Looking for a special place for a weekend getaway? Welcome on Texel! You will definitely enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, tranquility and stunning landscapes of this beautiful Dutch island.
Recommended accommodations on Texel:
Texel Travel Guide 2024
Here we have collected the most useful and up-to-date information for planning your trip to Texel island. You can read the whole article or use these quick links to navigate through the topics:
- Things to do on Texel
- How to get to Texel island?
- From Amsterdam to Texel by car
- Ferry boat to Texel
- From Amsterdam to Texel by public transport
- Parking on Texel
- Where to stay on Texel
- Campings on Texel
- Texel with kids
- Cycling on Texel
- Weather on Texel
Last updated on: 18 June 2024
Book a small group full day island tour to Texel from Amsterdam >>
Texel is one of the Dutch Wadden Islands, off the coast of the Netherlands. If you feel like having a nature vacation, or the Easter weekend, enjoying broad white beaches and exploring small villages, Texel is a perfect place for you to visit.
Photo: the National Park Dunes of Texel
When you arrive to Texel, an island in the West Frisian Islands region of the Netherlands, you immediately feel the pleasures of life on an island. No hurry, no rush, no traffic jams, no noise or disturbance. Just you, your companion and pure nature – all you need to have an unforgettable holiday, right?
Photo: the North Sea beach
Things to do on Texel
Rent a bike and explore the beautiful island
Enjoy looking at its endless fields, meditative sheep and the dune landscape. Drop by a farm for a cup of coffee and home-made ice-cream. You can find free biking routes on Texel here >>
Take a parachute jumping course
Or see Texel from the air during the helicopter tour. Find out more about Paracentrum Texel, sightseeing flights and parachuting.
Visit the Wadden Sea beach
Enjoy its calm and relaxing atmosphere!
Climb the Texel lighthouse in the north of the island
Photo: The Texel lighthouse. More information >>
Visit an authentic Dutch fisherman’s village Oosterend
This is probably my favourite place on Texel!
Visit the Georgian cemetery
Did you know that the last battle of World War II was fought on Texel? On May 20, 1945 the Georgian battalion, which initially served the Germans, revolted. Over 500 Georgian soldiers were killed in this battle. A Georgian cemetery (Loladze cemetery) was established for them in 1945. Now it’s freely accessible to the public from sunrise to sunset.
Address: De Hoge Berg, 1791 LG Den Burg.
Here you can find more background information about the Georgian uprising. Do you want to know more about this uprising? Then pay a visit to the War and Aviation Museum on Texel.
Texel aviation and war museum
The museum focuses both on the aviation and Texel’s World War II experience. The exhibition covering 1940-1945 is particularly impressive.
It’s a small and – I would say – cosy museum. We had a very warm welcome.
Address: Postweg 126, 1795 JS De Cocksdorp.
Ecomare centre for nature and marine life
Sea aquarium, ceal sanctuary nature museum – Ecomare has a lot to offer! You can spend a fun day out with the whole family. Ticket prices in 2024 – € 15,50 for adults, € 10,50 for kids. You can see the permanent exchibition and and watch the seals feedings.
Address: Ruijslaan 92, 1796 AZ De Koog, Texel.
Enjoy the wild nature at the National Park Dunes of Texel
Photo: the National Park Dunes of Texel
Watch the sunset on the North Sea beach
Find the place where the final scene of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” movie was filmed.
More?
Check the VVV Texel What’s on agenda and join the events that will take place during your stay on Texel!
Photo: the Wadden Sea beach
How to get to Texel?
From Amsterdam to Texel by car
Drive to Den Helder port (navigation address: Havenplein 3, 1781 AB Den Helder). Depending on the route you choose you might possibly need to take GVB ferry boat on the way.
In Den Helder port take TESO ferry boat (prices in 2024: € 26 for a car on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and € 39 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays) that will take you directly to Texel. Buying ticket online will save you lots of time, especially during weekends.
Every ferry ticket is two-way, you don’t have to buy or present your ticket on the way back.
Photo: TESO ferry boat Den Helder – Texel island
Get more details how to get to Texel by car >>
Parking on Texel
From 1 January 2017 parking in all villages and at all entrances to the beach at Texel is paid. Paid parking applies from Monday through Sunday from 08:00 till 20:00.
We advise you to buy the Texel e-vignette online. In 2024 it costs €10 per day, €20 per week or €30 per year. The card for one week is valid for 8 days. The Texel annual e-vignette is valid for 365 days. You can buy the Texel e-vignette online or at the parking ticket machine.
You can also pay per hour (€ 2,50 in 2024) at the parking meter with your bank card (paying with coins is not possible).
