The island
Sylt
Thirty-eight kilometres of North Sea beach, a World Heritage tidal flat, and twelve villages with almost nothing in common. What you can reach from Westerland in a day.
At around 99 square kilometres, Sylt is the largest of the German North Sea islands, connected to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm causeway since 1927. The causeway carries rail traffic only — if you bring a car, it travels on a car train.
The island is long and narrow. The west side faces the open North Sea with a continuous sandy beach; the east side is the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. At the narrowest point near Rantum, only a few hundred metres separate the two coasts.
From Westerland you can reach every village on the island in under an hour — by bus, bike or car. That is what makes a base in the main town practical: you stay central and still have the quiet corners within reach.
The seasons
Four islands in one year.
- Spring
- The island wakes up and the beaches are empty. Wind is part of the deal. A good time for long walks and for birdwatching at the Rantum basin when the brent geese pass through.
- Summer
- High season with everything that entails: busy beaches, a crowded station, rows of beach chairs. This is when we let from seven nights. Booking early isn't a sales line, it's the reality.
- Autumn
- For many the best season. The light goes long and low, the heath near Braderup finishes flowering, restaurants are calmer. Storms arrive — which is exactly why some people come in October.
- Winter
- Clear, cold, wide open. The island belongs to the locals again. The Biikebrennen fires on 21 February are worth the trip: they are UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
