Ahlbeck Pier

Ahlbeck Pier (Seebrücke Ahlbeck) on the Baltic island of Usedom is the landmark of the historic resort of Ahlbeck and one of the island's most photographed sights. A white pier house with a red roof and four green turrets sits on a platform above the beach, and a pier walkway stretches into the sea. Locals call it the "Old Lady". It is worth a stroll, a photo stop and a boat trip.

History of the Old Lady

A platform with two wooden buildings for a restaurant and a stage was already built on the beach in 1882. The 170-meter landing pier followed in 1898 so that excursion ships could dock. The platform was widened after 1905, and the middle section was covered in 1926 and the 1930s. During the harsh winter of 1941 to 1942, ice and a storm surge destroyed the landing section behind the platform, and it was rebuilt in the early 1990s. Steel replaced the wooden supports between 1970 and 1973, and the pier has been a protected monument since a major renovation in 1986. The restaurant operator and tourism portals call it Germany's oldest surviving sea pier.

It also has film fame: German comedian Loriot used it for the last scene of "Pappa ante portas" (1991), and scenes of "Die Russen kommen" (1968) and "Jahrestage" (1999) were shot here.

What to see

The whole structure is about 280 meters long: first to the platform above the beach with a restaurant, then the 170-meter pier where excursion boats dock. From the end you see the beach and Ahlbeck's resort architecture, including the grand Ahlbecker Hof hotel. The seaside promenade connects the three Kaiserbäder resorts with Swinoujscie in Poland and is considered one of the longest in Europe. In July the Ahlbeck Summer Festival and the Long Night of Music take place near the pier.

Access and hours (as of October 2026)

The pier is a public walkway. According to tourism portals it is free, though we could not find official confirmation. It can close at short notice in ice or storms; in January 2023 the municipality of Heringsdorf closed access to the Ahlbeck and Bansin piers because of ice. The restaurant on the platform is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. according to its operator (phone +49 38378 28320).

Getting there from Berlin and Szczecin

Ahlbeck is at the eastern end of Usedom, close to the Polish border. By car, reach Usedom via the A20 and B111 to Wolgast or the B109 to Zecherin. It is about 230 km (around three hours) from Berlin, about 335 km from Hamburg and about 115 km from Szczecin. By train, travel to Züssow, where the Usedomer Bäderbahn takes over. Cyclists can follow the Berlin-Usedom long-distance route. Check usedom.de for parking information, and allow extra time in peak season.