Windsurfers off Brandenburger Strand, Westerland — Photo: dronepicr

The west beach from the Red Cliff at Kampen. — Photo: Arnoldius

The Wadden flats at the Ellenbogen. — Photo: dronepicr

Kampen lighthouse seen from the Uwe-Düne. — Photo: Arnoldius

The promenade at Westerland. — Photo: Magnus Manske

Germany

Nov · 82% rideable

Sylt

What it's actually like

Kiters, the west coast wave at Brandenburger Strand is yours if you are advanced. Flat Königshafen is yours two to three hours either side of high tide. Wind clears 12 knots on at least 70 days in a hundred.

Two coasts, one island, and a short drive between them. Sylt runs 38 kilometres from north to south. The west side is about 40 kilometres of open North Sea beach, with waves, shorebreak and current. The east side looks onto the Wadden Sea, the Watt as the locals call the tidal flats, shallow and flat but ruled by a tidal range of about two metres. The wind decides which coast, and the tide decides when.

Wind blows here all year: every month clears 12 knots for three daylight hours on at least 70 days in a hundred. Since 2017, October to February has run above eight days in ten, and January leads at 84 per cent. The share barely moves between 8am and 6pm, so any hour of daylight can work. An October day here is often powered up.

Brandenburger Strand in Westerland is the main stage on the west coast and hosts the Kite-Surf World Cup. It works in a westerly, anywhere from north round to south, with waves of one to two metres and shorebreak that can reach two to three. It is for advanced riders only. Wenningstedt, just north, is similar. K4, north of Hörnum, has no groynes: a sandbank dries around low tide, then the waves turn hollow as the tide rises.

On the west coast the waves grow from mid-tide to high tide, and the shorebreak at high tide and in storms is for experienced riders only. Stone groynes at Westerland are marked with yellow crosses, and the current is strong. Königshafen has enough water only two to three hours either side of high tide, and the ebb pulls out hard. Rantum harbour works only 2.5 hours either side of high tide, with stones, shells and piles just under the surface, so wear shoes and head back early.

The North Sea keeps its cool: the water stays below 20 degrees all year, so you need a wetsuit every month. A 4/3 does in high summer; the rest of the year add a hood and shoes. Spells of easterly wind in spring bring clear weather but cold water.

The Wadden side is where you find the flat water. Königshafen, at the Ellenbogen near List, is a bird reserve with marked zones for kites and windsurfers, a toll for cars and no camping. Möwennest, north of Hörnum, works in an easterly at low tide, when a sandbank dries and leaves glassy, shallow water. Hörnum East works at any tide, and Munkmarsch, north of Keitum, has standing water in south through east to north winds.

Duotone Pro Center Sylt, on the beach at Westerland, teaches kite, windsurf and wing, with rental. Schools also run from the Ellenbogen at List, Königshafen, Wenningstedt and Hörnum. Beginners learn on the flat Wadden side with a school; the west coast is for riders at home in shorebreak and current.

Book ahead in the holidays and around the World Cup. Vehicles too high or heavy for the car train, motorhomes among them, take the ferry from Rømø. Say Moin, the North German hello that works at any hour, when you walk into a school or a shop. A flat day suits a bike ride past the black and white Kampen lighthouse, 38 metres tall since 1855, and the Uwe-Düne, the island’s highest point at 52.5 metres.

Rules and safety. The Wadden Sea side is a national park. Launch and land only in the kite area, stay on the paths and keep off the dunes and heath. On the Wadden flats do not run onto sandbanks. Seals and birds need space: stay 300 to 500 metres away, depending on the area. Keep kites out of the protected zones. At Königshafen, stay inside the buoy chain that marks the surf area. The island of Uthörn and protection zone 1 must not be entered. At Möwennest, kiters keep at least 300 metres, kites included, from the Hörnum spit. Kite only around low water, about three hours either side. At Wenningstedt, windsurfing is not allowed in the bathing area when a green or yellow flag flies at the lifeguard station. At the kite beach at kilometre 4 from Hörnum, keep two line lengths from swimmers.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelBody dragger to kiteloop
Learn on flat Wadden water with a school; Brandenburger Strand shorebreak is for advanced kiters.
WaterMillpond to head-high
Flat, shallow Königshafen on the Wadden side, or one to two metre waves west.
LaunchMind your feet
Launch from west coast sand, but watch the stone groyne remains at Westerland.
WetsuitHood, gloves, flask
Sea about 10 °C in November: hood, gloves, boots, and a hot flask for after.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
22 bars, 1 club and 79 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
CostDoubles from €220 a night
Kite lessons start at 150 euros at Duotone Pro Center Sylt; hotel doubles from €220.

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
Parking
School

Brandenburger Strand

West coast, Westerland.

For kite, windsurf. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Königshafen

The Ellenbogen at List.

For kite, windsurf, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Möwennest

Wadden side near Hörnum, works in an easterly.

For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
K4

West coast between Rantum and Hörnum.

For windsurf. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

In an emergency

Sea emergency 112
Sea rescue, from a mobile on the coast 124 124

Getting there

Nearest airportSylt (GWT). Sylt’s own airport at Westerland has scheduled flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and others, so you can fly straight onto the island.
Getting aroundCar train, then a car. Drive onto the DB Sylt Shuttle at Niebüll and the car train carries you over the causeway to Westerland in about 35 minutes.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

Campingplatz Westerland

Dune campsite 50 m from the west beach with its own beach access and winter camping. Surfhouse Sylt is based on the site.

Website

Jugendherberge Westerland

Youth hostel in the dunes south of Westerland, a short boardwalk to the beach, with full board available.

Book on Booking.com

Campingplatz Rantum

Four-star campsite on the Rantum basin behind the west beach, with motorhome places and some pitches open all year for self-sufficient vans.

Website

Book links to Booking.com and Agoda may earn WindChaser a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Pocket Guide

Sylt, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Sylt

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

Brandenburger Strand

Königshafen

Möwennest

K4

In an emergency

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

Campingplatz Westerland

Jugendherberge Westerland

Campingplatz Rantum

Jugendherberge List-Mövenberg

Hotel Strand am Königshafen

Jugendherberge Hörnum

Hotel Miramar

Duotone Pro Center Sylt

CampOne Sylt

Kiteschule Sylt

Surfhouse Sylt

Waves and Wind Wassersport Sylt

Duotone Pro Center Sylt

Kiteschule Sylt

Surfhouse Sylt

Sylt, in your pocket

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