As of: March 7, 2024 11:19 a.m
Cycling, hiking, horse riding and culture: The predominantly green and flat island offers not only the North Sea, a sandy beach, pretty Frisian villages and green dikes, but also museums and medieval churches.
With a rather round silhouette, Föhr looks very different on the map than the elongated neighboring islands of Amrum and Sylt, whose high chains of dunes are constantly tugged at by wind and floods. They protect Föhr from storms and high waves. Green fields, 15 kilometers of sandy beaches on the south coast and 22 kilometers of green dikes characterize the 82 square kilometer island.
The large windmills and the thatched historic courtyards are characteristic. The location and the influence of the Gulf Stream ensure that Föhr has a mild, bracing climate. The salty air is good for the skin and respiratory tract.
Seaside resort Wyk – the gateway to the island
Wyk is the center of the island with many gastronomic and cultural offerings.
The center and only town on Föhr is Wyk on the southeast coast. The ferries to the mainland and Amrum leave from there. Small, cozy houses, modern hotel complexes and magnificent Art Nouveau villas are lined up in the town. Wyk is one of the oldest seaside resorts in Germany; bathing operations began as early as 1819. In the middle of the 19th century, the Danish King Christian VIII spent the summer there with his entire court.
Wyk offers numerous shopping opportunities, restaurants and cafés as well as a large swimming center with a seawater wave pool, saunas and wellness area. The several kilometer long promenade invites you to stroll and stroll. It leads to just before Nieblum and offers a good view of the terps of the neighboring Halligen Oland and Langeneß.
Magnificent churches and mills
A special feature of all three churches are the old gravestones, some of which contain stories about the dead.
The Frisian church of St. Nicolai from the 13th century in the Boldixum district of Wyk is worth seeing. The originally late Romanesque building was expanded several times and impresses with its magnificent wooden ornaments inside. St. Nicolai is one of three impressive medieval churches on the island, all of which are worth a visit. St. Johannis is the largest in Nieblum, and St. Laurentii in Süderende invites you to visit it.
The Frisian Museum in Wyk provides a good overview of the island’s history and traditions. The entrance cannot be missed, as it leads through a gate made of the jaw bones of a blue whale. One of the island’s five mills is located outside the museum, the others are in Borgsum, Oldsum, Wrixum and on Mühlenstrasse in Wyk.
Hiking and cycling on Föhr
Föhr can be explored individually and in an environmentally friendly way by bike.
Whether on the beach, on the dike or in the interior of the island: there are many options for walkers and hikers on Föhr. Visitors should not miss a mudflat hike – ideally under expert guidance. It guarantees interesting insights into the flora and fauna of this special landscape in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. The Wadden Sea Protection Station offers accompanied tours, including those specifically for children.
The island can also be easily discovered by bike: around 200 kilometers of cycle paths and five signposted themed tours lead along the dikes, through pretty Frisian villages and past green meadows. The longest route is called the Eilun Tour and runs 42 kilometers in a circular route around the entire island.
Riders are welcome on Föhr
Föhr is also a good holiday destination for horse riders. Excursions to the Föhrer Watt and the annual ring riding tournaments are a special experience. Guests can also take part in special events. There are also bridle paths, horse boarding houses, riding schools and pony rides for children.
Beautiful beach and offers for holidays with children
The beach in Wyk is a good 2.5 kilometers long and divided into several sections, for example for dogs or kites.
Föhr is an ideal holiday destination for families. The surf usually remains weak and there are numerous leisure activities especially for children on the flat, fine sandy beach. Wyk, for example, offers an extensive program in summer – with a pirate spectacle, children’s university and much more. Free concerts take place regularly in the music pavilion on the promenade. There are also farms, a corn maze and a Carrera track.
Really Frisian – the village of Nieblum
A historic village center with rustic Frisian houses, beautiful avenues and a wonderful sandy beach: The Frisian village of Nieblum is located on the south coast of the island – between Wyk and Utersum. The picturesque town offers both accommodation for holidaymakers and sights for excursionists. The most striking building, along with the Frisian houses from the 18th century, which were previously inhabited by wealthy captains, is the Church of St. Johannis.
Both the interior of St. John’s Church in Nieblum and the cemetery are worth a visit.
The church called “Friesendom” is the oldest and largest on the island; it was built in the 13th century and was later expanded. The old granite baptismal font, a valuable winged altar and the pulpit with bas-reliefs and Low German inscriptions are worth a look inside. A large, listed cemetery with old trees and interesting gravestones, some of which date back to the Baroque period, surrounds the church. Active holidaymakers will find a golf course, a tennis court and a water sports school in Nieblum.
Jazz, classical and West Coast art
Especially in the summer months, the island offers a sophisticated cultural offering with readings as well as pop, jazz and classical concerts. The Museum Art of the West Coast (MKDW) in Alkersum in the center of Föhr is open almost all year round. The focus of the collection is the themes of coast and sea. The changing exhibition shows classical and contemporary works from Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Arrival in Föhr
The island of Föhr can be reached from the mainland from Dagebüll by ferry in about 50 minutes. During the season it is advisable to book tickets in advance – especially if you are traveling by car. Most routes on Föhr can be easily covered by bike, and there are also buses. In addition, since 2019 there has been a fast connection by catamaran between Föhr, Dagebüll, Amrum and the Halligen Langeneß and Hooge.
Further information
6 Min
In November 1981, a storm raged on Föhr like no other for decades. Wilhelm Ellermann captures the flood with his camera. An article from “My Film – Our Story”. 6 mins
The likeable singer-songwriter Norma Schulz from Föhr sings in Frisian, Low and High German. more
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Mar 10, 2024 | 8:15 p.m