What To Do In Denmark During The Summer
See The Capital
One of the coolest cities in Europe, Copenhagen is known for its trend-led street style as much as its waterside restaurants, world-famous museums and flea markets. Direct flights from London take less than two hours and you could easily spend a week exploring the cultural hotspots and soaking up the atmosphere. One of the most famous spots is the beautiful Nyhavn Canal, with its 17th-century waterfront defined by a colourful array of buildings. Stop for food at a café or restaurant, visit a jazz bar, or see a show at the Royal Danish Playhouse. It’s also worth heading to Kastrup Sea Bath, just outside the city centre, which is one of Copenhagen’s best-kept secrets – an architectural gem and a great place for a sea dip.
Some of the city’s best restaurants, cafés and bars are dotted around the cool neighbourhood of Nørrebro. Try Jatak for modern Danish dishes, Lago for small plates and wine, and Slurp Ramen Joint. Elsewhere, Osteria 16 has three restaurants with great food, while Dallas in Østerbro is a nice spot for Danish pastries and coffee. You can’t leave without a visit to one of the flea markets, including Det Grønne Loppemarked which is open for spring and summer. For a culture hit, head to the Museum of Copenhagen, Kunsthal Charlottenborg – one of the largest contemporary exhibition spaces in the city – and historic Rosenberg Castle.
Go Island Hopping
Denmark has over 400 islands. From small archipelagos to the eco-friendly island of Samsø, there are plenty worth seeing. Start with the big three: Bornholm, Zealand and Fyn. Known as the ‘sunshine island’, Bornholm has numerous pretty fishing towns and villages. Don’t miss the beautiful Dueodde Beach with its seafood beach shacks, Opal Lake along the north coast, and Nexø harbour for some of the island’s best fish. Zealand on the Danish Riviera has acres of lush greenery, with forests, deer parks and historic castles. Fyn is one of the prettiest islands and the childhood home of author Hans Christian Andersen. You’ll find more castles here, as well as food markets and cobbled streets with traditional red and yellow Danish houses. If you have time, plan a day trip from Copenhagen to Læsø, close to Gothenburg in Sweden. This island is famous for its long sandy beaches, beautiful seaweed roofs and delicious lobster.
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Explore National Parks
Denmark is perfect for outdoorsy types who like the idea of hiking, cycling or even swimming in its national parks. The country has five, all of which are varied in landscape, from vast forests and rolling hills to waterside spots and a Unesco Global Geopark. Thy National Park is on the west coast of Jutland and covers almost 250sq km of heathland and dunes, while Mols Bjerge National Park in East Jutland is one of the hilliest areas in the country, with rare animal and plant species. Venture towards the sea at The Wadden Sea National Park, a Unesco site with seals, or take bikes to Skjoldungernes Land National Park where you’ll find the Roskilde Fjord, salt meadows, beautiful valleys, lakes and lagoons. Denmark’s newest national park is North Zealand, famous for its beautiful lakes and Kronborg Castle.
Enjoy A Music Festival
The Danish know how to party. The country is home to one of Europe’s biggest and best festivals – Roskilde, which takes place at the end of June. Attracting international artists (this year’s line-up included Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, Burna Boy and Blur, to name a few), the festival is all about community and eco-friendly living – visitors can listen to talks on sustainability during the day, swim in the wild lakes and try food from over 100 vendors, most of which use local and sustainably sourced produce. Over 130,000 people attend every year, including day ticketholders and campers who pitch up in various campsites. Think Glastonbury, but on a smaller scale. If you don’t fancy bringing your camping gear, rent tents and sleeping bags from the site, and make use of the proper toilets and hot showers – tickets will soon be on sale for next year. Other names to know are Copenhagen Jazz Festival, NorthSide in Aarhus for more big acts, Stella Polaris – one of the world's largest free electronica festivals – and Smukfest which takes place every August in the beech forest of Skanderborg Dyrehave.
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Hit The Beach
Denmark isn’t just about cool cities and sprawling forests. The country has 174 Blue Flag beaches. One of the best is Søndervig in West Jutland, surrounded by dunes. You’ll also find soft white sand at the 40km-long Blåvand (also in West Jutland) and Blokhus in the bay of Jammerbugt Municipality must be one of the most beautiful beaches in northern Europe. If you’re planning a family holiday, little ones will love Saksild Strand, a child-friendly beach with clean and clear bathing water, soft sand and plenty of space to run and play. During the summer months, surfers should head to Inside Reef or Bunkers on Klitmøller for the best waves. Big Pier in Vorupør also has a big swell and lots of wind.
Get Your Culture Fix In Aarhus
If you have time to visit another city outside the capital, make it Aarhus. With a buzzy atmosphere and numerous cultural hotspots, it’s compact enough that its main sites are within walking distance of each other, including the Old Town Museum and botanical gardens. Don’t miss the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum – probably the city’s most famous landmark with a colourful rooftop Olafur Eliasson sculpture you can walk along – or the Old Town Open Air Museum where you can learn about the history of Denmark. Aarhus also has a cool harbourside with more museums and cool restaurants and bars; you can even explore the waters by kayak. Finally, spend time exploring the area’s beautiful coastline and see Marselisborg Castle (the summer home of the Danish royal family) as well as the seriously cool Infinite Bridge offering 360° views of the ocean.
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Try Whale Watching
If whale watching is on your bucket list, Denmark is a surprisingly accessible and affordable place to do so. Migrating humpback and southern right whales make their way along the south coast from July to October, so you have a good chance of a sighting in the summer. Little Belt has one of the world's densest populations of porpoises (the smallest whales). Visit Fredericia has a selection of experiences you can book, led by local fishermen and tour guides. Most speak English, so you can learn about the whales’ natural habitat and migration habits.
Explore The Country On Bike
Whether you’re an avid cyclist or just like the idea of exploring by bike, one of the best ways to see Denmark is on two wheels. For an adventure, take the Baltic Sea Cycle Route which goes through beautiful countryside, sandy beaches and peaceful islands. Along the path, you can spot dolphins, look out for medieval castles and stop at local food markets. The route is broken down into 14 stages – start at the Eastern Loop if you’re flying in from Copenhagen and download the full cycling guide here. For something more leisurely, book a biking tour of the capital to see the sites and visit lesser-known places around the small districts of the city. Cycling Copenhagen is a reputable company to book through.
How To Get There
There are daily flights from London to Copenhagen, each taking around 1 hour and 50 minutes. You can fly to Aarhus if you’re starting your trip further west and reach various points via train from neighbouring countries Sweden and Germany.
For more information, try VisitDenmark.com
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Malin Poppy Darcy Mörner
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