Denmark Road Trip: 6 amazing self-drive itineraries
Planning a road trip? Denmark is a magical little corner of Europe that’s perfect for self-driving. In this post, you’ll find 6 tried-and-tested Denmark road trip itineraries to help you plan the best 2-5-day adventure.
Plan your trip to Denmark
👩🏻 Best guided tours in Denmark
- Copenhagen best sights tour (⭐️ 5/5)
- Copenhagen food tour (⭐️ 5/5)
- Møns Klint day tour (UNESCO) (⭐️ 4.5/5)
🏡 Where to stay in Denmark
- Copenhagen (unique Bali-style): Manon Les Suites (⭐ 8.5)
- Odense: Stemningsfuld lejlighed (⭐ 8.9)
- Aarhus: Hotel Oasia Aarhus City (⭐ 8.5)
Most travelers only visit Copenhagen, and that’s a shame because there are SO many beautiful places in Denmark.
Like Funen, which is the most romantic mini destination you’ve never heard of, or North Jutland which is blessed with enchanted forests and a watery and rugged beauty.
With your own car, you can cover the entire country (minus the small islands) in less than a week. Here’s everything you need to know!
This post contains referral links for products I love. Adventurous Miriam earns a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through my links. I appreciate your support ♡ Learn more
Renting a car in Denmark
The easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to travel to most Danish hidden gems is with your own private rental car.
Best Car Rental Company:
DISCOVER CARS
When booking your car rental online, I recommend Discover Cars. They compare prices at car rental agencies all over the country to get you the best deal.
Denmark road trip – the 6 best itineraries
Denmark is a small country, which means you can do each of these itineraries in 1-2 days. But if you want to have time to actually enjoy your Denmark road trip, I recommend adding a few more days.
Here’s a list of the best routes for a road trip in Denmark:
Read next: What to pack for your road trip
1. Funen
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Distance covered: 220km (approx. 3-4 hours of driving)
- Where to stay: Safine B&B
- Highlights: Middelfart, Odense, Faaborg, Egeskov Castle, Valdemar Castle
One of the best Denmark road trips is Funen. Funen is best known for H.C. Andersen, the father of Fairytales who said those famous words: “To travel is to live”. Well, a trip to Funen will reveal where he got his inspiration.
Egeskov Castle
The southern part of Funen is lush, hilly, and charming. Its most popular spot is Egeskov Castle, which is one of Europe’s best-preserved Renaissance castles with an extensive collection of vintage cars and motorbikes.
We have quite a few castles and mansions in Denmark. I haven’t been able to find the exact number, but on Funen alone there are 123 – which is a lot considering everything on the island is less than 2 hours drive away.
Thomas had booked us a room at one of the castles (Hvedholm Castle in Faaborg) and it kind of blew me away. The surroundings were so serene and nature-rich.
We had waiters serving us for the same price as a hotel room in Copenhagen, Aarhus or just about any other town in Denmark.
Valdemar Castle
I also recommend Valdemar Castle, which used to be owned by Baroness Caroline Flemming. If you’re a Dane, you know her for sure because she’s often on Television.
Now, she lives in London and the castle is open to the public. That’s how it is with most of the Danish castles – they’re part of the Danish heritage and therefore open to visitors.
Valdemar Castle is Denmark’s largest manor house museum, on the tiny neighboring island of Tåsinge.
Faaborg
The castle we stayed at is located right next to the most quaint and charming little town. It’s called Faaborg, and it’s the highlight of Funen!
In the summer, you’ll see flowers and hollyhocks everywhere, bikes in the streets, people are out and it’s so cozy – or hyggeligt as we say in Denmark. Do stay here for at least a day.
Read next: 17 beautiful small towns in Denmark you should visit
Lillebæltsbroen
During a Funen road trip, I also recommend heading to the northern part. Make a stopover in Middelfart, which is on the border between Funen and Jutland island.
