A destination that is one of the most hidden gems in Europe, a trip to Odense is definitely worth doing. There are so many fun things to do in Odense, whether you’re a history lover, literature lover, or fancy a night out near (or on!) the river, this underrated city is certainly worth a visit.

Odense, a city filled with culture and history, is the third-largest city in Denmark and is located on the island of Fyn. A lot of the city’s history connects to the famous fairy tale writer H.C. Andersen. Odense is where the fairy tale writer was born and grew up. H.C. Andersen wrote a lot of famous fairy tales such as The Princess on the Pea, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and more. When visiting, one of the best things to do in Odense is to just wander through the city to see some of the places that inspired H.C. Andersen’s writing. 

Odense also has a lot of fun events, especially during the summer. Whether you want to go to a festival, a flea market, or enjoy a cocktail event on a riverboat cruise, you will always find something happening in Odense. So if you are looking for one the best places to visit in Denmark, then Odense simply must be on your Denmark bucket list! In this Odense travel guide, I will go through some of the top things to do in Odense. I can guarantee that by the end of this blog post you will no longer be wondering, is Odense worth visiting…

Other travel guides you might find useful…

• Europe: the ultimate travel guide
• The best things to do in Denmark
• Copenhagen: a complete travel guide
• The best budget-friendly things to do in Copenhagen
• The best things to do in Bornholm, Denmark
• Roskilde, Denmark: the best things to do
• Top tips for travelling in Europe 

Is Odense worth visiting? 

You may be wondering, is Odense worth visiting? While Odense is not talked about as much as Copenhagen or Aarhus, it is still one of the best places to visit in Denmark! H.C. Andersen is an important part of Danish history and culture. If you love art, writing, and beautiful old streets with cute, quaint cafés, then you will love Odense!

Best time to visit Odense…

The best time to visit Odense is summer. If you want to experience Odense to its fullest, summer is the perfect time to visit. This is the time of the year Odense comes alive. The festivals are happening, the cafés are full and the city is just all around filled with energy.

How to get to Odense…

Odense is located on the island of Fyn. It is a one-hour train ride from Copenhagen and very easy to reach. You can buy your tickets online or on the app. Click here for buying tickets online, or here for the app. You can also check in with your blue “Rejsekort”, however, it will be more expensive and I recommend just buying tickets online. Look for orange tickets for cheaper prices. My advice is: go early and leave late. This way you will save money on train tickets and get the most out of your trip to Odense!

Best places to eat in Odense…

Is Odense worth visiting for foodies? YES! If you do not know where to start with Odense or Denmark in general, then eating your way through is the perfect place to start. Experiencing Danish cuisine is one of the best things to do in Denmark. These are some of the best places to eat in Odense:

• Den Lille Smalle

One of the best places to have breakfast or lunch in Odense is Den Lille Smalle. This place is located right next to the town square. It is a cute, small café just as the name suggests. It has a gorgeous interior and a beautiful outdoor seating area. This is the definition of Instagrammable food! If you like to take food photos, this is the place to go. Not only is the food and the café beautiful, it also serves delicious food. It is also very accommodating to allergies and dietary restrictions. Address: Vestergade 5, 5000 Odense C

• Burger Anarchy

This is the place you will find locals of Odense. Burger Anarchy is the most popular spot for getting burgers in Odense. You can choose to get a standard burger menu, or if you dare you can choose to get 3 sliders that the chef chooses!

Address: Gravene 2, 5000 Odense C

• Storms Pakhus

If you want to try a bunch of different places, then you should go to the street food hall called Storms Pakhus. This is the perfect place to go if you are not sure if you want a curry, stir-fry, pizza, or burger.

Address: Lerchesgade 4, 5000 Odense C

Are you ready to start exploring? This is your Odense travel guide with some of the top things to do in Odense!

The best things to do in Odense…

1. Visit H.C. Andersen’s House

The number one thing you must do is to visit the Denmark bucket list item, H.C. Andersen’s house. This is a museum dedicated to H.C. Andersen.

H.C. Andersen is a big name in Denmark, and therefore it is one of the best places to visit in Denmark. You will be sure to see this one at the top of every Odense travel guide!

Inside the museum, you will learn everything you need to know about this famous Danish writer. When you arrive you will be given a pair of headsets that will tell you the story of H.C. Andersen and his fairy tales. Inside you will find old letters of his, as well as a few of his belongings and more.

This is one of the best things to do in Odense and the one you absolutely should not miss! 

The entrance fee starts at 165 DKK. This is a combined ticket that will give you access to three museums! They are: H.C Andersen’s Hus, H.C. Andersen’s Childhood Home and Møntegården. You can find more information on bookings here.

