Heligoland

Germany’s only offshore island, with red sandstone cliffs and the Lange Anna sea stack standing in the North Sea. Seabirds nest on the cliffs, seals crowd the sandy beaches of the Dune island, and the island offers duty-free shopping.

Heligoland lies in the German Bight of the North Sea, about 65 km from Cuxhaven. It is Germany’s only offshore island. It consists of the main island, about 1 square kilometer, and the Dune island to the east. The main island is divided into the Unterland (Lower Land), at the harbor, and the Oberland (Upper Land), a red sandstone plateau about 40 meters high. The two are connected by an elevator and stairs. The main activities are: walking the clifftop path around the Oberland, which takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and offers views of the Lange Anna sea stack and the northern gannet colonies on the seabird cliffs; exploring the Unterland, with its lobster huts, duty-free shopping streets and island history museum, and taking a guided tour of the underground air-raid shelters; and taking a small ferry to the Dune island to see seals and sunbathe on its white sand beaches.

The best season is May to September, with many ferry departures and good seabird breeding. November to January is the breeding season for grey seals on the Dune island beaches, but winter brings rough seas and fewer ferries. Transport: In summer, high-speed boats and ferries run from Hamburg, Cuxhaven, Büsum and other ports, taking about 1.5 to 4 hours one way. Small planes also fly from Cuxhaven and other airports. Traditional ferries anchor offshore, so you must transfer to a small boat (Börteboote) to land. Those prone to seasickness should bring medication. A day trip usually allows only 3 to 4 hours on the island. To see the sunset, stars and seals on the Dune island at dawn, plan to stay 1 to 2 nights. Cars and bicycles are banned on the island, and walking is enough to see most of it. Goods are sold without VAT, but remember the duty-free limits when you return home.

Top sights

• Heligoland – Germany's only offshore island, with red sandstone cliffs, seabird colonies and seals. Ferries from Cuxhaven take about 2 hours.
• Düne (Heligoland) – A small sand island across a narrow channel from Heligoland's main island. Its white-sand beaches are home to grey and harbor seals, and pu…
• Lange Anna & Cliff Trail – A 47 m red sandstone sea stack at the northern tip of Heligoland, next to Lummenfelsen, Germany's smallest bird sanctuary.
• Lummenfelsen – Germany's smallest nature reserve. Its red cliffs are packed with northern gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes, and you can watch birds fro…
• Museum Helgoland – A museum that tells the island's history of handovers between Britain and Germany, WWII bombings, and the reconstruction after the “Big Ban…
• Hummerbuden – A row of brightly colored wooden huts along the inner harbor. Originally fishermen's sheds for storing lobster pots, they now house galleri…
• Helgoland Air-Raid Bunker Tour – A guided walk through WWII air-raid tunnels carved into the rock, offering insight into the fortress island's wartime past.
• Unterland–Oberland Lift – A public lift and long staircase connect Lower Land and Upper Land. The colorful houses of Am Falm at the foot of the cliff overlook the ha…
• Lung Wai – The main pedestrian street of Lower Land, lined with duty-free shops selling tobacco, liquor, perfume, and cosmetics. It is a must-visit fo…
• Heligoland Lighthouse – A square lighthouse built on the base of a WWII anti-aircraft tower, one of the most powerful lights in the German Bight and a landmark of…
• St. Nicolai Church, Heligoland – An Upper Land church rebuilt in 1959 after the islanders returned. It has ship models hanging inside, and its stained glass tells the islan…

Where to eat

• Aquarium Restaurant – TripAdvisor’s top-rated seafood spot on the island, with sea views across to the dune island of Düne; tasting portions…
• Rickmers Galerie Restaurant – A waterfront restaurant beside the colorful lobster huts on Südstrand, serving crab in several preparations and widely…
• Atlantis Restaurant – A family seafood restaurant in the Oberland, opened in 2003, with good-value seafood platters and reservation-only crab…

Itineraries

• Cuxhaven & Heligoland: 5-Day North Sea Island-Hopping Itinerary – Travel from Hamburg to the mouth of the Elbe, cross the Wadden Sea mudflats to Neuwerk, and take a boat to Heligoland.