpine National Park in Germany, on one of the hiking trails up there. Feel like wellness? Down in the valley, a good half hour further, in Bad Reichenhall, the art of relaxation is celebrated in the Rupertus Therme – with local alpine brine. Brine springs under the city provide the remedy, which is fed directly from the saltworks into the thermal baths and distributed to the active pools, the lounger pools and the steam baths.