Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park

Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park stretches along Germany's North Sea coast from the Dutch border to Cuxhaven, taking in all seven East Frisian Islands. Its main UNESCO visitor center is in Wilhelmshaven, about an hour and a quarter from Bremen. Twice a day the tide drains away to reveal a vast seabed, seals bask on sandbanks and millions of migrating birds refuel. It is part of the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remarkable natural landscapes in Europe.

What makes it special

The park was established on January 1, 1986, and was recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1992. Together with the Wadden Sea national parks of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg and the protected areas of Denmark and the Netherlands, it forms the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Covering about 1,335 square miles (3,458 km²), it is the second-largest national park in Germany.

The coast here is extraordinarily flat; the seabed drops only a few centimeters per kilometer in places. Up to 4,000 species of animals and plants are adapted to this nutrient-rich habitat, from lugworms to shelducks, and an estimated 10 to 12 million shorebirds, geese, ducks and gulls stop over in the Wadden Sea every year.

Things to do

• UNESCO Wadden Sea Visitor Center Wilhelmshaven: more than 2,000 square meters of hands-on exhibits, redesigned in 2022, with a giant sperm whale skeleton, a walk-through salt marsh replica, a tide station and a huge projection screen.
• Mudflat hiking (Wattwandern): walk on the seabed at low tide with a certified national park guide. Never go alone: the tide and sea fog can come in fast.
• East Frisian Islands: Borkum, Juist, Norderney, Baltrum, Langeoog, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge offer dunes, wide beaches and salt marshes.
• Seal and bird watching: look for harbor seals on sandbanks; spring and fall bring enormous flocks of migrating birds.
• Boat trips: national park excursions depart from Wilhelmshaven aboard the MS "Harle Kurier," and dogs are welcome on board.

Tickets and opening hours

The national park itself is free, though strict rules apply in the core zone. The Wilhelmshaven visitor center (as of October 2026) is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October, and Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March; it is closed December 21 to 25 and December 31. Admission for the permanent and special exhibitions is €13 for adults, €7 for children 6 to 16 and €31 for a family ticket; children 5 and under enter free. Tickets are also sold online.

How to get there

Wilhelmshaven is reached by Deutsche Bahn regional trains via Oldenburg; the visitor center on the Südstrand waterfront is about a 30-minute walk from the station. By car, take the A29 autobahn. To visit the islands, take a ferry from harbors such as Norddeich, Bensersiel, Neuharlingersiel or Harlesiel; on several islands departure times depend on the tide.

Good to know

Dogs must be leashed in the core and intermediate zones and are not allowed on grazed dikes, even on a leash; designated dog beaches exist. Rules vary by island, so follow local signs. Is it worth visiting? Absolutely, especially if you join a guided mudflat walk.

Nearby

• German Naval Museum, Wilhelmshaven: ships and maritime history.
• Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge: Wilhelmshaven's landmark swing bridge.
• Jever: castle and famous brewery town.