Sylt is the largest of the North Frisian Islands and the most famous — a long, narrow barrier island known for its dramatic dune landscapes, wide North Sea beaches, and a reputation as the most fashionable summer destination in Germany. The western beaches face the open North Sea and have powerful surf; the eastern shore is sheltered and good for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The island is connected to the mainland by a railway causeway (no road — you either take the train or ship your car on the Autoreisezug).
Westerland is the main town, with restaurants and shops along the Strandpromenade. The village of Kampen is the upmarket corner of the island, with thatched-roof houses and the most expensive real estate in Germany by square metre. The List peninsula at the northern tip has some of the highest sand dunes in Germany and a raw, exposed landscape quite different from the beach resort character further south.