We have three major bridges in Denmark: Øresundsbroen (the largest) connecting Denmark and Sweden, Storebæltsbroen (the second largest) connecting Funen and Zealand, and Lillebæltsbroen (the smallest) from Jutland to Funen. In Middelfart, you can go below the bridge – it’s super fun!
Odense
No Denmark road trip is complete without a visit to Odense – the island’s capital and home of H.C. Andersen.
You can visit his childhood home, the school for the poor, and maybe even one of the open-air plays outside his house in the summer, which is now a museum.
If you’d like to explore Odense further, I recommend a guided tour of the city.
2. South Jutland
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Distance covered: 380km (approx. 6 hours of driving)
- Where to stay: Den Gamle Købmandsgaard
- Highlights: Hvide Sande, Blåvand, Ribe, The Wadden Sea, Møgeltønder, Sønderborg, Dybbøl Mølle, Christiansfeld
If you’re planning a road trip in Denmark, don’t discount West and South Jutland. The coastline is rugged and scenic as in the north, but there’s still something different about this part of Denmark.
Blåvand
Start your trip in Hvide Sande (White Sands) by the West coast and follow the coastline down to Blåvand (Blue Water). In Blåvand, make sure to visit the lighthouse for a terrific view of the scenery. It’s really nice from the top.
Continue south until you reach Ribe, where you can spend a night or two at a Bed and Breakfast → If you’re visiting Denmark, this is by far the cheapest accommodation, plus you get to stay in a Danish home.
Ribe
Although I love the coast and the sea, my favorite stop on this road trip is Ribe. Now, let me tell you something about this old, medieval Danish town.
Founded around the year 700, it’s in fact the oldest town, not only in Denmark but in all of Scandinavia. It’s incredibly charming and definitely one of the best places in Denmark if you ask me!
Aside from a cute little harbor, Ribe has a majestic cathedral, a Viking museum, lovely Danish cafés, and a truckload of history. It’s also the birthplace of Maren Spliid, the last and most famous Danish woman, who was burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1640.
It’s a horrible story and even more horrifying to know that my countrymen burned so many innocent women. Luckily, those days are long over.
The Wadden Sea
Right next to Ribe is the Wadden Sea (Vadehavet). It’s a national park and UNESCO site, where the North Sea water flows into the Wadden Sea twice a day, flooding the mud flats with seawater.
During low tide, you can go or drive out there and experience what it feels like to stroll on the sea bed.
If you visit in the spring or autumn, you might be lucky to see a special Danish nature phenomenon.
It’s called Sort Sol (Black Sun) where hundreds of thousands of starlings turn the sky black when they’re circling around creating fascinating formations in the air.
Møgeltønder
After spending the night in Ribe, continue to South Jutland. Your first stop will be Møgeltønder, which is where our prince and princess lived until recently. Møgeltønder is super, super small and has less than 1,000 inhabitants.
It’s a quaint little village with an old cobbled road lined with linden trees and thatched cottages from 1700-1800. This street (Slotsgaden) is known as the most beautiful street in Denmark.
Sønderborg
The next stop is Sønderborg. It’s very close to the German border and there’s a lot of war history in the area.
Make sure to pass by Dybbøl Mølle on the way. It’s a famous war site, located just a few kilometers from the city center.
Christiansfeld
We have 7 UNESCO sites in Denmark, but Christiansfeld is the only UNESCO town.
Christiansfeld is unique because it was built with homogenous architecture in perfect symmetry by the Moravian Church.
If you stop by – 2 hours is enough – do make sure to get a honey cake. They’re known as the best in the country!
3. North Jutland
- Duration: 3-4 days
- Distance covered: 250km (approx. 4 hours of driving)
- Where to stay: Caféhaven
- Highlights: Rebild Bakker, Rold Skov, Blokhus, Tornby, Rubjerg Knude, Råbjerg Mile, Skagen, Sæby
If you’ve been reading this blog for some time, you know how much I LOVE North Jutland. It’s by far my favorite place in Denmark, aside from my soul-city Aarhus of course. Here’s what to see:
Rebild Bakker
If you visit in August, I HIGHLY recommend starting your trip with Rebild Bakker. The purple heath-covered hills make it one of the most beautiful nature spots in Denmark.
