Major city · 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).
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Feb (wind, closures, few ferries)
- Airports
- BMK · BRE · GRQ
- Nights
- 2–3
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Germany ↗Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Germany ↗Nazi symbols and gestures are criminal offences, including as jokes or souvenirs.
- Germany ↗Many city centres are low-emission zones: a car needs the right sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Borkum112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Borkum, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Germany-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.Germany-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.Germany-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.Germany-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Germany-wide
- SafetyBorkum is a low-crime resort island; the real risks are North Sea weather, strong currents and mudflat walking without a guide.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsStation toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (≈ US$1–2) (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers…Germany-wide
- Emergency numbers112 fire and ambulance · 110 police · 116 117 Out-of-hours doctor (Germany) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close on Sundays and public holidays nearly everywhere except stations and airports.Germany-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBMK Borkum Airfield (General aviation plus scheduled OFD flights from Emden; on the island, east of town.).
- Getting aroundThe island railway (Borkumer Kleinbahn, 900 mm gauge) links the harbour with Borkum Bahnhof in the centre…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and cake in a café€5–9 (≈ US$6–11)
- Sit-down mealMain course in a restaurant€14–26 (≈ US$17–35)
- Street or quick mealFish or crab sandwich€6–12 (≈ US$7–14)
- Beer0.3 l€4–6 (≈ US$5–7)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)
- Museum or sight ticketHeimatmuseum Dykhus entry€4 (≈ US$5) adults, €1.50 (≈ US$2) up to 15 (check)
- Budget bedHoliday apartment (up to 4), a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€150 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €120 (≈ US$140) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- 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).)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Feb
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Mar
not flagged
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Apr
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
May
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Aug
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Nov (15 rain days), driest Apr (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Borkum: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
14 rd
Feb
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
11 rd
Mar
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Apr
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
10 rd
Jul
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
11 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
Sep
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
14 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
15 rd
Dec
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
15 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting 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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Emden
cautionDoor to door: Check the day's sailings
Ferry from Borkum to Emden Außenhafen, then train or bus into town
Doable as a mainland day out, but you lose most of a day to the crossing; better as a stopover on the way in or out.
Eemshaven and Groningen, Netherlands
cautionDoor to door: Check the day's sailings
Ferry to Eemshaven, then train to Groningen
The westernmost position makes the Netherlands quicker to reach than most of mainland Germany.
Norden Norddeich
skipDoor to door: Check the day's sailings
Ferry to Emden or Eemshaven, then train via Norden
Too far for a return day; combine it with the mainland leg of your trip instead.
Juist and Norderney
skipDoor to door: Half a day or more
No direct island-to-island ferry; route back via the mainland
Treat the other East Frisian islands as separate trips, not day trips from Borkum.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €70–110 (≈ US$85–130) excl. bed
- Mid
- €110–180 (≈ US$130–250) excl. bed
- High
- €180 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × €150 | €300 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €120 | €480 |
| Ferry Emden–Borkum, return2 × €36 · check; from about €18 one way, island railway transfer included | €72 |
| Guest contribution (tourist tax), per night4 × €4 · check; rate varies by season | €16 |
| Gezeitenland spa, 2 hours2 × €8 · check | €15 |
| Bike hire, one day2 × €12 · check | €24 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €91 |
| Trip total≈ €250 per person per day, bed included | €998≈ US$1,200 |
2026 estimate in euro; ferry and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and cake in a café | €5–9 (≈ US$6–11) |
| Fish or crab sandwich | €6–12 (≈ US$7–14) |
| Main course in a restaurant | €14–26 (≈ US$17–35) |
| Beer, 0.3 l | €4–6 (≈ US$5–7) |
| Gezeitenland spa, 2 hours | €7.50 (≈ US$9) (check) |
| Heimatmuseum Dykhus entry | €4 (≈ US$5) adults, €1.50 (≈ US$2) up to 15 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–25 (≈ US$12–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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.
Emergency numbers
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Out-of-hours doctor (Germany)
- 116 117
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BorkumBorkum
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire and ambulance112
- Police110
- Out-of-hours doctor116 117
Embassy
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.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ferry Emden Außenhafen → Borkum: from about €18 (≈ US$25) one way, island railway transfer included (check)
- Ferry Eemshaven → Borkum: from about €18 (≈ US$25) one way (check)
- Island railway, harbour → Borkum Bahnhof: included with the ferry ticket (check)
Say or show
- Moin — Hello (moyn)
- Danke — Thank you (DAN-kuh)
- Die Rechnung, bitte — The bill, please (dee REKH-noong, BIT-tuh)
- Wo ist die Fähre? — Where is the ferry? (voh ist dee FAIR-uh)
- Zwei Fahrkarten, bitte — Two tickets, please (tsvy FAHR-kar-ten, BIT-tuh)
- Ist dieser Weg geöffnet? — Is this path open? (ist DEE-zer vayk guh-OEF-net)
Dialling Borkum from abroad: +49 4922, then the local number without the leading zero.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Borkum. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (wind, closures, few ferries) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares