Heligoland is a nature-rich island in the North Sea that offers a lot of relaxation. A beautiful sandy beach, restaurants and cafes contribute to relaxing on Germany’s only offshore island. Well-developed hiking trails and quiet places for bird watching are interesting for nature lovers. In addition, there are numerous sights and sports facilities that provide plenty of action, culture and adventure.

The following article shows what else the island on the German Bight has to offer and what insider tips there are.

This is what makes Heligoland so special

Deät Lun is Frisian for Heligoland. The island in the German Bight is Germany’s only offshore island and consists of the main island and the dune. To get to the dune, a short crossing is necessary.

Heligoland looks back on a long history: Due to the New Year’s flood in 1721, the island is divided in two. In 1947, the British Allies blew up the military installations. Since then, the island has been demilitarized.

A real highlight is the journey with the famous seaside resort ships. The passengers are taken from the large ships to the smaller Börte boats. The so-called disembarkation is very popular and provides a lot of fun. The white Börte boats are then moored at the harbour, where it is particularly romantic in the evening: The sunset is a beautiful highlight of a Heligoland trip, which is free of charge and at the same time will be remembered for a long time.

The best time to travel to Heligoland is from May to September. Then the temperatures rise to a pleasant 20 degrees Celsius. The water temperature is around 18 to 21 degrees Celsius and the quality is very clean.

The journey to Heligoland

The journey to Heligoland always takes place by sea. This can be done in an hour by ferry from Cuxhaven: a catamaran takes passengers safely to their destination.

Other ferry piers that depart for Heligoland are located in Hamburg-Wedel, Büsum or Bremerhaven. A journey from Hamburg takes around three and a half hours.

Cars and bicycles are prohibited on the island, which is why only pedestrians are allowed on the ferries. Dogs are welcome on the island and find enough space on signposted beach sections.

If you prefer a quick journey, you should rely on a light aircraft. The flight with a private airline from Cuxhaven takes about 20 minutes and leads to the only landing site on the dune.

To get to the ferry docks, it is possible to arrive by plane, car or train. There are plenty of parking options on site, which are subject to a fee. To save money, the free park-and-ride parking lots are suitable, which are located just outside.

Sights of the offshore island and the surrounding area

The landmark of the island is the Lange Anna, which is definitely worth a visit. At a height of a good 47 metres, the rock ledge made of red sandstone rises up. With a weight of 25,000 tons, the Nathurn Stak, as the rock is called in Frisian, is very imposing. Not far from there is the old lighthouse, which completely survived the Allied attack in 1947.

The colourful lobster stalls are simply part of Heligoland. The houses were once intended for the fishermen, who stored their equipment in them. Today, boutiques and other shops are located in it.

A popular attraction are the cute grey seals. They can be recognized daily in close proximity on the dune. Bathers on the beach can see from the shore how the island’s well-known inhabitants sunbathe or mate.

Equally well-known are the drum guillemots, which breed on the famous guillemot rock. The birds are almost unique on the island and an absolute highlight for birdwatchers.

From the north beach it goes up via the Jägersteig. The many steps offer a fantastic panoramic view.

These tips are worth it

• 

  With a trip to Heligoland, visitors save twice: One advantage is duty-free shopping on the island. This is because Heligoland is a foreign country. Nevertheless, it belongs to Germany , so all other German regulations apply.

• To save money when booking, an early bird discount or a last-minute offer is worthwhile.
• Although a tourist tax is levied, this ensures clean beaches, a wide range of leisure activities for families with children and discounts of all kinds. Museums, mini golf and more are thus cheaper.
• Two beautiful sandy beaches can be found on the dune. The fine sand creates a lot of holiday atmosphere. The beaches are guarded in the high season, so swimming in the North Sea is safe. On one section there is a beautiful playground, a restaurant and sanitary facilities.
• Although there is no longer any fresh fish in the colorful lobster stalls today, they indicate the popular dish of the locals. Lobster, sprats and halibut are very popular and can still be found on the local menus today. Freshly caught goods are best obtained directly from the cutter that arrives at the port.
• For dessert, an egg grog is typical, which consists of rum, sugar, egg yolk and cream. Sea buckthorn grows on the cliffs, known as the lemon of the north and is full of vitamin C. Sweets, schnapps or jams can be considered as souvenirs.

