39 Best Sights in Jutland, Denmark

A hit from the day it opened in 2004, this museum displays the more than 8,000 artworks dating from 1770 to the present that make up its own, impressive collection, as well as internationally known visiting exhibits. There is a café, a museum shop, and a much-Instagrammed rooftop terrace in the form of a rainbow, an artwork by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

This library, community center, and cultural space is a true display of Danish, democratic architecture. Since it opened in 2015 it's become a fixture in the city, attracting young families with its in- and outdoor playgrounds, youngsters with its cultural offerings, the startup scene with its coworking spaces, and bookworms with its library. The many terraces offer great views of the harbor, and from here you can take a leisurely stroll through Aarhus Ø, an artificial island that's home to harbor baths and stunning residential buildings.

Locals call it "mini Christiania” for good reason: there are several similarities between Copenhagen’s freetown and this harbor-front community centered around more than 100 self-constructed houses. Most of them are based on former fishermen’s sheds, but nowadays the community is home to freethinkers of all income levels. There’s a street-food market and a harbor bath close to the community’s imaginative houses, so set aside at least half a day for exploring the area.

Samsø’s northern peninsula is home to two stunning natural areas, Ballebjerg (on the west coast of the island) and Issehoved, the island’s northernmost point. The round, sloping hills are a joy to walk in, and from the top of them you can see Jutland, Zealand, and several small islands. There’s a beautiful beach at Issehoved, while Ballebjerg---which is the island’s highest point---is one of the most beautiful sunset spots in Denmark. Amenities: none. Best for: sunset, walking.

It might be tempting to spend the day in the sculpture garden, which is surrounded by forest and home to sculptures by Olafur Eliasson, Jeppe Hein, and Bjørn Nørgaard, but Aalborg’s museum of modern art has much more to offer. Wander through the airy, light-filled galleries and divide your time between the permanent and changing exhibitions and the building itself, an architectural masterpiece by Alvar Aalto. The café has an ambitious lunch menu and is a wonderful spot to stop for a light meal or a coffee. There's free admission to the sculpture garden, which is open 24/7, outside of the museum's opening hours.

Aarhus's historic heart is a jumble of quaint, cobblestoned streets, cute cafés, and colorful houses. Spend at least one day strolling through Graven, Volden, Klostergade, Badstuegade, Borggade, and Rosensgade, whiling away hours at the many coffee shops, designer boutiques, and restaurants in the area.

At Legoland just about everything is constructed from Lego bricks—more than 58 million of them. Among its incredible structures are scaled-down versions of cities and villages from around the world (Miniland), with working harbors and airports; the Statue of Liberty; a statue of Sitting Bull; Mt. Rushmore; a safari park; and Pirate Land. Some of the park's other attractions are more interactive than the impressive constructions. The Falck Fire Brigade, for example, allows a family or group to race eight mini fire engines. The Power Builder Robots allow children and adults to sit inside robots as they program their own ride.

Just south of the city is Marselisborg Palace, the summer residence of the royal family. The changing of the guard takes place daily at noon when the king is here. When the royal family is away (generally in winter and spring), the grounds, including a sumptuous rose garden, are open to the public. It's worth checking out Marselisborg Beach and especially the Infinite Bridge, a circular bridge floating over the water during the summer (in winter, it's taken down), while in the area. You can get here on several buses from the city center.

Prehistory might not sound exciting to all, but at Moesgaard Museum it’s presented in a way that’s anything but dusty and dated. The exhibitions are created with care and creativity, but the architectural and natural settings are so stunning that you have to force yourself to focus on the exhibits rather than the forest and sea surrounding the remarkable museum.

Even more famed than the area's sand-buried church is the west coast's dramatic Råbjerg Mile, a protected desert-like migrating dune that moves about 50 feet a year. You can reach it on foot from the Kandestederne.

The lush island of Rømø, 35 km (22 miles) southwest of Ribe, has one of Denmark's widest beaches, which unfurls along a sunny western coast and has protected areas for windsurfers, horseback riders, nudists, and dune-buggy riders—space for everyone, it seems. Rømø has fewer than 600 permanent residents, but masses of vacationing German and Danish families increase this number tenfold in summer. It's a haven for campers, cyclists, and budget vacationers. A causeway crosses green fields and marshy wetlands to connect Rømø to the mainland. Many birds live here, feeding off the seaweed and shellfish washed up by the tides. Summer houses dot the island; most of Rømø's services and accommodations are in and around the village of Havneby, 8 km (5 miles) south of the causeway, and in the camping and shopping complex of Lakolk, in the west.

