Birds are resting on a cliff, surrounded by a gray sky and water, with a lighthouse visible in the distance. Rocks rise from the water, with seabirds on the cliffs and a light sky filled with drifting clouds.
Germany

Heligoland: Germany’s Only Offshore Island

Standing Tall Against the North Sea.
 Heligoland, Germany, July 2022

Heligoland is Germany’s only true offshore island, rising from the North Sea like a rugged fortress. It is split into two levels: the Unterland, home to the harbor and the colorful lobster shacks, and the Oberland, where the best viewpoints await. Steep cliffs drop dramatically into the sea, and striking rock formations rise from the water. The most famous of them is "Lange Anna", a 47-meter-tall, freestanding rock that has bravely withstood wind and waves for decades—despite looking like it could topple over at any moment.

The island is also a paradise for birds—and for those who love watching them. Along the red sandstone cliffs, patient birdwatchers, armed with impressive camera gear, quietly observe northern gannets and seagulls. The birds don’t seem to mind, but what do I know? My ornithological expertise doesn’t go much beyond distinguishing between “big bird” and “small bird.”

Time passes quickly on the island. There’s plenty to see on Heligoland, but all too soon, the ship departs again. The cliffs, the rocks, the colorful huts fade into the distance—until only the sea remains.

Map of Heligoland
Colorful fishing houses line a pier as boats bob in the water and people stroll in the background.
Brightly painted lobster shacks line the pier of Heligoland’s harbor. Once used by fishermen to store gear, these huts now house small shops, seafood stalls, and cafés.
A striking landmark on Heligoland, St. Nicolai Church stands out with its sharp, modern spire.
Heligoland’s landmark lighthouse stands tall on the island’s upper plateau. Built in 1952, it replaced an older structure destroyed in World War II. Today, its powerful beam guides ships through the North Sea, while its distinctive brick façade makes it one of the most recognizable buildings on the island.
A steep red cliff with a tall antenna and green grass leading down to the water on a cloudy day.
A towering steel structure dominates Heligoland’s skyline—the island’s massive transmission antenna. Originally built as a naval radar station, it now serves modern communication networks.
A person stands on a cliff watching a large group of birds sitting on the rock, with the sea in the background.
A birdwatcher observes Heligoland’s thriving northern gannet colony. The island’s steep cliffs provide ideal nesting conditions for thousands of seabirds, drawing ornithologists and nature lovers from all over.
Birds are resting on a cliff, surrounded by a gray sky and water, with a lighthouse visible in the distance.
Heligoland’s red cliffs are home to one of Germany’s largest seabird colonies. Northern gannets nest here in large numbers, using the island’s steep rock faces as a breeding ground.
Rocks rise from the water, with seabirds on the cliffs and a light sky filled with drifting clouds.
The Lange Anna is Heligoland’s most famous landmark. This 47-meter-high sandstone pillar has stood against the North Sea’s relentless waves for centuries.