Harlesiel Camping: swimming, mudflat walks & ferry to Wangerooge – vacation tips

Harlesiel Camping – A vacation in Harlesiel on the North Sea is characterized by relaxation, scenic highlights and family-friendly activities.
Here you can not only swim in the sea, but also go on mudflat hikes, cycle along the coast, take a leisurely stroll along the beach promenade or explore the many sights and activities.
Camping in this multi-faceted vacation resort promises a varied time for young and old.
Whether as a couple or with the whole family, including children and dog, with a camper or roof tent – here are our vacation tips!

Camping vacation at the North Sea: With dog & children

Harlesiel is a very popular place for a camping vacation.
If only because you can sleep here with your roof tent right on the coast.
Some pitches really are right by the sea, so you don’t have to cross a road, protective wall or anything similar to get to the beach in the morning.
In the evening, you are still completely close to nature and experience the feeling of complete freedom and closeness to nature.
During the day, you can explore the area, try out one of the many water sports on the beach, visit the harbor or take a day trip on the ferry to Wangerooge.
So there’s never a dull moment on a vacation in Harlesiel.
In contrast to the better-known North Sea resorts, such as Sylt or Borkum, Harlesiel is also less crowded. The highlights of Harlesiel:

• Extensive sandy beach and fresh sea air
• Impressive Wadden Sea
• Long beach promenade
• Family-friendly activities
• Ferry port to Wangerooge

Before we go into more detail about our vacation tips and recommendations, here is some general information about Harlesiel:

Location of Harlesiel on the North Sea

Map – Harlesiel is a district of the East Frisian town of Wittmund and belongs to Lower Saxony.
It is a popular vacation spot for many tourists and is particularly well known for being the ferry port to the island of Wangerooge.
Alongside Neuharlingersiel and Bensersiel, the village is one of the smaller coastal towns on the North Sea.

First impressions of Carolinensiel – Harlesiel

Together with the old port of Carolinensiel, the two districts form the North Sea spa Carolinensiel – Harlesiel.
You can get a first impression of the region in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sYh6Ztuna0 Now let’s move on to our excursion tips for your vacation:

Top 4 things to do in the North Sea town of Harlesiel

Harlesiel is the perfect place for a summer vacation full of beach, sun and sea.
You can spend a few relaxing days here with your loved ones, enjoying yourselves on the extensive sandy beach.
Find out what else should definitely be on your to-do list here.
Top 4 things to do in Harlesiel:

Relaxation and fun on Harlesiel beach

Of course, most people come to Harlesiel for a relaxing beach vacation.
Therefore, relaxation and sunbathing on the popular sandy beach should not be neglected.
Here you can spend some eventful hours with the whole family.
As well as swimming in the water, there are also a number of leisure activities, such as beach volleyball, on offer on the beach.
There are also numerous water sports on offer for an action-packed day.
These include not only fishing and diving, but also windsurfing, sailing and jet skiing.
Relaxation for the grown-ups and fun for the little ones!
The following activities are available on the sandy beach:

• Sunbathing in the beach chairs
• Swimming in the sea
• Activities on the beach, e.g. beach volleyball
• Water sports, such as windsurfing, sailing or jet skiing
• Fishing

Relax in the many beach chairs right by the sea:

A dog beach is also available in Harlesiel and offers your four-legged friend all the freedom it needs!

Explore the ferry port of Harlesiel

Exploring the harbor is definitely a must during your vacation in Harlesiel.
The harbor not only serves as a ferry port for the crossing to Wangerooge or other excursion destinations, but is also a real landmark of the village.
For this reason alone, a short walk here is worth a visit.
Information about the harbor:

• Ferry port for numerous excursion destinations
• Landmark of Harlesiel
• Numerous ships, freighters and ferries

Take a walk along the water and look at the quaint freighters!