Result

Heligoland is a very special island in Germany that offers beautiful vantage points. Although the only offshore island in Germany is quite tranquil, it has a dream beach and interesting sights on offer. It is worth visiting all year round to come with your family, as a single or as a couple with or without a dog

Ten flat islands in the North Sea, which are flooded at high tide and are grouped in a circle around the island of Pellworm – these are the Halligen. They are called Gröde, Hooge, Langeneß, Nordstrandischmoor, Oland, Habel, Hamburger Hallig, Norderoog, Süderoog and Südfall. Five of the ten Halligen are permanently inhabited. The houses on the Halligen stand on artificially raised terps that protrude from the wild North Sea at high tide. There are no dikes. There is no fresh water on the Halligen, but an interesting flora adapted to the salty sea water.

Geography, formation and nature

Geologically, the Halligen are very young and once formed on silted or flooded marshland. In the past, they often changed shape, some disappeared and others, such as the Hamburg Hallig, merged with the mainland. Floods repeatedly caused changes to the coastline. Due to sediment deposits, some Halligen even enlarged. However, maps have only been available since 1700. The flora and fauna are represented by the Hallig lilac flower, the sea beach plantain, ringed geese and many other species.

Places of interest on the Halligen

The unpredictable forces of nature and the way they are dealt with probably attract most guests to the Halligen, but the Halligen also offer some cultural sights. The pretty Hallig churches in particular are definitely worth a visit. These are located on the Halligen Hooge, Oland, Langeneß and Gröde.
Among the museums on Langeneß are the “Captain Tadsen Museum” and the cozy “Friesenstube”. Highlights on the Hallig Hooge are the local history museum, an old Frisian living room with interesting finds and the so-called Königspesel, a Frisian parlour that vividly conveys the living culture of the seafarers with its faience.

In addition, the Mensch & Watt experience centre on the Hallig Hooge provides exciting insights into the diverse relationships between man and nature on the Halligen. Highlights are the tidal aquarium and the mudflat workshop.

In the storm surge cinema, visitors are shown a typical country underwater on a large screen. Langeneß has the exhibition room of the Wadden Sea Conservation Station on the Rixwarft, where visitors can get an idea of the nature and culture on the Halligen in two exhibitions and guided tours during the summer season. There is another exhibition room on the Peterswarft. Here, the plants of the salt marshes and the bird life are the focus. But the challenges for the Halligen due to climate change are also discussed.

The replica of a sailing cart and a post windmill on the Ketelswarft Captain Tadsen Museum also attract interested parties.

Wadden hikes

Various mudflat hikes are offered, including one from the mainland to Hallig Oland, another to Gröde and another from Hallig Hooge to Japsand. Usually a visit to a Hallig church and of course a terp is included in the program. The duration is six to seven hours, but shorter mudflat walks with a duration of about two hours are also on offer. A total of 3200 animal species live in the Wadden Sea, 250 of them in the salt marshes. There are over 60 species of fish in the water. Countless mussels, snails, small crabs and of course the famous lugworm can be observed during a mudflat hike. The experienced mudflat guides provide informative insights into the Wadden Sea ecosystem and have all kinds of stories and anecdotes in their luggage. For young and older guests alike, a mudflat hike is a highlight during a stay on the Halligen. Visitors’ favourites are seals and grey seals, which are mainly found on the offshore sandbanks.

