In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Borkum
Go for 2–3 nights if you want an island base with a beach and dunes; skip as a day trip from the mainland — the crossing plus transfers eats most of the day (check the timetable).
Borkum is the largest of the East Frisian Islands by area and the westernmost, sitting north of the Ems mouth in the Wadden Sea. It is a state-approved North Sea health resort: low-pollen air, wide beaches, dune landscape and a compact town you can walk end to end. Unlike most East Frisian islands, cars are allowed here, but the centre is closed to them in summer and driving is banned 21:00–07:00 elsewhere. Most of the island is national park and UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage, so you stay on marked paths in the quiet zones. Two or three nights is the honest minimum; a day trip from Emden or Eemshaven leaves only a few hours on the island once you count the crossings (check the day's sailings).
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (wind, closures, few ferries)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €70–110 excl. bed · Mid €110–180 excl. bed · High €180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Fire and ambulance 112 · Police 110 · Out-of-hours doctor 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee and cake in a café | €5–9 |
| Fish or crab sandwich | €6–12 |
| Main course in a restaurant | €14–26 |
| Beer, 0.3 l | €4–6 |
| Gezeitenland spa, 2 hours | €7.50 (check) |
| Heimatmuseum Dykhus entry | €4 adults, €1.50 up to 15 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BMK · Borkum Airfield
- General aviation plus scheduled OFD flights from Emden; on the island, east of town.
- BRE · Bremen
- Closest large mainland airport for the Emden ferry; train to Emden takes about 1 h (check) — the source gives it as roughly an hour less than the Schiphol–Eemshaven run of just over 3 h.
- GRQ · Groningen Eelde
- Small; most travellers reach Eemshaven by train from Schiphol instead, just over 3 h (check).
Typical fares
- Ferry Emden Außenhafen → Borkum
- from about €18 one way, island railway transfer included (check)
- Ferry Eemshaven → Borkum
- from about €18 one way (check)
- Island railway, harbour → Borkum Bahnhof
- included with the ferry ticket (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The island railway (Borkumer Kleinbahn, 900 mm gauge) links the harbour with Borkum Bahnhof in the centre; the harbour-to-town ride is included with ferry tickets (check). Buses run on the same network. Bikes are the practical way to reach the east and west ends — the island is flat, but the westerly wind is constant. Walking works for the town itself; the full length of the island is a long day on foot. Cars are allowed on Borkum, unlike most East Frisian islands, but you may not drive in the settlement core during the summer season and driving elsewhere is banned 21:00–07:00.The island railway (Borkumer Kleinbahn, 900 mm gauge) links the harbour with Borkum Bahnhof in the centre; the harbour-to-town ride is included with ferry tickets (check). Buses run on the same network. Bikes are the practical way to reach the east and west ends — the island is flat, but the westerly wind is constant. Walking works for the town itself; the full length of the island is a long day on foot. Cars are allowed on Borkum, unlike most East Frisian islands, but you may not drive in the settlement core during the summer season and driving elsewhere is banned 9:00 PM–7:00 AM.
See and do
Known for
- Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage
- North Sea health resort and spa
- Old and New Lighthouses
- Island railway (Borkumer Kleinbahn)
- Wide beaches and dunes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Emden | Ferry from Borkum to Emden Außenhafen, then train or bus into town | Check the day's sailings |
| Eemshaven and Groningen, Netherlands | Ferry to Eemshaven, then train to Groningen | Check the day's sailings |
| Norden Norddeich | Ferry to Emden or Eemshaven, then train via Norden | Check the day's sailings |
| Juist and Norderney | No direct island-to-island ferry; route back via the mainland | Half a day or more |
Sleep
- Town centre (around Borkum Bahnhof)
- Shops, restaurants, both lighthouses and the museum within a 15-min walk; best for a first visit and for anyone without a car.
- Near the harbour (Reede)
- Ferry and island-railway terminal; the youth hostel is about 350 m away. Convenient for a late arrival or an early departure, quieter otherwise.
- Westland and beachfront
- Hotels and spa facilities closest to the main bathing beach; higher prices in July–August.
- East of the island (Ostland, near the airfield)
- Camping and a few cafés in meadow-and-dune surroundings; you need a bike or the bus for everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Moinmoyn |
| Thank you | DankeDAN-kuh |
| The bill, please | Die Rechnung, bittedee REKH-noong, BIT-tuh |
| Where is the ferry? | Wo ist die Fähre?voh ist dee FAIR-uh |
| Two tickets, please | Zwei Fahrkarten, bittetsvy FAHR-kar-ten, BIT-tuh |
| Is this path open? | Ist dieser Weg geöffnet?ist DEE-zer vayk guh-OEF-net |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- A tourist tax ("guest contribution") is charged per night, usually collected by your landlord; day visitors pay it with the ferry ticket.
- Most of the island is national park: in protection zone I you must stay on marked paths all year, and zone II is restricted in the breeding season.
- Expect island surcharges on food, drink and groceries — everything arrives on the same ships as you.
- Summer ferry sailings and island accommodation book out weeks ahead; the timetable thins sharply outside the season.
- Wind and fast-changing North Sea weather: pack a waterproof even in July.
Borkum is a low-crime resort island; the real risks are North Sea weather, strong currents and mudflat walking without a guide. Never walk out onto the Wadden Sea flats alone — go with a licensed guide and check tide times.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Borkum yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage
- North Sea health resort and spa
- Old and New Lighthouses
- Island railway (Borkumer Kleinbahn)
- Wide beaches and dunes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Borkum tourism (official island site): www.borkum.de
- Town of Borkum (official): www.stadt-borkum.de/
- Wikivoyage: Borkum, revision 5238495 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5238495
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Borkum
Zu dieser Adresse, bitte
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies on the island; the US consulate-general is in Hamburg and most other missions are in Berlin. For a lost passport, contact your embassy on the mainland.
Dialling Borkum from abroad: +49 4922, then the local number without the leading zero.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/borkum). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.