Holidays on Norderney

Beaches

Norderney has long sandy beaches on the north and west sides, and further east in the dunes:

• West beach: The smallest beach and the quickest to reach from town. It has a large playground, places to eat and drink and beach sports in summer. One stretch is a dog beach, and there is also a dog meadow.
• North beach: Nordbad I has lifeguards and places to eat and drink, and the quieter Nordbad II lies to the east of it. There is also a viewing platform and beach volleyball courts. The big beach festivals are held here in summer.
• Weiße Düne: About five kilometres east of town, reached on foot, by bike or by bus. Kitesurfing and windsurfing take place in the channels in front of it. Use is restricted at times.
• Oase: About seven kilometres from town, with a naturist area, a dog beach and a beach sauna.

In summer lifeguards watch over Westbad, the two north baths and the Oase. Red and yellow flags mark the lifeguarded area, and a red flag means no swimming. Roofed wicker beach chairs (Strandkörbe) stand on all the swimming beaches and can be booked in advance, even as a sleeping beach chair (Schlafstrandkorb) for a night by the sea. Smoking is banned on all swimming beaches.

Sights

• Lighthouse: 54 metres high, 254 steps to the top. From April to October you can climb it in the afternoon.
• Georgshöhe: A 20-metre viewing dune on the promenade above the Januskopf, open to all.
• Conversationshaus and Kurplatz: The centre of the town, with tourist information, a reading room, a library, a bandstand and the Kurtheater.
• Wreck at the east end: The wreck of the mussel trawler “Capella” lies at the east end of the island. From the Ostheller car park it is a walk of about seven kilometres.
• Milchbar: A café and bar on the promenade to the west beach.
• Thalasso platforms: Four viewing platforms on the coast for sitting and looking out to sea.
• Watt Welten visitor centre: An exhibition on the Wadden Sea National Park at the harbour, and the starting point for many guided tours.

Activities

Cycling: Around 26 kilometres of cycle paths run across the island. Popular routes are the Planetenweg (3.6 km), the forest and dune path from the Conversationshaus to the lighthouse (6.3 km) and the Polder-Wattweg (11.5 km). There are several bike hire firms in town.

Walking: The Strandweg runs 13 kilometres from the Georgshöhe to the east end. Along the way you pass the Weiße Düne, the Oase and, at the end, the wreck.

Mudflat hikes: Guided hikes start at the Watt Welten visitor centre, and private mudflat guides offer tours too, with dogs if you like. At the surfers' bay a step-free walkway leads out onto the mudflats. Never go out on the mudflats without a guide.

bade:haus: The Thalasso house has three levels, with a leisure pool, a thalasso spa and a sauna world. Children can ride the 60-metre lugworm slide. From late November to Christmas the house closes for maintenance.

Water sports: Around the surfers' bay at the marina you can take courses in windsurfing, sailing, stand-up paddling and kayaking. Kitesurfing has its own zones.

Golf: The nine-hole golf course is open to non-members too.

With children: Playgrounds on the west and north beaches, the Kap Hoorn indoor play centre, children's entertainment in summer and a holiday swimming school.

Best time to visit and climate

Norderney has a mild maritime climate, with mild summers and fairly mild winters. These are the long-term averages from the Norderney weather station:

July and August are the best months for swimming. April to June are sunny and dry. The low season runs from 1 November to 20 December and from 6 January to 14 March, when you pay a lower visitor's tax. The ferry runs all year to a fixed timetable, and in winter the bus to the east end only goes as far as the lighthouse.

Events

In spring the Easter bonfire burns on the west beach. In June the Emden-Norderney film festival takes place, and at Whitsun the White Sands Festival on the north beach. In summer come Summertime and the Sea Sounds Festival, with the White Night in the Kurgarten on Wednesdays. October brings the Zugvogeltage (migratory bird days), and the Winterzauber marks the turn of the year. From mid-March to the end of October there are spa concerts every day.

Dogs on Norderney

Dogs are allowed on the beach at the dog beaches at the Oase beach and on one stretch of the west beach. Your dog may run off the lead on the dog meadow at the west beach, and otherwise it must be kept on a lead. On the ferry it needs its own ticket. The visitor centre offers mudflat hikes with dogs.

Visitor's tax and guest card

On Norderney you pay the visitor's tax with the NorderneyCard, at the machine in the harbour, online or together with your ferry ticket. Day visitors pay it too. Amounts, luggage and cars on the island are covered in Where to stay on Norderney.

Day trip from Norddeich

Norderney is the easiest island for a day trip: the ferry from Norddeich Mole runs all year to a fixed timetable, whatever the tides. The car ferry takes about an hour, and the Inselexpress, an electric catamaran, about 30 minutes. In summer a ship sails roughly every hour. Norddeich Mole station is right by the pier.

Excursion boats also sail from Norddeich to the seal banks and to the neighbouring islands, for example to Juist once a day depending on the tides.

The timetable, prices and parking in Norddeich are covered in Ferry to Norderney.