Island comparison
The East Frisian Islands compared
A town with a promenade or a quiet island village, a car ferry or an island railway. This is how you find the island that suits your holiday.
- Seven inhabited islands from west to east
- Five of them completely car-free
- An island guide and an accommodation page for each island
Which island suits you?
All seven islands have sandy beaches on the north side, the Wadden Sea to the south and lifeguarded bathing areas in summer. They differ in size, cars, getting there and dogs.
The seven islands at a glance
The island guides
Beaches, sights, best time to visit, dogs and day trips, with a page of its own for every island.
Borkum holidays
The largest East Frisian island, with lifeguarded beaches, lighthouses, a seal bank and the Gezeitenland spa. What to know about beaches, excursions, weather, dogs and a day trip to Borkum.
To the island guide
Juist holidays
17 kilometres of sandy beach, the Hammersee and not a car on the whole island. What to know about beaches, excursions, weather, dogs and a day trip to Juist.
To the island guide
Norderney holidays
Town, beach promenade and dunes all the way to the wreck at the east end. What to know about beaches, excursions, weather, dogs and a day trip to Norderney.
To the island guide
Baltrum holidays
The smallest inhabited East Frisian island, car-free and easy to explore entirely on foot. What you need to know about the beach, excursions, weather, dogs and day trips on Baltrum.
To the island guide
Langeoog holidays
A car-free island village, a long sandy beach, the Melkhörndüne and Ostende with views of the seal banks. What you need to know about the beach, cycling, weather, dogs and day trips on Langeoog.
To the island guide
Spiekeroog holidays
A car-free island village, a beach over 15 kilometres long and the wide expanse of the Ostplate. What you need to know about the beach, mudflats, weather, dogs and a day trip to Spiekeroog.
To the island guide
Wangerooge holidays
The easternmost of the East Frisian Islands, with its island railway, the Westturm tower and a bathing beach right by the village. What you need to know about the beach, bikes, weather, dogs and a day trip to Wangerooge.
To the island guide
Ferries to the East Frisian Islands
Every island has its own mainland port. Choosing the island also decides which port you travel to.
- AG EMS
- Reederei Norden-Frisia
- Schiffahrt der Inselgemeinde Langeoog
- Nordseebad Spiekeroog
- SIW Wangerooge
- Reederei Baltrum-Linie
The islands one by one
Table of Contents
The seven inhabited East Frisian Islands lie in a chain off the coast of Lower Saxony, from Borkum in the west to Wangerooge in the east. All of them have sandy beaches on the north side and the Wadden Sea to the south. They differ in size, character, cars and getting there. For every island there is an island guide, an accommodation page and the ferry page.
Borkum
The largest East Frisian Island and the only one served by a proper car ferry. From the harbour, the Borkum Island Railway (Borkumer Kleinbahn) takes you into town. Borkum has lifeguarded beaches, lighthouses and a seal bank you can see from the beach. The ferry leaves from Emden and from Eemshaven in the Netherlands.
Holidays on Borkum · Hotels and holiday apartments on Borkum · Ferry to Borkum
Juist
A narrow, car-free island with 17 kilometres of sandy beach. You get around on foot, by bike or by horse-drawn carriage, and in the west lie the Hammersee lake and the Domäne Bill. The ferries from Norddeich sail with the tides.
Holidays on Juist · Hotels and holiday apartments on Juist · Ferry to Juist
Norderney
The island with a town: the beach lies right on the promenade, and the dunes stretch as far as the wreck at the eastern tip. Around 26 kilometres of cycle paths cross the island. The ferry from Norddeich runs all year on a fixed timetable and also takes cars, but during the season cars are banned in the town.
Holidays on Norderney · Hotels and holiday apartments on Norderney · Ferry to Norderney
Baltrum
The smallest inhabited East Frisian Island, about five kilometres long and car-free. You reach everything on foot. From Neßmersiel you are on the island in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the ferry.
Holidays on Baltrum · Hotels and holiday apartments on Baltrum · Ferry to Baltrum
Langeoog
A car-free island village with the beach right on its doorstep. The island railway runs from the harbour to the village. Popular outings are the Melkhörn dune and the eastern tip with a view of the seal banks. The ferry from Bensersiel runs on a fixed timetable.
Holidays on Langeoog · Hotels and holiday apartments on Langeoog · Ferry to Langeoog
Spiekeroog
A car-free island village, a beach more than 15 kilometres long and, in the east, the wide Ostplate, which makes up more than half of the island. There is no bike rental, so on Spiekeroog you walk. From Neuharlingersiel you can take the island ferry or the faster WattnExpress.
Holidays on Spiekeroog · Hotels and holiday apartments on Spiekeroog · Ferry to Spiekeroog
Wangerooge
The easternmost East Frisian Island. The bathing beach is a few metres from the village, and its landmark is the West Tower. From Harlesiel you take the ferry and change to the island railway at the island harbour, both on one ticket.
Holidays on Wangerooge · Hotels and holiday apartments on Wangerooge · Ferry to Wangerooge
Staying on the mainland
Norddeich is the ferry port for Juist and Norderney and a seaside resort in its own right. Stay here before an early ferry or spend your whole holiday on the mainland. More under Hotels and holiday apartments in Norddeich.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the East Frisian Islands
Which East Frisian Islands are car-free? +
Which East Frisian Island is the largest, which the smallest? +
Which island can I visit with my dog? +
All seven. Every island has at least one dog beach, and dogs are not allowed on the bathing beaches during the season. Each island sets its own rules on leads, dog tax and off-lead areas, and you find them in the island guide.
Which island can I do in a day? +
Norderney and Langeoog are the easiest, because the ferries run on a fixed timetable. Baltrum, Juist and Spiekeroog also work as day trips, but your time on the island depends on the tides and changes every day. The times are in the timetable.
When is the best time to visit the East Frisian Islands? +
From May to September. The beaches are lifeguarded then, and on most islands the lifeguards are on duty from mid-May to mid-October. July and August are the warmest months.