Pellworm

Pellworm is the "green Hallig sister" — a 37 km² island of 1,100 souls, lying 8 m below sea level and protected from the North Sea by an 8 m ring dyke. Without the dyke, Pellworm would be tidal flat at every high tide. That's what makes the island so distinctive: open marsh, ancient salt meadows, one of Germany's oldest lighthouses (1907) and no rush at all. Transport: bicycle. Worth seeing: the ruins of Old St. Salvator's church, the shrimp cutters at Norderhafen, and the saltwater pool. Get there: ferry from Nordstrand-Strucklahnungshörn (45 min). Often confused with the Halligen — but Pellworm is a "real" island with its own school and doctor.