Ferries to Helgoland
Helgoland (Heligoland in English) is Germany’s only offshore island in the open North Sea, about 70 km from the coast. Most visitors come for the day: for the red sandstone cliffs and the Lange Anna sea stack, the seals and birds on the Düne, and the duty-free shopping. Getting there is easy in summer, when ships sail from Hamburg, Cuxhaven, Büsum and Wilhelmshaven, and simpler still in winter: then there is one route, from Cuxhaven.
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Cuxhaven - Helgoland
Two companies sail from Cuxhaven. Reederei Cassen Eils runs the MS Helgoland all year round, a conventional ship that takes about 2.5 hours, and in season the faster catamaran Nordlicht, about 75 minutes. FRS Helgoline calls at Cuxhaven (Alte Liebe) with the Halunder Jet on its way from Hamburg, about 1h15 to the island.
A day trip on the MS Helgoland costs from €66 per adult (€68 in peak season), children half price. The Halunder Jet from Cuxhaven costs €76.20 to €94.20 for a day trip, depending on the season, plus a fuel surcharge.
Büsum to Helgoland
From Büsum on the Schleswig-Holstein coast, Reederei Adler & Eils sails the MS Funny Girl daily from April to late October, leaving at 09:30 and taking about 2.5 hours. In July and August the faster Nordlicht II also sails from Büsum on some days, in about 1.5 hours.
Hamburg - Helgoland
The Halunder Jet (FRS Helgoline) sails from Hamburg’s St. Pauli Landungsbrücken every day from March to the start of November, with stops at Cuxhaven and, on some days, Brunsbüttel. It leaves Hamburg at 08:30 or 09:00, reaches Helgoland around 12:30 to 12:45 and heads back in the late afternoon, so a day trip from Hamburg gives you about four hours on the island. A day return from Hamburg costs €92.10 to €114.70 per adult, depending on the season.
All routes to Helgoland at a glance
| From | Ship / operator | Crossing | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuxhaven | MS Helgoland (Cassen Eils) | about 2.5 hours | All year; reduced timetable in winter |
| Cuxhaven | Nordlicht (Cassen Eils) | about 75 min | Spring to early November |
| Hamburg / Cuxhaven | Halunder Jet (FRS Helgoline) | 3.5 to 4 hours / about 1h15 | March to early November |
| Büsum | Funny Girl (Adler & Eils) | about 2.5 hours | April to late October |
| Wilhelmshaven / Hooksiel | Adler Cat (Adler & Eils) | about 2 hours / 1.5 hours | Selected days, May to October |
| Hörnum (Sylt) | Adler-Cat (Adler-Schiffe) | check the operator | Weekdays in summer |
Sources: Cassen Eils timetable, FRS Helgoline, Adler & Eils and helgoland.de, checked 20 October 2026.
Helgoland in winter
From early November to March the only way to Helgoland is the MS Helgoland from Cuxhaven, and not every day: in winter 2026/27 it sails from Cuxhaven on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with a daily service over Christmas and New Year. There are no scheduled flights to the island at present. North Sea weather can cancel sailings at short notice, so check the operator before you travel.
Good to know
- Berthing in the harbour. Since 2020 the MS Helgoland and the Halunder Jet berth in Helgoland’s south harbour, according to the island’s tourist office; the traditional Börteboote now run sightseeing trips and transfers.
- No cars, no bikes. Private vehicles are banned and cycling is not allowed, but the island is small enough to walk round.
- Duty-free, with limits. Helgoland is outside the EU customs area. Per adult you can take back, for example, 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits and goods worth up to €430.
- The Düne. A small ferry crosses to the Düne, the sandy islet with the seals, about every half hour; €6 return.
About Helgoland
Helgoland consists of two islands: the main island with its red cliffs and the Lange Anna, and the Düne with its beaches and grey and harbour seals. The island was Danish and then British before it became German in 1890. After the Second World War the British blew up the military installations, and the craters can still be seen in the landscape.
More information is on the official Helgoland tourist site and in FRS Helgoline’s guide to duty-free shopping. Combining Helgoland with a trip further north? See our ferries to Denmark.
FAQ: ferry to Helgoland
Reederei Cassen Eils (MS Helgoland and Nordlicht from Cuxhaven), FRS Helgoline (Halunder Jet from Hamburg and Cuxhaven) and Adler & Eils (from Büsum, Wilhelmshaven and Hooksiel). In winter only Cassen Eils sails, from Cuxhaven.
A day trip on the MS Helgoland from Cuxhaven costs from €66 per adult. The Halunder Jet costs €76 to €94 from Cuxhaven and €92 to €115 from Hamburg, depending on the season, plus a fuel surcharge.
About 1 hour 15 minutes on the fast ships from Cuxhaven, about 2.5 hours on the MS Helgoland, and 3.5 to 4 hours on the Halunder Jet from Hamburg.
Yes. Most ships leave the mainland in the morning and return in the late afternoon, giving you about four hours on the island.
No. Private cars are banned on Helgoland and cycling is not allowed. Park in Cuxhaven, Büsum or Hamburg and travel as a foot passenger.
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