Lange Anna (Long Anna)

The Lange Anna ("Long Anna") is a free-standing sea stack of red sandstone off the northwest tip of Helgoland, Germany's only high-sea island, and the island's best-known landmark. At roughly 47 meters tall, it is one of the most photographed sights on the German coast. You can only reach it by boat, and the stack itself cannot be visited. This guide explains how to get to Helgoland, where to see the Lange Anna and what else to plan for.

What the Lange Anna is

The stack is about 47 meters high (some sources say 48), weighs around 25,000 tons and stands on a base of about 180 square meters. It was once connected to the island by a natural rock bridge that collapsed around 1860. It was declared a natural monument in 1969. The rock continues to crumble: a 1998 study concluded that stabilizing it was no longer worthwhile, so it is left to erosion, and the upper two thirds could eventually break off at a weak layer about 16 meters up. Climbing is banned. A smaller companion stack, the Kleine Anna, formed in 1976 and can only be seen from the water.

Where to see it

The best view is from the cliff edge of the Upper Land (Oberland) on the island. From the harbor you reach it by elevator or by climbing 360 steps. A cliff-edge path of roughly 3.5 kilometers circles the island, and since cars are banned on Helgoland, the walk takes about an hour, so allow at least 90 minutes with stops. Right beside the viewpoint is the Lummenfelsen, a bird cliff of about 1.1 hectares and one of the smallest nature reserves in Germany. From April to July, common guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars and gannets nest here. In early summer, young guillemots jump up to 40 meters into the sea in the famous "Lummensprung".

How to get there

Helgoland lies about 60 kilometers off the mainland coast. The MS Helgoland of the Cassen Eils line runs year-round from Cuxhaven, which is the gateway most visitors use. From March to early November the Halunder Jet catamaran also runs from Hamburg via Brunsbüttel and Cuxhaven. In season, other boats run from Hörnum on Sylt (weekdays) and from Büsum. From early November, Cuxhaven is the only departure port. There is no regular air service at present. Ships are traditionally "ausgebootet": passengers transfer to small boats to land on the island. Deutsche Bahn serves the departure ports, so you can reach the island with a train plus ship combination. Check current timetables, travel times and fares with the shipping companies before you book.

Tickets and opening hours

There is no admission ticket and no opening time for the Lange Anna itself. Your costs are the ferry and any optional boat tours. We did not verify fares. The tourist office is in the "Atoll" building at Lung Wai 27 (phone +49 4725 808 808).

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you like dramatic coastal scenery and seabirds. Helgoland is only about one square kilometer in size and welcomes more than 300,000 visitors a year, so a day trip fits the main sights. Duty-free shopping is a side attraction on the island. Bring windproof clothing, since weather changes quickly on the North Sea. Currency is the euro.

Also nearby

The nearby Düne island has two beaches where you can see seals and gray seals up close, with boats leaving about every ten minutes.