Steerenklipp Viewing Dune & the Old Harbour Pier End
While most visitors head straight for the lighthouse, Borkum hides two quieter vantage points that reward the curious traveller with panoramic views and genuine solitude — the Steerenklipp dune ridge and the far end of the old harbour pier at the Fischerbalje.
Steerenklipp: see Juist without binoculars
The Steerenklipp is a viewing dune located between the Ostland district and Duala, and on a clear day you can see all the way to the neighbouring island of Juist without binoculars — a quietly spectacular reward for a short detour off the main paths.
The surrounding salt marshes stretch away in every direction, and the only sounds are wind, birds and the distant North Sea. It is the kind of place that makes you stand still for longer than you planned.
The old harbour pier: Borkum's best-kept secret
Walk the piers from the marina restaurant at the old harbour all the way to the end and you will almost reach the Fischerbalje tidal channel — a spot where you will usually be completely alone, watching the sea, the ships and the tides with no one else around.
This insider tip from locals is the antidote to the island's busier promenades. Bring a thermos and stay for a tide cycle.
Salt marshes and the Wadden Sea Promenade
The Wadden Sea Promenade, reached by walking from Duala over the New Dike towards the harbour, offers a unique elevated view over the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea and is an ideal spot to watch the ebb and flow of the tides and the thousands of birds that feed on the exposed mudflats.
From the promenade you can also observe seals hauling out on the Seehundbank sandbank — a popular wildlife spot where harbour seals rest in their natural habitat, easily visible with a pair of binoculars from the shore.
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