Langeoog

At first glance, Langeoog is just one of the seven East Frisian Islands on the German North Sea coast. Only at second glance you discover the special atmosphere that makes this island so unique.

First of all, the beach inspires. Once you have stood in this seemingly endless expanse, you will never forget this magnificent sight. The 14 kilometer long sandy beach is not interrupted by anything. Neither groynes nor breakwaters disturb the harmonious impression. When the water drains, the beach expands even further and even at high tide the immaculate sandy area between the waterline and the dunes still has an impressive width.

In the shelter of a wide and high dune crest lies the pleasant little village center. Here, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages dominate the scene. There are no cars and a pleasant silence hangs over everything, where the loudest sound is the occasional screech of seagulls. The island is a paradise for those who love peace and nature. And it is a great place for a family vacation, where children can enjoy an unusual degree of freedom.

The location

The island of Langeoog is located pretty much in the middle of the long island chain of the East Frisian Islands, between the neighboring islands of Baltrum to the west and Spiekeroog to the east. The mainland is about 8 kilometers away and between Langeoog and the coast stretches a pristine mudflat landscape, which is part of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. The climate and weather on the island are characterized by the influence of the Gulf Stream and the steady westerly winds. Compared to the mainland, the temperatures are very balanced. Great heat or significant sub-zero temperatures are largely unknown and in midsummer eight hours of sunshine a day are not uncommon. Despite its remote location in the far north, the journey to Langeoog is pleasantly short. The West German conurbations on the Rhine and Ruhr are just 300 kilometers away, and the island of Langeoog can be reached easily in just under three hours via good highway and road connections.

The island

Even the name indicates the special shape of the island. The word Langeoog comes from the East Frisian dialect and means "long island". This is a very appropriate naming, because Langeoog is about 20 kilometers long, but at its narrowest point the island is just one kilometer wide. Only 5% of its total area of almost 2,000 hectares is built on, the majority of the island belongs to nature. Behind the 14-kilometer-long beach, a dune landscape rises over the entire length of the island, some of which are up to 20 meters high. This natural coastal protection makes it possible that Langeoog is the only one of the East Frisian Islands that can do without seaward coastal protection structures and inspires its guests with an unspoiled beach landscape. The island village with the most hotels and overnight accommodations is located in the west, where dunes and meadows have the largest extension. The beach is always in the immediate vicinity and can be reached from all accommodations in a few minutes on foot.

The Spirit

The endless expanse of dunes and beach, the fresh, always slightly salty sea air, pleasant temperatures and the view, which is not clouded by any haze, are characteristic elements of the vacation days on Langeoog. Private motor vehicles are not allowed on the island, so children can play safely on Langeoog and also go off on their own. You can walk, use one of the comfortable rental bikes or treat yourself to a ride in one of the nostalgic horse-drawn carriages. All this makes the island of Langeoog one of the most family-friendly vacation destinations in Germany. The enthusiasm of young and old leads to the fact that many vacationers have been regular guests of the island for years. Many have already spent as a child their summer vacations on Langeoog and return - even to parents become - with their children on this great island. The hotels, guesthouses and restaurants have also often been in the same hand for generations. Many guests and their hosts have known each other for a long time and there is a trusting and harmonious atmosphere on the island with a strong sense of community. The special charm of the island also includes the fact that gastronomy and commerce do not appear old-fashioned. The many restaurants offer real gourmet cuisine, which is in no way inferior to the menus in large metropolises. Original stores offer funny souvenirs and if you are looking for more than just weather protection for your clothes, you will be surprised by the topicality and fashionable variety of the small boutiques.

Nature

Of course, away from the busy bathing and sunbathing areas, the beach offers the great experience of nature, whose generous expanse fascinates especially the guests from metropolitan areas again and again. The opposite side of the island of Langeoog sometimes goes a little unnoticed, although it offers a natural spectacle that is unique in the world. The entire East Frisian coast from the Dutch border to the Jade Bay is covered by the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Next to the tropical rainforest, the Wadden Sea is considered the most species-rich and productive ecosystem on earth. Around 4,000 different animal and plant species live in the narrow strip between the island of Langeoog and the mainland. Most of them are mostly hidden among the sand and mud flats. The always visible inhabitant of the Wadden Sea is the lugworm, whose tubes cover the entire area at low tide. Between May and September, up to 180,000 shelducks and more than 200,000 eider ducks live and breed in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. In spring and autumn the number of birds increases to infinity, when millions of birds from Scandinavia stop here on their way to or from their winter quarters in the south. A mudflat hike is therefore one of the highlights of a vacation on Langeoog. However, this should not be done without a local guide, as the muddy area is full of shallows and other surprises. Also, the change between low and high tide can be faster than you expect. On the island of Langeoog, mudflat guides offer long or short daily excursions into the nature reserve, and wading barefoot or in rubber boots through this mysterious landscape is a particularly lasting experience.

