North Sea

Stroll along the white sandy beach, walk barefoot across the seabed, cycle with a tailwind over green dykes or enjoy the healing power of the sea with a thalassotherapy treatment - that's the North Sea!

In the rhythm of the tides: Twice a day, the seabed of the German North Sea dries up, almost as if someone were pulling the plug. The sea retreats every six hours, exposing the seabed. When the water rises, the picture changes completely. The result is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and swimmers.

The starting points for the journey to North Friesland are Hamburg and Bremen, which can be reached from Switzerland by direct day or night trains as well as by plane. Destinations in Schleswig-Holstein, such as the islands of Sylt or Föhr or the coastal towns of Büsum, St. Peter-Ording or Husum, can be reached by train from Hamburg. For the East Frisian islands, it is best to take the train from Bremen to the ferry harbour in Emden to reach the island of Borkum. The islands of Norderney and Juist can be reached via the Norddeich ferry harbour.

Did you know ...

... that the North Sea is a suitable destination for active holidaymakers? Hikes through the mudflats at low tide are a special kind of highlight. You can even walk from the coast to one of the Halligen islands on guided mudflat hikes.

... that you can set off from Zurich or Basel in the evening and arrive at the North Sea refreshed the next morning? There are night train connections from Zurich or Basel to Hamburg and Hanover.

... that Hamburg is the gateway to the coastal resorts of Büsum, St. Peter-Ording, Husum or Cuxhaven? You can reach the mainland resorts on the North Sea in just over 2 hours by car or train.