Westerland: The island metropolis with promenade
Anyone visiting the island first arrives in Westerland, the island's capital. It doesn't matter whether he arrives traditionally by car train or by train or plane. Westerland is home to the airport, the train station and the car loading point. But you should also pay a visit to the lively island capital. The heart of Westerland is the Friedrichsstraße. It leads directly from the train station to the city beach and is the island's promenade. Here you can sit comfortably in the street cafes and watch the colorful hustle and bustle or stroll past the countless boutiques. The offer is varied and can compete with the well-known German shopping streets. Directly on the city beach is the famous shell. Music events are held regularly in the concert hall, and on Sundays the Sylt Chanty Choir sings here.
Miles of sandy beaches and first-class hotels
Westerland is not only a popular excursion destination, but also suitable for a longer vacation. Here the visitor finds everything that makes the heart of vacationers beat faster. During the day you can relax on the kilometer-long sandy beaches. Here nudist lovers will find their own beach section, as well as surfers or dog owners. The small hunger in between can be satisfied at the famous fish stalls and those who like it classy, can be served a multi-course menu in the elegant restaurants. The island capital offers accommodation for every budget. Families with children stay in comfortable apartments near the beach. Who likes it contemplatively, which selects the classical breakfast pension and the well well-heeled holiday-maker decides for the Nobelhotel with own Wellnessbereich. On rainy days, the Sylt Wave awaits visitors. Here you can take a sauna or float in the wave pool. The more adventurous can plunge down several slides. In the evening, you can try your luck in the casino.
Rantum: natural paradise and a trendy beach resort
Rantum used to be an idyllic little village and most vacationers used to drive carelessly through it to reach the south of the island. But then the restaurant "Sansibar" opened on Rantum's beach and became the island's trendy hangout overnight. In summer, hundreds of vacationers flock here to enjoy the famous Sansibar curry sausage or one of the fine wines. Zanzibar is now its own label. Its polo shirts are also worn all over the country. By the way, it is worthwhile to walk a few kilometers towards the center of the village. Here you can still find quiet stretches of beach or relax in a classic beach sauna. Rantum offers very good excursion possibilities for cyclists. The island cycle path leads from Westerland via Rantum directly to the south of the island.
The Rantum basin, a spring and a quaint harbor
The Rantum basin is one of the most beautiful natural paradises on the island. It is best to cycle around it. You can hear countless species of birds singing and watch dike lambs at the edge of the floodplain. The camping site with the most beautiful view of the island is located directly at the basin. If you like it more comfortable, you can stay in the village hotel with swimming pool and child care. The island's mineral water comes from the Rantum spring. The spring can be visited and besides refreshing water you can also taste delicious cake. Another idyll is the Rantum harbor. Only true island connoisseurs come here. The fish roll tastes just as good here. However, it is cheaper than in the trendy fish stalls and you can enjoy it in peace. At the same time, you can look at the small boats bobbing back and forth in the harbor basin.
Hörnum: A quiet place in the south of the island
Hörnum is one of the most beautiful places on the island. Directly in front of the southern tip, the Wadden Sea and the open surf meet. The southern tip is called Hörnum Odde. It changes every year, because the storms put pressure on the headland. Again and again the sea takes a part of the sand and makes the place smaller and smaller. The villagers fight with all means against the storm tides, but often unfortunately in vain. If the weather is nice, you can hike around the southern tip. Those who retreat here seek peace and quiet, sit on the edge of the tide, listen to the sea roar and surrender to this rugged landscape. The view is also spectacular, as you can see as far as Amrum and Föhr. In the middle of the dunes is a well-known restaurant. The heart of the island is the lighthouse. It can be seen from far away and is traditionally striped in red and white.
Sandy beaches and a lively harbor
Hörnum is known for its miles of sandy beaches. They are also precisely divided. Some vacationers fly kites and others romp around with their four-legged friends. At the southern tip there is always a light wind blowing. It is therefore advisable to rent a beach chair. In it you can enjoy the sun sheltered from the wind. Directly at the lighthouse is the busy local beach. Here you will find souvenir stalls and you can enjoy culinary delights. However, if you want to taste the freshest seafood on the island, you should go over to the harbor. Here you can buy crabs and mussels directly from the cutter. In the harbor snack bar the fish comes directly from the cutter into the pan. By the way, it is worth taking a look at the harbor basin. This is the home of seal "Willi", who has lived here for years and loudly begs tourists for fish. During the season, a flea market is held regularly in the harbor. Three times a day, excursion steamers set off on exploratory trips around the southern tip. The evening trips with happy hour offers on board are especially popular. During the season, the boats sail daily to the neighboring islands of Föhr and Amrum. Trips to the Halligen and the seal banks are also offered at intervals.
