Birds are resting on a cliff, surrounded by a gray sky and water, with a lighthouse visible in the distance. A coastal view of Heligoland featuring red cliffs, a communication tower, and calm waters along the island's edge.
Germany

Heligoland: Germany’s Only Offshore Island

Heligoland’s Transmission Tower.
 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.
Colorful houses on Helgoland: View of a row of vibrant, styled buildings surrounded by greenery.
Helgoland: A narrow alley between brick and wooden houses with two people walking down the path.
A view from a tree on Helgoland: A staircase leads through lush greenery and colorful houses, overlooking the sea in the background.
Helgoland: View over the water to the island, with houses in the foreground and a gray sky.
View of the colorful houses of Heligoland with the harbor and coastline in the background.
St. Nicolai Church in Heligoland: The church features a tall green spire, surrounded by a graveyard and lush greenery.
St. Nicolai Church on Heligoland stands out with its sharp, modern spire—a striking contrast to traditional North Sea churches. Rebuilt after World War II, it symbolizes the island’s resilience and renewal. The copper-clad steeple, visible from afar, remains a landmark for both residents and seafarers.
A person in a yellow jacket walks along a path flanked by tall plants, heading towards a red tower.
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.
Helgoland cliffs: Red cliffs above the open sea, surrounded by green grass, with people enjoying the view.
A coastal view of Heligoland cliffs featuring a radio tower, rocky shoreline, and gray skies over the North Sea.
A coastal view of Heligoland featuring red cliffs, a communication tower, and calm waters along the island's edge.
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.
Cliff on Heligoland: A red rocky coastline stretches over the water, with birds flying above and yellow flowers in the foreground.
Helgoland: Rock formation by the sea, covered with birds, surrounded by water and gentle, grassy cliffs.
Helgoland: Cliffs teeming with seabirds perched on the rocks, while others fly above the sea.
Gannets on Heligoland: A group of gannets rests on a cliff, surrounded by green grass and wild blooming plants.
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.
Cliffs on Heligoland: A view of the coast featuring a bench and a railing overlooking the water and rock formations.
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.
Cliff on Helgoland: Several coastal birds rest on a green hillside, overlooking steep cliffs and the sea below.
Long Anna on Helgoland: Tall red cliffs rise above the sea, with a harbor and pier in the background and clouds in the sky.
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.
Heligoland beach: A view of a sandy bay with green dunes, a red lighthouse, and a breakwater structure in the water.
Colorful houses on Heligoland: A row of brightly colored buildings along a cobblestone street, with green hills in the background.
Colorful buildings in Heligoland stand along a paved street, overlooking a small hill covered with green grass.
Helgoland harbor: View of the harbor with boats, a paved walkway, and green hills in the background.
Fishing boat off Heligoland: A pink vessel navigates rough waters with a lighthouse in the background.