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Germany’s North Sea Island of Helgoland

At various times in history, Helgoland was a possession of Britain and Denmark; today this unusual island is part of Germany. Actually, it’s an archipelago of two islands. The larger, main island is permanently inhabited. The smaller island, known as “Dune,” was once connected to the main island by a natural isthmus, but the two were separated by a storm flood in 1720. Today, Dune is mainly used as a summer resort. In addition to small bungalows, campgrounds and sandy beaches, Dune has an airport for small planes with a 400 m/1300 ft concrete runway. Except for the few who arrive by private watercraft or small airplane, virtually everyone goes to Helgoland by ferry from one of the various ports.

Not unlike the Baltic island of Ruegen, Helgoland has an especially sunny climate in comparison to mainland Germany. It’s a favorite destination for people with allergies and other respiratory conditions, as the air off the North Sea is particularly clean and fresh. Helgoland is a recognized North Sea Spa Resort. The climate is so mild that figs are grown there. The biggest draw for many, aside from the chance to take a pleasurable boat ride to an unusual island, is the duty-free shopping in town. There’s a limit to what you can bring back to the mainland, but the savings on a small number of purchases can more than offset the cost of the trip.

Information in English is available at the website of the Helgoland Tourism Office here.