Where is Bornholm? How to go to Bornholm…

Bornholm is a Danish island located in the Baltic Sea, 109 kilometers (105 miles) southeast of Copenhagen and 35 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of Sweden. 

Right now you’re probably wondering how to go to Bornholm, and I will tell you! You can easily reach Bornholm by ferry going from Denmark, Germany or Sweden. The ferry from Ystad, Sweden goes to Bornholm in just one hour and 20 minutes. The ferry from Køge, Denmark goes to Bornholm in 5 and a half hours. The last option by ferry is from Sassnitz, Germany; this ferry trip will take you to Bornholm in 3 and a half hours. 

This is just one option for how to go to Bornholm. If you are wanting a quicker, more efficient way on how to go to Bornholm then you can choose to fly in just 35 minutes from Copenhagen. You can also fly from any of these Danish cities: Billund, Aalborg, Aarhus, and Sønderborg, or you can fly from either of the Norwegian cities Stavanger or Stord (via. Billund). 

This means that if you are coming from anywhere else but Germany, Denmark, Sweden or Norway, the best way to get to Bornholm would be flying into one of these countries, such as Malmö, Sweden, and then taking the ferry across. Despite it being a little out of the way, do not miss out on going to Bornholm, it is one of the top 10 things to do in Denmark!

• Check out flights on skyscanner here.
• See more top tips for travelling on a budget here.

When to visit Bornholm…

Bornholm is famously known as “the sunshine island”, and it is known as one of the best places to visit in Denmark during the summer.

However, the best time to visit Bornholm depends on the activities and experiences you are expecting to do. Late spring and summertime will be best all-around for experiencing as many of the top things to do on Bornholm as possible. It will be the best time to do outdoor activities such as sea kayaking, rock climbing, and swimming. It will also be the best time to visit the beaches and the cities; at this time of the year, the cities and beaches will be the most lively. There will be ice cream pop-ups at every corner and tourist activities and outdoor experiences will be booming.

If you are wanting fewer crowds, more Christmas feelings, and wintery vibes, then you should consider visiting Bornholm during the winter months! Now, Bornholm being “the sunshine island”, you might be wondering what to do in Bornholm in the winter… you have probably guessed it, winter is the off-season, but despite this, it still has a lot of fun things to do in Bornholm: hiking will still be an option for most of the winter months, Christmas Markets will be on and there is even a ski hill where you can go skiing! It is called Bornholms Skivenner. Do keep in mind that when visiting during the winter months, the bus services will be running less, and the most convenient way to get around the island during the winter months will be by car.

How to get around Bornholm…

The best and most efficient way to get around Bornholm is by renting a car and driving: this is the best place to find a car hire that suits you and your budget.

However, you can also get around Bornholm without a car! Instead, you will need to take public transport. It will be easiest to get around the island by bus during late spring, mid-summer, and late-summer; since this is the time of year that the buses will be running most often. If you are visiting during the winter, just keep in mind that the bus services will be running less often and this might cause inconveniences. You can see the timetables right here.

Where to stay on Bornholm…

The best accommodation on Bornholm can be anything from hotels, holiday homes, hostels to free campsites and shelters. If you want to go during the winter and you want to have a cozy and relaxing accommodation to come back to, you might want to book a hostel, hotel or a holiday home, whereas if you are coming during the summer and want to have an authentic experience of the outdoors of Bornholm, then you might want to stay on one of the campsites or even in the free shelters. Here are the best places to stay on Bornholm and where to find them:

Holiday homes

Bornholm has a variety of cozy holiday homes scattered over the island. So if you are a bigger group coming to Bornholm, and you are looking for somewhere that has the space for all of you to cozy up at the end of the night then head over here to find the best holiday homes on Bornholm.

Hotels and Hostels

Bornholm has hotels and hostels all over the island. If you are looking for some backpacker-friendly accommodation, then you should check out the hostels mentioned below. These are some of the best hostels on Bornholm for both location and value:

• Danhostel Sandvig
• Dueodde Hostel 
• Gudhjem Hostel
• Svaneke Hostel

If you are looking for something a little more luxurious, and want a relaxing, treat-me holiday, then you should stay in one of these lovely hotels. These are some of the best hotels on Bornholm:

• Hotel Klippen
• Allinge Badehotel
• Griffen Spa Hotel

Cheap Campsites and Free Shelters

If you are a bit of an outdoor adventurer traveling during the warmer months and you are looking for the cheapest alternative, then you should check out the campsite and free shelter options on Bornholm. Staying in a shelter gives an authentic Danish, Bornholm experience and is one of the best things to do in Denmark. Since staying outdoors is considered one of the best things to do on Bornholm there will be many possibilities all over the island, some of the options are:

• Shelter Hasle Lystskov (Fælledvej of. Glasværksvej)
• Hammersø Shelter (Hammersø 4)
• Øringe mose Shelter (Ørningevej 4)
• Røstad Shelter (Helligdomsvej 8A)
• Shelter Ravnedalen (Borrelyngvej 58, in Ravnedalen)

You can find all shelter and campsite possibilities here.

Just remember that when camping in free shelters, there are rules. These are a few of the rules to keep in mind when camping for free on Bornholm:

• You may stay one night at each shelter.
• You may have a maximum of two tents at the same site.
• You must use a cooker with a closed burner.
• The tents have to be out of commercial and residential buildings.
• The use of fire is only permitted in places with built campfire areas