Sylt (North Frisian: Söl, Danish: Sild) belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany. It is a narrow island with a 40-km white beach and dunes on the western (sea) side and opens to mudflats on the eastern side. The island, and especially the city of Kampen, were traditionally known as a meeting place for Germany's high society, and many rich Germans maintain holidays homes on the island. Accordingly, Sylt is the most expensive island in Germany, so plan your budget accordingly. That being said, the expensive things are mostly lavish holiday apartments and champagne at the high prized bars and restaurants, so you can mitigate the impact somewhat by avoiding those.
Geologically, Sylt originated as a terminal moraine of the Saale glaciation; it was connected to the mainland until a devastating flood in 1362.
- Westerland. The main city, with the railway station, all amenities and a beach promenade.
- List. A harbor at the north-eastern end of the island with ferries to Denmark.
- Kampen. It has bars, restaurants, galleries, and holiday mansions. The beach at Kampen is bordered by a 30-m-tall red cliff. Here you'll also find the 50-m-tall Uwe Düne, the island's highest point.
- Hörnum. A city at the southern tip of the island, with ferries to Amrum and Föhr.
Westerland. The main city, with the railway station, all amenities and a beach promenade.
List. A harbor at the north-eastern end of the island with ferries to [[Denmark]].
Kampen. It has bars, restaurants, galleries, and holiday mansions. The beach at Kampen is bordered by a 30-m-tall red cliff. Here you'll also find the 50-m-tall Uwe Düne, the island's highest point.
Hörnum. A city at the southern tip of the island, with ferries to [[Amrum]] and [[Föhr]].
- Denghoog, Wenningstedt-Braderup. Neolithic passage grave dating from around 3200 BC. This is the biggest and most impressive of the island's megaliths; for a fee you can enter the grave which is covered by 3 massive stones, the largest of which weighs 20 tons.
- Rotes Kliff. 30-metre high line of sea cliffs
- Uwe Düne. A dune that marks the highest point of the island; stairs lead to the top, with a wonderful view.
- Wandering Dunes of List. The last wandering dune of Germany, which marches east about 7 metres per year.
- Sylter Heimatmuseum, Am Kliff 19, Keitum.
- Altfriesisches Haus, Am Kliff 13, Keitum.
- The Seal Willy.
Denghoog, Wenningstedt-Braderup. Neolithic passage grave dating from around 3200 BC. This is the biggest and most impressive of the island's megaliths; for a fee you can enter the grave which is covered by 3 massive stones, the largest of which weighs 20 tons.
Rotes Kliff. 30-metre high line of sea cliffs
Uwe Düne. A dune that marks the highest point of the island; stairs lead to the top, with a wonderful view.
Wandering Dunes of List. The last wandering dune of Germany, which marches east about 7 metres per year.
Sylter Heimatmuseum, Am Kliff 19, Keitum.
Altfriesisches Haus, Am Kliff 13, Keitum.
The Seal Willy.
Classically Sylt is a beach destination and this still remains the main draw of the island. While the landscape of the German coast is beautiful even for those who don't want to swim or bathe, the temperature of the water rarely exceeds 20 °C even in the summer and that it can get rather windy. Sunburn is, however, a common concern especially when it is windy and appears to be cold, as the sun's UV rays are unperturbed by wind or temperature.
Several segments of the beach are officially declared as FKK (German for "nudist"), but these designations carry little weight; nude and non-nude bathers are tolerated everywhere.
A typically German thing to do at the beach is renting a Strandkorb (a wooden roofed beach chair) and just sitting in it and relaxing.
Along the beach, concrete groynes were built into the sea in an effort to halt sand erosion. These groynes are not visible at high tide and present a danger to unaware bathers. They are marked with cross signs along the beach.
Adults must pay a fee to access the beach (€4 per day from Mai to October, €2 from November to April); it's €3.30 or €1.65 if you pay in advance at your hotel or pension.
You may want to hike along the beach, along the paths in the dunes and heath behind the beach (it is forbidden to stray from the paths though), and near the mudflats on the western side of the island. Several dozen megalithic graves dating back to the neolithic (c. 3000 BC) can be found on the island.
Almost every restaurant on the island serves seafood, with the fish burger being considered something of a takeaway speciality. The island is definitely not cheap with the prices somewhat inflated by the wealthy German tourists who seem to make up 95% of the tourist traffic.
- Dorint Söl'ring Hof, Rantum.
- Sylter Eismanufaktur, List. Ice cream manufacturer
- Kupferkanne, Kampen (in a former Wehrmacht bunker, near a nature preserve. Coffee and cakes
- Raantem Hüs, Rantum.
- Jürgen Gosch Kneipe, Friedrichstraße 15B, +49 4651 23745.
- Alte Friesenstube, Gaadt 4, +49 4651 1228.
- Restaurant Sturmhaube, Riperstig 1, +49 4651 99 59 40.
- Kupferkanne, Stapelhooger Wai 7, +49 4651 41010.
- Vogelkoje, Lister Str. 100,.
- Kaamp Meren, Kaamp-Hüs, Hauptstraße 12, 25999 Kampen, +49 4651 43500. Tu – Su 12:00 – 23:00 closed on Mondays.
Dorint Söl'ring Hof, Rantum.
Sylter Eismanufaktur, List. Ice cream manufacturer
Kupferkanne, Kampen (in a former Wehrmacht bunker, near a nature preserve. Coffee and cakes
Raantem Hüs, Rantum.
Jürgen Gosch Kneipe, Friedrichstraße 15B, +49 4651 23745.
Alte Friesenstube, Gaadt 4, +49 4651 1228.
Restaurant Sturmhaube, Riperstig 1, +49 4651 99 59 40.
Kupferkanne, Stapelhooger Wai 7, +49 4651 41010.
Vogelkoje, Lister Str. 100,.
Kaamp Meren, Kaamp-Hüs, Hauptstraße 12, 25999 Kampen, +49 4651 43500. Tu – Su 12:00 – 23:00 closed on Mondays.
- Kampen
- Gogärtchen, Strönwai 12.
- Pony Club, Strönwai 6.
- Rauchfang, Strönwai 5.
- Rotes Kliff, Braderuper Weg 3.
- Rantum
- Samoa Seepferdchen, Hörnumerstraße 70.
- Westerland
- Bistro26, Friedrichstraße 26
- Strandhaus, Lornsenweg 13.
- Wunderbar, Paulstraße 6.
Gogärtchen, Strönwai 12.
Pony Club, Strönwai 6.
Rauchfang, Strönwai 5.
Rotes Kliff, Braderuper Weg 3.
Samoa Seepferdchen, Hörnumerstraße 70.
Strandhaus, Lornsenweg 13.
Wunderbar, Paulstraße 6.