Schleswig-Holstein’s Wattenmeer National Park is part of an expansive network that stretches down the coast into Hamburg and Lower Saxony. The Watt refers to the mud—miles and miles of it—that sustains a wide variety of unique plant and animal life. Walking across the flats is surreal. Twice daily, the ocean retreats, exposing miles and miles of walkable sea floor to the open air. The region is filled to the brim with small town “health resorts” that capitalize on the invigorating salt-laden air circulating through the region and the supposed curative properties of the mud. The park is full of distinctive features, like the tiny Halligen islands, where houses built on mounds become their own tiny islands when the island floods (up to 20 times per year.) Below ground, the tidal flats contain a higher animal biomass than tropical forests. The Wattenmeer National Park witnesses a seasonal migration of birds and tourists alike, with resort towns more than tripling in population during the summer.
Wattenmeer National Park stretches along Schleswig Holstein’s western coast, situated on the North Sea. Tönning, in the central region of the park, is a good place to collect information before you begin exploring. Twenty-five kilometers to the west, the resort town of St. Peter-Ording affords the most unique park experience. The spectacular beach extends for miles—both on either side and out towards the water during low tide. To the northwest, the North Frisian Islands including Sylt and Amrum peek out of the sea, with beautiful white sand beaches on their western shores and wide stretches of Wattenmeer tidal flats on their sheltered eastern sides.
Trains provide easy access to nearly all towns and sights along the coast. Most trains within the greater Wattenmeer National Park area are NOB (Nord-Ostsee-Bahn) regional trains; tickets for these can be purchased onboard. Hourly trains shuttle between St. Peter Ording and Husum, stopping in Tönning. Bus connections are less frequent and less extensive than train connections. Though most tourist offices address transportation, the region’s bus terminals often lack information centers, so plan ahead and inquire about bus routes in town or decipher the posted schedules on your own.
Youth hostels dot the North Sea coast. In addition to the hostels described in the city listings, other HI hostels in the region are listed here (prices are per night and exclude Kurkarte; over age 26 add €3-4):
Wattwandern (Watt Hikes). When the tides ebb, the mud flats of the Watt become exposed, making it possible to walk across areas usually populated by fish. To arrange a tour, call the National Park Service (☎04681 962 00) or a nearby Schutzstation. Private companies also offer tours. Adler-Schiffe leads walks across the Watt between the islands of Amrum and Föhr. The 2hr. trip departs from Nordstrand, near Husum, and includes the cost of ferry rides to and from the islands. (☎04842 900 00 or pick up a brochure to see the schedule. www.adler-schiffe.de. €18, children €12.50.) Reederei Rahder (see Boat Tours) offers 1½-2hr. guided hikes of the Watt in the vicinity of Büsum, leaving from Ankerplatz. (€6, children €3, families €15. Ask the tourist office for a schedule.) If you insist on striking out independently, pick up a tide chart and seek advice from one of the information centers to avoid racing a rising tide.
Beaches And Swimming. Most costal towns levy fees called Kurtaxe for beach access. The cost varies, but is generally €1.50-3 per day, €0.50-1 for children. Hotels and pensions in the area automatically add the cost of the Kurkarte to your bill. Guests not staying overnight can purchase day cards granting beach access for roughly the same cost. Swimming is allowed at all beaches in the park not reserved for surfing, although the water can be uncomfortably cool year-round. The plentiful nude beaches are labeled FKK Strand, denoting the Freier Körper Kultur (Free Body Culture) association.
Hiking And Biking. Biking is an incredibly popular and effective way to explore the park, both on the mainland and the islands. The park has a broad network of paved and gravel trails, and the powerful North Sea wind can send you flying along at exhilarating speeds or slow your progress to a painful crawl. For information on renting bikes, see individual town listings. Hiking trails crisscross the park and environs—visit local information centers for maps.
☎ 04681 Tönning The charming little town of Tönning (pop. 5000) is an easily accessible gateway to the Wattenmeer. From the town square, white fish painted on the sidewalklead past the harbor to ...more
☎ 04683 St. Peter-Ording St. Peter-Ording (pop. 4000) consists of four parts stretching from northwest to southeast: St. Peter-Ording, St. Peter-Bad, St. Peter-Dorf, and St. Peter-Böhl. Transportation ...more
☎ 04651 Sylt Island The windswept island of Sylt—with miles of trails, white-sand beaches, and traditional thatched-roof Frisian houses—has long been Germany’s favorite vacation spot, drawing ...more
☎ 04682 Amrum Island The smallest of the North Frisian Islands, Amrum manages to pack in all of Sylt’s beauty and charm in a quieter, more personal environment, though often at the expense of the ...more
☎ 0461 Flensburg Minutes from the Danish border, Nordic Flensburg (pop. 75,000) has some of the best sailing in Germany, and bills itself the shopping center between Hamburg and Copenhagen. Spared ...more
☎ 04621 Schleswig One of the oldest towns in Northen Europe, Schleswig has held the Schlei River in its horseshoe embrace since around AD 800. Over the centuries, Schleswig was strengthened by the ...more
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