Altenteil (Fehmarn)
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Small waves
- Spot Type
- 15–30 kts
- Wind Range
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Altenteil is approached as a dedicated wave location: NW and WNW winds set up the most favorable side-onshore ride conditions over offshore sandbars, producing slowly breaking, peeling waves. For kite- and windsurfing, it is described as a go-to spot for experienced riders when the wind is in the right sector, while conditions can become demanding as wind strength rises. On the surfing side, the waves are described as wind-driven and best when strong NW/WNW weather creates well-formed sandbars; cleanliness can deteriorate if the wind drops, even though the spot tends to hold size due to offshore bars. Underwater hazards are a major theme: stones/rocks, stakes, and fishing nets can be hard to see, so riders are advised to use protective footwear and to avoid riding too close to net-marked areas. Access is tied to the beachfront camping area, and parking is available at or near the campsites; however, there are explicit restrictions around the Ahoi Camp access route that relate to an emergency/route-use area. Overall, plan around spring and autumn windows for more consistent wave and wind conditions, while summer can be warmer but still requires thick protection because colder water is common.
- NW-focused side-onshore wave conditions for wave riding
- Slow-peeling waves on sandbars with little shorebreak
- Technical underwater hazards including stones/rocks and stationary fishing nets
- Best consistency often associated with spring/autumn conditions
- One of Fehmarn’s best wave venues for NW wind, with slowly breaking waves on sandbars and relatively little shorebreak.
- Strong wave-riding identity for windsurfing, and a popular kite option for experienced riders.
- Facilities and direct access via the camping beachfront area.
- Stones/rocks and multiple underwater obstacles (including stationary fishing nets) make it more technical and less forgiving.
- Currents/drift can develop, especially in more severe weather.
- Surf cleanliness depends heavily on strong wind; it may look messy if the wind drops suddenly.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NW, WNW, W, NE, NNE
- Wind Range
- 15–30 kts
- Reliability
- High during the autumn and spring storm seasons.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- March, April, May, September, October, November
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
- Shadow Zones
- Very slight turbulence close to shore if wind is slightly more Westerly due to inland vegetation.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand with offshore sandbars; stones/rocks present in the water.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Described as small to medium, with the potential for waves up to around 3 meters in strong NW conditions.
- Launch
- Small — Directly at the beach between two camping areas; described as a tight launch.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch can be tight and may involve navigating areas where rocks/stone clusters are present.
Through the year
Can be very busy with windsurfers and kiters on weekends with NW wind; campsite is busy in summer.
Late autumn through winter (storm season peaks from late October through March).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Popular wave destination for experienced kiters; launch is relatively tight and the underwater stones/rocks require caution.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Widely considered the best wave spot on Fehmarn, especially in NW conditions where waves form over offshore sandbars and allow side-onshore riding and jumping.
- Sail Sizes
- 3.7–5.3 m²
Possible but challenging due to shallow sandbars and frequent stones on the seabed; foil-friendliness is limited and depth varies by position.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A classic Fehmarn wave spot with slow-peeling waves on offshore sandbars, with little shorebreak and the potential for waves up to around 3 meters in the right NW conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, WNW
- Swell Height
- 1–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- NW/W creates side-onshore wave conditions; waves are largely wind-driven, so it is rarely clean unless the wind is strong. With Westwind, waves tend to be smaller.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well due to offshore bars; waves break further out. Best wave riding is found at the sandbar section directly in front of the campsite.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Also described as peeling with slow sections on sandbars.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can offer long, peeling sections when the sandbars are well-formed and the wind is strong.
- Ride Length Details
- Peeling sections when sandbars are well-formed and the wind is strong.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Altenteil (Fehmarn) in the full forecast view.
Altenteil (Fehmarn) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–29 ktsGusts 49 kts
- Direction
- SW224°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2529 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.2 m3s period
- Temperature
- 9–14 °C
Over the next 7 days, Altenteil (Fehmarn) is forecast for daytime winds of 6–29 kts, peaking around 29 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 49 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–1.2 m with a period of about 3s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Ströĩııung (Drift)
- fishernets
- stakes
- wooden stakes
- rocks
- stones
- small mole
- wooden piles/fences (Holzpfäļıe)
- small/hidden stationary nets (Stellnetze)
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — German maritime search and rescue support is available on the island with a presence on-site (Burgstaaken).
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number 112. Primary medical facility: Inselklinik Fehmarn (Burg).
Rules of the spot
Respect the designated swimming areas during the summer months. Do not ride too close to fishing nets marked by buoys; also do not stop/ride in a way that blocks the designated access/route.
- Kein Halt auf Zufahrt zum Ahoi Camp
- Halteverbot auf Zufahrt zum Ahoi Camp (Rettungsweg)
- Restrictions: swimming zones in summer
- Expect sideshore conditions with Nordwestwind (NW) for wave riding.
- Wear thick-soled boots to protect against sharp stones and rocks.
- The sandbar section directly in front of the campsite is where the best wave riding is found.
- Watch out for stationary nets ('Stellnetze'); they can be hard to see in choppy water.
- Parking is available at the campsite or along the access road; avoid blocking the emergency/rettungsweg access.
- During stronger NW to NNW wind, conditions can become demanding—aim for experienced riding.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Fehmarn
- Nearest Town
- Landkirchen
- Parking
- Parking is available at Belt-Camping or paid parking at the campsite; additional limited free parking may be found along the access road further from the beach. Some parking is described as free until the beach access point when busy.
- Access
- Drive to the camping area/Altenteil; multiple beach access points are mentioned. Arriving via the B207/A1 corridor through Landkirchen/Lemkendorf toward Petersdorf/Schlagsdorf and then follow signs for Altenteil/Strand.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- German
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — Camping Altenteil offers direct beach access; additional holiday apartments are available in nearby Petersdorf and Schlagsdorf.
- Food & Drink
- A bistro/restaurant and a small shop are located within the Altenteil campsite.
- Equipment Rental:
- A small surf shop at the campsite offers basic rentals and accessories.
- Gear Storage
- Secure storage facilities are commonly available via campsites and local schools.
- Gear Repair
- Professional repair services for sails, boards, and kites are available in nearby towns of Burg and Landkirchen.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Altenteil (Fehmarn)?
The best overall months at Altenteil (Fehmarn) are April, May, September, October, November. The best wind months are March, April, May, September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Altenteil (Fehmarn)?
Altenteil (Fehmarn) works with NW, WNW, W, NE, NNE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Altenteil (Fehmarn)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Altenteil (Fehmarn): Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Windsurfing: 3.7–5.3 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–30 kts.
What skill level is Altenteil (Fehmarn) suitable for?
Altenteil (Fehmarn) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced to Expert · Windsurfing: Intermediate to Expert · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate to Expert.