Borkumer Kleinbahn Narrow-Gauge Railway
Stepping off the Emden ferry and straight onto a rattling, narrow-gauge train that has been running since 1888 is one of those small travel moments that sets the tone for an entire holiday. The Borkumer Kleinbahn is part transport, part time machine, and entirely charming.
A living piece of railway history
The Borkumer Kleinbahn is the oldest island railway in Germany, opening in 1888 as successor to a horse-drawn line laid in 1879 to help build the new lighthouse. Today its 900 mm gauge track stretches 7.5 km from the harbour to the town centre, threading through dunes and past the island's outer dike.
The fleet includes vintage diesel and steam locomotives alongside classic passenger carriages — a living technological monument that takes real effort to preserve, and whose atmosphere transports you straight to the early twentieth century.
The ride itself
For most visitors, a ride on this miniature train is their very first impression of Borkum — luggage stowed, sea air flooding through the windows, dune grass blurring past. It is the only double-tracked narrow-gauge railway of its kind in Germany, a quirky engineering footnote that delights rail enthusiasts.
The train timetable is tied directly to the ferry schedule, so the service is reliably practical as well as picturesque. On summer weekends steam-hauled specials occasionally run, worth timing your visit around if you can.
Practical tips
Your ferry ticket automatically includes the Kleinbahn ride between harbour and town — no separate purchase needed on arrival. Buses on the island are also operated by the same Borkumer Kleinbahn company, making island-wide travel straightforward.
Hop off at intermediate stops to explore quieter dune paths and nature reserves without carrying luggage back to town.
Borkumer Kleinbahn Narrow-Gauge Railway on video
More of Borkum
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Borkum →