Take a short ferry trip to Wangerooge

If you are on vacation in Harlesiel, you should definitely plan to spend a few days on the sunny island of Wangerooge.
The ferry from the harbor in Harlesiel departs several times a day and the crossing takes around 90 minutes.
Once you arrive, you can explore the area on walks or bike rides, stroll along the sea or sunbathe on the sandy beach with an exciting book in your hand.
You should therefore plan to spend a few days in Wangerooge:

• Popular vacation destination
• Idyllic landscapes
• Fresh sea air
• Relax on the sandy beach
• Exploring the Wadden Sea

Take the ferry to Wangerooge:

In the evening, be sure to enjoy the beautiful sunset with a view of the sea!

Cycling along the coast or directly along the beach

Harlesiel is also ideal for extensive cycling tours.
You can either cycle directly along the coast, through the dunes or through the idyllic countryside.
There are several natural cycle paths where there is always something to see and visit.
Take a break in between, sit down in one of the nice cafés or simply stroll a few meters along the beach promenade with an ice cream in your hand.
Cycling on the beach, directly along the sea – a real experience in Harlesiel! But Harlesiel doesn’t just impress with outdoor activities, there is always something to do even in bad weather.

To-do activities in bad weather

Sightseeing – Even in bad weather and rain, you don’t have to despair and spend the whole day in the roof tent on the campsite.
Even if the sun doesn’t want to come out, there is plenty to do in Harlersiel.
One of these is the Carolinensiel National Park House.
Our bad weather tips:

Visit to the Carolinensiel museum harbor

The Carolinensiel museum harbor, a little further south of Harlesiel, is a particularly popular excursion destination.
While it used to be just an old siel harbor, it is now used as a berth for old flat-bottomed ships.
An absolute highlight for passionate fans of the history of shipping.

Culture & exhibition in the Carolinensiel National Park House

For those interested in culture, the Carolinensiel National Park House, directly at the museum harbor, is particularly suitable.
In bad weather, but also otherwise, a visit here is combined with exciting information and a vivid ambience.
While an exhibition with information about the national park and the Wadden Sea and various hands-on stations for children await you on the upper floor, you can browse for souvenirs in the store in the basement.
The highlights of the National Park House:

• Exhibition about the National Park and the Wadden Sea
• Charming ambience
• Hands-on stations for children
• Store with souvenirs

Location and information:

4.7 stars / 160 Google reviews

• Address: Pumphusen 3, 26409 Wittmund
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00
• Phone: 04464 8403

Winter camping is also an unforgettable experience

Winter camping – Harlesiel is not only recommended for beach vacations in summer.
Even in winter, with cold temperatures and snow, more and more holidaymakers are drawn to the North Sea town.
Especially at Christmas time, the entire town is decorated with fairy lights and wrapped in a cozy atmosphere.
With our tips for winter camping beginners, camping in the cold season is no problem at all! These are the advantages of camping in winter:

• Deserted beaches
• Empty attractions in the low season
• Cozy atmosphere
• Colorful lights at Christmas time

Fairy lights and a Christmas tree at the harbor – Harlesiel at Christmas time!

Whether in summer or winter – Harlesiel is recommended in its own way at any time of year!

Weather: Temperatures in Harlesiel

The average annual temperature in Harlesiel is 10.1 degrees.
The highest average temperature is 20 degrees in August and the lowest is 4 degrees in January.
The water temperature is between 5 and 20 degrees.
The best time to visit Harlesiel for a beach vacation is therefore between June and September, as you can expect pleasantly mild temperatures and little rainfall during these months.
If you are looking for peace and relaxation, you should consider coming here in winter.

• Average annual temperature: 10.1
• Highest average temperature: 20 degrees in August
• Lowest average temperature: 4 degrees in January

Weather today / in three days

Here you can already find a weather forecast for today and the coming days:

During your vacation in Harlesiel, you should definitely decide to go camping.

