Are you planning a road trip through Denmark, but you are not sure what to do in Denmark and are now looking for the best things to do in Denmark? Fancy taking a trip to Denmark and not sure where to start and end your trip? Then you have come to the right place because I’ve put together a full Denmark bucket list, including what to do in Denmark, the best things to do in Denmark as well as some of the most fun things to do in Denmark.
Denmark is one of the best places to visit in Europe and therefore also has some of the best things to do in Europe, so get excited! If Denmark is not already on your Europe bucket list, make sure you add it now and start preparing your Denmark bucket list. After this blog post, I can assure you that you will no longer be unsure of what to do in Denmark because I’ve put together a list of 16 of the top things to do in Denmark.
Denmark is most well-known for its flat, arable land – so flat that the highest “mountain” in Denmark is 170,87 meters above sea level. Despite its very flat land, there are some remarkable nature spots in Denmark as well as some of the most beautiful coasts, quaint towns, idyllic islands, and lively cities. While at first glance, it may seem that Copenhagen is all there is to Denmark, I am here to tell you that that is wrong! Denmark has so much more to offer, and even those who love outdoor activities and are unsure of what to do in Denmark will want to visit after this blog post!
Denmark is divided into mainly three parts: Jylland, Fyn, and Sjælland. I will be going through all of the different parts of Denmark, giving you some of the best things to do in Denmark in every part of the country. From the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen to hiking in Bornholm, from seeing castles and palaces to experiencing the Danish Desert (yes, you read that correctly), there really is an adventure to be had everywhere.
In this blog post, you can expect to find out exactly what to do in Denmark, what the best places to visit in Denmark are, as well as the top things to do and most fun things to do in Denmark. As well as giving you the ultimate Denmark bucket list, I’ll share how to get to Denmark, how to get around Denmark and when the best time to visit Denmark is.
Other travel guides you might find useful…
- Europe: the ultimate travel guide
- Copenhagen: a complete travel guide
- The best budget-friendly things to do in Copenhagen
- The best things to do in Bornholm, Denmark
- How to visit Malmo in one day
- How to save money on your Copenhagen city break
- 21 cheap places to visit in Europe
- A 2-week road trip in Norway
- A complete guide to Stockholm
- The best things to do in Europe: the ultimate Europe bucket list
- Top tips for travelling in Europe
Where is Denmark? How to go to Denmark…
Denmark is located in northern Europe, lying Southwest of Sweden, and shares borders with Germany. The best way to get to Denmark is via Copenhagen, the capital.
The easiest way to get to Copenhagen is to fly. You can fly directly to Copenhagen from larger international airports such as Amsterdam and London. A flight from London to Copenhagen varies in price, but is usually fairly cheap, starting at around £18 one-way with RyanAir. If you are wanting to start your trip in Jylland, you can choose to fly to Aalborg or Billund instead of Copenhagen. Do keep in mind that these are smaller airports and will most likely require a layover in Copenhagen, but it is possible.
You can also choose to go by train. Depending on where you are coming from, it might be the easiest option for you. If you are coming from South Sweden or Germany, it might be worth looking into getting the train instead of flying. You can find more information on journeys from Sweden or Germany to Denmark here.
When to visit Denmark…
The best time to visit Denmark is arguably around late spring to early autumn. This is when the weather starts to warm up, and also when the weather starts to brighten up. Because of Denmark’s northern location, it is light until very late in the summer and dark very early in the winter. This can have a huge effect on your trip and plans, so keep this in mind when planning your trip to Denmark.
To put this into perspective: In June the sun rises at 04:22 am and sets at 09:57 pm, giving you 17.5 hours of daylight! While in December the sun rises at 8:30 am and sets at 03:39 pm, this leaves you with just over 7 hours of daylight.
Check out our guide to Copenhagen in winter here.
How to get around Denmark…
There are a few ways to get around Denmark, and they are: going by DSB trains, going by EuroRail train, hiring a car, and driving or flying from city to city.
Trains
One of the best ways to get around Denmark is by train. If you want to sit back and relax and admire the countryside as you make your way to each city in Denmark, then you should consider going with DSB trains. A downside to going by the DSB trains is that if you want to go to the smaller towns and places in Denmark, you will have a hard time avoiding going by bus as well. You can find more information and plan your trip through Denmark right here.
