For lovers of spices in Germany, it may have seemed a bad deal when in 1890 Germany received Helgoland from Britain in return for Zanzibar, but the island is nevertheless worth a visit. 
Farthest out in the open sea (50 km/31 miles from the mainland), the island always had great strategic importance, and after 1945, Britain used it as a bombing target before it was returned to Germany in 1952. Today its fresh air and spectacular red cliffs attract thousands of tourists.
Port
On the flat part of the island is Unterland, a small town with 1,300 inhabitants and a port. Fishermen store their nets in the colourful little houses, referred to as Hummerbuden (lobster huts).
Lange Anna
Tall Anna, measuring about 40 m (131ft) high, is the best known red sandstone cliff. Nearby is the Lummenfelsen, which is the smallest nature reserve in Germany.
Oberland
In the upper part of the island stands the Nikolaikirche, dating from 1959.
Close by, and worth a visit, are 16th-century tombs.
TIPS FOR TOURISTS
Starting point: the port of Helgoland
Length: 1.7 km (1.1 miles).
Stopping places: there are numerous restaurants, bars and cafés all over the island.
Tweet This
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS Feed