Address: H.C. Andersen Haven 1, 5000 Odense C

2. Go for a wander through the Funen village.

Do you want to experience a village as it could have been during H.C. Andersen’s time? Then you should visit Funen Village. Funen Village is an authentic, open-air museum with old houses that exhibits the Danish lifestyle and architecture of the 19th century. The half-timbered farmhouses are settings that inspired H.C. Andersens’ writing. It is for that reason one of the best things to do in Odense.

Inside the Funen Village, you will not only find historic houses, you will also find an old inn where you can sit and have a coffee break. Funen village is one of the best things to do in Denmark. It is the perfect place to experience the atmosphere of the 19th century. The village often also has events going on. To find out more click here.

The entrance fee starts at 145 DKK per adult, you can find more information on bookings here.

Address: Sejerskovvej 20, 5260 Odense

3. Visit H.C Andersen’s childhood home.

If you want to know more about H.C. Andersen then you should also visit his childhood home. Visiting H.C. Andersen’s Childhood Home is one of the best things to do in Denmark and is going to be listed on every single Odense travel guide. This is where the famous writer grew up, and one of the best things to do in Odense.

Inside you will find exactly how H.C. Andersen used to live. You will quickly learn that H.C. Andersen’s family was not of the wealthy kind. The house is tiny, with a bed inside the living room.

The entrance fee starts at 75 DKK. You can also choose to get a combined ticket of 3 museums for just 165 DKK. Click here for more information.

Address: Munkemøllestræde 3, 5000 Odense C

4. Go for an adventure in the Funky monkey park

Is Odense worth visiting for outdoor adventurers? If you look for outdoor adventure parks and activities, you will find them! Are you looking for some fun things to do in Odense? Do you enjoy activities like tree climbing? Then the Funky Monkey park is the place for you! It is an outdoor park filled with outdoor activities such as these.

The entrance fee starts at 169 DKK. You can find more information about bookings here.

Address: Stærmosegårdsvej 57, 5230 Odense

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5. Admire the architecture inside Odense Cathedral.

Odense Cathedral is located right in the center of Odense. The church has some impressive architecture, both inside and outside the church. This is one of the best things to do in Odense for those of you who love architecture and might enjoy photography. Do make sure you take your camera for this one! It is free to enter and have a look at. 

Address: Klosterbakken 2, 5000 Odense C

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6. Go to the famous festival Tinderbox.

Tinderbox festival should be on every Odense travel guide! If you want to be a part of the city and meet the locals of Odense, then this festival is a perfect choice. If you are looking for fun things to do in Odense, then this is among the most fun activities in Denmark. 

The Tinderbox festival has had big names such as Stormzy and Zara Larsson. So if you are a fan of fun, music, and meeting new people, planning your trip around this festival might just be the right choice for you!

You can find more information about the festival and tickets for it right here.

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7. Go inside the old houses of Odense in Møntergården.

Møntergården is a museum dedicated to the history of Odense and Funen and one of the top things to do in Odense. It has exhibitions that will broaden your knowledge of the city’s history. You can pop into any of the exhibitions and learn more about the history, or you can stroll down the charming old streets. When wandering along the streets make sure you have a quick look inside the houses. There’s Pernille Lykke’s Dwellings, Falk Gøye’s Town House, and more for you to explore!

The entrance fee starts at 100 DKK, or you can get the combined ticket that gives you entrance to Møntergården, H.C. Andersen’s Hus, and H.C. Andersen’s Childhood Home for 165 DKK. You can find more information on bookings here.

Address: Møntestræde 1, 5000 Odense C

8. Go on riverboat tour.

Going on the riverboat in Odense has to be included in this Odense travel guide! I believe this is not only one of the top things to do in Odense but also one of the best things to do in Denmark.

If you want to sit down, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Odense, then going on this riverboat is a perfect choice. It is one of the best things to do in Odense at the end of the day. After having walked all day, this is a great, relaxing yet a scenic way to end it. It is also very different compared to the rest on this list! I consider it to be one of the more fun things to do in Odense.

If you want to have an extra special experience then you can even choose to go while an event is happening. They have events like cocktail tasting, gin tasting, and more.

You can find more information about the bookings and the events right here.

9. Take a day trip to Egeskov Castle.

One of the best places to visit in Denmark is located on Fyn! It is called Egeskov Castle and it is located in the southern part of Fyn. It is just a 30-minute drive from Odense and should be on your Denmark bucket list.

If you have a bit more time, and you want to experience outside of Odense, this is the perfect day trip from Odense! Spend a whole day there and just take in the beauty and serene atmosphere.

The entrance fee starts at 245 DKK per adult. You can find more information here.

Address: Egeskov Gade 18, 5772 Kværndrup

If at the beginning of this you were wondering “is Odense worth visiting?”, I hope I changed your mind! I really hope you found some inspiration for your trip in my Odense travel guide!

What are your top things to do in Odense?

Where are your favourite places to visit in Denmark? Anything you’d add?

Love as always and happy adventuring…

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