Another way to travel through Denmark is by getting an Interrail/Eurail pass. You can find more information on the passes right here.
Car
Another way of traveling around Denmark is to hire a car and drive. This is one of the best things to do in Denmark, since you will be able to drive anywhere you want with no limitations. You choose the destinations, when, where, and how. This is the best way of traveling around Denmark if you want to see the lesser-known areas of Denmark. You can find more information on car hire here. Prices start at around 400 DKK per day.
Airplane
The last option is to fly domestically. If you want to get from each destination as fast as possible, then this will be the best option for you. This is the pricier option, but if you are willing to spend the money, and if you want to get somewhere fast, then this is the option for you. You can book domestic flights from Aalborg, Billund, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Sønderborg, Bornholm and Midtjylland. Check out flights on skyscanner here.
Now that you know the best time to visit Denmark, how to get to Denmark, and how to get around Denmark, let’s go through what to do in Denmark… Here are the top things to do in Denmark!
The best things to do in Denmark…
1. Visit Copenhagen and see Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid
If you are unsure of where to start with what to do in Denmark, then start with Copenhagen. Copenhagen is one of the best places to visit in Europe, so this is guaranteed to be a place filled with things on your Denmark bucket list and some of the best things to do in Denmark!
Copenhagen is one of the best places to visit in Denmark, and I would recommend sticking around for at least a couple of days to experience the city and see all the main sights such as the Little Mermaid and Nyhavn. Nyhavn is the place you’ve seen on all the postcards and the image you most like already associate Copenhagen with. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t want to take a photo – so make sure you check it off early in your visit. Bear in mind that Nyhavn is more expensive than other areas of Copenhagen. Nyhavn is one of the best places to visit in Copenhagen, and well worth it, despite the prices.
The Little Mermaid was unveiled in 1913 and was a gift to Copenhagen from the Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen. The statue was inspired by the fairytale of the Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen and still stands to this day. It is one of the best things to do in Copenhagen and one you should not miss.
- See the best budget-friendly things to do in Copenhagen here
- See a complete guide to Copenhagen here
2. Explore Hans Christian Andersen’s Home and Museum
One of the best places to visit in Denmark is Odense, because it is the birthplace and home of H.C. Andersen. It is also considered one of the best things to do in Europe, one of the reasons being that in Odense you can see the characters from H.C. Andersen’s fairy tales come to life. A few of the sculptures you can see are Hans Christian Andersen himself, Thumbelina, the Trinity, the Paper Boat, the Seahorse, the Emperor’s New Clothes, the Flying Trunk, and more!
Another thing you should not miss out on is visiting the H.C. Andersen’s House, including his childhood home. This is one of the best places to visit in Denmark. Here, not only can you visit H.C. Andersen’s childhood home, but you can also experience the new H.C. Andersen House which allows you to see a completely different side to H.C. Andersen’s Authorship. This museum doesn’t talk about H.C. Andersen as a person, rather you’ll learn about being being H.C. Andersen, as well as infomration about his fairy tales. The tickets are 165 DKK per person. You can find ticket information and book right here.
3. Explore Denmark’s oldest town: Ribe
Ribe is a small city in Jylland that is often overlooked by tourists, but it is one of the best places to visit in Denmark, and dare I say it, one of the best places to visit in Europe. It is the oldest city in Denmark, and it shows it in all the best ways!
The best way to describe the city would be quaint and charming. It is a medieval city with a history that goes back to around 710. When visiting Ribe, you must go to some of the cafés and just enjoy the atmosphere. You also cannot miss visiting Ribe Cathedral; enjoy the beauty of this cathedral, then take a walk up the tower and get a view of the city. This is a very popular thing to do and is considered one of the best things to do in Denmark.
When you are done exploring the city of Ribe, consider going further afield, because Ribe is only a short drive away from other Denmark bucket list items such as The Wadden Sea, Esbjerg, and Legoland.
