5 Best Sights in Denmark

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.

The residents of Klampenborg are lucky enough to have this pleasant beach nearby. In summer this luck may seem double-edged, when scores of city-weary sunseekers pile out at the Klampenborg S-train station and head for the sand. The Danes have a perfect word for this: they call Bellevue a fluepapir (flypaper) beach. Bellevue is still an appealing seaside spot to soak up some rays. Amenities: lifeguards, showers, toilets. Best for: partiers, swimming.

Bornholm’s most famous beach is known for its blinding, fine-grained sand, which you reach after strolling through a beautiful pine forest. The sand is easily moved by the wind, and the beach is made up of an ever-changing landscape of shifting dunes as well as a wide, windswept area leading down to the coast. The beach stretches for 30 km (19 miles) without interruption, and it’s popular year-round with beachgoers, picnickers, and dog walkers. Amenities: lifeguards, parking (no fee). Best for: solitude, swimming, walking, sunrise, sunset.

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.

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.