This is the time of year that tourism boards from the northern coasts of Germany start to cover their websites with images of one particular piece of outdoor furniture: the Strandkorb. If you don’t know what I am referring to, then see the lead picture on our Facebook page.

There’s no direct translation for Strandkorb – ‘beach chair’ isn’t sufficient – because they don’t exist in English-speaking countries. On UK beaches, we tend to erect flimsy plastic windbreaks and then cower behind them, but the German solution for cold, wind-blown beaches is far more effective; a substantial adjustable wickerwork half-hut which can be rotated like a sunflower to catch the rays, whilst protecting its occupants from the wind.

Proper Strandkorbs have room enough for two in the padded and lined interior, plus a protective hood, a sun visor, fold-out foot rests, stowable tray tables and compact storage behind your ankles. Give them a set of wheels and a decent motor and they’d probably keep up with most traffic on the autobahns, too.

They have a proper lineage, having been invented in 1882 under Emperor Wilhelm I by Wilhelm Bartelmann, chief basketmaker to the imperial court who came up with the design after an elderly aristocratic lady suffering from rheumatism asked him to build a seat that would protect her from the wind and sun on the beach.

You don’t have to be elderly or rheumatic to get the best out of them. Strandkorbs are usually for rent for around €8/10 per day, and you can buy them (in Germany) for around €3-400. Transporting them elsewhere in the world will be costly, of course, but if you take the plunge and invest, you could be the envy of your neighbours, sitting snug in your back garden, tanning gently whilst the cold wind howls all around.

The Baltic Coast with its 2,000 km of sandy beaches is the kind of place people come to again and again. The scenery is varied and includes high cliffs, forests and green lands. Islands like Usedom or Rügen are perfect for beach holidays and don’t worry, you don’t have to take your clothes off if you’re not so inclined.

Rügen, Germany’s biggest German island,  connected to the mainland via a dam, is famous for its limestone cliffs that feature in the works of the romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich. Beaches are wide and white such as the Schaabe with beautiful dunes and 10km of sands, or the beach at the resort of Binz with shallow waters, making it suitable for children. From here, sunbathers have also great views on the white cliffs nearby. Speaking of sun, Rügen has on average 30 percent more sun than the rest of Germany. And yes, it can get really hot here.

A real jewel is Hiddensee, a tiny island just off Rügen, with a stunning lighthouse, 15km of beaches and no cars at all – verboten. The idea here is to first rent yourself a Strandkorb, one of the roofed wicker beach chairs to be found on every German beach and invented in the 19^th century by one Wilhem Bartelmann in Rostock. And then simply relax. No stress, just nature and peace.

Usedom, a bit further east off the Baltic Coast and also known as “Berlin’s bathtub”, has fantastic beaches and is very much liked by families. The Kaiserbäder (Emperor’s spas) Heringsdorf, Ahlbeck and Bansin were frequently visited by Wilhelm II, hence the name “Emperor’s spas”, and have beautiful promenades, lined by magnificent villas. The promenade connecting Ahlbeck and Heringsdorf is a particular treat for a relaxed stroll with lots of elegant architecture on the way. In Heringsdorf, Ahlbeck, Bansin and Zinnowitz visitors can also admire the famous piers, the Seebrücken.

Breathtaking landscape and a quiet pace of life

Very much recommended by locals is also the Darß peninsula with nice beaches between Prerow and Zingst. The landscape here is breathtaking and the pace of life quiet. Apart from the islands, the mainland of the Baltic Coast offers plenty of beaching options as well. Timmendorfer Strand is arguably the most famous Baltic beach, 6 km long and with a wealth of sports and leisure facilities. The beach at Nienhagen is a favourite for divers and nature lovers and next to the Gespensterwald (ghost forest) with interesting flora and fauna.

And there’s, of course, Heiligendamm. The small seaside resort , also called “white town by the sea” because of the ubiquity of white buildings lining the sea, and its Grand Hotel Heiligendamm have seen many a celebrity, past and present. Most recently, the participants of the G8 summit in 2008 managed to squeeze into one gigantic, specially made Strandkorb there. You can get one all by yourself. All you need to do is choose a favourite beach.

On the map, the 40km-long island of Sylt, just south of the Danish border, appears like a badly dented glider trying to fly towards England, but with its string still tied to the mainland.

On the ground, the low-slung chic retreat turns out to be a giant sandbar with restaurants, with a fine sandy beach that runs the length of its 40km wingspan, backed by a fuselage of dunes, heather and a wig of grass. The string that secures this ‘St Tropez of the North’ to the mainland is a railway track, as there is no access road.

Never mind that this is not the Med. The temperamental North Sea weather is prized by the Sylterati (Bridget Bardot was here, as were artist Kandinsky and author Thomas Mann), who believe that soft sea air is better for the skin than any nourishing face creams. “When you have boiled yourself in the sauna, the idea is to run naked into the chilly North Sea”, suggests the brochure – presumably at one of seven nudist beaches exotically christened things like Samoa and Sansibar.

Sunsets are democratic, accessible to all

At its best, it’s the Teutonic equivalent of Martha’s Vineyard, with atmospheric sand dunes, lighthouses, reed-thatched cottages that house Hugo Boss and Louis Vuitton boutiques. Basic groceries are harder to find here than monogrammed luggage, and several of the restaurants are very highly rated in German foodie magazines.

Fortunately the sunsets are more democratic, accessible to all. And actually, plenty of hoi polloi already take their family holidays on Sylt, sticking to the larger resorts with more competitive prices. Many base themselves in the island’s metropolis, Westerland, a seaside town with no particular distinction other than a casino and well-heeled grannies meeting little Günters off the train.

The high life is focused on a select couple of thatch-roofed villages (Kampen and Keitum) frequented by the over-tanned and the over-forty. Most of the celebrity visitors are German industrialists, actors and actresses, for whom the year’s schedule holds the likes of a Ferrari rally, a beach polo tournament, a gourmet safari, and a visit from golden oldie rock stars, who still know how to make the sand bounce.

At certain times of year the island is invaded by wilder, less designer tribes. Kite surfers have a world cup here, Harley Davidson owners a rally, and beach bums assemble for the ‘Wimbledon of Windsurfers’ at the end of September.

An exhilarating place to be when the weather is bad; an intoxicating place when the party crowd is in town. And outside July and August, it is calm, serene, inexpensive and accessible to all.

Getting There: Sylt is north of Hamburg. International airports are at Hamburg and Lübeck. International rail connections to Hamburg are via Cologne from Brussels (Thalys), which connect with the Eurostar from London. See our Travel page for airlines, rail and tour operators.

Staying There: our recommended hotels are here for Schleswig-Holstein, and here for Hamburg.

Sylt website