Keitum is located on the Wadden Sea side of the island. The village fronts on the sea at what is called the Grünes Kliff (green cliff), a mostly vegetation-covered (hence green) escarpment. It stretches along the coast for around 3 kilometres from the eastern edge of the village to the church of St. Severin, north of the village. In 2013, Keitum had a permanent population of around 880. Another 900 people have second homes in the village.
Like elsewhere on Sylt, tourism is a major industry. Since 1950, the village has held the status of Luftkurort (climatic spa). Keitum is known for its large number of traditional Uthland-Frisian houses, many of them over 200 years old, and its tree-lined avenues. Although the original elm trees died in the 1990s, they have been replaced by chestnut and linden trees. In addition, many craftspeople (like gold smiths, weavers and potters) are based in Keitum.
Originally built in the early 13th century, this RomanesqueSt. Severin church is today thought to be the oldest in Schleswig-Holstein. It was originally dedicated to the saints Canute and Ketel, but later rededicated to Severin of Cologne. The attached graveyard holds the graves of numerous important local families (especially whalers and other owners or masters of ships) and of some notable people: Rudolf Augstein, Gerhard Schröder, Uwe Dallmeier, Peter Suhrkamp and Ernst Mollenhauer. Several works of sculpture art have also been erected in the churchyard.
Keitum has three museums: Altfriesische Haus, Sylter Heimatmuseum and the Feuerwehrmuseum. The former is a house built in 1739 and mostly retains period furniture and accessoires, exhibiting 18th century home decor and living styles. The Heimatmuseum is located in a house dating from 1759 and features exhibits on local history and regional living conditions in the past.
