8 Incredible Islands to Visit in Denmark
Denmark is a country of hundreds of picturesque islands. Sand dunes and low country landscapes meet the Baltic Sea under the most beautiful golden Nordic light. Idyllic coastal villages with harbor views abound. Visiting Danish islands is easy and, in such a small country, convenient to tack on if you’re visiting Copenhagen or Aarhus. Get a taste for the Danish holiday life with this list of favorite islands to visit in Denmark.
Bornholm
Every list of Danish islands should start with this one. Located off the southern coast of Sweden, this island displays the most dynamic topography in the whole country. Stop for a gander at the Echodalen (Echo Canyon), hike through beautiful forests, bike through lavender fields and idyllic coastal towns, check out castle ruins or run through sand dunes with the finest white sands you’ll ever see. This island is a holiday dream no matter the season.
The town of Svaneke is ideal for enjoying Danish shops and restaurants, but I love staying near Dueodde, the incredible southern coast of unending sand dunes and water. It’s seriously a dream.
Take the ferry from the Swedish town of Ystad and enjoy a short tour of the southern Sweden province of Skåne.
CC Favorite: In Svaneke, check out Svaneke Brød, one of the loveliest bakeries you’ll ever come across. Bornholms Ismejeri is perfect for that summer afternoon ice cream stop. Svaneke Bryghus makes some of our favorite Danish beer that we always look for, even here in Copenhagen.
Ærø
Rural, quiet, peaceful. Take a ferry from Svendborg to this lovely little island sandwiched between the island of Langeland (also included on this list) and mainland Jylland. Take coastal walks, throw rocks into the ocean, spot colorful beach huts and enjoy all kinds of relaxation. A prime of example of calm in this list of islands to visit in Denmark.
The towns of Ærøskøbing and Marstal offer more of that Danish coastal ambience that you’re searching for. I have spent a whole afternoon just wandering the streets of the town of Ærøskøbing taking photos of the many interesting colorful doors of the adorable homes that line the streets.
CC Favorite: Stop at Ærø Bryggeri for fantastic brews and classic Danish food.
Fanø/Rømø
Located in the Nationalpark Vadehavet (Wadden Sea National Park), I couldn’t pick just one of these. This area is an often overlooked gem on the west coast of Denmark that I couldn’t love more. Rømø is accessible by bridge, but Fanø will require another short ferry from Esbjerg.
Both islands offer you expansive beaches, with little to no development marring the spectacle of the sea and the sand. I’d happily venture to either, but for me, Fanø gets the slight edge for two reasons. First, the National Park offers miles and miles of hiking and/or bike riding through some seriously gorgeous heather fields and coastal forest land. Second, from the southwestern edge of the island, at low tide, you can walk far out into the ocean for a truly special experience. Because it’s such a shallow sea, low tides are dramatic and expand the beach much farther than you can imagine. With proper footwear (or bare feet if it’s warm enough), you can venture towards islands far out into the sea that are home to seals. It’s amazing.
CC Favorite: On your way to either island, be sure to make a stop in the beautiful town of Ribe. Incredible architecture, cobbled streets, stunning nature all around.
Møn
Only an hour and half from Copenhagen, Møn is perfect for a day trip, but even more perfect for a quick weekend retreat. Beautiful, quiet villages line the roads to the coast. Farmland meets white chalk cliffs at the tip of the island. Be sure to hike down to the rocky coastlines from Liselund park (owned by the National Museum of Denmark) – it’s a lovely walk through beautiful gardens and rolling forest land to the white on teal colors of the cliffs.
GeoCenter Møns Klint offers different exhibitions related to the geological history of Denmark. The Camøno Route is a hiking trail with multiple segments that traverse the entire island (plus a few more). Find a segment and take on a 4 or 5 hour hike.
CC Favorite: MønIs is a dairy farm that sells homemade ice cream and other farm specialities on site. Stop to let the kids watch cows being milked and run around on hay bale mazes. Cafe Borre is a great stop on the way out to the cliffs.
Samsø
Denmark’s agricultural darling, this island is home to acres and acres of farmland, harbor views and lovely coastal walks. Because we visited in the off-season, we felt like we had the place all to ourselves and enjoyed biking the quiet village streets. Find some incredible farm style vacation homes on the island, with apple, pear and plum trees growing in the back yards. Light a fire in the evenings and enjoy that quiet island life.
Fyn
The second largest in this list of islands to visit in Denmark is Fyn. You won’t have quite the same quaint, farm-meets-ocean vibe of some of the others, but you’ll make up for it with things to do. From Copenhagen you’ll come across the Great Belt Bridge, a spectacle unto itself. Stop in Odense to visit Danmarks Jernbanemuseum/The Danish Railway Museum or the H.C. Andersen House. Stroll the pedestrian friendly city center or take a canal cruise.
The Odense Zoo and Egeskov Castle are both worth a stop, the latter being especially interesting for our family, with a castle and extensive playgrounds to explore.
CC Favorite: Café Sølle is a great stop for breakfast, lunch or coffee and treats.
Langeland
The dark horse pick on this list, Langeland is perfect for a camping weekend. After visiting Fyn and checking out some of the interesting things to do there, you can jump over to Langeland (accessible by road) for a quiet weekend in the country.
Book a camping shelter for free in the forest close to Dovns Klint/Cliff and explore the coastline. Look for the wild horses that live in the area.
CC Favorite: Stop by Langeland Fort in Bagenkop for a truly great experience – kids are given the chance to complete an espionage mission that continues throughout the museum and explore all kinds of bunkers, tanks and other artifacts from the fort’s history. Our kids loved every second of our visit here.
Sjælland
That’s right – the last island on this list is the home of the country’s capital city. You can read about some of our favorite things to do in and around Copenhagen here.
If you’re coming to Sjælland from another part of Denmark, make sure to check out the north of the island, home of the Danish Riviera. Gilleleje and Råjeleje are our favorite beach towns on the north coast. You can read more about them and our favorite day trips from Copenhagen here. There’s more to do on this island than you can manage in one trip, so choose your vibe and enjoy.
There are still so many Danish islands left to explore. Have we missed one that you love? We would love nothing more than to hear about it so we can make plans to go.
Before you go, check out these other posts that might interest you…
