The north coast of the Danish island of Zealand is one of my favorite places on earth. Zealand is Denmark’s largest (non-Greenland) island, home to the capital city of Copenhagen and location of a few of the country’s most idyllic beaches. Tradition calls the stretch of beaches and coastal towns along the north coast of the island the Danish Riviera. Let’s jump into our favorites along the coast and the best of the Danish Riviera.
How to get to the Danish Riviera:
The Danish Riviera stops are almost all about an hour north of the Copenhagen metro area. It’s easy to take multiple stops in one day, or even the entirety of the area, if you are ok with quicker stops, especially if you’re traveling by car. You can book rental cars here, and pick up from either Copenhagen city center or Copenhagen airport.
Public transport in Denmark is pretty great and all of these towns are accessible by some form of public transport. You can get any Danish transport information you need here or by downloading the Journey Planner (Rejseplanen) app on to your phone. You’ll also buy tickets via a phone app, Rejsebillet, which you can access here.
If you travel by train, having a bike at your destination makes it possible to maximize your reach on your day trip. Bikes travel for free on the S-Tog and local trains, but need a ticket on regional trains. Keep in mind that on sunny weekends the small local trains that access the coastal towns have limited bike space and fill up. Best to travel early!
If you are into cycling, check out the North Coast Path (Nordkystien). This planned route connects the entirety of the Danish Riviera for an epic 66 km ride through some of the country’s best scenery. Gravel bikes are useful in some parts. You can always stick to the main road if a section doesn’t suit your bike.
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Where to stay on the Danish Riviera:
Holiday homes abound in this section of Denmark. Any of these towns would make a lovely base for a long weekend or even week of chill beach vacationing. Check out VRBO to rent a classic Danish summer house or look into cozy inns and B’nBs here.
Favorite Danish Riviera Stops:
Hornbæk
Maybe the most well known of the Riviera towns, Hornbæk Strand (beach) offers incredible white sand and beautiful dunes. The beach is really the star of the show, so plan to spend several hours just enjoying some relaxing time on the sand. My kids say this beach is their favorite, as a creek empties into the ocean here, making it fun for them to swim down the creek, dash into the ocean and then head into the dunes to soak up sun.
Even in the summer, the Danish waters are brisk, but you simply have to try swimming in the ocean. There’s nothing like it on a warm day. On a not so warm day, well, let’s just say you’ll take part in the Danish cultural practice of winter bathing – it’s good for your health!
If the breeze is up, try setting up in one of the valleys between the dunes. You’ll probably see other experienced Danish beach goers in these exact spots.
Gilleleje
A happening little harbor, with classic red store fronts, meets white sand and ocean blues. The beach is accessible by foot from the harbor, with parking available right at the beach front. It can get busy on a beautiful day, but we’ve never struggled too much to find a place.
Again, the beach needs a few hours, but make sure you save a little time for a stroll through the harbor and the village itself. Stroll through shops, stop for fried fish and beer at Adamsens Deli, get ice cream at Søsters Isbutik. The beach is accessible by foot from the harbor, with parking available right at the beach front. It can get busy on a beautiful day, but we’ve never struggled too much to find a place.
Rågeleje
Maybe my favorite on the list, I love Rågeleje’s small town vibes. Colorful huts dot the beach, the waters are calm and shallow and the coastline boasts incredible sunsets. A few small restaurants and ice cream shops sit on the main ocean front road (Rågeleje Strandvej), but this is one of the quieter towns, and I dig that vibe.
My favorite part of coming to Rågeleje is heading to the Heatherhill Nature Reserve to enjoy a lovely walk along the northern coast cliffs. All walks in the Danish Riviera should end at the beach, and Heatherhill is a beautiful one.
Tisvildeleje
Combine wide open beaches with beautiful forest walks and you’ve got what makes Tisvildeleje so special. Tisvilde Hegn offers miles of trails for walking or biking, with numerous pull offs to the many quiet, gorgeous beaches along the way. Be sure to check out the Troll Forest or take on the Hills – a section of hills within the forest boasting rope swings and the likes.
Tisvildeleje Strand is right next to a big car park, making it easy to access any of your stuff without having to carry it along. It’s a big beach, so you won’t have any trouble finding a space to yourself. Danish beaches outside of the city rarely seem crowded, but if you want more peace and quiet, simply stroll through the woods and find your ideal space. You can’t go wrong choosing a beach in this area.
If you need coffee, treats or other provisions, Tisvilde’s Main Street (Hovedgade) has all you need. It’s an adorable little holiday town worth an afternoon coffee break.
Hundested
At the western end of this section of beaches, Hundested has more of a working harbor vibe. We love the downtown harbor area, where water-front restaurants, shops and playgrounds provide a great place to spend a few hours walking around, eating and having a drink. Halsnæs Bryghus is our favorite place to get fish, chips and beer by the water.
Also, make sure to check out the dockside crab fishing feature. Kids can catch crabs with fishing poles and nets before releasing them back to the water – hours of entertainment for my kids. You’ll find the special fishing poles and all the equipment you need for sale in the shops around the harbor. A mini-golf course and a sand sculpture museum round out the other options of things to do at the Hundested Harbor.
Just past the harbor you’ll find a plethora of beaches for walking or hanging out at. We usually drive just a bit north to reach one of the quieter spots – Galgebjerg Strand is a great option with an open parking lot for easy access.
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