Six hours and twelve minutes - perhaps the only time visitors should remember when visiting Sylt. That's how long it takes for the tides to change on the German North Sea island. Until the Wadden Sea floods the seabed and then - attracted by the power of the moon - retreats again, as if it were slightly miffed. 

Just like the fickle sea, the island, which was just voted one of the 50 most beautiful places in the world by the U.S. magazine "Time," has two faces: miles of sandy beaches, meter-high dunes and picturesque thatched-roof houses on one side, gourmet restaurants, luxury boutiques and celebrity parties on the other. 

Since the bon vivant Gunter Sachs put Sylt on the map of the jet set in the sixties, it has become a destination of longing. Herbert Seckler, who runs Sansibar, the country's most famous beach restaurant, has also contributed to this. It sounds like tropical glamour in the far north, but it's down-to-earth through and through: "Many visitors think the Sansibar is a posh star restaurant. But our regulars love the original, the natural," says the gastronomer. 

Just as the writers Max Frisch and Thomas Mann once did, or the painter Emil Nolde, who were all inspired by wild nature: by the cliffs and the surf, the heather in the Munkmarsch, the play of the clouds and the scent of the Sylt dog rose, which perfumes the whole island in spring. On the small, big island the wind blows the everyday life away and makes you forget the time. Sometimes even six hours and twelve minutes.  

A weekend on Sylt and no plans yet? Here are the best tips for wellness, adventure and gourmet.

For the adventurous

Locality: Kampen

The rock band "Die Ärzte" sang a love song to the capital Westerland, but the secret star of the island is the town of Kampen, where celebrities and those who would like to become celebrities also like to meet for a rendezvous.

Museum: Old Frisian House

You can go on a journey through time in this museum: The former residential house from the year 1640 documents how people on Sylt used to live.
soelring-museen.de/altfriesisches-haus

Tetrapods in Hörnum

Round concrete colossi are intended to protect the south of Sylt from storm surges. The four-legged breakwaters have meanwhile become a small tourist attraction. Perhaps also because the heath landscape Hörnum-Odde is so beautiful, which one crosses on the way.

Sylt Museum

Housed in a captain's house dating from 1759, it is located above the Green Cliff.

Buhne 16

The atmosphere of this beach bar in the dunes of Kampen is delightfully relaxed. The beach bistro also hosts a longboard festival and numerous other events.
buhne16.com

For gourmets

Tipken`s by Nils Henkel

The German Michelin-starred chef is the brand-new director of Tipken`s restaurant at Severin*s Resort & Spa. With his vegetable cuisine he is a culinary pioneer, for the menus on Sylt he has further developed his sustainable and local "Pure Natur" dishes. 
severins-sylt.com

Sylter Royal

The Sylter Royal is grown on oyster beds in Blidsel Bay off List. The restaurant of the same name, including the oyster bar, belongs to Dittmeyer`s Oyster Company.
sylter-royal.com

Sylter Genussmacherei

What there is not everything! In the Genussmacherei of two-star chef Alexandro Pape almost everything that the culinary heart desires: He produces salt, beer, pasta and and and on the island. Everything to admire and buy in the own store in List.
sylter-genussmacherei.de

Gosch

From a vendor's tray, founder Jürgen Gosch initially sold fish rolls and smoked eels. In 1972, he opened "Germany's northernmost fish stall" in List, and there are now around 40 branches of the legendary fish restaurant.
gosch.de

Manne Pahl

Since 1986, the Swiss Pius Regli - now with his daughter - has been running the traditional restaurant in Kampen. The menu features dishes from Frisian cuisine, but a bit of a sense of home has remained: The decor is reminiscent of a mountain hut.
manne-pahl.com

For wellness fans

Lanserhof Sylt

The new wellness temple has the largest thatched roof in Europe. Beneath it, those seeking relaxation will find medical and aesthetic treatments of the highest standard.
lanserhof.com

Severin*s Resort & Spa

Inside Frisian coziness, in front of the windows hydrangeas and beach chairs: The 5-star hotel in Keitum is considered one of the best on the island. The large spa invites you to warm up again after a long walk on the beach.
severins-sylt.com

For culinary stops

Coffee Roastery Sylt

You don't need a map to find Sylt's first coffee roastery - just follow your nose, the scent of freshly ground beans hits you from afar. The former TV producer Christian Appel also serves the finest cakes in a former warehouse in Rantum.
kaffeeroesterei-sylt.com

Sansibar

Germany's most famous board shack has been an institution since owner Herbert Seckler started selling sausages in the 1970s. They are still on the menu - but now also many other things and lots of fine wines.
sansibar.de

Lund Sylt

After working in Hamburg and New Zealand, Jens Lund has returned to his homeland, where he continues to run the legendary family bakery and restaurant. In Hörnum, at the southernmost tip of the island. For over 80 years, only the best regional ingredients have ended up in the sweet treats.
lund-sylt.de

Landhaus Stricker

After extensive renovation, Landhaus Stricker has reopened its doors. The house, which belongs to Relais & Château, is run by Michelin-starred chef Holger Bodendorf, who also helped create the modern design concept. The associated gourmet restaurant Bodendorf`s has just defended its Michelin star again.
landhaus-stricker.com