Cuxhaven Things to Do

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The light vessel "Elbe 1" spent decades moored far out in the North Sea waters to show incoming ships the right way. It has been turned into a museum and is waiting for visitors next to Alte Liebe.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 11.00-16.00 (not in winter)

The platform in the port area is perhaps the best place to observe the ships on the Elbe, as they are passing close by. The romantic name "Alte Liebe" (old love) derives from one of three old shipwrecks that were used as a foundation of the construction.

A ride in a horse-drawn carriage across 13 kms of dry sea bottom to the island of Neuwerk is the most amazing and unique experience Cuxhaven has to offer.

The carriages make it to Neuwerk with one hour stay in the island and then back to Duhnen or Sahlenburg during one single low tide, which is impossible for pedestrians so don't try to walk both directions.

The tours start every day from spring to autumn, if the weather allows. The hours change according to the tides. The tourist office provides a list of addresses but won't be of any help booking the tours - this has to be done directly with the stables. Book the tour at least one day in advance (check weather forecast), during peak season earlier.

Please have a look at my travelogue page on the carriage ride to Neuwerk for more details and pictures.

Guided tours in the mudflats are a great way to learn more about the amazing variety of life in this delicate ecosystem. There are guided tours of all kinds, for kids, families, or adults, and even guided hiking tours across to the island of Neuwerk.

Visit the tourist information office - there is one in each suburb - for details and times.

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There is nothing more relaxing than a walk on the soft ground underneath a big big sky, feeling the wind and watching out for all those little animals that live in the mudflats - and, which is singular for Cuxhaven, watching the big ships entering or leaving the river Elbe.
The mudflats are part of the "Nationalpark Deutsches Wattenmeer", thus a protected piece of nature.

10-15 kms of dry sea bottom can be walked at low tide. The ground is solid, thus safe if you observe a few rules:

1. Check the tide calendar, take a watch and observe the hours!!! The end of walking time the calendar states is the hour of the lowest tide. You've still got some time till the water returns, but get back to the land side of the last Priel soon.
2. If the ground feels muddy or the water becomes too deep, turn around. Take care when crossing a Priel, the waterflows where the water leaves last and comes back first.
3. Watch out where you walk. Broken shells have sharp corners, and some crabs might show a nasty sense of humour.

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The mouth of the Elbe is one of the world's most frequented water 'highways'. Ships both to/from Hamburg and to/from the Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal) pass here.

Huge container carriers, up to 350 metres long, pass close to Kugelbake and Cuxhaven port. These vessels ARE impressive!

While the mudflats in front of the beaches fall dry, the Elbe river keeps enough water to allow these ships to travel. A 10 km long stone dam that begins next to the Kugelbake separates the mudflats from the river.

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The countryside is a paradise for bike rides. A network of biking trails offers plenty of opportunities. The lush green marshland is flat, the geestland further inward has a few small hills. Perfect for families. The kids will love the grazing animals everywhere - horses, cows, sheep. The small villages have a lot of hidden treasures to discover.

Bike rentals can be found at almost every street corner in Cuxhaven.

The sandy beach is nice, the waters are calm, but swimming the sea is hardly possible. At high tide the water is too shallow even far out. I tried and managed to swim a bit but always had to keep my knees from getting stuck on the sea bottom.

Swimming is possible
a) at the grass beach along the Elbe in Döse at rising tide
b) in the pretty big sea water spa in Duhnen
c) in the open air sea water pool on the beach in Döse.