Visit Tornby Beach, Denmark (+ tips from a Dane)

This, my friends. This post about Tornby Beach will show you (yet again) why I LOVE Northern Jutland.

Tornby is a lovely little beach town with cottages dotted in the sand dunes. It’s one of the prettiest places in Denmark, and we visit a few times a year.

It’s off the path for non-Danes, so let me introduce you to this little gem that holds a special place in my heart.

About Tornby Beach

Tornby Beach is one of the nicest beaches in Denmark.

It has lovely blue water and white sand, making it a great place to hang out.

Plus, you can drive your car right onto the beach, which is super convenient for a relaxing evening by the water. Just load up the car and head straight to the shore.

Things to do in Tornby

Visit the beach

Tornby Strand is a wide sand beach.

In the summer, there are lifeguards on duty to keep everyone safe while swimming. They’re here from 11 am to 7 pm every day during weeks 26 to 33.

You’ll get plenty of sun in the summer, and in the fall and winter, you can watch the wind whip up the sea foam.

Have an ice cream

Right next to the beach is a little blue ice cream house that serves homemade Italian ice cream – so delicious.

It’s not open all day, all year round, but look for the flag. When it’s up, the store is open.

Tornby gamle Købmandsgård

Further up the road is a 200-year-old trading farm with 1860s furniture. Drop by the old grocery store on-site to pick up some tasty local specialties and pretty trinkets.

Don’t miss the exhibition that tells the story of trade between Vendsyssel and Norway.

The place has a classic maritime and general store vibe, complete with the scents of fresh coffee, salted fish, salami, rope, and chamomile soap.

You can buy regional specialties and see what shopping was like back in the day when life was slower and there was no plastic around.

There’s also a cool exhibition in the barn about a shipwreck near Skallerup from 1790. Throughout the year, you can catch various exhibitions in Mette’s coffee room, which is open Friday to Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Tornby Strand Camping (campsite)

Tornby Strand Camping is a nice place to stay if you like camping. We stayed there a couple of times when I was a kid.

The campsite is top-quality with a variety of accommodation options like tents, cabins, and caravans, set in beautiful nature.

It’s a modern campsite with great facilities, perfect for both kids and adults. You can rent modern cabins with bathrooms, rooms, and tents. There’s space for parking motor homes and setting up tents.

Husmoderstranden (beach)

Husmoderstranden is a car-free beach near Hirtshals town, ideal for families and a safe place for kids to play.

It’s a short walk from the town center, with a great view of Hirtshals Lighthouse, and perfect for sunset watching.

The beach has white sand and in summer, a white flag signals clean water for swimming.

Tornby Klitplantage (Dune Plantation)

Tornby Dune plantation is a great spot for outdoor lovers, with trails for walking, biking, and mountain biking, plus a space for dogs and the Viking site Yxenborg.

It’s a big area near the coast with cool dunes and history, just south of Hirtshals.

Things to do near Tornby Denmark

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse

Every trip to Tornby should include a visit to Rubjerg Knude lighthouse.

Perched on a slope by the North Sea with a dune behind it, the landscape around the coast changes every year. To save the lighthouse from coastal erosion, it was moved 70 meters inland in fall 2019.

To reach the lighthouse, you need to climb a 1.5 km sand hill.

The first time I hiked it, I was in a hurry, so I ran.

Have you ever tried running in deep sand?

No?

Well, let me just say that it’s DARNED hard. I must have sounded like a cat being strangled, wheezing, and coughing hysterically when I reached the top. People were staring. Someone even laughed.

But who cares? I made it to the top.

Fun Park or Farm Fun

If you like animals, you should visit Fun Park in Hirtshals or Farm Fun I Ålbæk.

Fun Park is a 33-acre farm set in the varied landscapes of North Jutland, with forests and dunes.

You’ll find 425 animals from 65 different species and birds living freely there, plus plenty of fun activities like play areas, mini-golf, archery, and air rifle shooting. It’s definitely worth a visit.

Afternoon tea at Keramikcafe Møllehuset

Keramikcafe Møllehuset is just down the road from Rubjerg Knude, and it’s a great place to enjoy an afternoon tea on Thursdays (loads of Danish cake) or a typical Danish lunch in a homely atmosphere.

You need to make a reservation, so call in advance.

Hirtshals lighthouse

Just 24 km north is Hirtshals Lighthouse.

At the lighthouse, you can check out different exhibits, climb to the top, and soak in the amazing views from 62 meters up.

You’ll see the sea, coast, and countryside. The lighthouse is still working and looks pretty cool.

If the weather is bad, you can eat your packed lunch in a special room inside during the day.

Before you go – don’t miss this:

• Wild camping: The ultimate guide to wild camping in Denmark
• Camping meals: 45 camping food ideas (no refrigeration)
• Camping: Camping in Denmark for beginners
• Road trip: Denmark Road Trip: 7 amazing self-drive itineraries
• Nature: 12 mind-blowing places for nature in Denmark
• Beaches: 12 best beaches in Denmark
• UNESCO sites: Experience the 7 UNESCO sites in Denmark
• Car rental: How to rent a car in Denmark
• Danish food: 20 amazing dishes you must try in Denmark
• Christmas food: 10 Amazing Danish Christmas Foods You Have to Try