Sylt — hidden jewel of Germany

Sylt is a luxury island for the rich and famous, it’s the Hamptons of Germany where the wealthy own houses and spend their vacations there. It is the largest German island in the North Sea occupying an area of about 98 square kilometers. It attracts more than 850,000 tourists a year and can accommodate 58,000 visitors at a time.
Its 40 kilometers of white, sandy beaches are very well kept, making them great for walks, water activities or just laying down and enjoying the sun. Around 12,000 basket chairs are spread along Sylt’s beaches in the summer season; those are now one of the symbols of the island. These became so popular that visitors from outside the country are now ordering them for their homes. Some 2,000 to 3,000 basket chairs leave the island each year.
The island is worth visiting any time of the year. Sylt has four beautiful faces: Enjoy the calm and relaxation during fall and winter while filling your schedule with outdoor activities during spring and summer. Despite being a small island, Germany’s northernmost island offers a fascinating array of natural and landscape formations. Nearly half the island has been declared a conservation area or nature reserve, the Wadden Sea lining Sylt’s coast is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it officially one of the most significant natural monuments in the world.
There are 12 different places that make Sylt even more attractive, starting with the vibrant Westerland, which is the pulse on the lively side of the island. It is the only town and the pedestrian precinct in the city center and lined with numerous shops, café, health resorts, and restaurants. It offers something for everyone, whether bathing or surfing, tennis or cycling, theater or music on the shore, wellness or shopping. In Westerland you will find everything.
Kampen is a stylish area and Sylt’s most elegant location. Nature reveals itself here in all its beauty from beaches of soft sand and the red cliff and blooming heathland. You will fine the Uwe dune in the middle at 52 meters the highest elevation on the island. There is also a beautiful health resort where many come to relax and unwind. To reach the top of the dune you need to climb 109 steps. The platform provides walkers a great view of Sylt and up to Denmark.
Most popular locations for families are the Wenningstedt and Braderip. Both offer miniature golf courses, trampoline bouncing, painting courses and pony riding.
Horum is located on the south of the island and it offers sun, sea, sand and more. It also offers the largest sand pit in the world. You can rent a boat, tour around and discover neighboring islands on a nice sunny day.
List is an area located up north of the island offering wide beaches and a beautiful dune landscape. But what makes it popular is the events held in the area, as well as a harbor bustling with tourists and locals.
Sylt’s narrow waistline is called Rantum. It is very close to the sea, only a few hundred meters separate the roaring west coast from the quiet tidal shallows in the east. To the north of the area lies a nature reserve for birds that is home to some of the most diverse species in Northern Germany.
Five areas located in the east of the island: Tinnum, Keitum, Munkmarsch, Archsum and Mosrum are the green heart of the island. The different shades of green will drop your jaw. Walking and admiring nature here is an activity you will never forget. Old Frisian homes are built in a traditional way with thatched roofs. It is illegal to light fireworks in this island because they might set the roofs on fire.
Unlike other Germans, Frisian people drink more tea than coffee and tea plays a major role in their life. It is presented all day long and in celebrations. An interesting place to visit is the Kontorhaus Keitum local tearoom where you can enjoy a traditional cup of original Sylt tea, sit in front of the fireplace and enjoy live piano.
Sylt is an island of wellness. Make sure you take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. Aside from the healthy climate, the clean air and pure water, Sylt offers the largest and most varied choice of treatment at the Westerland Syltness Center. It is a modern spa where one can pamper their mind, body and soul with any spa treatment from the Cleopatra bath, Turkish Hammam, massages, facials and nails treatments. The center also offers an outdoor pool, gym and yoga sessions. Leaving the center as a new person is guaranteed.
Great food is yet another thing that makes the island special. All meals are prepared with fresh ingredients by Michelin star chefs. Sylt has over 200 restaurants and eateries offering both variety and class.
You can enjoy a relaxed lunch at La Grande Plage overviewing the white sandy beach of Kampen. Enjoy your lunch indoors or outdoors and choose from a variety of great foods. For dinner you should try Sansibar, the most expensive restaurant on the island. Booking a table should be done months in advance for it is fully booked all year long.
Sylt is a great destination for sport lovers. International sporting events bring thrills and entertainment to the island all year round. It offers visitors all types of water sports, joggers and hikers will love the 22 kilometers hike and golfers are spoilt for choice with four excellent golf courses. Fishing is also great there and you will see many cyclists on the side of the road where people like to enjoy outdoor sports more than anywhere in Germany.
The German island has been inhabited for the past 800 years and there are many historic and cultural sites that you can discover. You can visit an old Frisian house to see how people lived on Sylt 100 ago The Old Captain’s house in Keitum gives you the opportunity to see it restored to its original state. You can also pass by the History Museum in Keitum that exhibits numerous traditional costumes.

Where to stay:
The Budersand is one of the top five-star luxurious hotels on the island. It is situated directly on the sea. The hotel building with its bright and modern architecture is gently integrated into the natural surroundings. The hotel consists of four buildings connected by bridges and spacious halls that link the lobby, restaurants and the spa area. The boutique hotel is very relaxing with the natural colors of the interior. As you walk in you can see the hardwood floors, comfortable chairs and accessories reflect what the hotel is all about.
The hotel offers 79 rooms and suites all with balconies with a view of the sea, the dunes surrounding the golf course or the romantic Hornum harbor. The spa is one of the things you do not want to miss at the hotel. It offers an indoor pool, organic sauna, Finnish sauna, steam bath, eight treatment rooms, tea lounge and a beautiful terrace with a view of the sea. You also cannot miss the breakfast buffet with its glass wall windows over looking the Wadden Sea, there is also the terrace where you can enjoy a warm cup of tea looking at the calm waves of the sea. KAI3 gourmet restaurant offers amazing food made by their Michelin star chef
One of the famous aspects about this hotel is the 18-hole golf course that also offers a golf clubhouse, a boutique that sells golf equipment and above all golf lessons. You may want to feast on a light bite at the Stronholt bistro in the golf clubhouse. The hotel welcomes the unique island light inside so that each season can be experienced inside the hotel as well. You will love the relaxed and private atmosphere and especially the library where Elke Heidenreich, moderator, author and Germany’s best-known literary critic, selects the books.

How to get there:
The easiest way to reach the island is by taking a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt and a 45 minutes flight to Sylt’s airport located in the heart of the island. Another way is by train. First fly to Frankfurt, then ride a train to Hamburg and finally you can arrive in Sylt.

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