Troll Forest (Rold Skov)
Next to Rebild Bakker is Rold Skov. And inside Rold Forest, you’ll find the troll forest.
Just park the car at the entrance and walk for about 7 minutes. You’ll start noticing the crooked trees and you’ll know you’ve arrived.
Jammerbugten
After Rold Skov, continue north to Jammerbugten.
Jammerbugten covers a bay area along the West Coast, and it’s where you’ll find the best beaches in Denmark.
Some of the most noteworthy beaches are Løkken, Blokhus, and Tornby. Jammerbugten is the most rugged and beautiful part of North Jutland because of the coastline.
On your way north, make sure to stop by Rubjerg Knude and Råbjerg Mile, which are huge sand dunes worth exploring!
Skagen
Skagen is one of the most popular places in Denmark – and for good reason. It’s the top of Denmark where two seas collide, nature is beautiful and the area is packed with history.
Because it’s so popular, I recommend not spending the night here. It’s quite expensive. Spend a day exploring Grenen, Skagen Centre, and the sand-covered church, and then be on your way.
Sæby
Next up is Sæby; one of the most charming towns in Denmark.
Sæby is quaint with half-timbered houses, and it has a really great seafood restaurant at the harbor (Jacobs Fiskerestaurant). We visit every year and it’s great value for (very little) money.
4. North-west Jutland
- Duration: 3-7 days
- Distance covered: 190 km (approx. 3.5 hours of driving + ferry to Fur Island)
- Where to stay: Klitmøller Hotel
- Highlights: Bulbjerg Klint, Hanstholm, Klitmøller, Thagaards Plantage, Vorupør, Lodbjerg, Hanklit, Fur island
We did this Denmark road trip last summer when I was pregnant with Toby. It’s one of the better trips we’ve taken around Denmark because you’ll see a different side of the country.
Thy National Park
I recommend starting in Bulbjerg, which borders National Park Thy, but you can do it the other way around – you decide.
Thy National Park is the oldest national park in Denmark. It has the wildest nature in the country and there’s a lot to see!
Think unique landscape: sand dunes, dune heaths, wetlands and lakes, charming fishing villages, and tasty local food & craft beer.
Mors
Mors is located between Thy and Fur Island, so you’ll pass it on your way there or back. When you do, head north to Hanklit. There are several pretty cliffs in this area, and Hanklit is one of the best ones.
Fur
You should dedicate a whole day to Fur Island. It’s a very small island, but there’s just a whole lot to see.
The thing about Fur is that it has landscapes, unlike any other part of the country. Like the two beautiful cliffs (Knudeklinterne), the vibrant colors, and the moclay and you can go fossil hunting.
5. Djursland
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Distance covered: 114km (approx. 2.15 hours of driving)
- Where to stay: Baghuset
- Highlights: Fjellerup, Sangstrup Klint, Ebeltoft, Mols Bjerge, Kalø Vig, Gl Estrup Manor
When planning a Denmark road trip, do include Djursland. It’s a beautiful little peninsula with raw, untouched nature, lovely beaches, the best ice cream in Denmark, and Mols Bjerge; a national park where you can hike, bike, and relax.
Fjellerup
Let’s begin with Fjellerup – the town with the country’s best ice cream and probably the place where I’ve spent most summers in Denmark.
Fjellerup town is small and not a particular reason to visit, but the beach and Vaffelbageri (ice cream place) are. Bring your swimsuit.
Sangstrup Klint
A little further to the east is Sangstrup Klint or Cliffs of Sangstrup in English.