Camping by the North Sea: sleeping right by the coast

Camping is recommended to make the most of your time here.
You can enjoy the closeness to nature well into the evening hours and completely switch off from the stresses of everyday life.
With a roof tent, you are super flexible and can visit several places.
You can choose the model you want and configure it according to your own preferences.
So nothing stands in the way of your eventful camping vacation!
Read more about roof tent models, prices, roof load and advantages here: Roof tent for your car.
Or visit one of the camping fairs near you for more information.
A camping vacation guarantees you these advantages:

• Feeling of freedom and closeness to nature into the evening hours
• Flexible and spontaneous travel arrangements
• Several overnight stays and stops are possible
• Cozy get-together at the campsite
• Cheaper than a hotel or vacation apartment
• Dog and family friendly

No matter what time of year: sitting together with your loved ones in the evening – that’s what makes a camping vacation unforgettable!

Accommodation: Campsite recommendations in Harlesiel

As wild camping is generally prohibited in Germany, you should choose one or more campsites for your time here.
However, these are not only located close to nature, but some are also right on the coast and therefore wonderfully central, so that you can start your activities straight away in the morning.
I have already picked out a few central campsites here:

Campsite Harlesiel

4.2 stars / 1,207 Google reviews

• Address: North Sea resort Carolinensiel, Schwerinsgroden 1, 26409 Wittmund
• Opening hours: 07:00 to 19:00
• Phone: 04464 949398

North Sea Camp on the Wadden Sea – Camp Harlesiel

5.0 stars / 4 Google reviews

• Address: Schwerinsgroden 1, 26409 Wittmund
• Phone: 030 6293053

Harlesiel parking space at the pier

4.3 stars / 385 Google reviews

• Address: Am Harlesiel 20, 26409 Wittmund
• Phone: 04464 949398

Take a look at the campsite from above:

FAQ: Everything about Harlesiel

Can you swim in Harlesiel and is there actually a sandy beach?
Finally, a few questions that often arise in connection with Harlesiel are answered here.

Can you swim in Harlesiel?

Harlesiel is part of the North Sea and is therefore located directly by the sea.
Accordingly, you can also swim in the water here, stroll along the beach and enjoy the benefits of a seaside vacation.

Does Carolinensiel – Harlesiel have a sandy beach?

Harlesiel has a very gently sloping sandy beach.
This makes it the perfect place for a relaxing day with the whole family.
But it’s not just swimming in the sea that is possible here, there are also a number of leisure activities on offer and the many beach chairs are perfect for relaxing in the sun.

How often does the ferry go to Wangerooge?

The ferry from Harlesiel to Wangerooge departs several times a day.
Even in winter, you can expect a crossing at least once a day.

Reading tips: Vacation at the North Sea or Baltic Sea

Apart from Harlesiel, the North Sea also has other beautiful islands and vacation resorts to offer.
But the Baltic Sea is also an absolute recommendation.
If you haven’t quite decided where to go on your next vacation, you can find more information on other alternative destinations here.

Camping by the North Sea

North Sea – Whether sunbathing on the beach, walks in nature or exciting mudflat hikes, the North Sea has much more to offer besides Harlesiel and impresses with its diverse range of amazing landscapes, beaches, interesting sights and cultural highlights, so that everyone gets their money’s worth.
Find out everything you need to know about a vacation in the various regions of the North Sea here:

• Camping North Sea

Camping on Sylt

Sylt – Sylt is definitely one of the most popular North Sea destinations.
You can expect pure relaxation on the beach, walks in the dunes and water sports here.
There is something for everyone to see and do here, so there is never a dull moment.
Even the beaches and their guests differ from place to place.
Whether it’s a family beach, a nudist beach or a dog beach – each has its own section.
Read more about our vacation tips on recommended beaches, things to do, sights and typical food here:

• Camping Sylt

Camping on the Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea – If you like the North Sea, you’ll love the Baltic Sea too!
Blue sea, white sandy beaches and breathtaking nature await you on a vacation here.
So if you long for relaxation, peace and fresh air by the sea, you don’t have to go too far away.
Whether you’re on vacation on the Baltic Sea islands, the German or Polish part of the Baltic Sea – the popular vacation region has plenty to offer, from picturesque beaches and exciting sights to nature trails. Read our tips for a camping vacation with the whole family including children and dog here:

• Camping Baltic Sea