The 19th-century Danish artist and poet Holger Drachmann (1846–1908) and his friends, including the well-known P. S. Krøyer and Michael and Anna Ancher, founded the Skagen School of painting, which sought to capture the special quality of light and idyllic seascapes here. They and their contemporaries depicted everyday life in Skagen primarily from the turn of the 20th century until the 1920s, and you can see their efforts on display in the Skagens Museum. It's a wonderful homage to this talented group of Danes, and you'll become mesmerized by some of the portraits, which seem more like a photographic collection of days gone by. The light and the landscape, however, remain the same, and it's a magical experience to recognize scenes from the paintings when you walk on the beach or in the dunes. The museum store sells posters, postcards, and other souvenirs depicting the Skagen paintings.

With its rugged, windswept dune heath, several hundred lakes, and twisted, sand-swept forest, this national park is one of Denmark's proudest treasures. Red deer roam the park freely, and it is not uncommon to see seals lounging around on the long, sandy beaches, but chances are you'll meet few other visitors; there are more than 200 km (124 miles) of lonely biking and hiking trails. You can also explore the park by horseback, spend a night at one of the many shelters, and fish at many of the lakes. The park stretches from Hanstholm lighthouse in the north to Agger Tange in the south, and you can access it from anywhere; entry is free, and the park is open day- and year-round.

Denmark's northernmost point is so thrashed by storms and roiling waters that the 18th-century Sand-Buried Church, 2 km (1 mile) south of town, is almost completely covered by dunes; only its tower rises above the sand. It's a beautiful if windswept area to go for a walk.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site national park is a flat, wet, and large marshland stretching from southern Denmark to the Netherlands. The dynamic landscape is home to many migratory birds and, since 2017, a visitor center designed by the world-famous Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. The building blends into the flat marshland and has become as much of an attraction as the mudflat area itself. It is home to changing exhibitions, guided tours, activities, and teaching programs for schools.

The Aalborg Historical Museum contains the well-preserved underground ruins of a medieval Franciscan friary, including a walled cellar and the foundations of the chapel. Enter via the elevator outside the Salling department store. Another favorite attraction is the Renaissance chamber Aalborgstuen, which features furniture and glassware from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Aalborg Maritime Museum includes a visit aboard the submarine Springeren or the torpedo boat Søbjørnen, and a look at Queen Margrethe's Prinsesse-jollen, a dinghy she learned to sail when she was still a crown princess. All the exhibits depict what life is like at sea, in the port of Aalborg, and at the shipyard.

Michael and Anna Ancher are Skagen's—if not Denmark's—most famous artist couple, and their meticulously restored 1820 home and studio, Anchers Hus, is now a museum. Old oil lamps and lace curtains decorate the parlor; the doors throughout the house were painted by Michael. Anna's studio, complete with easel, is awash in the famed Skagen light. More than 240 paintings by Michael, Anna, and their daughter, Helga, grace the walls.

Rising gracefully over the center of town, the Aarhus Cathedral was originally built in 1201 in a Romanesque style but was expanded and redesigned into a Gothic cathedral in the 15th century. Its soaring, whitewashed nave is one of the country's longest. The cathedral's highlights include its chalk frescoes in shades of lavender, yellow, red, and black, which grace the high arches and towering walls. Dating from the Middle Ages, they depict biblical scenes and the valiant St. George slaying a dragon and saving a maiden princess in distress. Also illustrated is the martyrdom of St. Clement, who was drowned with an anchor tied around his neck. He became a patron saint of sailors. Climb the tower for bird's-eye views of the rooftops and streets of Aarhus.

The baroque Cathedral Church of St. Botolph is dedicated to the Anglo-Saxon patron saint for seafarers. The stone church, which stands on the site of an older wooden church built in the year 1000, has been rebuilt several times in its 800-year history. The church is a fascinating juxtaposition of austerity and splendidly ornate woodwork, paintings, and gilded statuary, including a quadruple clock face installed in the church tower from which eight gilded cocks crow the hour. By turns Protestant and Catholic, this Reformation- era church bears the marks of the religious turmoil that plagued the region.

Don't miss the town's open-air museum, known as Den Gamle By. Its 75 historic buildings—including 70 half-timbered houses and a mill—and its millstream were carefully moved from locations throughout Denmark and meticulously re-created, inside and out. The entry fee varies and is cheapest from January through March; it's most expensive from March through October and during the Christmas holidays.

In the 19th century, the tiny island of Fanø (30 km [19 miles] northwest of Ribe—plus a 12-minute ferry from Esbjerg) had an enormous shipbuilding industry and a fleet second only to Copenhagen's. The shipping industry deteriorated, but the maritime heritage remains. Today Fanø is a summer oasis for legions of Danes and other northern Europeans. Silky sand beaches unfold along the west coast, buffered by windswept dunes and green reeds. Cars are allowed on the beach, and it's well worth taking a ride along the flat sandy coast between the ferry port in Nordby, Fanø's capital, and the traditional town of Sønderho, 13 km (8 miles) to the south. Spinning along the white sandy expanse is like crossing a desert; only the dark blue sea off in the distance reminds you of your island whereabouts. The beach is so level and wide that the military used to train here. In the off-season, when summer visitors have returned home, the Fanø shore becomes a tranquil retreat, hauntingly silent save for the rustle of reeds and the far-off squawk of a bird.

At Denmark's northern tip, the North Sea meets the Baltic Sea, and you can literally stand with each foot in a different sea. The water can be calm on one side and quite choppy on the other. Many a ship found its end here where the two seas clash, so don't go swimming in these dangerous waters. Amenities: none. Best for: walking.

Next to Budolfi Kirke, the 15th-century Monastery of the Holy Ghost is one of Denmark's best-preserved monasteries and the only one that admitted both nuns and monks. The building was erected in several stages in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the duty of the first nuns and monks to live there was to look after the sick and aged. Coincidentally, the building is now a home for the elderly. During World War II, the monastery was the meeting place of the Churchill Club, a group of Aalborg schoolboys who earned world fame for their clever sabotage of the Nazis—their schemes were implemented even after the enemy locked them up.

The favorite local landmark is the magnificent 17th-century Jens Bang's Stone House, built in 1624 by the wealthiest merchant in town. It was rumored that because he was never made a town council member, the cantankerous Bang avenged himself by caricaturing his political enemies in gargoyles all over the building and adding his own face with its tongue sticking out in the direction of town hall. The five-story Renaissance building has been the home of Aalborg's oldest pharmacy for 350 years. Note that the Aalborg tourist office is directly across the street.

In the center of the old town is a narrow cobbled street named, as the story goes, for an aristocratic maiden accused of being a witch, then beheaded. Now its fame as nightlife central is second only to that of Copenhagen's Strøget. Despite the flashing neon and booming music of about 30 bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, the street attracts a steady stream of visitors and appeals to all ages.

Klitmøller was once a sleepy, depopulated fishing town, but these days it's known as one of Denmark's coolest vacation spots. The reason can be found on its windswept beach, which is as busy with surfers as it is devoid of sunbathers. The beach has turned Klitmøller into the capital of Cold Hawaii, the nickname the coast along Thy's national park has been given. Every year there are several international surf competitions, and year-round the beach in Klitmøller is busy with beginners and pros taking on the waves. The beach is worth a visit, even for nonsurfers; there's something mesmerizing about watching the dozens of tiny little dancers gliding across the stormy sea. Amenities: None. Best for: surfing, walking.

The imposing marble-and-glass structure of the North Jutland Museum of Modern Art was designed by architects Alvar and Elissa Aalto with Jacques Baruël. The architects skillfully laid out the interior to allow the natural Nordic light to flood the spaces, and a series of interior grids and partitions permit curators to tailor the space according to each exhibition, many of which are drawn from the museum's acclaimed permanent collection of 20th-century Danish and international art. The extensive grounds contain a manicured sculpture park and an amphitheater that hosts concerts and other performances. The structure, which dates to 1972, underwent a total renovation in 2014-15.