The health

Langeoog is a recognized North Sea health resort and has been a certified Thalasso health resort since 2014. The term Thalasso is derived from the ancient Greek word Thálassa (sea) and refers to therapies and healing treatments in which sea water and air, algae silt and even sand play an important role. The island's spa and wellness center is idyllically located in a dune valley between the town center and the beach. Here, vacationers encounter an extensive range of treatments and therapies. In addition to various aqua courses and massages, respiratory gymnastics and physiotherapy services are also offered under medical supervision. However, the centerpiece of the spa and wellness center is the seawater wave pool. In this "North Sea under one roof" you will find a bathing landscape in which real waves are simulated every 30 minutes and a more than 40 m long water slide provides great fun. Those who like it quieter will feel comfortable in the numerous saunas and on the spacious sunbathing areas and have the opportunity - should the weather be less good - to spend a North Sea day in a cozy warm ambience. The greatest health potential, however, is offered by the island itself. Extensive walks on the beach in the salty air promote the general well-being and provide a high degree of hardening. Wind and surf ensure that there is a constant fine, salty water mist on the water's edge, which has a positive effect on the respiratory tract. And by the way, this kind of health care is also a lot of fun.

More than beach and sun

Langeoog offers an extensive network of paths for hiking and cycling tours to all corners of the island, which is well worth seeing. The most beautiful and longest excursion leads to the eastern tip of the island with the seal banks. The ride or hike leads through the enchanting Pirolatal, a depression between the dunes, under the surface of which is the island's freshwater reservoir, fed exclusively by rainwater. On the Melkhörn dune, the highest point of the island, you have a great view of the striking dune and meadow landscape. At the end of the hike, another lookout point awaits. From its platform, you can watch the seals that cavort on one of the offshore sandbanks on many days. A little less far is a trip to the southwest end of the island. The trail runs along the section of beach reserved for kiteboarding, then follows an interesting nature trail and ends at the island's small harbor. Each excursion leads through a nature that seems untouched in large parts and offers the visitor a lot of peace and opportunity for relaxation. For those who want to see more than just this island during their days on Langeoog, there is a wide range of excursions to the neighboring islands, to the coastal resorts or to the uninhabited bird sanctuary islands in the North Sea.

The seasons

The East Frisian wisdom "The weather is never bad, only the clothes are unsuitable" is also valid on Langeoog. If you take this to heart, you will feel comfortable on the idyllic island at any time of the year. Winters tend to be mild, snow or frost are rare, and even in the darkest months the sun shines more often here than on the mainland just a few miles away. Only over the Christmas days and the turn of the year Langeoog is relatively well visited, before and after that you will find a deep pleasant calm on the island. The most beautiful time for a few vacation days on Langeoog are considered to be spring and the first weeks of autumn, when nature shows its most beautiful side, but there is plenty of space for every visitor on the beach and in the dunes. Of course, it is warmest in midsummer and the island spoils its visitors with a sophisticated program of events and entertainment. At any time of the year, sweaters, windbreakers and rain gear are practical companions. If these items of clothing are a little thicker in the low season and in winter, you will be able to enjoy your stay on the island of Langeoog to the full even in the colder months.

The arrival

The port of departure for the crossing to the island of Langeoog is the small ferry port in the village of Esens-Bensersiel. The car is not allowed on the island, but must remain on the mainland. In Bensersel there are huge parking lots where the vehicles can be safely parked. The luggage is loaded into containers in front of the pier and unencumbered you can enjoy the 45-minute crossing to Langeoog. Once on Langeoog, a nostalgic miniature train takes you to the town center. Those who do not want to carry their extensive luggage to the accommodation themselves, commission the friendly luggage service and find their luggage a short time later in the reception of the hotel or in the garden of the rented vacation home. The ferry's sailing times between Bensersiel and Langeoog are tide-dependent, which means they change daily and depend on the water level in the Wadden Sea, which is determined by the course of the tides. Bensersiel is easy to reach via the A 1, A 29 or A 31 freeways. For the last 50 kilometers from the end of the highway in Emden or Wilhelmshaven, it takes about an hour on well-maintained federal and country roads. The Deutsche Bahn also offers good connections to Bensersiel. From the train stations in Emden and Wilhelmshaven, there are regular bus connections directly to the ferry pier to Langeoog.