Family Holidays: Northern Germany family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

In Northern Germany families can rely on action-filled holidays on two coastlines. Just off the North Sea coast lies a string of large islands. Sylt, Föhr, Amrum and Pellworm are ideal places to spend a holiday. Not quite as big, but unique to this area are the Halligen, tiny populated islets in the Wadden Sea. The Baltic Sea is a little less rugged with white beaches and nice water temperatures until September. Further inland, there is even more to discover: untouched nature, national parks, wild cliff formations, crystal-clear lakes and countless waterways. The cities in the North not only offer lots of indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family, in many of them you can still discover visible signs of their trade and seafaring history.

Top left: Langeoog
Top right: Mecklenburg Lake District

Bottom left: Fishing in Northern Germany
Bottom right: Canoeing in Northern Germany

When

Despite the fact that Northern Germany has a mild sea climate all the year round, we recommend travel there from April to September to get the most sunshine and pleasant water temperatures.

How

Take the plane
There are many direct flight connections between the UK and Northern Germany.

Take the ferry
From Harwich to Cuxhaven (near Hamburg). A 20 hour journey may seem horrendous but you won’t be travelling on a crowded cross-channel ferry. Ships on this route are closer to cruise standard and there is plenty to keep the family occupied.

Do

Thanks to the fascinating ebb and flow of the tide of the North Sea, it is possible to take a “walk on the seabed”, for instance a guided tour aimed at children or take a ride on a horse-drawn carriage from Cuxhaven to the Neuwerk Hallig.

The Baltic Sea offerings include windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, kitesurfing, diving and sailing

You can visit one of the exciting lighthouses, seafaring museums and museum ships. Visit the sand sculptures at Sand World in Travemünde. In Wilhelmshaven the whole family can become a team of researchers on “Oceanis”, Germany’s only underwater station.

Hamburg is absolutely ideal for extensive discovery tours. Marvel at the huge ships in the harbour, explore the largest model railway in the world (the Miniature Wonderland), ride the Hummel sightseeing train or enjoy the water playground in the Planten un Bloomen park will keep not only the children entertained.

The Universum Science Center in Bremen lets you become a scientist and an explorer for the day.

Eat

On both sea coasts the combination of sweet and sour is popular. Sole, plaice and of course shrimp are the main items on the menu. On the coast of Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein, Matjes herrings are eaten with potatoes cooked in their skin and a bacon dip. And desserts get reall