Sylt

Sylt, Germany

Sylt has long been a playground for Germany’s rich and famous, and is called the "German Hamptons" for good reason. Pronounced "Zoolt," Sylt is a surreally beautiful, 25-mile long island on Germany’s North Sea coast, that has one of the longest unbroken stretches of immaculate sandy beach in all of Europe. Sylt is famous for its invigorating sea air and sense of space. This summer enjoy magnificent vistas of the sparkling sea, huge sand dunes and endless fields of bright-yellow flowering rape!

Population:

21,000

Currency:

Euro (EUR) €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Police 110
Ambulance and fire brigade 112

Opening Hours:

Most shops are open 9am-6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-4pm on Saturday (In the Summer months on Sundays from 12am–6pm). Banks are open 8.30am-4pm.

Newspapers:

Sylter Rundschau is Sylt’s daily newspaper. There are two weekly papers listing what’s going on Sylt. Sylter Spiegel and Sylt Life are published every Wednesday.

The City

People began visiting Sylt in the middle of the 19th century to take advantage of the iodine-rich air. In the 1960’s, Sylt became famous for "the rich and the naked," when the entire island became one big party. The island has grown up quite a bit since then, and it’s a tamer affair these days. With its Michelin starred restaurants and some very cool bars, Sylt is one of the chicest destinations in Europe.

Sylt is a very popular destination simply because of its beautiful beaches, dunes, idyllic Frisian hours, lively towns and the lovely fresh sea air. For an island that is only 25 miles long and 700m wide at is narrowest point, Sylt is a big, little place. The largest town is Westerland, which sits bang in the middle of the island. Hörnum lies to the south, while at the northern end is List – the most northerly town in Germany. Understandably, it gets very busy in several places. However, such is the magic of this island that it’s easy enough to leave the crowds behind and find your own bit of beach.

Do & See

Sylt is heaven for anyone who loves the outdoors – you can do all manner of activities from surfing to cycling or just relax, take it easy and marvel at the big skies and endless beaches.

Dining

Sylt might only be 38.5 km long, but it has three Michelin starred restaurants, among around 200 places to eat – from bistros to world-class restaurants. The cuisine itself comes from all over Germany. Seafood, of course, is the real local specialty. The sand flats around the island are a superb breeding ground for shellfish, and Sylt’s oysters are considered among Europe’s finest.

Cafes

The charming cafés which are spread across the island invites you to stop by for a coffee or tea. If you have a sweet-tooth why not try the German apple strudel?