This beautiful cliff is 17 meters tall, 5 km long, and made of limestone. Bring rubber boots or waterproof boots if you plan on walking along the cliffs (which you really should!).
Ebeltoft
Now, drive south towards Ebeltoft.
Ebeltoft is probably the most visited town in Djursland, yet I’ve never experienced the crowds of Copenhagen or Aarhus (yet).
It’s a charming little town with half-timbered houses, a medieval vibe, and winding cobbled streets, not to mention the fact that it’s surrounded by the ocean, nice beaches and a lively culture scene during the summer.
Mols Bjerge
Next up is Mols Bjerge (Mols Hills), which is basically right next to Ebeltoft.
Mols Bjerge National Park covers quite a large area and it’s ideal for picnics, hikes, bike trips, or a Denmark road trip.
Make sure to visit Poskær Stenhus, which is the largest round barrow in Denmark, dating back to 3.300 B.C.
Next to Mols Bjerge is Kalø Castle; a castle ruin in the sea. It’s located in Kalø Vig and was built in 1313 as one of at least four similar strongholds in Jutland.
Old Estrup Manor (Gammel Estrup)
A little further north is Old Estrup; a manor dating back to 1340. In the museum, you can view the development of Danish nobility through the ages, and there’s a baroque garden with apple trees, vegetables, an orangery, and many beautiful flowers.
Absolutely worth a visit.
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Distance covered: 230km (approx. 3.40 hours of driving)
- Where to stay: Skovfogedens Hus
- Highlights: Copenhagen, Dragør, Roskilde, Faxe Kalkbrud, Stevns Klint, Møns Klint
6. Sealand
Copenhagen
Chances are, if you’re not local, that you’ll start your Denmark road trip in Copenhagen. You might even pick up your car here. So, I suggest spending a day or two exploring the capital BEFORE you pick up the car.
In Copenhagen, rent a bike, walk, or take the bus/S-train/Metro. It’s very easy to get around from one attraction to the next.
You can also join a tour that will take you to the best of what Copenhagen has to offer.
Dragør
After Copenhagen, head south to Dragør. It’s a small fishermen’s village just 10 kilometers from the center.
Dragør is an easy day trip from Copenhagen and you can spend a whole day walking in the small alleys and streets while admiring the quaint houses.
Roskilde
This is a little detour, but it’s worth it if you want to see the BEAUTIFUL gothic Roskilde Cathedral, which is where the Danish royal family is buried.
It’s a UNESCO site. I also recommend stopping by the Centre for Historical-Archaeological Research and Communication, a few kilometers west of Roskilde.
These are replica homes and farms from the Iron, Stone, and Viking eras.
Faxe Kalkbrud
Continue south until you reach Faxe Limestone Quarry. This nature sight is off the path even for Danes (I just recently discovered it myself) so you’ll have it to yourself.
The limestone quarry is 63 million years old and you can go fossil hunting here.
Stevns Klint
Another place to go fossil hunting is Stevns Klint, one of the seven UNESCO sites in Denmark.
At Stevns Klint you’ll find crisp blue water and contrasting white chalk cliffs. The place has 65 million years of history and is without doubt one of the most unique places in Denmark.
When you’re here, don’t miss the Cold War Museum, 7 7-minute drive from the cliff.
If you have time, I suggest driving a little more south to Møns Klint (1.5 hours by car). It’s similar to Stevns and just as breathtaking.
More stuff you’ll love:
- Must-see: 25 best places to visit in Denmark
- Summer: Summer in Denmark: 25 amazing activities
- Winter: Winter in Denmark: 15 hygge cold-weather activities
- Beaches: 12 best beaches in Denmark
- Nature: 12 mind-blowing places for nature in Denmark
- Camping: Camping in Denmark for beginners
- Wild camping: The ultimate guide to wild camping in Denmark
- UNESCO sites: Experience the 7 UNESCO sites in Denmark
- Bornholm: 12 amazing reasons to visit Bornholm island, Denmark
- Danish food: 20 amazing dishes you must try in Denmark
These photos are obscenely gorgeous! Beautiful work.
