Forming part of the North Sea’s Frisian Islands, Wangerooge lies just off the coast of Germany’s Wittmund district. This car-free island is renowned for its narrow-gauge railway and historic lighthouses and boasts wild beaches where you can swim, kitesurf and windsurf.
Things to do in Wangerooge
In the heart of Wangerooge is the Old Lighthouse, which has watched over the island since 1830. When it was replaced by the New Lighthouse in the 1960s, the original lighthouse was transformed into a local history museum. Browse the everyday objects that tell the story of Wangerooge’s residents and soak up the views across the Wadden Sea from the lighthouse’s observation tower.
To learn about the ecological significance of the Wadden Sea and its birdlife, pay a visit to the Nationalpark-Haus Wangerooge. You can get hands-on at the interactive stations and peer into the aquarium or settle in for a documentary film in the small cinema. The Nationalpark-Haus Wangerooge is also the starting point for guided tours across the island.
No trip to the island is complete without riding the Wangerooge Island Railway, which is the only narrow-gauge railway to be operated by the Deutsche Bahn. Originally opening to passengers in 1897 when it was pulled by steam locomotives, it now operates two SCHÖMA diesel locomotives on its journey between the port and village. For elevated views of the Wangerooge Island Railway, climb up the 56-metre-high West Tower.
Getting around Wangerooge
The Wangerooge Airfield has regular flights to Harle on mainland Germany while ferries connect from Harlesiel to the Wangerooge ferry port. The island is car-free, with the narrow-gauge Wangerooge Island Railway travelling from the port to the Wangerooge railway station. From here, most of the island’s attractions are within walking distance.