Life on the Halligen

The Halligen have been continuously inhabited since the Viking Age. At that time, Frisians who came from the area of the mouth of the Rhine settled here. From the very beginning, the terps served as protection against flooding. On the upper floor, all houses have had their own shelter since the huge storm surge of 1962. Today, about 230 people live on the Halligen, mainly from tourism as the most important source of income. In addition, agriculture with its focus on livestock farming still plays a certain role.

A smaller part of the population works for coastal protection at the Office for Rural Areas of the State of Schleswig-Holstein. Individual people are employed as teachers and pastors. In addition, NABU and WWF maintain stations with employees on the Halligen.

For a long time, electricity was generated by windmills and generators, but until the 1960s it still happened that Hallig residents did not have secure access to electricity. In the meantime, there are power cables to the mainland that guarantee a continuous power supply.

For a long time, the inhabitants were dependent on the collection of rainwater in cisterns for the water supply. A distinction was made between service water for humans and for livestock. The latter was stored in a water pit at the highest point of the terp. Longer dry seasons or the salinization of drinking water were constantly in the room as dangers. Fresh water then only came to the Halligen by ship. Similar to electricity generation, water pipelines to the mainland have been built since the 1960s. The uninhabited Halligen, on the other hand, still have no fresh water pipe.

Since the 1990s, the Hallig residents have also had Internet access. In the meantime, efforts are being made to get a fiber optic connection. Modernity has found its way into the stormy island world. Smaller grocery stores are available on Hooge and Langeneß for daily shopping, otherwise food is delivered by ship. There are certain delivery days for this purpose.

Nursing stations are owned by the Halligen Hooge and Langeneß. Of course, Hallig schools are not missing either, even if the number of teachers and pupils remains very manageable. The relationship between teacher and student is very close, there are even school classes that consist of only one student. But the funding is all the better.

Coastal protection, flooding and the current situation

In 1825, the great Hallig flood swallowed up all but the Halligen, which still exist today. A large loss of land was the result. Due to Lahnungen and stone layers, the area of the Halligen is even increasing today. However, the heights of storm surges continue to rise, especially in times of climate change, and require regular adjustments. In this way, the terps were further raised and fortified. Together with the Hallig residents, all inhabited terps are to be raised. The North Frisian outer sands of Japsand, Norderoogsand and Süderoogsand also contribute to the protection of the Halligen. However, it is still called land under, especially in the winter months. Up to 20 times a year, the sea floods the Halligen. Last but not least, the floods promote natural growth and ensure salinity.

Festivals and traditions

The festivals and traditions on the Halligen include the Biike brennen, the ringed goose days and the traditional costume summer. The Biike brennen heralds the end of winter and, like everywhere else in northern Germany, is a great spectacle. They celebrate and drink together. The Brent Goose Days are all about nature conservation and bird watching, when huge flocks of Brent Geese stop off on the lush green Hallig meadows. At the Trachtensommer, more than twenty traditional costume groups from the Halligen and the mainland dance together on the meadow of the Hanswarft. In addition, the women serve culinary delicacies. The character of the festival remained very familiar. Other festivals on the Halligen are the museum market with an open day in the Hallig Museum on Hooge, the lock festival with sailing regatta and the winter market on Langeneß

Holidays in Bavaria have a lot to offer: beautiful landscapes for hiking and cycling, fairytale castles in Bavaria, magnificent old towns to marvel at and discover. Whether as a holiday in the mountains, a holiday in one of the Bavarian cities or a holiday on a farm, Bavaria is extremely diverse. Make your holiday in Bavaria an unforgettable experience! We have put together our suggestions for the most beautiful places and attractions for you and explain why if you want to rent a boat in Germany , Bavaria is ideal for it.