The sleepy Munkmarsch and the heath of Braderup
In the east of the island there has never been much going on. Here meet quiet-seeking vacationers who prefer to stay away from the tourist resorts. The most quaint place on the island is Munkmarsch. The harbor has preserved its originality. Here you can still linger by the sea all alone and make a trip to the Wadden Sea. Wonderful hiking trails lead along the mud flats. Braderup is another natural paradise to the north. The well-known heath lies in the immediate vicinity of the beach. Vacationers walk over boardwalks and across lily-flowered areas full of erica plants, and with luck even the odd lizard will scurry by. From the heath, a path leads to the beach. From here you have a great panorama of the thatched beach houses and in good weather you can see as far as Denmark.
Keitum and Tinnum in the east of the island
Tinnum is located just behind the loading dock at the Westerland train station. In the center of the village, time has stood still. Here are some private vacation homes. Families with children are attracted to the Tinnum Zoo. But those who travel to Tinnum primarily want to shop. Discounters and supermarkets line up in the commercial area of Tinnum. There is even a department store, an outlet center of a well-known German pastry factory and a large second-hand store. It gets really crowded here in the evening, when vacationers do their daily shopping. Things are much quieter in Keitum. It only gets noisy in the village when an airplane is approaching Westerland. Otherwise, you can stroll through the picturesque town center. A few Frisian-style tea rooms and restaurants await visitors. There are also some boutiques behind the doors of the thatched-roof houses. A must for visitors is a trip to Keitum Church. The church is located directly on the Wadden Sea and is one of the most visited sights on the island. Concerts are held here regularly during the season.
Morsum: The village with the famous cliff
Morsum forms the eastern tip of the island. Here begins the Hindenburgdamm and leads across to the mainland. The village is secluded. At the roadside the last farmers of the island offer eggs and fresh vegetables. Tourists usually drive by carelessly, because the main attraction is the Wadden Sea. The Morsum cliff attracts thousands of vacationers every year. It consists of white, brown and copper-red sand and sandstone and towers meters high over the Wadden Sea. Most vacationers come only for a photo stop and hike above the cliff over a wooden walkway to the vantage point. Real Sylt connoisseurs choose the lower path directly along the mudflats. Here you can experience firsthand how the storms batter the cliff every year. It gets smaller and smaller and at high tide the hiking trail leads through the water. If you want to explore the real cliff, you need sturdy and waterproof shoes and at least two hours of time.
The family-friendly Wenningstedt
Wenningstedt is the family resort of the island. Numerous vacation apartments and hotels are located here. The small town center is home to a few souvenir stores and a few restaurants. Families eat on the promenade during the day, and in the evening insiders who like to turn their backs on Kampen meet here, slurp oysters and drink champagne. The beach invites you to relax and walk. To the north, it leads directly past the Kampen cliff to the posh resort. To the south, you quickly reach the island's capital, Westerland. Traditionally, people play miniature golf in Wenningstedt. The small facility in the center has been attracting visitors for decades. In the season, the tourist association attracts visitors with numerous events. Then there are also regular flea markets.
The posh resort of Kampen and the most northerly place in Germany
Behind Wenningstedt lies the posh resort of Kampen. Here Germany's celebrities cavort. National coach Löw jogs along the beach, Günter Jauch relaxes in the beach basket and Lothar Matthäus takes his beautiful companion out. Here you can meet a star at every corner and nowhere else are so many luxury cars parked in such a confined space. In the town center only star chefs cook in the restaurants and in the boutiques you can find the latest collections of world-famous designers. During the day you can sunbathe on the beach of "Buhne 16". In the evening you can go to the club "Rotes Kliff" or dance in the discotheque "Pony". Of course, only a select audience gets in there. Directly behind Kampen begins a breathtaking dune landscape. Here lies List, the northernmost village in Germany. The place became famous through Gosch the fisherman. Decades ago, he still cooked himself behind a board snack bar. Today Gosch maintains fish restaurants throughout Germany and on cruise ships.
Ferries to Denmark and an elbow
The Lister Ellenbogen forms the northern tip of the island. Out of season, you will only encounter sheep here. The dune landscape is unique and the beaches have Caribbean flair. However, bathing is strictly forbidden here. But you can walk accompanied by a maritime panorama from the lighthouse List West to the lighthouse List East. At the beginning of the elbow is the famous bamboo bar. The former stop attracts today with cocktails at sunset. A ferry to Denmark departs from Lister Hafen several times a day. Sylt travel agencies offer excursions to Legoland in Billund. In the morning, at noon and in the evening, excursion ships also sail around the elbow or to the seal banks. There is also a cutter with pirate trips for children. The whole harbor is a popular meeting place for vacationers and islanders. The old barrel hall is now home to a variety of stores and stalls.
