Small but mighty: Denmark's most beautiful small towns for a holiday

Every year, many travelers from Germany are drawn to Denmark . The country offers a fantastic mix of exciting nature, metropolises, and coastline. But what else can you explore beyond the long beaches, the capital Copenhagen , and the dream castles? Reisereporter offers ten tips for a vacation in Denmark's most beautiful small towns.

Løkken (population around 1,600) is located on the Jammer Bay in North Jutland. Visitors have little reason to complain, however, as this pretty coastal resort promises a relaxing holiday with authentic Danish flair.

Old seafaring tradition: In Løkken, fishermen pull their boats ashore and sell their catch directly on the beach.

Source: imago images/imagebroker

The ten-kilometer-long sandy beach with its characteristic 485 white beach huts makes Løkken one of Denmark's most popular holiday destinations. Despite growing tourism, the fishing village has retained its authenticity. Sailors still pull their boats onto the beach every day and offer freshly caught fish for sale.

The coastal town itself is characterized by many cute, sometimes crooked, houses. While strolling through the picturesque streets, it's worth visiting the Løkken Museum, which explains the town's history and offers a glimpse into a bathhouse.

A small pedestrian zone is home to boutiques selling local fashion, craft shops, cozy cafés, and excellent restaurants. For a sweet end to the day, a visit to the fragrant "Løkken Bolcheriet" candy factory is recommended, where visitors can watch the production process.

The small town of Ebeltoft is home to approximately 7,200 residents. However, in the summer, the oldest trading town on the Djursland peninsula is visited by a large number of travelers. The historic old town streets with crooked 14th-century houses, blooming hollyhocks, and two charming shopping streets with boutiques and craft shops attract visitors from near and far.

More slanting than the tower of Pisa: the historic houses in the old town streets of Ebeltoft.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

A stroll through Ebeltoft's cobblestone streets brings Danish history to life. The most famous and yet smallest alley, "Fedt Mikkels Gang," leads past an old pharmacy to the market square and, supposedly, the smallest town hall in the world ("Det Gamle Rådhus").

An impressive landmark of Ebeltoft lies in the museum harbor: the frigate "Jylland," a 70-meter-long three-masted ship, first set sail in 1864. Today, the museum ship can be visited.

Standing with your feet in two seas – that's only possible in Denmark in Skagen! On the approximately 30-kilometer-long Grenen peninsula, which is accessible and accessible, the North Sea meets the Kattegat – a separate sea and also an extension of the Baltic Sea.

Skagen, including the old town Gammel Skagen in Denmark, is one of the most beautiful small towns in Germany.

Source: imago images/CHROMORANGE

Skagen is located on a promontory in the far north of Denmark and has a centuries-old fishing tradition. Visiting a fish restaurant should be high on your to-do list.

The town (population approximately 7,600) is also particularly famous for the sand-covered St. Lawrence Church. Since 1770, the church has been increasingly buried under shifting dunes and sand drifts. Today, only the church tower remains. The view has long been a popular motif for Danish painters. In any case, Skagen attracted world-famous artists as early as the 19th century, who were inspired by the special light and the sandy landscapes. The most beautiful works can be admired in the Skagen Museum.

However, Skagen's charm lies not in its sights, but in the cosiness of the place with its yellow-colored houses.

The houses in Ribe (population 8,200) tell stories from 1,300 years ago. This provincial town in Southern Denmark is the oldest town in all of Denmark.

Ribe is the oldest city in Denmark. More than 100 medieval buildings are listed as historical monuments.

Source: imago images/robert harding

The traces of the Vikings are still visible in Ribe, especially in the beautifully decorated and sometimes crooked medieval half-timbered houses. More than 100 buildings in Ribe are listed as historical monuments. Memorial plaques and two museums commemorate the time when Ribe was Denmark's most important North Sea port, home to kings and bishops, and when the small church was expanded into a mighty cathedral.

The fact that this chapter of Danish history has long since closed is almost forgotten when you look at the townscape with its narrow streets, colorful houses, old inns, and pretty floral decorations. If you'd like to learn more about Ribe's exciting history, a guided city tour is recommended.

Faaborg (about 7,000 inhabitants) is also a cozy medieval town, but less visited than Ribe.

Hvedholm Castle (built in 1880) is located near the town of Faaborg on the island of Funen.