Visit the most beautiful castles in Bavaria

No holiday in Bavaria should be complete without a visit to the most beautiful castles. The most beautiful and well-known castles in Bavaria are:

1. Neuschwanstein Castle: This fairytale castle is known far beyond the borders of Bavaria and even Germany .
2. Hohenschwangau Castle: One of the most beautiful and well-known castles in Bavaria is Hohenschwangau Castle. It is located almost directly next to Neuschwanstein Castle.
3. Würzburg Residence: The Würzburg Residence is the only one of all Bavarian castles to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit a beautiful thermal spa in Bavaria to relax

There are more than 40 thermal baths in Bavaria. The thermal baths are a popular destination for a relaxing weekend not only because of their proximity to larger cities. They can also be used for another long holiday or spa stay.

1. Therme Erding: Just outside the Bavarian capital is the Therme Erding, which is also known as Europe’s largest thermal spa world.
2. Therme Bad Wörishofen: Bad Wörishofen has many opportunities for rest and relaxation due to its location in the Allgäu at an altitude of 630 meters. The Bad Wörishofen thermal spa also conveys an exotic South Sea flair and takes visitors into the water world of the Caribbean.
3. Johannesbad Therme Bad Füssing: The Johannesbad Therme in Bad Füssing offers its visitors an extraordinary variety of thermal landscapes and treatment options.
4. Watzmann Therme: In Berchtesgaden, the Watzmann Therme is the destination of many holidaymakers.

Visit zoo in Bavaria

Would you like to go on a trip with the whole family? Then you are in good hands at the zoos in Bavaria. There you can marvel at native wildlife such as lynx, deer and raccoons. In contrast to a zoo , the animals here live in their natural environment. Whether colorful forests, rocky landscapes or refreshing waters. The youngest guests can let off steam in the petting zoo. During a feeding, you will learn how to treat the animals with respect. The most beautiful zoos and wildlife parks in Bavaria include:

1. Munich Zoo Hellabrunn
2. Nuremberg Zoo
3. Zoo Augsburg
4. Bavarian Forest Zoo in Lohberg
5. Höllohe Wildlife and Leisure Park in Teublitz
6. Klaushof Wildlife Park in Bad Kissingen
7. Poing Wildlife Park

Sailing in Bavaria

To make a holiday in Bavaria perfect, you should not miss out on spending at least part of your holiday by the water. Basically, Bavaria is very suitable for a holiday by the water in Germany, due to its good water quality . On a sailing trip you can leave your everyday life behind and simply enjoy the sound of the water.

There are numerous sailing areas in Freistatt – but on many lakes the wind is rather a rare commodity. However, the larger lakes are still suitable for a one-day or multi-day cruise. These are the best lakes for sailing in Bavaria:

• Lake Constance: of course, Lake Constance is not Lake Garda – as far as the winds are concerned. But Lake Constance should not be underestimated either: Sailing is very possible on Lake Constance and offers good conditions, especially for beginners and sailing trips. Lake Constance offers much more space for sailing than, for example, Lake Garda, and the sailor can still find a place for several nights in the harbour as a guest.

A touch of insider tip and a strong pinch of superlatives characterise Untersee, the part of Lake Constance whose multifaceted natural and cultural landscape is framed by volcanic cones and a magnificent Alpine backdrop.

• Ammersee: The sailing paradise of Ammersee presents the sailor with many a sporting and tactical challenge. He can prove his skills not only on the sea: Lake Ammersee is sometimes difficult with approaching thunderstorms, shifting winds and flying water.
• Chiemsee: The “Bavarian Sea” is one of the most beautiful sailing and surfing areas, where many regattas are held every year. It is home to many sailing clubs and societies, water sports enthusiasts and other water lovers.

On Lake Chiemsee, Lake Starnberg and Lake Ammersee, about 80 percent of the sailing ships in the Free State are registered.

Do I need a sailing license to sail?

There is no general obligation for sailboats in Germany to obtain a sailing license. But depending on the boat and the area, sailing without a sailing license is still not possible. If you want to rent a boat or charter a yacht, you will also need an official driver’s license.

Without a license, you can only get a pedal boat from most rental companies.