Borkum is reached by ferry from Emden on the mainland. The AG Ems ferry takes approximately two hours for the crossing, and in summer a faster catamaran service cuts the journey to about 90 minutes. Ferries operate year-round but are more frequent in summer. The ferry terminal in Emden is connected to the train network — Deutsche Bahn runs regular services from major cities, and Emden Außenhafen station is right at the quay.
There is no bridge to Borkum, and car access by ferry is possible but expensive. Most visitors leave their cars on the mainland and get around the island by bicycle or the island's narrow-gauge railway, which runs from the ferry quay to the town centre.