Sylt is long and thin — 40 kilometres north to south, three or four wide. A car is convenient but not essential.
The single bus route along the spine of the island connects Hörnum in the south to List in the north via Rantum, Westerland, Kampen, and Wenningstedt; in summer it runs every 15–20 minutes. A Kurkarte covers most local bus fares.
Cycling is by far the most pleasant way to see the island. A network of dedicated paths runs along the spine and across to most villages, and rental shops are everywhere — figure €10–15 a day for a basic bike. Most rentals can be returned at a different branch.
Walking the coast end-to-end takes two long days; broken into shorter stretches it is the best introduction to the island.