Most visitors reach Heligoland by boat from ports on the German North Sea coast, especially Cuxhaven and Büsum, with seasonal or high-speed services from Hamburg. Day trips are common, but schedules and sailing times vary by season and weather.
Heligoland Airport is on Düne, the small island east of the main island, with short regional flights. For most travellers, the boat is the more natural arrival: the slow approach makes the red cliffs feel properly offshore.