Jasmund National Park and Königsstuhl

Jasmund National Park near Sassnitz on the island of Rügen is Germany's smallest national park and home to its most famous coastal scenery: brilliant white chalk cliffs up to 118 meters high, topped by ancient beech forests that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highlight is the Königsstuhl ("King's Chair") cliff, now viewed from a spectacular skywalk. It is the landscape that inspired Caspar David Friedrich's painting "Chalk Cliffs on Rügen."

Why Jasmund is special

The park was created on September 12, 1990, and covers only about 3,070 hectares, yet it packs in sea cliffs, beech woods, moors and streams that tumble over the cliffs as small waterfalls. Since 2011, parts of its beech forests have belonged to the UNESCO site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe." The coast is constantly changing: frost and storms regularly break off chunks of chalk, and the famous Wissower Klinken formation largely collapsed into the sea in 2005.

Things to do in Jasmund National Park

• Königsstuhl Skywalk: opened on April 22, 2023, this barrier-free walkway about 185 meters long floats 122 meters above the Baltic Sea and gives new views of the cliff, which itself is now protected and off-limits.
• Königsstuhl National Park Center: an interactive exhibition, a multivision cinema and hourly guided tours.
• Victoriasicht viewpoint: the classic view across to the Königsstuhl.
• Hike the cliff-top trail: the roughly 12 km path from Sassnitz to Lohme passes the main viewpoints and is one of the most beautiful hikes on the German Baltic coast.
• See the cliffs from the water on an excursion boat; combo tickets with the center are available.

Opening hours and tickets

The national park itself is free and always open. The Königsstuhl National Park Center (including the skywalk) is open daily except December 24 (as of October 2026): 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in April, May, September and October; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from June to August; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March. Last entry to the exhibition is one hour before closing.

• Adults: €14
• Children 6 to 14: €8
• Family ticket: €30; under 6 free

Book online for a guaranteed time slot, and allow two to three hours.

How to get to the Königsstuhl

Rügen is Germany's largest island, linked to the mainland at Stralsund. There is no car access to the Königsstuhl: park at the large Hagen parking lot and take shuttle bus 19, or walk about 3 km through the forest. From Sassnitz, which has regional train service, bus 23 runs from the station and harbor to the Königsstuhl; on foot it is about 8 km along the coast. Regional trains and buses accept the Deutschlandticket. Allow roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by train or car from Berlin or Hamburg.

Tips: is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially if you love coastal hiking. Keep in mind:

• Stay away from the cliff edge and avoid the beach directly below the cliffs after frost or heavy rain, since rockfalls happen without warning.
• The center and skywalk are wheelchair accessible, and the shuttle bus has a low floor.
• Dogs on a leash are welcome outdoors but not in the exhibition; on the bus they need a muzzle unless carried in a box.
• Early mornings and the off-season are the quietest times.