Binz lying almost in the centre of Ruegen´s eastern coastline is obviously the most popular seaside resort on the island.

Every year it attracts the highest number of holidaymakers arriving at Ruegen who can enjoy relaxing on a long and broad sandy beach. For this invasion you might say that the 5500 inhabitants of Binz seem to form a minority group on their own territory during summer. However, the good-natured beach invaders also bring along a lot of money. To cut a long story short: The place nearly completely depends on its flourishing tourism sector.

 
The former fishing village of Binz was first mentioned in a document dated 1318. During the nineteenth century the place finally turned into a much-frequented seaside resort where rich and famous people used to spend their holidays. Many of the luxurious hotels and other holiday homes, which were built in those times, have been preserved and are still used today as tourist accommodation. The most striking one among them which is decorated with two mighty side towers (see the photo above) bears the name Kurhaus and opened as a hotel in the early 20th century.

It is located at the long and well-kept beach promenade near the promenade pier which  measures nearly 400 metres in length projecting slightly into the Baltic Sea. Apart from the two promenades and the beach, the main shopping street called Hauptstraße ("Main Street") is also a popular stomping ground of holidaymakers and any other visitor of the seaside resort.