North Sea route

In Cuxhaven you can choose between different modes of transport: the MS Flipper, a small ferry, calls at the island of Neuwerk once a day; the crossing takes two hours. Alternatively, you can board one of the horse-drawn wagons, which will get you there a bit faster. Or you can hike all the way to the island – right through the mudflats. As this can be dangerous due to rising tides, you should be well prepared or have a mudflat guide accompany you. That way, you can also learn more about the Wadden Sea, this unique ecosystem and UNESCO World Heritage site. Geologically speaking, the Wadden Sea is fairly young; it was formed by a post-glacial sea-level rise and strong currents. Today, this current landscape and submarine seascape has a remarkable wealth of flora and fauna.

Thanks to its abundant food supplies, 10 to 12 million migratory birds from around 400 different species stop over in the Wadden Sea each year. This part of the North Sea provides the habitat for 140 species of fish as well as hundreds of seals, and you may also spot the odd grey seal or harbour porpoise while you are there. All of these are governed in a distinct way by the tides, currents and air movements. This unique natural environment lets you experience phenomena such as mudflats, tideways, sandbanks, and migrating islands. Here you can enjoy the relaxing expanse of the national park, with the soft seabed, muddy silt or the clear water of the tideways underneath your feet.

Once you arrive on the island of Neuwerk, you may find your sense of time and space is instantly rewired, with grazing horses on green meadows, swooping seagulls, the top of the dike on the horizon and nothing else but pastures, salt marshes and a few scattered houses. The island is car-free so all you can hear is the howling wind, the crashing waves, screeching birds, horses’ hooves and the occasional hum of a tractor that takes arriving guests to their place of accommodation. The island has a total of 21 permanent residents, who run two shops, four hotels, two school hostels and one letterbox that is emptied depending on the tides. Neuwerk used to have its own school as well. Founded in 1827, it was closed down in 2020 because the island’s only two primary school children had moved away with their parents.

Neuwerk is simply a peaceful, timeless experience. When the tide is low, a small sandy beach emerges on the island. The sea water is incredibly clear, enabling you to observe and admire small fish, crabs and crayfish. If the water is too cold for your liking, why not build a sandcastle – or go amber hunting: every now and then, pieces of amber, sometimes of considerable size, have been found in the Neuwerk mudflats. The late Hans-Georg Backhaus, the island’s school teacher for many decades, gathered an impressive collection over the years, which can still be viewed today at the local Haus Bernstein.

Two cultural highlights are not to be missed on the island: one of them is Hamburg’s oldest building, the Neuwerk lighthouse, a listed building completed in 1310. Unlike most other lighthouses, it doesn’t have red and white stripes, but is made of brick and has a copper roof. Back in the days, guards on the tower would be on the lookout for pirates, securing the mouth of the Elbe and the entrance to the port of Hamburg. In 1814, a beacon light was installed and the tower was thus transformed into a lighthouse. The building, which also includes a guesthouse and a viewing platform at a height of 40 metres, is currently undergoing extensive renovations. Works are scheduled to be completed in 2025, i.e. soon you will be able to spend the night there and visit the platform once you’ve successfully climbed the 138 steps to the top.Another highlight is the NationaIpark-Haus, the information centre of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park. Admission is free. On 180 m² of space, an exhibition provides insights into the history of Neuwerk and the formation of the Wadden Sea. Through eight interactive stations, visitors can learn about domestic animals and plants of Neuwerk and the Wadden Sea. Here you can examine details of crab shells and snail shells through a microscope, experience a dune simulation demonstrating how the sand is shaped by the wind, and a seagull quiz lets you put your knowledge about different seagull species and their appearance to the test. One of the exhibition’s most popular features is the large tidal aquarium that simulates high and low tides.

Once you have left the island of Neuwerk behind and you are back in Cuxhaven, the RE5 regional train will take you back to Hamburg in just under 2 hours.

As a route planner, we strive to put together particularly diverse routes through Hamburg's most beautiful areas. Did you like our North Sea route? We look forward to receiving your feedback. To discover even more unique places in Hamburg, take a look at our city map.