Borkum Transportation

Bike rentals can be found, more or less, at every second street corner. Prices depend on quality and equipment of the bike - plain touring bike, number of gears, mountain bike, etc. Bikes can be rented per hour, per day, or long-term.

The bicycle is the best means of transport to get around on the island. Cars face many limitations, bikes can go almost anywhere.
Almost: The promenade along the main beach and the main shopping streets (Bismarckstraße and Franz-Habich-Straße) are pedestrians only and even closed to bikes.

Biking up and down the dunes or against the everlasting strong wind requires a little phaysical fitness, though.

Bring rain gear that's suitable for biking, just in case, the weather changes quickly.

The island of Borkum aims to be a suitable holiday destination for handicapped visitors and has taken quite some measures to enable access everywhere, including the beach. Borkum tourist office have published an information page about "accessible travel" on their website that covers all (hopefully all) essential points. If you have further questions, contact them.

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Ferries to Borkum depart from the German port of Emden and from the Dutch port of Eemshaven. Both are run by the same company.

There are two options: the car ferry, which takes 2 hours from Emden, and the katamaran, which reaches Borkum within 1 hour. If you want to take your car you have to take the car ferry (Autofähre).

The katamaran is much faster, but tickets cost more. You cannot go outside on deck, you're more or less stuck on your indoor seat - a disadvantage to people who love the sea, an advantage if the weather is lousy.

To experience both options, it's possible to book one leg on the katamaran and the return on the ferry or vice versa.

Book ferry tickets in advance, even if you are travelling without a car. The website has got an online booking system.

The ferry port is connected with the village by the island train. The ferry timetable gives the departure times from Borkum Ortsbahnhof, i.e. those of the island train, not the ship. Better double check departure times for your return journey when you are there.

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The little old train connects the ferry port, which is situated on the Southern tip of the island, with Borkum village, or shall we call it Borkum town? The ride is free, resp. included in your ferry ticket. Trains depart according to the ferry timetable.
The ferry timetable gives the departure times from Borkum Ortsbahnhof, i.e. those of the island train, not the ship. Better double check when you are there.

Unlike other North Sea islands, for example adjacent Juist, Borkum is not car free. Cars may be taken to the island and used. However, the extension of roads is limited. The whole eastern half of the island is car free, many smaller roads are bikes and pedestrians only. The town/village (not sure how to classify the settlement, it's sort of in between) has different zones that are either closed to traffic entirely or only open to residents and holiday guests who stay in these streets.

Reaching Borkum without a car is no problem at all. The ferry from Emden can be reached by train. Some IC trains via Bremen/Oldenburg go straight to Emden Außenhafen, the station in the ferry port. From other directions, you have to change trains in Emden central station and hop on a local train that takes you to Außenhafen.

The train station is right next to the port terminal where both the car ferries and the katamarans depart.

When your ship arrives in the port in Borkum, the little island train into Borkum town will already be waiting. If your accommodation is too far from the train, there are also buses to other parts of the island.