Heligoland ferry timetable
Helgoline connects Cuxhaven with Heligoland by catamaran in 70 minutes. From Hamburg, the crossing with FRS Helgoline takes around 3.5 hours. Seasonal service April to October.
Which departure port suits you?
You can travel to Heligoland from three ports, and the choice affects your day's schedule more than the price. Cuxhaven has the most departures and the shortest crossing: a ship leaves from here almost every day, and a day trip with several hours on the island fits comfortably into the schedule. If you're travelling from northern Germany, this is the quickest way onto the water.
Hamburg saves you the trip out to the coast: the catamaran departs from the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken and calls at Cuxhaven along the way. In exchange, you'll spend considerably longer travelling, and the day is more tightly scheduled, since the return sailing is in the afternoon. Even so, for a trip without your own car, this is often the simplest option.
Brunsbüttel is the smallest of the three: sailings run on only a few days a week, but it's a short trip for anyone starting out from the Lower Elbe or Dithmarschen. If you want to depart from here, check the timetable above carefully, as not every weekday is served.
What to watch out for with the timetable
Heligoland is a seasonal island. The catamaran runs from late March to early November; after that the service thins out considerably, and the timetable above will show correspondingly few or no departures for winter. If you want to travel outside the season, check the connection from Cuxhaven first.
Two things matter more on this route than elsewhere. First, Heligoland is a day-trip destination for many visitors: on fine summer days the ships fill up early, and if you only book at the harbour you may find the ship sold out. Second, disembarkation (transferring to the Börte boats off the island) depends on the weather; in strong winds a sailing can be cancelled at short notice. The operator's timetable and your booking confirmation are therefore always the definitive source.
FAQ Heligoland timetable
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Heligoland ferry timetable.
How up to date is this timetable?+
The departures above are the operators' scheduled departures. Operators announce short-notice changes first, so always check your booking confirmation again on the day of travel.
Do ships sail to Heligoland in winter too?+
From Cuxhaven, yes: Cassen Eils' MS Helgoland excursion ship sails daily all year round and docks in the South Harbour. The fast catamarans, on the other hand, are seasonal - the Halunder Jet from Hamburg and Cuxhaven runs from late March to early November.
How long does the crossing to Heligoland take?+
From Cuxhaven, the catamaran takes around 70 to 75 minutes, and the excursion ship about two and a half hours. From Hamburg, the Halunder Jet, with a stop in Cuxhaven, takes around three and a half hours.
How much time do you have on the island on a day trip?+
That depends on the return sailing. From Cuxhaven, the excursion ship departs around 10:30 and returns at 16:00, giving you around three hours on Heligoland. From Hamburg, you arrive around 12:30, with the return sailing around 16:30 or 17:00.
Which ferry operators run these connections?+
Cassen Eils and FRS Helgoline sail from Cuxhaven, FRS Helgoline runs the Halunder Jet from Hamburg and Brunsbüttel, and Adler & Eils sails from Büsum and Hooksiel. See the Heligoland Ferry Operators page for which ship serves which route.