DISCOVER North Sea

How big is Sylt?

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Sylt! North Sea waves breaking on the coast, sand dunes as far as the eye can see and salty sea air whipping through your hair. Who on Sylt vacation makes, wonders:

How big is Sylt ?

With 99.14 square kilometers, Sylt is the fourth largest island after Rügen, Usedom and Fehmarn. North Sea island Germany. But she is the biggest North Sea island - and that's saying something! Imagine exploring a place about twice the size of Manhattan.

I bet you're curious about the people who call Sylt home. As of the latest 2019 census, there are 18,118 residents living on the island, or about 183 people per square kilometer. That sounds like a lot, but don't worry - Sylt is never crowded. You still have plenty of space to yourself on the beach.

The main town is Westerland, which belongs to the municipality of Sylt. With its charming houses, lively beach promenade and many restaurants and cafes, Westerland is the perfect place to start your Sylt adventure. But that's not all! There are many other towns and villages to discover, each with its own character and charm.

At first glance, Sylt may not seem that big. After all, the island is only 40 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide. But it has more to offer than meets the eye. With around 200 kilometers of bike paths, there are many ways to explore the island by bike.

And then there are the beaches. If you love long walks on the sandy beach, this is the place for you. On the west side of the island, there are 40 kilometers of sandy beach - enough space to spread out a towel and enjoy the sun. And if you're adventurous, you can even try your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing.

And the different places on Sylt? In the north is Archsum, a quiet village surrounded by fields and meadows. Continue to Keitum, one of the oldest and most picturesque places on the island with beautiful thatched houses and a pretty church. Jüggersmarsch, Kaamp, Klentertal, Munkmarsch and Pioneer Camp are small villages where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the larger towns.

Further south are Großmorsum, Holm, Klamshörn, Kleinmorsum, Nösse, Osterende, Schellinghörn and Wall - each with its own character. Rantum, Rantum-Nord, Baaktal and Puan Klent are all located on the narrowest part of the island and offer some of the most beautiful views on Sylt.

Eventually we come to Tinnum, a village with the island's airport and a popular shopping center. And then, of course, there's Westerland, the bustling heart of Sylt.