A trip to Heligoland can easily be combined with a tour of the port at Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven or Wilhelmshaven.Bremerhaven
The maritime city of Bremerhaven was founded in 1827. Still part of the state of Bremen, it stretches out along both banks of the river Geeste before its confluence with the Weser. Bremerhaven is dominated by vast port facilities extending the whole of its length, with the largest single container terminal of its type in Europe at the northern end. The southern part of the port is a fishing harbour where around half of all Germany's fish catches are landed. The German Maritime Museum, which has a remarkable fleet of museum ships and the oldest cog in the world, is worth a visit, as is the Schaufenster Fischereihafen, the fishing port tourist centre. Cuxhaven
There is a long tradition of ships and shipping in Cuxhaven, Germany's largest North Sea health resort, which lies on the coast near where the Elbe and the Weser flow into the sea. Large parts of the town are below sea level, with dikes to protect people and their livelihoods from the North Sea. Ritzebüttel stately home in the old quarter dates back 600 years. At the northern end of the harbour basin is the Alte Liebe (old love) observation platform, about which there are various interesting legends.Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is the largest naval base and the only deep-sea port in Germany. The main attractions in this town on Jadebusen bay are the Seawater Aquarium, the national park's Mudflats Centre, the German Naval Museum and the Oceanis centre, Germany's only underwater research station. Another firm favourite is the Grosser Hafen port with its attractive buildings and its museum ships, the Weser lightship "Norderney" and the old buoy tender "Kapitän Meyer".