Located on the north-east coast of Sylt, List is a German town that was originally established as a Danish settlement. Following the Danish-German war of 1864, List came under Prussian rule and it served as a naval air base during World War I. In 1920, the Schleswig plebiscite resulted in the Danish-German border being drawn just north of List.
Things to do in List
Watching over the harbour is the Erlebniszentrum Naturgewalten, a family-friendly complex that showcases the natural history of the Frisian archipelago. Discover how global sea level changes have impacted Sylt and its inhabitants, then learn about the seals and whales that inhabit the surrounding waters. Don’t miss the exhibit dedicated to Germany’s largest migrating dune, which is located in the north of Sylt.
List is home to one of the northernmost lighthouses in Germany, Leuchtturm List West, which was constructed in the 1850s by the Kingdom of Denmark. Together with its sister tower, Leuchtturm List Ost, it still guides ships along the North Sea coast today. With its distinctive red and white design, it makes for the perfect photo op.
You can watch the ferries coming and going from Denmark while strolling around List Harbour, then grab a bite to eat at one of the local seafood restaurants. Elevated views across the town can be enjoyed from the 35-metre-high Ferris wheel, which was constructed in 2017 to mark the town’s 725th anniversary.
Getting around List
List is around two hours’ drive from Flensburg, with the journey including a ride on the car-transporting BlueTrain. Hamburg Airport is 3.5 hours away and has flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Ferries also connect from List to the Danish island of Rømø while the town is small enough to explore on foot.