Texel by Bike: The Island Loop, Ferry Times and What a Day Costs

Getting to Texel: Ferry, Times and Getting Your Bike On

TESO sails from Den Helder to 't Horntje every hour in winter and half-hourly in summer, roughly 06:30 to 21:30, with the crossing taking about 20 minutes. Car and bike passengers pay separately; on the summer timetable it is turn-up-and-go for cyclists, and bikes are rolled straight on after the cars at the crew's signal. Trains from Amsterdam Centraal to Den Helder take around 1h20 via Alkmaar or Haarlem; the bus to the ferry terminal meets most arrivals. Check the printed timetable at the terminal — the last boat back fills fast in July and August.

A day-return bike ticket is cheap enough that most riders never look at the car price. If you are staying the night, buy a single each way instead; if you are driving over, reserve a car slot online in high season, when weekend sailings to 't Horntje sell out days ahead. Bikes also board at the same quay as foot passengers, so you do not need to queue with the cars. In winter, gales occasionally cancel crossings, and the island's own website posts updates faster than the ferry operator's page.

The Loop: Den Burg, De Koog and the Lighthouse

The classic clockwise loop runs from 't Horntje north along the west coast through Den Hoorn, past the Kogerstrand at De Koog, up to the Eierland lighthouse near De Cocksdorp, then back down the sheltered east side through Oosterend and Oudeschild to Den Burg. Distance is roughly 60 km, mostly flat with a headwind on the western stretches; allow four to five hours of leisurely riding, more if you stop. The section between De Koog and the lighthouse runs behind the dunes through the national park, where a few kilometres are on gravel and the wind can push you sideways.

Skip the temptation to ride the full western beach path in a northwesterly; the dike road from Oosterend to Oudeschild is calmer and passes the Wadden Sea dike, worth a stop. Den Burg is the natural lunch break — the weekly market on the Burgwal is on Wednesdays in summer, and there are several bakeries around the Groeneplaats. The lighthouse climb costs a small entry fee and gives a view over the whole island. If you have only one afternoon, ride north from De Koog and turn back at the lighthouse; the southern polders are pretty but similar to the mainland.

What a Day on Texel Actually Costs

Ferry tickets for a foot passenger and bike are modest — think under twenty euros return for the pair, with children cheaper; the exact figure updates each season, so check the TESO site. Bike rental in Den Burg or De Koog runs from around ten to fifteen euros per day for a simple city bike, more for an e-bike. Lunch of a broodje and coffee in Den Burg or Oudeschild lands near fifteen euros; a sit-down dinner with a local beer in De Koog starts around thirty. Museum entries, including Ecomare and the lighthouse, are usually under ten euros each.

Add a hotel night in Den Burg or De Koog if you want to catch the early ferry without a 05:00 drive from Amsterdam — a double room with breakfast in a three-star guesthouse typically runs 90 to 140 euros in summer, less in April and October. The island's official tourism site lists registered accommodation; booking ahead matters most on summer weekends and during the Texel half-marathon or the Rondje Texel cycling event. Weekdays in May, June and September offer the best mix of quiet roads, mild weather and reasonable room rates.

Where to Base Yourself and What to Skip

Den Burg is the practical base: central, with most shops, the bus to the ferry and easier parking if you bring a car. De Koog suits beach-focused stays and puts you closer to the dunes and the national park entrance, but it is busier and pricier in July. Oudeschild is quieter, with the harbour and a couple of good fish restaurants, and works well if you plan to walk the Wadden dike at sunset. Oosterend, on the east side, is the most village-like and has a handful of small B&Bs; you will want a bike for everything.

Skip the car if you are only doing the loop — parking near De Koog and the lighthouse is limited in high season, and the ferry charges by vehicle length. Skip the Texel airport museum unless aviation is your thing; the island's strengths are the dunes, the dike and the food. And do not try to combine the full loop with a beach day: pick one. If I were booking, I would take two nights in Den Burg in late May, ride the loop on day one, and spend day two walking the Slufter valley before the afternoon ferry. Ferry times and fares were checked in September 2026.