Denmark travel guide

In the outskirts of the traditional village of Torup lies the eco community of Dyssekilde. It was created in 1990 on the land of a potato farm. Today the community consists of 91 homes, which have been built with social interaction, sustainability, and ecology in mind. Though they have building regulations in Dyssekilde, you can find alternative houses in almost any shape, size, and materials. It's, of course, a car free zone, but you can park at the parking lot and explore the vibrant neighborhood on foot. Keep in mind that people actually live here, so show respect.

Faxe Limestone Quarry (Kalkbrud) is the largest man-made hole in Denmark and is a treasury of fossils. For 63 million years ago it was at the bottom of the prehistoric ocean, so the limestone is filled with fossils of corals, shark teeth, crab shields and mussel shells. The limestone here has been mined for more than 900 years. Today the giant open-pit is larger than 140 soccer fields, and is constantly growing, since the quarry is still active. Even though it’s a workplace, the quarry is open to the public with trails, viewing platforms and even a geological museum (which offers guided fossil hunt). You are welcome to bring a hammer and chisel to dig in the quarry and bring home any fossils you might find.

The hourglass-shaped tower started as an imaginary architectural rendering (photorealistic drawing). When the images hit the web, people actually thought the tower already existed. Suddenly the project got traction and funding could be raised. After two years in the making the Forest Tower was a reality in 2018. The spiraling walkway, with no steps, takes you 45 meters into the air and over the treetops to the observation deck at 140 metres above sea level (the highest accessible point in Zealand). From here you have unmatched panoramic views over the beautiful landscape of South Zealand, and on clear days you can see as far as Copenhagen and Malmo in Sweden. The Forest Tower is a part of Camp Adventure, which is a climbing park with high rope courses and zip lines.

Though Hillerød is a charming historical town, most visitors come for the splendid Frederiksborg Castle and its massive garden. The Renaissance castle was built as the royal residence for King Christian IV in the early decades of the 17th century. Like a true fairy tale castle, it's constructed on three small islets in a lake. Today it functions as a museum. The stunning Baroque castle garden is almost as impressive, with its symmetrical design and perfectly straight hedges.

Funen's Head (Fyns Hoved) is a beautiful natural reserve located on the peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island Funen. From the parking area a gravel path follows the shore around in a loop. The hike is less than 3 km and passes gentle hills with grazing sheep and offers sweeping views over the shallow lagoon, which is a resting place for migrating birds. On clear days you can see both Zealand, Jutland and the island of Samsø.

The most northern point of Denmark (not including Faroe Islands and Greenland) is Grenen at Skagen. Here you can observe the unique natural phenomenon of two seas, namely Kattegat and Skagerrak, meet. The collision of the waves can be quite spectacular. It's a very popular photo op to be standing with a foot in each sea. You can reach Grenen from the parking lot by either catching the tractor bus, Sandormen, or just walk the 1.5 km (one way) along the lovely beach, which will take you past a concrete bunker from WWII.

Denmark is a very flat country, so any high hill stands out as a mountain. The 147 m high Himmelbjerg was believed to be the highest point in Denmark until the mid 19th-century, where proper measurement was carried out, making Yding Skovhøj (172.5 m) the highest point. Himmelbjerget literally means "sky mountain" and is the name of the highest mountain in the Norse mythology, so the name isn’t as crazy as it might sound at first.
Today, Himmelbjerget is a very popular tourist attraction. There are a hotel and several ice cream shops at the summit, along with monuments and a tower. However, the panoramic views over lakes and forest are as splendid as they have always been, because the surrounding landscape, known as Søhøjlandet, is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Denmark.

The Jelling Stone is the most famous rune stone in Denmark. The giant stone was erected by King Harald Bluetooth around 965 A.C. in memory of his parents, Gorm and Thyra. The rune inscription on the stone lists Harald’s achievements, including unifying Denmark and making the Danes Christian. Historically the stone marks the ending of the Viking era and the Danes conversion from Norse paganism to Christianity. The stone is often called the “birth certificate of Denmark”, as it’s the oldest written Danish source for the name “Denmark”. Christ is carved on one of the sides, making it the oldest example in Scandinavia.
The rune stone stands along with a smaller and older rune stone erected by Gorm for his wife Thyra in front of Jelling church. Until recently the stones were standing unprotected, but now they are behind protective glass.
The iconic rune stone is UNESCO enlisted and is depicted on the pages of the Danish passport.

What really sets Kalø Castle Ruin apart is the impressive settings on an island only connected to the mainland by a 500 m long artificial cobbled embankment. The medieval castle was originally built by the Danish King Erik Menved in the year 1313 and was constructed by local peasants forced labour to break their "rebellious spirits". Today, only some of the outer wall and a tower stand, but the views are just splendid. Kalø Castle Ruin is located within Mols Mountains National Park and lies along the hiking trail "Mols Bjerge sti".

Kerteminde is a traditional fishing town spanning across the mouth of a fjord. The charming old part has a small collection of wonky half-timbered houses and picturesque cobblestone courtyards. The slim traditional fishing houses at the waterfront, which used to be for the poor fishermen, have recently become attractive due to their beautiful location, so many of them have been renovated. Besides the Fjord & Bælt centre, where you can learn about life in the sea, Kerteminde also has a few museums, including one for the painter Johannes Larsen. The surrounding countryside is endless farmland dotted with traditional villages with thatched roof houses.