display
Beach holidays in Corsica or Cuba could be rather difficult this summer.
But with a little sunshine and a cocktail in a beach chair, the beaches on the German North Sea coast also feel a bit Caribbean.
Anyone who has ever crossed the wide, white Amrumer Kniepsand or surfed in St. Peter-Ording will understand why.
Five suggestions for a beach vacation on your doorstep:
The south of Sylt offers a double pack of beaches
In the tranquil village of Hörnum in the south of Sylt, not only the hustle and bustle of Westerland is far away.
The island is so narrow at this point that holidaymakers have two beaches to choose from: the sheltered, family-friendly east beach and harbor, as well as the wilder, altogether 40 kilometers long west beach.
Both are connected via the Hörnum-Odde, Sylt's dune-rich, often wind-blown southern tip, around which wonderful walks can be undertaken with a view of the sister island Amrum in the south.
display
Even when the
weather
is
bad
, the former fishing village has a soothing oasis: the year-round beach sauna in the middle of the dunes.
The plunge pool: the North Sea.
Seals on the dune in front of Heligoland
Bismarck's successor, Leo von Caprivi, is still accused of having had a bad swap with Great Britain with the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty.
How could he swap the African sun paradise Zanzibar for the "rock" in the North Sea?
Alone: It wasn't like that.
Caprivi only renounced territorial claims on Zanzibar, the island was never colonial property.
Heligoland is also more than a red rock.
All year round, ferries commute from the main island over to the offshore dune.
Not only holidaymakers like it on dune - gray seals also feel at home here
Source: Getty Images / Raimund Linke
display
This natural paradise is framed by two gently sloping, Caribbean-white beaches that vacationers often share with harbor seals and gray seals.
Particularly nice: some colorful wooden bungalows and a campsite offer exceptional overnight accommodations in the midst of this panorama.
In the west of Amrum sand to the horizon
Whoever stands at the height of the lighthouse on the western edge of the dune belt, overlooks the endless Amrum beach, which stretches for kilometers to the northern tip of the island.
What you feel, says the historic North Frisian motto in four words: "Rüm hart - klaar Kiming." That is Amrumer Frisian (Öömrang) and means: wide heart - clear horizon.
Amrum's wide beach is ideal for cycling and hiking right on the water
Source: picture alliance / Michael Narten / mna sv
At its widest point, the golden yellow so-called Kniepsand - more precisely a sandbank - extends over a kilometer and a half.
Beach wrangling is alien to Amrum.
A particularly beautiful section of the Kniepsand is at the level of the dreamy island village of Nebel.
display
The walk from the edge of the dunes to the North Sea waves is not too long, the mobile beach café “Café Knülle” also offers ice cream, drinks and beach chairs for rent in the summer season.
After jumping into the waves, you can spread your beach mat anywhere on your knee.
Without car noise on the magical beach of Juist
"Töwerland" is what the islanders call their homeland, magic land in high German.
In fact, Juist, at 17 kilometers the longest of the East Frisian Islands, has a special magic.
The wide sandy beach, which stretches over the entire north coast without groynes or other interruptions, seems almost endless.
Juist is not only magical when the sun slowly sets behind the beach
Source: pa / Zoonar / Dirk Rüter
The south side of the narrow island in the Wadden Sea National Park borders the mudflats, a magnificent natural area and resting place for around twelve million migratory birds.
If you stroll along the surf, lost in thought, jump into the North Sea waves or go on a bird tour with the ranger, you will not be disturbed by any engine noise.
The magic land is car-free, the clatter of horse-drawn carriages is the only traffic noise.
North Sea view from the pile dwellings in St. Peter-Ording
The twelve kilometer long and up to two kilometer wide fine powdery sandy beach on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein offers more than enough space for everyone and encourages long walks on the beach.
Children can let off steam in several beach playgrounds.
The pile dwellings are a specialty of St. Peter-Ording;
they now house several restaurants
Source: Getty Images / Marco Bottigelli
Another specialty of St. Peter-Ording is the numerous pile dwellings.
As early as 1911, master baker Max Ranft set up the first “poison booth” (the word comes from the Low German meaning “dor gift dat wat” - there is something) and sold not only butter cake but also plenty of schnapps.
The stilt buildings now house several restaurants.
The terraces, which are up to seven meters high, offer phenomenal views over the beach and sea, in whose waves kite surfers often play.
Who needs less adrenaline: The adjacent salt marshes can be explored on pleasant walks.
Source: WORLD infographic
How to get the most out of your vacation days in 2021
2020 was not a good year for long bridging days.
It won't get much better in 2021.
Well planned, but you can get a lot out of your vacation days.
An overview.
Source: WORLD