Thanks so much, Kelly! I’m so happy I finally prioritized those trips – it’s been years underway.
Gorgeous! i’ve been to Copenhagen and Roskilde, but I haven’t gotten to other parts of Denmark. Looks amazing!
I hope you come back someday and see the rest. There’s sooo much 🙂
So pretty pictures! It’s easy to forget about one’s home country, haha, the same happens to us always… So many plans and trips, but very few in Hungary. We are working on it. 😀
We’ve never been to Denmark, but we are constantly on a hunt after cheap air ticket to different European cities, Copenhagen included. 🙂 Funen also looks such a fairy tale place!
I know, right? 😉
Actually, the route: Copenhagen-Budapest is super cheap. I’ve seen tickets as low as US $45 for a return – just sayin’ 😉
Yeah, right. We only have two excuses to postpone it still: we used up all of our holidays for this year already and we want to see Denmark in the summer. 😀 But it will come. Not sure how many of these places could fit in a long weekend though. Time is always tight. 😀
I know what you mean! 🙂 Besides, Denmark is best to visit during summer and you can actually fit in a lot for a weekend (we did Funen in 1,5 day).
Hi. Miriam
Fantastic photos. I would like to add that Denmark has a lot to offer, for those who like minimal design. There is a lot of companies and shops with classic “scandi furnitures”.
That’s true, Alex. Nordic design is another good reason to visit Denmark – thanks for pitching in 🙂
Denmark looks beautiful. I can’t wait to visit Copenhagen in a couple months!
Oh, you’re to Denmark? If you’re here in December and have time, go to Aarhus and visit “The Old Town” / Den Gamle By. It’s beautiful and super interesting all year round, but during Christmas it really comes to life.
What a great post! Thanks for sharing all of this information about sites to see around Denmark. Also, I love your photos – you got some amazing shots. I especially like the photographs of the sea at sunset 🙂 Looking forward to reading more of your blog!
Thanks so much, Alissa. I’m glad you’re reading! 🙂
Wow, how beautiful! I always forget about Denmark on my “wish list” – it’s just gotten too long, but I would love to visit!
Ha, I know exactly what you mean. It’s impossible to keep track of all those places we want to visit 🙂
Roads, beaches, old houses… all of them keep the serenity for Denmark
They do!
Hej Miriam.
Jeg synes det er en fantastisk spændende blog du har. Jeg vil dog lige sige, at område omkring Sønderborg og Dybbøl Mølle er kendt for krigen i 1864 og ikke anden verdenskrig. – men ellers synes jeg det er en fantastisk måde du fortæller om de forskellige steder du har set.
Hej Katrine,
Tusind tak, og det har du da fuldstændig ret i. Det var en slåfejl 🙂
Great blog, thanks! Me and my boyfriend will travel from the Netherlands to Copenhagen by car. What place (and hotel or b&b) would you suggest for me and my boyfriend as a half way stop of our trip? Hope you can help 🙂
Hi Fleur,
There are so many beautiful places from the border to Copenhagen, but if I had to choose, I’d probably recommend Ribe (the oldest town in Denmark). It’s a bit off the track coming from the border/Flensburg (1,5 hours), but I promise it’s well worth the trip! Another idea could be Odense, which is a larger city and straight on the way to Copenhagen from the freeway.
Both cities have their charm, although I personally prefer Ribe. You can get a nice B&B there – we stayed with Kamma in Ribe and I highly recommend her B&B, which is centrally located: https://bedandbreakfastguide.dk/en/southjutland/6760-ribe/kamma-franch/s-1057
Hello Miriam,
I am from Portugal and a mother of 2 with 11 and 8 years old.
We want to do a road trip to your country between th 26/12 and the 31/12.Do you think it is ok with the temperatures?
Is it very expensive?Last year we did holland, and kids loved it…
Thanks for all your help.
