1. the beach
SPO is all about sand, sand and more sand! At 12 kilometres long and up to 2 kilometres wide, the North Sea beach of St. Peter-Ording is one of the most extensive sandy beaches on the German coast. It is not called Germany's largest sandpit for nothing. In addition to its impressive size and wonderful panoramic views, it offers numerous leisure opportunities for families, water sports enthusiasts, dog lovers etc. with a total of five beach sections and two dog beaches.
Practical information: Here you can find the best time to visit St. Peter-Ording for a beach holiday.
2. the pier
Walking towards the sea is always a good idea in St. Peter-Ording! A walk along the 1000 metre long pier in the Bad district is particularly impressive. The wooden footbridge leads from the central pier forecourt across the salt marshes and dunes to the sandy beach. The view along the path is wonderful, the beach panorama with pile dwellings and North Sea surf is the highlight.
3. the pile dwellings
The pile dwellings are THE landmark of the North Sea resort of St. Peter-Ording and unique on the German coast. Over 100 years ago, in 1911, the first building was erected on wooden stilts (incidentally, like our ZWEITEN HEIMAT, it was also home to a Giftbude). Since then, the pile dwellings have characterised the beach landscape of SPO and are now used as restaurants or multi-purpose buildings, among other things. At a height of up to seven metres, they defy the sometimes stormy North Sea. In 2023, the Erlebnis-Hus was the first pile dwelling to be built on land.
4 The Wadden Sea
As part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, St. Peter-Ording is the perfect starting point for exploring this fascinating habitat. The Wadden Sea of the south-eastern North Sea is considered a unique ecosystem for countless animal and plant species and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009. In addition to an adventure exhibition in the National Park House, you should definitely get up close and personal with the mudflats - preferably on a guided mudflat hike. Guided tours are offered all year round - e.g. starting at St. Peter-Ording South Beach or at Westerheversand lighthouse. You can easily book tickets online.
5. the Westerheversand lighthouse
One of the most popular photo motifs on the North Sea coast and a real landmark of the region is the Westerheversand lighthouse, which is located very close to St. Peter-Ording in the small municipality of Westerhever. With its red and white stripes, it can be seen from afar. On site, the landmark with its 37 metre high viewing platform offers fantastic views over the North Sea and the Eiderstedt peninsula. The Wadden Sea Protection Centre also offers guided tours of the mudflats and nature in Westerhever.
Conclusion
Which of our holiday tips was your favourite? Not so easy! These top 5 insider tips & sights for St. Peter-Ording are definitely not to be missed:
- Experience the beach & pile dwellings
- Watch the sunrise over the North Sea
- Discover the Wadden Sea on a mudflat hike
- Visit the Westerheversand lighthouse
- Explore cafés & farm shops on the peninsula of Eiderstedt
