Texel is one of the Wadden Islands located in the north of the Netherlands. Being home to 30 km of sandy beach, it is a popular holiday destination for mainly Dutch and German people in summer. Here’s a guide on the top things to do on Texel and how to get there.

Besides the long stretch of beach, you can find a few small villages and pristine nature with beautiful landscapes on the island. The capital of Texel is the town Den Burg.

Those who enjoy being in a calm place surrounded by nature will have a great time there. If you prefer bustling cities with a lot going on, you might get bored on the island.

I visited Texel for a day trip only and I do believe that that’s enough time to see almost everything. However, if you go there to spend some relaxing time on the beach or in nature, I recommend staying 2-3 days on Texel.

Best things to do on Texel

Things to do on Texel

Work on your tan on the beach, be active by hiking along the coast or get your dose of adrenaline by jumping out of a plane. Here’s a list of the top things to do on a day trip to Texel.

Visit the Texel Lighthouse

Texel Lighthouse

The lighthouse of Texel is definitely a must-see for everyone who visits the island for the first time. It is located on the northern tip of Texel, next to the widest beach of the island. Sand dunes that are covered in grass surround the lighthouse and provide a scenic view that makes it a great photo spot.

For a fee of 5€ you can climb the lighthouse and admire the amazing view of the beach, the ocean and the neighbouring island Vlieland. 118 stairs lead up to the viewing platform of the lighthouse.

Personally, I thought this was slightly overpriced for what it was as the view from the ground is great too. I didn’t climb up the lighthouse and just walked around it instead. If you consider climbing the lighthouse make sure it’s a sunny and clear day. Otherwise you might be disappointed by the view.

Take a walk along the beach

After a visit to the lighthouse head down to the beach next to it to soak up the sun or to take a walk. There you can see local fisherman making the catch of the day and dogs running around on the sand and having the time of their lives.

Texel is the perfect place for those who love seemingly endless beaches. There are 30 km of sandy beach where you can take a little (or a long) walk alongside the ocean. 

Due to my limited time on the island I only visited the beach on the northern point of the island next to the lighthouse. However, if you have more time it surely is worth it to visit other parts of the coast as well.

The photo above demonstrates how extensive the beach area on Texel is. If you want to spend some time in peacefulness, getting away from it all, then you’ll love Texel. Even if there are lots of people on the beach, the area is just so big that it never seems crowded – and it was even weekend when I was there.

Go skydiving at Paracentrum Texel

Skydive Texel, Skydiving

My personal highlight of the day was definitely the skydive at Paracentrum Texel. It was my first time skydiving and I was super excited about it. I did it together with a friend and we hadn’t even planned on doing it. Only an hour before the jump we made a phone call to Paracentrum Texel to ask if they had two spaces available for that day. They fit us in in the last time slot of that day, right before sunset.

When we got there we were briefed and we felt very comfortable and safe. Everyone was professional with many years of experience. Then it was time to board the plane and the view from up there was beautiful: green fields, beaches, the ocean, surrounding islands and the sun at such a low point that it illuminated the landscape in an orange light.

The jump

We jumped from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) and we were in free fall for a minute before the parachute opened. At first I thought that I’d be scared when I’d get to the edge of the plane but to my surprise I wasn’t scared at all. I was just really excited about the moment we’d jump off and the feeling I would get. Also, what really helps is the fact that the person you jump with is the one who takes the final step to actually jump, which means you just sit there and let it happen.

Texel Skydive

The free fall was an insane experience and even after the parachute opened it felt amazing to glide down towards the ground. I enjoyed the view as we slowed down and the jump was over way too soon. As we landed I immediately wanted to go back up again and jump a second time.

 

Just do it!

If you’re in doubt about doing it because you think you might be scared – just go for it! I was honestly so surprised by how calm and relaxed I was that I’d even say that some rollercoasters or mountain climbing gives you more of an adrenaline kick than skydiving. It surely is different for each person I suppose. But if you do consider it, just do it and don’t think about it too much. Your mind is the only limit you set yourself and that’s what you need to overcome.

I recommend doing the skydive in late afternoon just before sunset so you can enjoy the view with golden light and you can see the sky turn orange on the horizon. The view was simply breathtaking.

Watch the sunset on the beach

I’m one of those people who always get excited about sunsets. When I travel, I usually try to watch a sunset either on a beach, on a mountain or on a rooftop bar. My absolute favorite place for a sunset will always be on a beach though, watching the sun disappear behind the ocean.

Head to the beach on the Western side of Texel and find a spot in the sand to get comfy and enjoy the dreamy sunset views.

Unfortunately, I missed out on this as we were already heading back to the mainland during sunset. But hey, I guess this gives me a reason to come back someday.

Eat traditional Dutch pancakes

Dutch pancakes, Pannenkoeken

The traditional Dutch pancakes are called “Pannenkoeken” and they are larger and thinner than American pancakes. You can get sweet and savory ones or even both at the same time by combining fruits with vegetables or cheese.

The upper right pancake on the photo above is a sweet one with apples and raisins. The other two are savory ones with onions and mushrooms and with tomatoes, mushrooms and cheese. On the first glance you could even think it’s a weirdly looking pizza – that happened to me when I saw a photo.

The best place to get Dutch pancakes on Texel is the restaurant Klif 23. Not only do they serve delicious pancakes, they also have a spacious terrace with lovely views of the countryside.

If you want to try unconventional flavor combinations, they also mix sweet and savory ingredients, such as banana and cheese pancakes.

Ferry to Texel

As Texel is an island, you need to take a ferry to get there. The ferry from Den Helder to Texel leaves every hour, and even every half an hour in high season. Texel is really close to the mainland of the Netherlands and it only takes about 15 minutes to get there by ferry.

Getting to Texel by car

Drive up to the town Den Helder in North Holland and head to the ferry terminal. A return ticket for the ferry with a car costs 37€ in total for up to 9 passengers inside the car.

Getting to Texel by public transport

In case you don’t have a car, you can take a train to Den Helder and then take the bus number 33 from the train station to the Teso ferry terminal. The bus ticket costs 3€.

As a pedestrian it is really cheap to get the ferry to Texel. It’s only 2,50€ for a return trip.

Getting around on Texel

In contrary to many other Wadden islands, Texel isn’t car-free. The easiest way to get around on Texel is by car. However, there’s also an option to take busses on the island.

The bus line 28 is the only one that runs on a fixed schedule between the ferry terminal, the capital Den Burg and De Koog. For every other place you want to visit on Texel you need to book a seat on the “Texelhopper” at least 30 min before your desired ride. The Texelhopper is a mini van that takes you to any of the over 100 bus stops on the island.

You can get a day ticket for the Texelhopper for 7,50€ and you can book it online on their website.

Best time to visit Texel

Being located relatively far north, it can get quite cold on the Wadden Islands. The best time to visit Texel is therefore during the summer months from June to September.

The ocean around Texel is always quite fresh, but in the hottest months of the year you might want to step in to cool down. From July to September the water reaches its highest temperature of around 18°C.

Even if the sun is out and temperatures rise above 20-25°C in summer, the wind usually blows strong on Texel. This might make it feel a few degrees cooler, so take a sweater with you just in case.

Things to do on Texel
Things to do on Texel

Have you ever been to Texel? What were your favorite things to do on Texel? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

If you’re looking for a warmer European island for beach holidays and swimming, check out these guides to the hidden gems of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

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