4. Visit the many Castles and Palaces in Denmark
One of the best things to do in Denmark is to visit the many castles and palaces scattered all over the country. There are over 700 castles and palaces in Denmark, one of them being Kronborg Castle, also known as the Hamlet castle, which is one of the best places to visit in Europe, as well as one of the best things to do in Europe.
With a long list of castles and palaces to visit, I think it is safe to say that you will not run out of things to do in Denmark when it comes to its castles and palaces. Make sure to add some of these to your Denmark bucket list, because these castles and palaces are some of the best places to visit in Denmark:
Sjælland (Zealand):
- Christiansborg Palace
- Amalienborg Palace
- Rosenborg Castle
- Frederiksborg Castle
- Fredensborg Castle
- Kronborg Castle (the Hamlet Castle)
- Vallø Castle
Fyn (Funen):
- Egeskov Castle
- Holckenhavn Castle
- Arreskov Castle
- Broholm Castle
Jylland (Jutland):
- Gammel Estrup
- Sostrup Castle
- Viborggaard Castle
5. Hike the forest at Camp Adventure
If you are looking for some fun things to do in Denmark, then Camp Adventure should be on your list! It is one of the top things to do in Denmark, and it is located in South Zealand in the middle of nature and is a climbing and adventure park. Camp Adventure has a climbing park, forest tower, glamping options, a boardwalk, picnic spots, fireplaces, a flower farm, a vegetable market, and more!
You can choose to just visit for the day, go to the Forest Tower and the climbing park, or you can even choose to stay in one of their very luxurious outdoor glamping options. Prices start at 2500 DKK per night. It is so beautiful and would give you more time to explore this gorgeous area of Denmark. Nearby you will find some more of the best things to do in Denmark such as Møns Klint, Stevns Klint, and more.
You can plan and book your stay here. If you want to go for a day trip to do the activities only, you can book tickets here. The prices are 150 DKK per person for the forest tower and 350 DKK per person for the climbing park.
Check out the best things to do in Europe here.
6. Go on a bike trip around North Zealand
If you just cannot get enough of the Danish outdoors, and you are wondering what to do in Denmark’s nature, then this one will be for you. Exploring Denmark by bike is one of the top things to do in Denmark for a reason, and that reason is that Denmark has designated bike lanes all over Denmark!
A popular route is in the northern part of Zealand (Sjælland), and it is called The North Coast Bicycle (Route 47). On this bike trip, you will be riding along the coast, taking in the beautiful scenery of the sea as well as the quaint seaside towns you will pass.
These are some of the towns and sights you will pass through when going on this bike-tip: Elsinore, Dronningmølle, Vejby, Tisvildeleje, Liseleje, Hundested, Gilleleje, and Hornbæk. You can find the full route for this bike trip right here.
These are some of the best places to hire a bike in North Zealand.
explore ACTIVE TRAVEL GUIDES on my blog here
7. Meet the Men at Sea in Esbjerg
The Men at Sea, also known as Man Meets the Sea, is a sculpture designed by Svend Wiig Hansen. The sculpture consists of four men, is nine meters tall, and portrays the meeting between man and nature. While it may seem like the four men all have the same expression, look closer, you might find that they are all different from each other after all! Wiig Hansen chose the number four because he found that the number was harmonious and was more in alignment with the concept of “pure” mankind than uneven numbers. Today the sculpture is a landmark for Esbjerg and is located on the shore 4km from Esbjerg.
8. Say hi to the seals at the Wadden Sea (World Heritage Site)
While you are in Esbjerg, do not miss out on visiting the Wadden Sea, it is one of the best places to visit in Europe!
Most of the time there’s a pretty big chance of getting up close and seeing some of the seals lying around, just chilling on the beach, especially in summer! So if you are wondering what to do in Denmark, this is another great choice.
The Wadden Sea is a World Heritage Site and visiting is considered one of the most fun things to do in Denmark as well as one of the best things to do in Europe, so make sure this one is near the top of your Denmark bucket list!
9. Experience the Danish Desert “Råbjerg Mile”
Did you know that Denmark has a “desert”? You heard that right! It is called Råbjerg Mile, and it is a big sand dune, classed as the “desert” of Denmark. It is one of the top things to do in Denmark, and it is stunningly beautiful!
