North Sea
Holidays in the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site
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.
Frequently asked questions
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Several towns on the German North Sea coast have their own railway station and can be reached directly by train:
Büsum – terminus of the Heide–Büsum line, served by regional trains from Hamburg.
St. Peter-Ording – several stops, including Bad St. Peter-Ording, on the line via Husum.
Husum – a major station on the Hamburg–Westerland Marschbahn line with connections.
Cuxhaven – terminus of the Hamburg–Cuxhaven line with direct links to the coast. -
The journey time by train to the North Sea depends on your point of departure and the route taken; from Switzerland, the journey usually goes via Hamburg or Hanover. From Zurich or Basel, the journey takes around half a day to a full day, depending on the route; alternatively, there is also a night train service that arrives in the morning.
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Several well-known destinations on the German North Sea coast are easily accessible by train:
Sylt – direct train service to Westerland via the Marschbahn.
Norderney – train journey to Norddeich Mole, followed by a ferry to the island.
Cuxhaven – direct train services from Hamburg.
Büsum – regional train service from Heide with connections to long-distance services. -
Several well-known North Sea beaches can also be reached by train, with just a short walk from the station:
St. Peter-Ording – a large sandy beach with stations nearby and good transport links.
Westerland – the main beach on Sylt, within walking distance of Westerland station.
Duhnen – a beach area of Cuxhaven with a rail link to Cuxhaven and onward travel to the district.
Büsum – beach areas near the station and the town centre.
Experience the Wadden Sea
The German North Sea coast is full of surprises