Marina
Hi Marina,
Glad to hear you’re visiting Denmark. The last few years, we’ve had a mild winter with barely any snow. You can probably expect degrees around 1C. Pack scarfs and warm jackets, especially if you’re visiting the coast.
Denmark is quite expensive, but it definitely depends on where you’re going. You can find a cheap Bed and Breakfast in the countryside, Jutland and Funen, whereas Copenhagen and Aarhus are more expensive.
Loved all the beautiful pictures, leaving for Holland next Wednesday, staying there for about 8 days and heading up to Denmark for a couple of weeks, you helped me finding places in Denmark I did not know existed. Really looking forward seeing them all
I’m glad you found some inspiration, Sue! Have a wonderful trip to Holland & Denmark and let me know if you need any more tips.
Hej Miriam
I’m a South African, married to a Dane (Nykobing Mors) who’s been is SA for many years. We coming to DK in June and going to travel all over. She found your blog which has been so so helpful. Thank you.
Tony and Susanne
Hi Tony,
I’m so glad to hear that! Say hej to Susanne from me and have a GREAT trip to Denmark 🙂 The weather has been unbelievably stunning these past 3 weeks with sunshine and 25+ degrees – I hope it continues during your stay.
Take care!
We are from the US and will be visiting Scandanavia for the first time this August, traveling to Denmark after seeing Norway and have found so much great information on this blog; you’ve also given us confidence to do things there, now that we know more about it.
I do have a couple of questions: Will we have any problem driving around and just doing things on our own or do you recommend a guide in any of the places? Do we need to prebook tickets to anything we want to do?
Thank you.
Hi Cheri, welcome to my blog! You don’t need a guide for any of this and no pre-booked tickets. In fact, Egeskov castle is the only attraction in my article that costs money and you needn’t book in advance.
Have an amazing trip through Norway and Denmark! I hope you’ll love it.
Hi! Our family of 4 will be traveling to Denmark in May 2019. My grandmother’s great grandparents lived in Sindal and their families were from Bronderslev and Hjorring. They left on a ship for America from Fredrikshavn. These are all places I’d like to see briefly. We will only have 3.5 days in Denmark.
Is this a crazy itinerary? Any alternative suggestions?
1. arrive noon – train to Roskilde for Viking Museum, train to Odense to spend the night.
2. Hans Christian Andersen home, Egeskov Castle, drive to Aalborg, spend the night (maybe Lindholm Hoje)
3. Tour family towns, Skagen/Grenen, back to Aalborg to spend the night
4. Travel back to Copenhagen, afternoon walking around Copenhagen
Depart early the next morning.
Hi Meesha,
Usually, I’m quite optimistic when it comes to a tight itinerary, but I have to be honest with you. Yours sound too tight. If I were you, I’d skip Roskilde and go straight to Odense. You’ll spend most of day 2 driving to Aalborg. I’d also skip Lindholm Høje. By the way are you driving or taking the train?
This is the itinerary I propose if you have a car – otherwise Ærøskøbing will be the better choice:
1. arrive noon – drive to Odense, see Hans Christian Andersen home, maybe Egeskov Castle, spend the night.
2. Drive to Aalborg (2,5 hours by car), tour family towns, spend the night. You could also consider staying in Frederikshavn, it’s more convenient.
3. Skagen/Grenen, back to Aalborg/Frederikshavn to spend the night.
4. Travel back to Copenhagen(4,5 hours by car), afternoon walking around Copenhagen.
Depart early the next morning.
Also, my husband would rather go to Aeroskobing instead of going to north Jutland. Which would you prefer if you only had a few days?
By the way, Ærøskøbing is considered one of – if not the – most beautiful town in Denmark. It’s like a fairy tale with its half-timbered houses, plus it’s very well preserved.