You’ll want to bring your phone or camera for this one, that is for sure. If you get this from the right angle, I assure you, you could trick someone into thinking you went to the Sahara.
10. Hike to Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
A bit further down south, you will find the lighthouse called Rubjerg Knude. It is located on the edge of the North Sea and the sand on which is stands is disappearing fast. Because of the risk of erosion, the lighthouse was moved 70 meters further in 2019.
This lighthouse, and this place in general, will not be there forever, so make sure you visit while you can. This is one of the best things to do in Denmark and also one of the most beautiful places in Denmark. It’s particularly beautiful at sunset and sunrise!
11. Learn about the Danish Vikings in the Viking Museum of Roskilde
This is the one you have all been waiting for… the Viking Museum! You can’t visit Denmark without visiting the Viking Museum. This is one of the top things to do in Denmark that you absolutely cannot miss; here you can learn about the history of Denmark and its Vikings, as well as see Viking ships. Make sure you add this one to the top of your Denmark bucket list.
12. Admire the contemporary art in the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is one of the top things to do in Denmark and is located in the northern part of Zealand in a town called Humlebæk. It is an art museum with both indoor and outdoor exhibitions.
The outdoor part of the museum has a gorgeous view of the sea. If you are in the northern part of Zealand, you should visit this museum on a sunny day and bring a picnic, so that during your break you can enjoy a sandwich with a lovely view of the sea.
The entrance price is 145 DKK for adults. You can find more information on the tickets here.
13. Have a fun day out in Legoland
Legoland is yet another spot in Denmark that you cannot miss, it is one of the best places to visit in Denmark!
Legoland is located in the south of Jylland in a small town called Billund. It is near Ribe, Esbjerg, and the Wadden Sea so if you are visiting either of these, make sure you make a stop at Billund as well. With 9 themed Lego ‘lands’, 4 roller-coasters, 2 water rides and over 40 other attractions built from some 60 million bricks, it’s one of the best things to do in Denmark if you love Lego, with or wthout kids!
If you order a day ticket online, it will cost you 329 DKK, however, if you buy it at the entrance, it will cost you an extra 100 DKK, so make sure you book ahead of time. You can book your day ticket and find more information right here.
14. Go hiking around the amazing cliffs in Denmark
One of the things that should be at the top of your Denmark bucket list is visiting the World Heritage sites Møns Klint and Stevns Klint in the south of Zealand (Sjælland). These two stunning natural wonders will amaze you with their beauty.
You can do several hikes all over the two cliff-areas,;you can find more information on all the hiking trails around the cliffs here for Møns Klint and here for Stevns Klint. When exploring the south of Zealand, you have to have these two on your Denmark bucket list. And don’t forget to bring your camera, this place screams for a picture or a hundred!
15. See a 360 Rainbow view of Aarhus in the art museum aRos
Aarhus is one of the best places to visit in Denmark and has some of the top things to do in Denmark. It is the cultural, creative hub of Denmark, and it has events all year round. During summer, you will find that there will be lots and lots of outdoor concerts and festivals going on.
One of the best things to do in Aarhus, as well as one of the best things to do in Denmark, is to experience the art museum aRos and its rainbow panorama view of the city. ARos is the best museum in Aarhus and has a lot of unique exhibitions, but the most unique of them all is the rainbow panorama at the top of the museum. Here you can get a 360 view of the city, all the while going through a literal rainbow! How cool is that?
Entrance fees start at 150 dkk. You can find more information about the entrance fees here.
16. Go hiking on the island of Bornholm
If you are going all-in on your Denmark trip and you are an outdoors person, then hiking on the island of Bornholm must be on your list! Bornholm is considered one of the best places to visit in Denmark, because it is an island of stunning nature with lots of outdoor experiences such as rock-climbing, hiking, and more. You might think Denmark is just flat land, but this little island will have you rethink that.
If you want to learn more about Bornholm and what the best hiking trails are, then you should check out this full blog post on the best things to do in Bornholm right here.
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What are your favourite things to do in Bornholm?
Where are your best places to visit in Denmark? Anything you’d add?
Love as always and happy adventuring…
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