Helgoland Travel Guide

Living In Northern Germany I have always been at odds with the fact that it's difficult to find moderately priced seafood restaurants given our proximity to the North Sea. On the tiny sea island of Helgoland, Die Bunte Kuh (or Colored Cow) is a quaint little Godsend of a place that offers tasty seafood dishes, simply prepared, at resonable prices with a dash of color from tourist day trippers and quiet local folk. As is the general feeling throughout the rest of the island, the feeling and ambiance of the place is a curious and delightful mix reminiscent of coastal America's upper New England, and the 90's CBS TV series "Northern Exposure"...

Favorite Dish: I would suggest as a general reccomendation to try any number of the salmon (lachsfilet) or plaice (scholle or schollenfilet) offered in Helgoland or anywhere in Germany. These two fish, along with walleye (zander filet) and pollack (seelachs filet) are standard staples of Northern German seafood cuisine, and are best enjoyed with a simple butter or hollandaise sauce , accompanied with parsley potatoes. Try this alongside with one of the local German wines produced in the south of the country and you have the formula for a satisfying meal.

If you take the traditional boat (means: not the katamaran) then you will take part in the boating procedure. Everybody has to exit the ship and take a small boat to land. Especially when the waves are higher, it is something funny.

Luggage and bags: Unless you're a backpacker, rolling bags are best ,as you will probably have a 5-10 minute walk to your hotel after disembarking your boat, and this is one of those "bike only" locales.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Most importantly, comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are key here. For sightseeing around the island, and tackling the climb of THE STAIRS from upper to lower Helgoland...which you are bound to do daily...at least 2-3 times.... In summer, have sturdy flip flops in case you manage to get to the beach on a sunny day. Lastly, a light windbreaker or rain poncho is always useful, because Northern Germany is no stranger to rainy days....

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: As is usually the case in Germany, bring your own ibuprofren or tylenol for minor aches and pains, as pain relievers can only be dispensed by pharmacies (at exorbitant prices)...

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Never hurts to have your own beach mat or towel in summer to avoid paying high prices at local tourist shops!

Favorite thing: Walking on the island of Helgoland leaves a strange thought in your head. How the hell did this red rock came to be. And indeed, many geologists are still figuring out exactly the how and why this single monolit is sticking out above the Northsea-water. The waves beating on it's sides and even the British once tried to blow it up by heavy bombing (WW II).

Fondest memory: Our friends from Cuxhaven that always welcome us with wide open arms in their environment. We know them from wintersport in Austria and already go a long time back.