Miriam,
What wonderful pictures!!!! I have been working on ancestry since last year and to my surprise my Great Grandmother is from Ribe Denmark! So, next month we are taking a trip to Ribe and maybe Aalborg too! We have four generations from Denmark. My sister, my wife and I are booked and ready to find our roots! Thank you and we look forward to the trip!
John
Hi John,
That’s so exciting! And Ribe is one of the best places in Denmark to really experience our culture and history. I hope you’ll have an amazing trip here.
All the best to you and yours.
This is so great! I’m traveling to Denmark at the end of May/Beginning of June this year. What would you say are the must see stops on a road trip in 7 days? We are renting a car and flying in and out of Copenhagen. Thanks so much for your local insights!
Hi Emma,
In 7 days, the must-see places are: Copenhagen, Funen (Faaborg, Egeskov castle and Odense) and Jutland (Ribe, Aarhus and North Jutland). If you’ve seen these places, you’ve seen the best of Denmark.
I always also recommend going to Bornholm, which is the cutest little island just a few hours from Copenhagen. But you should spend at least 1-2 days there to experience everything, so I think you’re better off with the other towns I mentioned.
Have an amazing trip!
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome, Emma 🙂
Hi Miriam, This is really great, and inspiring. We only have a few days in Denmark (flying into Copenhagen on a Sunday and driving to Amsterdam (to arrive Friday), but this gives us so many ideas! Like another person who wrote in, we likely only have about 3 and a half days, but with a car, and not having to end up back in Copenhagen, we should have some options. Would you suggest after Odense heading west to Ribe or south to Sonderborg? Thanks!
Hi Steve,
I recommend Ribe over Sønderborg. While Sønderborg is a lovely city, RIbe has a totally different vibe! It’s the oldest town in Scandinavia and looks like something out of a fairy tale. Definitely go there.
Have a great trip to Denmark 🙂
This is very helpful! Thinking of 10-12 days in April; pick up a car in Aalborg, spend 5-7 days driving to Copenhagen and then 3-4 days in the city. That seems to make more sense then doing a loop around Jutland.
Hi Blue, sounds like a great idea! There’s lots to see on the way to Copenhagen, so you won’t run out of sights and attractions.
Have fun 🙂
Thanks for inspiring me to put together a trip to Denmark. Your blog has helped a lot. Spending 2 weeks, first in Jutland, then Funen and finishing in Copenhagen. Can’t wait and hoping for comparable summer weather to last year…. Here’s hoping and thank you once again for the inspiration.
What a great itinerary, Carole! I hope the weather is with you as well <3
I have Danish grandparents no longer living whose families came from either side of South Jutland but I have never visited your country. I am trying to put together a cycling trip for me and my husband, both in our 70’s, following the border across the peninsula between Højer and Flensburg. The problem is the all the touring resources seem to be focused on Zealand. Are you aware of any companies in Denmark who provide self guided cycling routes in South Jutland?
Hi Mary, I don’t know of any companies, no. But check out this site, it has the route you’re looking at: https://www.komoot.com/collection/538/border-route-in-3-days-from-the-north-sea-to-the-baltic-sea
Hi Miriam, we are planning a road trip to Denmark and around Denmark (from the Netherlands). We will have our 2 years old toddler with us and our 3 month old (by then) but we travelled before and we are not intimidated by this at all. 🙂 Is May a good month to visit? And how much would you say we could fit in 7 full days in Denmark? Also – what accommodations would you recommend? Thank you.
Hi Ruxandra,
Yes, May is a good month. It will be spring but still cold (7-14 C degrees) so bring warm clothes. Denmark is fairly small so you can fit in a lot in 7 days. I would probably focus on Jutland and Funen if I were you. There are some nice, scenic routes there, and there will be things to do for the kids, too. Skagen, North Jutland/Thy, Ribe, Aarhus, South Funen – those are the highlights.
Hallo , we are planning to go to Copenhagen from Holland to Copenhagen by landtrip , is there anyone from you here who can advice where to get schedule of barges and price going to Denmark pls , thank you very much in advance .
