Discover Cuxhaven

Cuxhaven combines the Wadden Sea with a coastal landscape that also has surprisingly green sides. You can shape your stay around different interests, from nature experiences and maritime history to culture. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore helpful to think in advance about whether you would particularly like to explore the mudflats, museums and historic sites, or combine a range of experiences.

Wadden Sea and coastal heathlands

The Wadden Sea near Cuxhaven is part of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park and has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2009. At low tide, the mudflats provide a habitat for more than 10,000 animal and plant species. If you are interested in this unique natural environment, you could consider a guided mudflat hike to the island of Neuwerk: These tours set off from the Cuxhaven districts of Sahlenburg and Duhnen. The guided format gives your day a clear structure without requiring you to plan your own route.

The coastal heathlands around Cuxhaven shape a different kind of landscape. Between the districts of Duhnen and Berensch, they meet the Wadden Sea directly. Around 900 hectares of Cuxhaven’s coastal heathlands have been designated a nature reserve since December 2004. Their ecosystem provides a habitat for more than 200 plant and animal species that are considered endangered on the Red Lists of Lower Saxony or Germany. This means your holiday can take in two distinct natural features: the mudflats, shaped by the changing tides, and the heathlands, with their special importance as a habitat.

Maritime landmarks and activities

The 29-metre-high Kugelbake, made of wood, marks the point where the Elbe ends and the North Sea begins. It also marks the northernmost point of Lower Saxony and is a protected historic monument. Cuxhaven’s official surfing area is also located at the Kugelbake, where kitesurfing is possible when the wind conditions are right. So if you are planning an active time on the water, this option depends on suitable wind conditions.

The Alte Liebe offers a different view of the Elbe: this two-storey viewing platform was built in 1733 as a landing stage and breakwater. Ships depart from here for Neuwerk, Heligoland and the seal banks. If you are interested in these trips, you can include this departure point in your holiday plans; no specific departure times are implied.

Experience history and culture

Ritzebüttel Castle brings together several building periods: in the 18th century, the late-medieval castle was given an impressive Baroque extension at the front. Following extensive restoration, it was opened to the public as a civic castle in 1996. Today it is a cultural venue for concerts, readings and exhibitions. Visitors interested in architecture can therefore explore both the older castle building and its later Baroque extension.

Fort Kugelbake was built in Cuxhaven between 1869 and 1879 at Prussia’s initiative. The prominently positioned structure has a pentagonal design and includes a rampart and a rear moat. It is considered Germany’s only surviving naval fortress. The fort offers a distinct perspective on Cuxhaven’s architectural and military history.

The Joachim Ringelnatz Museum focuses on the artist’s life and work. Exhibits include paintings, drawings, volumes of poetry, prose works, photographs, documents and letters. The wide-ranging collection spans visual works and written records. At the Windstärke 10 Museum, by contrast, a tour takes visitors into maritime history: they experience a fishing voyage to Iceland, the cramped conditions aboard a fishing trawler, and the search for shipwrecks and their cargo. The permanent exhibition covers almost 2,000 m²; there is also a large room for special exhibitions. The museum is a five-minute walk from Cuxhaven railway station, making it an easy-to-follow landmark for arriving by train.

Various areas of the Elbe 1 lightship are also open to visitors: cabins, the galley, the crew’s and officers’ messes, the engine room and the bridge. If you would like to focus on culture and maritime insights, these museums and the lightship offer different themes to include in your excursion plans.

Discover more places

Explore more pages about Berensch, Lüdingworth, Altenbruch, Duhnen and Döse. You will also find Nordleda, Am Dobrock and Mittelstenahe as further destinations.

For the main travel overview: Cuxhaven.