v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Neuer Leuchtturm (New Lighthouse) — The island’s 19th-century lighthouse dominates the skyline and you can climb for a raw, panoramic view over the dunes, town and the North Sea — great for sunrise/sunset photos and for getting your bearings on the island.
- Weststrand (western beach and dune corridor) — A wide, windswept stretch of sand and mobile dunes that feels properly wild: kites, windsurfers, long walks and those iconic drifting dune shapes you don’t get on inland beaches.
- Wattwandern (guided mudflat hikes on the Wadden Sea) — Tramping across the tidal flats between island and sea is a sucker-punch of nature: close encounters with tidal channels, mussel banks, birds and the particular silence of the Wadden Sea that you can’t replicate on a normal beach.
- Borkum Harbour & Promenade
- Neuer Leuchtturm (New Lighthouse) — The island’s 19th-century lighthouse dominates the skyline and you can climb for a raw, panoramic view over the dunes, town and the North Sea — great for sunrise/sunset photos and for getting your bearings on the island.
- Weststrand (western beach and dune corridor) — A wide, windswept stretch of sand and mobile dunes that feels properly wild: kites, windsurfers, long walks and those iconic drifting dune shapes you don’t get on inland beaches.
- Wattwandern (guided mudflat hikes on the Wadden Sea) — Tramping across the tidal flats between island and sea is a sucker-punch of nature: close encounters with tidal channels, mussel banks, birds and the particular silence of the Wadden Sea that you can’t replicate on a normal beach.
- Borkum Harbour & Promenade — The working port is more than a ferry stop: watch the ferries, fishing boats and supply vessels come in, grab fresh fish from the stalls, and stroll the promenade where island life really happens.
- Borkumer Kleinbahn (narrow-gauge railway) — The tiny train that runs across the island is charming, practical and a piece of local transport history; hop on for a breezy ride over the dunes and get off to explore quieter spots without schlepping luggage.
- Oststrand and the seal banks — The eastern shores are calmer and are the best place for low-key seal watching (and quiet beach time) — bring binoculars and patience; seeing seals haul out on sandbanks feels distinctly North Sea.
- The Old Lighthouse and lighthouse park — Smaller and older than the New Lighthouse, this compact site with its surrounding green offers a cozy, historic atmosphere and a different vantage point over town and sea without the crowds.
- Coastal bunkers and fortification walks (hidden gem) — Scattered, accessible remnants of 20th-century coastal defenses sit tucked into the dunes; they’re raw, photogenic and tell a gritty chapter of Borkum’s history most day-trippers miss.
- Graften and Kurpark strolls (hidden gem) — The quiet inner channels, small parks and tree-lined paths behind the main shopping streets are where locals walk dogs and drink coffee; they reveal the relaxed, lived-in side of island life away from the beach.
- Southern hook and tidal creeks around the Haken (hidden gem) — Little sand spits, tidal creeks and salt-marsh edges at the island’s southern reaches are superb for birdwatching, short explorations and photography — you’ll often have stretches of sand and sky almost to yourself.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.