East Frisian Islands ferry timetable
Every mainland connection to the islands in one place. Because most island harbours sit in the tidal flats, departures shift with the tides - so always pick the day you are actually travelling.
Which island are you heading for?
Every East Frisian island has its own feeder port, so in practice the island makes the choice, not you. Norddeich is the harbour with the most departures: ships sail from here to Norderney and to Juist, and the Norddeich Mole railway station sits right at the quay.
Borkum is served from two sides: from Emden and from Eemshaven in the Netherlands. The route from Eemshaven is the shorter one over water, though for most travellers the drive to it is the longer part.
The smaller islands each hang on a single port on the coast: Baltrum on Neßmersiel, Langeoog on Bensersiel, Spiekeroog on Neuharlingersiel and Wangerooge on Harlesiel. There is no alternative here, but there are large differences in how many sailings a day each one gets.
What to watch out for in the timetable
The first thing is the tides. The harbours of Juist, Baltrum, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge lie in the Wadden Sea and can only be reached at sufficient water level. The timetable therefore follows high water and shifts from one day to the next. Always pick the exact day you are actually travelling.
Not every route is affected: Norderney from Norddeich, Langeoog from Bensersiel and Borkum from Eemshaven run independently of the tide, to a fixed schedule. If you would rather not plan around the water level, these carry the most dependable times.
The second thing is the weather. In a storm or at unusually low water, sailings can run late or be cancelled altogether. The departures above are the scheduled times; short-notice changes are announced by the operator first.
FAQ
Common questions about the timetable
Why do the departure times change every day? +
The harbours of Juist, Baltrum, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge lie in the Wadden Sea and can only be reached at sufficient water levels. The timetable therefore follows high tide and shifts by roughly 50 minutes from one day to the next.
Which crossings run to a fixed timetable? +
How early do I need to be at the port? +
As a foot passenger, 30 minutes is usually enough. If you are taking a vehicle or checking in luggage, allow 45 to 60 minutes.
Can sailings be cancelled? +
Yes. Storms or unusually low water can cause delays and occasional cancellations. The ferry operators announce these at short notice on their own websites.
Does the timetable cover the return trip as well? +
Yes, the overview shows departures in both directions - from the mainland to the island and back.