Your site is so helpful- thank you! My family is hoping to travel to Denmark this summer. I was thinking to stay in Copenhagen and do some side trips from there. But I haven’t found a home exchange there yet. Is there another place that would be good as a home base for a couple weeks that we could do some day trips or overnights from? Blavand? Aero? Odense? I’m traveling with a 10 and 5 year old. They are used to 3-8 hour car rides as we road trip around California and western USA a lot.
Hi Traci, Ærø is not a good base as it’s too far from everything and only reachable by ferry. Aarhus is better, or Odense. It depends on what you’d like to see and experience. My personal favorite is North Jutland. You can base yourself in Aalborg or Skagen (amazing place) and do day trips from there.
Love this Blog! At your suggestion, we are staying at at Hvedholm Slotshotel in Faaborg. Do you have any suggestions for places to stay in Ribe? Thank you so much.
Oh, nice. I hope you’ll enjoy it just as we did 🙂
In Ribe you should stay at Den Gamle Købmandsgaard (A Bed & Breakfast set in an old merchant’s house from the 1850s. The main town square and Ribe Cathedral are just 500 m away). Anotther option is Danhostel Ribe (An eco-friendly hostel with free wifi & parking, private bathrooms and with views of the Wadden Sea and the old town.)
The above question was from Christy
outstanding blog. Have learnt a lot from it. We are planning to visit in July 2022. From your blog, figured out will do 2 road trips into 1- kind of. Drive from Copenhagen to Rajberg Mile and stay somewhere on the way for one night- possibly Funen. And then on the way back drive all the way south to Germany (Flensburg) via Sonderborg and Christansfeld. And then head back to Copenhagen. The route back I still have to figure.
Sounds like a great road trip, Manu. Have fun 🙂
Which itinerary do you recommend during wintertime (End of January)?
Thank you.
Hi Nicolas,
Well… All of the above would work for a winter road trip, with the exception of Funen I think. You CAN visit of course, but the landscape is prettier in spring, summer and autumn.
Hey Miriam,
We have about one week for a denmark roadtrip in early September and of course we want to see as much as possible with a good mix of the beautiful towns and landscapes but without having to hurr. Which route would you suggest for a first impression and where are the best opportunities to plan the overnight stays?
Best wishes
Christina & Moritz
Hi Christina & Moritz,
I would recommend Jutland and Funen. You’ll see the best of Denmark here 🙂
Hi Miriam, loved your blog! There are so many interesting places to see and I am unable to decide which ones to add to our itinerary! My husband and I are planning to visit Denmark in a couple of weeks to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary and have 7 days to see your beautiful country. Can you please suggest the must see places for a 5 day road trip. We will start and end the trip in Copenhagen.
I have enjoyed reading all of these comments. I will be visiting the first week of April with my 77-year old mom and my brother. I love nature and hiking, but my mom enjoys more of the restaurant scene and easy activities. My brother has never been to Europe (we are from Illinois, USA), and we would like to experience as much of the culture as possible. We land in Copenhagen and are thinking to explore a bit beyond that. I’m debating between Odense and Aarhus. Do you have suggestions for other/better places we should consider to experience the culture of Denmark that would also be easily accessible for my mother?
Sorry, clicked “post” before offering my name! Mine is the comment above.
Thank you Miriam for all of this wonderful information. We have just returned from Denmark back to England and have visited Copenhagen, Odense, Faaborg, Rebild Bakker, The Troll Forest, Skagen, Grenen, The Rabjerg Mile, Grenaa for the fabulous museum. Stevns Klint, Sangstrup Klint, and lots more! By reading all of your wonderful suggestions we got the most out of our road trip in our campervan. We have stayed at some stunning locations. Thank you x
Julie, I’m so glad to hear that. It sounds like you saw lots of great places, and experienced the real Denmark, outside of Copenhagen. Glad I could help!