Source: imago images/pizzatravel

The former maritime trading town lies on the Danish South Sea coast. The old town, with its typical yellow-painted houses, is well preserved; narrow alleys lead to the historic bell tower of St. Nicholas Church and the old city gate. In the center, there are numerous shops offering many Danish specialties.

Particularly worth seeing is Bøjestræde, an art mile with many pretty houses. A visit to the market square is also worthwhile, as Faaborg regularly hosts events and concerts.

After your stay in Copenhagen , you can take a detour to Dragør, about 14 kilometers south on the Øresund coast.

Typical of Dragør: the yellow houses with thatched roofs. The small town is located about 14 kilometers south of Copenhagen.

Source: imago images/Dean Pictures

Colorful houses with thatched roofs, lovingly tended gardens, the old harbor: Dragør has a nostalgic charm that quickly captivates visitors. While strolling through the historic streets, the museums in two farms and the oldest fisherman's house in the town invite you to delve deeper into the town's history and the beginnings of the influential herring fishery. From the harbor, visitors also have a magnificent view of the Øresund Bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden.

Many historical traditions are passionately maintained by the locals. In summer, residents dress up in traditional costumes and reenact ancient customs. Markets, art exhibitions, and concerts also take place regularly.

Svaneke (population 1,100) on the island of Bornholm is considered Denmark's most beautiful small town. This was officially confirmed in 2013 when Svaneke prevailed against 14 other towns in a "beauty contest."

The horse-drawn tram departs from Svaneke’s market square for tours.

Source: imago images/imagebroker

The town laid the foundation for the designation in 1940 with a list of buildings worthy of protection. Almost 30 years later, a preservation plan was issued. This is how Svaneke preserved its original character. The picturesque old town is one of Denmark's most popular tourist destinations.

Anyone who wants to experience the historic flair simply has to stroll past the colorful houses in the town and the old farmhouses on the coastal cliffs. Or hop aboard the horse-drawn tram at the market square for a tour. On your return, a visit to the candy factory is worthwhile.

Blokhus is a relatively new seaside resort (about 500 inhabitants) on the North Sea coast of North Jutland. Its location near the Fårup Sommerland amusement park and its magnificent beaches make it a popular holiday destination for tourists. In the summer, there are many concerts and events.

World record! The world's tallest sandcastle towers above the rooftops of Blokhus.

Source: imago images/Ritzau Scanpix

Blokhus is known worldwide for its 20,000 square meter sculpture park. Sand sculptor Wilfried Stijger broke a world record there, creating a 21-meter-high, pyramid-shaped, and finely decorated castle from 4,860 tons of sand.

One of the world's largest sandcastles was just one of many works of art. Other sand sculptors had explored the theme of "Noah's Ark" in the past, creating giant images of animals and the ark itself.

If you look closely, you can still see traces of the Middle Ages and the Vikings in the winding streets of Stege (population 3,800). The historic city map from 1659 in the local museum is still a good guide today. However, over the course of the almost 1,000-year history of the capital of the island of Møn, much of its historical substance has unfortunately been lost.

The Mill Gate (Mølleporten) at the northern exit of Stege is the last remaining part of the medieval fortifications.

Source: imago images/Peter Schickert

Today, Stege is especially appreciated by Danes for its coziness. To get a feel for the old fishing town and its people, a walk along the "Herring Route" is recommended. A brochure lists 30 stops, including the remains of a castle wall, the old shipyard, and a merchant's courtyard.

In Stege, visitors will also find cozy cafés, markets, green spaces by the water and a brewery.

Mariager is located in the beautiful coastal landscape of the Mariagerfjord in North Jutland. Due to its many large-scale garden centers, the small town (population approximately 2,500) is decorated with magnificent floral displays, making it also known as the "Town of Roses."

A contemporary witness from the 15th century: The snow-white monastery church in Mariager now serves as the seat of the district court.

Source: imago images/stock&people

The crooked, yellow-painted houses along the winding cobblestone streets give Mariager a cozy and romantic feel. Whether enjoying a coffee on the market square, touring the harbor, taking a tour on the heritage railway to the 15-kilometer-long Handest, or taking a trip on a paddle steamer on the 30-kilometer-long fjord, a visit to Mariager feels like a journey back to the charm of the "good old days."

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