Sankt Peter-Ording

Sankt Peter-Ording is in Schleswig Holstein. Owing in part to its exposed position, it is one of Germany's prime destinations for surfing and kite-surfing but also popular with people who enjoy bathing or the unique climate of the North Sea, that is said to be a cure for many ailments, especially respiratory diseases.

Understand
Unlike many other German North Sea destinations, Sankt Peter Ording is rather exposed to the sea, as it sits at the western edge of the peninsula of Eiderstedt (named for the river Eider, that is the southern border of the peninsula).

The name "St. Peter" was first mentioned in a document from 1373, before which the town was called "Ulstrup". There is evidence of Frisian and Viking population in the area before this. The touristic history of St. Peter-Ording begins in 1877, when the first hotel opened. The first stilt house was constructed in 1911, and a railway connection to the town Husum began operating in 1932. In the second half of the twentieth century, St. Peter-Ording became the touristic destination it is today, attracting thousands of tourists every year.

Sankt Peter Ording is moderately famous in all of Germany as a daily television soap opera dealing mostly with surfing was shot here in the mid 1990s.

By train
Sankt Peter Ording has a train station, but you will probably have to change trains more than once. From Hamburg, Westerland (on Sylt) and Kiel, you will have to change trains in Husum. That being said, arriving by train has the undeniable advantage of avoiding the congested roads in the summer and you don't have to park your car, that is pretty much useless in Sankt Peter Ording anyway.

By bus
There is regular public bus service from Husum, which is also the closest major railway junction with service from Hamburg and Kiel.

By plane
The next international airport is in Hamburg

Get around
The town is small and rather walkable. There is a bus that is included in the price of the Kurtaxe, but chances are, you won't need it. A good idea for exploring the surrounding areas is renting or bringing bikes, as the area is rather flat and bike-friendly.

See
Many people are enthralled by the sheer natural beauty of the white sandy beaches. Sunsets are especially spectacular, but if you want to see the beach (almost) empty, come for sunrise.

Do
The main draw of Sankt Peter Ording is its beach. Bear in mind that unless you are staying in town (in which case use of the beach is included in the Kurtaxe) you have to pay to go to the beach.

Depending on the time of day a visit to the beach may not be the same as a visit to the north sea, as the tides can push back the water quite a bit.

Walking across the mudflats (especially bare-footed in the summer) has its own appeal. Just make sure never to walk out alone and be mindful of the tides. There are regular cases of individuals walking out never to return, having been overtaken by the water flowing back or having lost their orientation.

Sleep
All accommodations have to charge a supplement called Kurtaxe on top of the going rate per person. This is usually not included in the "official" rate. The Kurtaxe is the rule rather than the exception in German sea-baths and ranges around to  per night per person and is levied to pay for the upkeep of facilities, public transport and other services.