© Lynn Scotti | Sylt Marketing

Travel by train

By train to Sylt

Travel to the island in an environmentally friendly and stress-free way

Your benefits:

Whether you choose an InterCity or Regional Express train, traveling to Sylt by train offers not only a relaxing but also a scenic start to your vacation. The island is directly connected to the mainland by a railway embankment. This allows you to travel comfortably by train without having to transfer to a ferry. 

The journey to Sylt will give you a sense of relaxation even on the way there. As the train glides gently through the flat expanse of Schleswig-Holstein, picturesque views of green meadows and the Kiel Canal open up. 
Shortly before arrival, the route offers an unforgettable panorama: the Wadden Sea stretches out before you with its characteristic tidal creeks. The magic of Sylt will already put you in the holiday mood.

Planning and booking

Find timetables and connections easily

New in 2026: ICE L will be used on the routes to Sylt

new ICE L to Sylt
© Deutsche Bahn | Oliver Lang

Direct train connections to Sylt are getting an upgrade! With the new ICE L trains, the journey to Sylt will be more comfortable, accessible, and family-friendly.

Ab 1 May 2026 Will the new train run on the route? Berlin - deployed in Westerland (Sylt). From the July 11, 2026 The deployment then follows on the route of Frankfurt (Main) sowie von Cologne to Westerland (Sylt).

InterCity direct connection: with the IC to Sylt

These trains allow you to travel directly from Hamburg to Sylt without changing trains:

IC direct connections to Sylt travel according to the regular timetable

  • ab Berlin via Ludwigslust (once daily)
  • ab Cologne via the Ruhr area and Münster (twice daily)
  • ab Frankfurt (Main) via Kassel and Hanover (once daily) 

IC direct connections from Sylt fahren

  • via Ludwigslust to Berlin (1x daily)
  • via Bremen, Münster and the Ruhr area to Cologne (2x daily)
  • via Hanover, Kassel, to Frankfurt (Main) (1x daily)

Details on In www.bahn.*

Impressions of the new ICE L

second class on the ICE L
© Deutsche Bahn AG / Pablo Castagnola
Taking a wheelchair onto the ICE L train to Sylt
© Deutsche Bahn | Oliver Lang
Snack on the table in the ICE L on-board restaurant
© Deutsche Bahn AG | Dirk Wittmann
Play table in the children's compartment of the ICE L to Sylt
© Deutsche Bahn AG | Dirk Wittmann
First class carriage of the ICE L at the station
© Deutsche Bahn AG | Dirk Wittmann

By regional train from Hamburg to Sylt

Whether you are planning a holiday on the island or want to take a day trip – the Marschbahn takes you comfortably from Hamburg to Sylt and offers a relaxed start to your island holiday. 

The train journey from Hamburg to Sylt takes you through a diverse landscape and is an experience in itself. Travelers pass through green marshes, idyllic villages, and vast fields. A special highlight is the journey over the railway embankment that connects the mainland to the island of Sylt. From here, impressive views of the Wadden Sea open up. 

The Marschbahn railway has a long tradition and has been an important part of Sylt's transport connections for many decades – it links the mainland with the island and departs hourly from Hamburg-Altona. The regional train takes about 3 hours for the journey.

Regional train at the platform in Westerland with the lettering Schleswig-Holstein.
© Lynn Scotti I Sylt Marketing

Take the night train to Hamburg

Travel comfortably with the Night Train from Austria or the Switzerland to Hamburg And in the morning, continue your journey to Sylt by regional train. In some cases, it's also possible to take your car on board, so you can complete the rest of your trip from Hamburg in your own car.

Travelers get off a modern train at night on the platform.
© Harald Eisenberger I ÖBB

Frequently asked questions about train travel to Sylt

Arrival by InterCity

Here you will find the most important questions and answers:

Arrival by regional train

The most frequently asked questions and answers at a glance:

Construction work and timetable changes

Find out about the latest information on the Hamburg-Altona - Westerland/Sylt route.

Parking on the mainland

Relaxed trip to the island without a car

Can I leave my car on the mainland and take the train to the island?
Yes, there are paid parking spaces available directly at the train station in both Klanxbüll and Niebüll. The journey time from Niebüll to Sylt is approximately 35 minutes; from Klanxbüll to Westerland/Sylt, the train takes approximately 25 minutes.

Parking spaces in Niebüll

  • Syltparker Parkhaus
    Bahnhofstrasse 12
    25899 Niebull
    Daily rate: 
    9 euros in the standard range
    7 euros in the economy class
     

  • DB parking lot at the train station
    Lage dike
    25899 Niebull

Parking spaces in Klanxbüll

Are you traveling with your group by train?

To ensure that your arrival and departure are as pleasant and smooth as possible, please contact DB Regional if your group more than 20 people includes, 6 or more bicycles be carried, or a mobility-impaired passenger in a wheelchair travels along.

From the train station to the accommodation

Various options for continuing your journey on the island

A blue electric bus drives along a road through a grassy heathland, while four sheep graze in the foreground.
© MAN Truck & Bus

By Bus

The well-developed bus network of the Sylt Transport Company (SVG) spans the island. The central bus station (ZOB)—the starting point for all bus routes and island tours—is located right next to Westerland train station. Keitum and Morsum train stations are connected to the island's bus network via line 4.

Information about the bus
Two taxis are parked at a taxi stand in front of the train station in Westerland. Buildings and a bus stop can be seen in the background, and the sky is blue and clear.
© Lynn Scotti | Sylt Marketing

With the taxi

There's a taxi stand right at Westerland Station with enough taxis to handle the rush of passengers getting off a train. If you're getting off in Keitum or Morsum, we recommend calling ahead to reserve a taxi.

All taxi companies on the island
© Citroën

By rental car

Various car rental companies offer their vehicles on Sylt. From Vespas and Smarts to VW Buses, electric cars, and luxury sedans, you'll find everything you need.

Book a rental car online
Two cyclists ride along a path through the hilly dune landscape, surrounded by heath and grass.
© Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

With the rental bike

Explore the island in a sporty and stress-free way! With the latest e-bikes, even headwinds are no longer a problem.

Tip: At the mietrad Sylt rental station directly opposite the station forecourt in Westerland, you will receive a discount on your rental bike by showing a Deutsche Bahn ticket valid for the day in question: 1 euro discount for regular bikes and 2 euros discount for e-bikes.

Bicycle rentals
A seagull stands on a table on board a ship in the harbor of List, with the quay and a gentle sunset in the background.
© Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

On foot

If your accommodation is in Westerland, chances are you can reach your hotel within walking distance. Westerland isn't a big city, and the train station is right in the center. The beach is just 10 minutes away.

Keitum is also so small that you can easily reach your accommodation from the train station and explore the picturesque town directly on foot.

In Morsum, the houses are spread out over large distances, so it's worth taking a look at the map beforehand.

More about the island towns
Man in hotel room unpacking his bag.
© Peter Bender | Sylt Marketing

Hotel shuttle

Some of Sylt's hotels offer a shuttle service from the train station to the hotel. It's best to ask about this when booking your hotel.


* This is an affiliate link. If you book your Deutsche Bahn ticket through this link, we will receive a small commission.