Please note that at some locations in the village centres a 2-hour maximum parking time applies. Here you have to use the blue parking disc.
Read more about parking on Texel >>
From Amsterdam to Texel by public transport
You can plan your door-to-door trip in the Netherlands by public transport and shared transport with a free Glimble app.
If you travel from Amsterdam, take a train to Den Helder station. At the station take a bus 28 in the direction of the port. In port your bus will take the same boat as the cars. Return ferry ticket for passengers in 2024 cost € 2,50 per person. Children younger than 4 years of age travel for free.
When you arrive on Texel, you can take Texelhopper, a small 8-person bus (in 2024 – € 3,05 per ride, € 7,70 per day, requires booking at least one hour in advance) that can take you to your camping or hotel.
Alternatively, you can continue your journey by regular bus number 28 and it will take you to Den Burg (the capital of Texel) or to De Koog (town near the North Sea).
This is how it works:
Travel time from Amsterdam to Texel by public transport is around two hours.
Where to stay on Texel island?
Texel offers its guests a full variety of accommodations, from camping and bungalow parks to four-star hotels. You can always book a place to stay on Texel that suits you best. You can choose to stay in De Cocksdorp, a place near the famous Texel’s Eierland Lighthouse on the North of the island.
If you feel like having a beach vacation, check De Koog which is close to the North Sea and the beautiful nature area. Staying in the capital, Den Burg will let you enjoy the variety of restaurants and shops.
How to find the best accommodation on Texel? Tips:
- Check out the local tourism office website Texel.net for campings, bungalow parks, hotels.
- For best holiday homes and nature accommodations check Belvilla.nl.
- Looking for a hotel with a sea view? Check Strandhotel Noordzee or Resort De Buteriggel.
Photo: Strandhotel Noordzee on the North Sea beach
Campings on Texel
Waking up in the middle of the nature – sounds great, doesn’t it? On Texel you can choose from 90+ campings. Camp sites in the dunes, in the woods, on a farm or next to a village. You can stay in a camping with your own caravan or rent a luxurous chalet.
Rent a camper/ motorhome for your trip to Texel >>
Photo: Campsite Kogerstrand in the middle of the Texel dunes, near the North Sea beach
Find and book your camping on Texel >>
We rented a comfortable chalet in Texelcamping Loodsmansduin and were happy with our choice.
Photo: chalet in Texelcamping Loodsmansduin
Texel with kids
Texel island is very comfortable for travelling with children. You’ll find lots of kids facilities – playgrounds, petting farms, ice cream farms. All kids attractions that we’ve visited looked very well-maintained and made with love. Here are a few places we would recommend:
Piratenschip playground in Ouderschild
In the harbor of Oudeschild you will find a spectacular 35 meters long pirate ship and a small copy of the TESO ferry boat.
There is also a water playground with all kinds of mechanisms and water and sand from the Wadden Sea. Fun for small and bigger children!
Address: Haven 21, 1792 AE, Ouderschild
For some reason Google is showing that the playground is permanently closed. But during our visit in October 2022 both playgrounds at the harbor of Oudeschild were perfectly open. Entrance is free.
Catharinahoeve pancakes restaurant
There are also several playgrounds at the Catharinahoeve pancakes restaurant. The restaurant itself is very cosy and pancakes are also good!
Address: Rozendijk 17, 1791 PC Den Burg
Ice cream farm Labora
At the ice cream farm Labora you can taste different kind of the local ice cream, see the cows, buy come fresh milk. And enjoy a huge outside playing area! These are no sitting spots inside the shop, so it’s better to visit the Labora farm when the weather is nice.
Address: Hollandseweg 2, 1795 LE De Cocksdorp
Cycling on Texel
Texel is a truly cycling island. It has more than 140 kilometres of cycle paths, with great routes along the dunes, forests, polders and beaches. Rent a bike – and you’ll see the hidden gems that you would have never reached by car. Here is everything you need to know about renting a bike and cycling on Texel.
Weather on Texel
Here you can see the weather forecast on Texel for the coming six days:
Enjoy your visit to Texel!
- This article is also available in German: Texel, eine unvergessliche niederländische Insel
When I visit to texel, I want to rent a bike.
Could you tell me where is the rental shop?
And how much it is.
Thank you.
If you come to Texel by public transport the best is to rent a bike at the port. The address of the rental shop is Pontweg 2, Den Hoorn. You will see the building as soon as you leave the boat.
You can check their prices here: https://www.fietsverhuurtexel.nl/huurprijzen/
There are also several bike rentals inside the towns and campings on Texel.