Germany's Northern Frontier: Sylt is a small island (99 km), 35 km long and 13 km wide. It is the northernmost point in Germany and sits in the North Sea, a stone's throw from Denmark. The island is one of the Frisian Islands and offers cylists, hikers, beach and nature enthusiasts a world of activities in a very relaxed environment. Easily reachable by train, the island is a favorite destination for German tourists.
Getting to Sylt: Naturally, you can fly into Sylt on one of the small carriers or on select flights from Lufthansa, but most people take the train over the Hindeburgdamm. You can catch the train in Niebuell and it is a short 30 minutes to the island. While you don't need a car on Sylt, if you wish to bring your car along, you can load it at Niebuell or other train stations in Germany. From Sylt, you can take the ferry to the Danish island of Romo or make excursions to the other Frisian islands.
Sylt Restaurants: There is plenty to choose from for dining in Sylt, from street stands to continental dining. With at least 100 restaurants, Sylt is a seafood lovers paradise.
The Gosch Restaurants on Sylt are a favorite. You can find their seafood stands all over Germany and order their delicacies online.
The Sansibar Restaurant is elegant and lovely, offering delectable new dishes daily and over 30,000 wines. For a fun experience go for a sauna at Wonnemeyer followed by a meal in the restaurant.
Where to Stay on Sylt: Whether you are searching for budget accomodations or elegance, Sylt can accomodate you. One of my favorite hotels is the
Hotel Stadt Hamburg in Westerland but there are plenty of
hotels to choose from around the island that are really charming.
in Munmarsch and the
Aarnhoog in Keitum are lovely old hotels that are guaranteed to be relaxing and pleasant.
Shopping on Sylt: Every luxury product you could wish for is sold on Sylt along with plenty of local handicrafts. If you really want to bring home something unique, think about buying a handmade Strandkorb (beach basket)for your backyard. These lovely hooded wicker seats are the preferred seating on all the beaches of Sylt and many beaches around the world. Costing between $3,000 and $12,000, you can have the beach basket shipped home and enjoy a taste of Sylt in your own backyard.
Cycling and Hiking on Sylt: Sylt offers more than 200 km of cycling and hiking trails, along beaches, through salt meadows, across dunes and through the countryside. You can rent bikes in all the villages and most hotels offer them to their guests for a minimal charge or for free. The best way to see Sylt is by bicycle and buses run close to the bike routes so if you get tired, you can load your bike on the back of the bus and head back to your hotel.
Sunning on Sylt: The Sylt beaches are clothing optional and many sun worshippers take advantage of this. It is not uncommon to see nude children romping with nude grandparents in the waves. The Germans have a different attitude toward nudity than Americans so if you are prudish, you might want to give the beaches and saunas of Sylt a pass.
An American on Sylt: I flew into Sylt in a single engine plane from Hamburg a few years ago to get a birds-eye view of the German and Danish North Sea islands. This tiny island, which can be reached by train, is a delight any time of year.
Naturally, like all seaside resorts, it is busiest and most popular in the summer months when old and young alike can frolic on the beaches with or without clothing. For being so far north, the North Sea can be very warm and the beaches of Sylt are a great place to enjoy the sea air . I cycled around the whole island in a day, across dunes, along beaches and along the streets of the lovely old town of Kampen, which remains a favorite retreat for wealthy Germans.
For most tourists, though, Westerland is the prime destination and boasts the most hotels and restaurants. The island, largely undiscovered by non-German tourists, is friendly and intimate. Regardless of where you are staying, you are only a short walk from the beach and the island is a paradise for hikers and cyclists.
The food is generally great, with fresh seafood and vegetables always available. As island guests are primarily German, you won't find much translated into English, though, so brush up on your German a little before heading to Sylt. I once got a good laugh from the other diners in a restaurant when I asked what a Lauch was and the waiter came back with a huge leek in his hand to show me what it was.
I have to say that I love Sylt, it is a wonderful place for a holiday and provides a kind of mixed Danish and German experience. You can wander the island easily on foot or bike and either enjoy the crowds in the main villages or the solitude of secluded beaches and salt marshes. What's more, you have the benefit of wonderful fresh North Sea air and countless places where you can enjoy a glass of wine or beer and look out over the ocean.
