For the city in North Rhine-Westphalia see Bochum

Borkum is the biggest of the East Frisian Islands by area and the second most populous. The town of Borkum stretches across the entire island, which, as a state-approved North Sea health resort, has numerous spa facilities. Borkum is part of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park

Understand

Borkum from the old lighthouse

In some ways Borkum is "the odd one out" of the East Frisian Islands. The largest in area and second only to Norderney in population, it is also (together with Norderney) one of only two not to ban motor vehicles. Due to its position north of the mouth of the river Ems, the North Sea has a strong influence on the climate, which is unique among German islands except Heligoland and Borkum. The island used to consist of two separate parts before natural land accumulation and human land reclamation united the two parts in the 19th century with the "Tüskendör-See" sitting at the place where the two islands used to be split just east of the airfield. Due to it being the westernmost of the East Frisian Islands, it is actually quicker to reach from the Netherlands than from mainland Germany. If you squint the island looks a bit like a dolphin

Because the island is located quite far out in the North Sea, the weather conditions are dominated by the offshore climate. Together with the low-pollen air, this special climate has helped Borkum establish itself as a health resort. The extensive beaches and the dune landscape behind them have also long attracted numerous tourists. The island is now almost entirely dependent on tourism.

As a holiday island, a tourist tax is due, here called the "guest contribution". This is usually collected by the landlord. For day guests, the tourist tax is already charged when the ferry ticket is purchased.

With the exception of the settlement and infrastructure areas and the airfield, the island of Borkum is part of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park and thus also part of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island is divided into three protection zones: Large parts of the island, particularly in the east, belong to protection zone I (quiet zone), which can only be accessed on designated paths all year round. In protection zone II (intermediate zone), access is permitted outside of the breeding season, but species protection also takes priority here. Protection zone III (recreation zone) includes in particular the bathing beach sections in the south, west and north of the island.

Tourist information

• Borkum tourism website

Get in

By plane

• 1 Borkum Airfield (BMK  ^IATA). This airfield sees general aviation flights as well as regular flights through Yourways (from Wilhelmshaven) and OFD (from Emden)  

By boat

• 2 Harbor (Reede). AG Ems serves Borkum from Eemshaven (Netherlands) and Emden (Germany) several times daily. Prices start from €18 one way. Ferry tickets automatically include the corresponding ride on the island railway to/from the Borkum harbor. Emden Außenhafen has been served by Deutsche Bahn for decades, whereas Eemshaven only got a direct rail link to Groningen in March 2018. 

By train

Even though Borkum may have one major downside for train travel, namely several kilometres of sea surrounding the island, the ferry harbours of Emden and Eemshaven can be reached via train. Eemshaven is just over three hours by train coming from Schiphol Airport, costing roundabout €26, while your journey from Bremen, the closest large airport on the German mainland, to Emden takes roughly an hour less and costs upward of €20.

Get around

By train

• 1 Island Railway. With stops at the harbour and at 3 Borkum Bahnhof in the centre of town, this is a good way to get to your lodgings in addition to its value as a tourist attraction. The rather unique gauge of 900 mm might interest railway enthusiasts as might the occasional use of steam locomotives.  

By bus

There are buses that are run, like the railway, by Borkumer Kleinbahn.

By car

Unlike all other East Frisian Islands except Norderney, Borkum does not ban cars. However, you may not drive in the core of the settlement during the summer season and in other parts driving between 21:00 and 07:00 is prohibited.

By bike

As the island is rather flat, the only thing standing between you and enjoyable bike trips are the persistent westerly winds.

On foot

The settlement is small enough to be walkable even for the moderately fit and the size and general flatness of the island should not pose a challenge for those who intend to walk the length and breadth of it.

See

• 1 Alter Leuchtturm (Old Lighthouse), Kirchstrasse. Has a viewing platform 150 steps up.  
• 2 Neuer Leuchtturm (New Lighthouse) (Close to downtown). Has a viewing platform at 319 steps altitude which can be visited daily during the summer season.  
• 3 Elektricher Leuchtturm (Small Lighthouse / Electric Lighthouse), Suderstrasse 79B. Built in 1890, 27 m high, 15-minute walk from the centre of town.  
• 4 Heimatmuseum "Dykhus" (right next to the old lighthouse). Tu-Su 10:00-17:00 except for late November to early December when the museum only opens on weekends; guided tours mondays at 15:00. Adults €4 kids (up to 15 years old) €1.50. 

Do

• 1 Gezeitenland. Should the weather not permit swimming in the North Sea, this indoor pool might just do the trick. €7.50 for 2 hours. (updated Apr 2018)

Buy

Be prepared to pay "island surcharges" as most things sold here have to come in with the same ship as the visitors and there is a generally captive market.

Eat

• 1 Restaurant Alt Borkum, Roelof-Gerritz-Meyer-Straße 10, ☏ +49 49 22-20 05. (updated Apr 2018)
• 2 Yachthaven Café, Am Neuen Hafen 2, ☏ +49 4922 7773. (updated Apr 2018)
• 3 Heimliche Liebe, Süderstraße 91, ☏ +49 4922 929 520. (updated Apr 2018)
• 4 Restaurant Teehaus, Süderstraße 22, ☏ +49 4922 9232 608. (updated Apr 2018)
• 5 Klein & Fein, Fauermannspad 16, ☏ +49 4922 7935. (updated Apr 2018)
• 6 Zum Insulaner, Fauermannspad 5, ☏ +49 4922 9321 148, patrick.hentschel@web.de. (updated Apr 2018)
• 7 Gaststätte Rhodos, Franz-Habich-Straße 12, ☏ +49 4922 4769. (updated Apr 2018)
• 8 Knurrhahn, Franz-Habich-Straße 16, ☏ +49 4922 2050. (updated Apr 2018)
• 9 Brasserie Stadtschänke, Franz-Habich-Straße 18, ☏ +49 4922 9247 900. (updated Apr 2018)
• 10 Delfter Stuben und Fischerdorf, Bismarckstraße 12, ☏ +49 4922 2011. (updated Apr 2018)
• 11 Pferdestall, Bismarckstraße 20, ☏ +49 4922 2169. (updated Apr 2018)
• 12 Borkum Riff, Bismarckstraße 34, ☏ +49 4922 4818. (updated Apr 2018)
• 13 Valentin's, Neue Straße 12, ☏ +49 4922 9325 030. (updated Apr 2018)
• 14 Ostland, Ostland 4, ☏ +49 4922 2202. (updated Apr 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Jugendherberge Borkum "Am Wattenmeer", Reedestr. 231, 26757 Borkum (some 350 m (1,150 ft) from the harbour), ☏ +49 4922 579, fax: +49 4922 7124, borkum@jugendherberge.de. A youth hostel with over 700 beds. From €35. 
• 2 Hotel Weisse Düne, Am Georg-Schütte-Platz 13, ☏ +49 4922 9249 040. (updated Apr 2018)
• 3 Upstalsboom Seehotel, Viktoriastraße 2, ☏ +49 4922 9150. (updated Apr 2018)
• 4 Strandhotel Hohenzollern, Jann-Berghaus-Straße 63, ☏ +49 4922 92330. (updated Apr 2018)

Camping

• 5 Insel-Camping-Borkum (Right at the edge of town). Has an on-site minimart, a sauna solarium and gym. 
• 6 Campingplatz Aggen (In the east of the island). Surrounded by meadows and dunes in a rather secluded location 

Connect

The local telephone area code is (0)4922 which begins the same as the German country code +49, so yes, when dialling from outside Germany, Borkum numbers start "+49 4922"