Odense: The Birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen, the son of Odense.

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, but to put that into a little bit of perspective, Odense has a population of just over 172,000, between that of Jackson, Mississippi and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  There is one main reason to visit Odense, and that is Hans Christian Andersen.  Hans Christian Andersen is one of the most famous celebrities to ever come out of Denmark and Odense’s claim to fame is that Odense is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. 

From Old Town to Contemporary Art: Things to Do in Aarhus

Aarhus Canal is crossed by bridges and lined with restaurants and bars.

Aarhus is Denmark’s second biggest city, second to Copenhagen.  Aarhus is a city with many faces.  Aarhus has industrial areas around the harbor and train station, a shopping and dining area along the canal, a city center with historic buildings, and one of Denmark's prettiest street.  When planning our travels to Denmark, I had a hard time deciding if we should visit Aarhus or not.  We were already going to Copenhagen and I didn’t know if we really needed to visit another big city, as I was more interested in quaint towns and pretty countryside.   Aarhus’ most well-known site is ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum of contemporary art, which is not always my favorite.  But I had this nagging feeling that if we skipped Aarhus we might be missing out.  Now I know we made the right decision adding Aarhus to our Denmark itinerary.  If you’re wondering what there is to do in Aarhus, here are our favorites.

Ribe: Denmark’s Oldest and Most Charming Town

Ribe as seen from Commoner's Tower of Ribe Domkirke.

Have you ever been to a town that is so cute you just want to pinch its chubby little cheeks?  Ribe is Denmark’s oldest town which means, as is true for many ancient towns, it is oozing with charm.  With Denmark’s oldest cathedral, oldest town hall, oldest hotel, cobblestone streets (if you can, arrange for them to be slightly wet and shiny from a recent light drizzle), red brick and half-timbered houses topped with mossy roofs, a Viking history, and its very own breed of dog, Ribe will be one of the most delightful stops on your Denmark vacation itinerary. 

Hotel Review: Ribe Byferie Holiday Homes

While we were traveling through Denmark we discovered a different kind of traveler accommodation, the holiday home or holiday cottage.  We learned the Danes holiday in a few different ways.  Sometimes they stay in hotels, sometimes they camp, and sometimes they stay in holiday homes or cottages like those at Ribe Byferie.  While we visited Ribe we stayed in one of Ribe Byferie’s holiday homes so we could experience a Danish holiday. 

The Three H Towns of Denmark’s Nordsjælland

Nordsjælland, or North Zealand, is the area of Denmark just north of Copenhagen and Roskilde.  This area is popular with day trippers from Copenhagen as there are a number of famous and important attractions.  We visited Nordsjælland’s three H towns, Hillerød, Helsingør, and Humlebæk for castles, history, and art. 

Hotel Review: Roskilde’s Hotel Prindsen

UPDATE: The Hotel Prindsen is now Roskilde be Zleep Hotels and underwent a renovation in 2016.

While Roskilde is visited frequently on daytrips from Copenhagen because of its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Roskilde Cathedral, not many travelers to Denmark stay in Roskilde overnight.  I personally believe travelers who skip overnighting in Roskilde are missing out (see my 5 reasons why you should visit Roskilde).  Because of the shortage of overnight visitors, Roskilde doesn’t have many hotels from which to choose.  But one of Roskilde’s hotels, Hotel Prindsen, makes the lack of choices okay, because Hotel Prindsen is where you will want to stay. 

5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Roskilde

Absalon's Arch of Roskilde Cathedral.

When people talk about traveling to Denmark, they usually mean Copenhagen.  Don’t get me wrong, Copenhagen is an awesome city and I loved every minute there.  But when I was researching our trip to Denmark, I read about Roskilde, and I felt kind of sorry for Roskilde.  Why would somebody stay in Roskilde when Copenhagen is so close by?  The more I read about Roskilde, the more I felt sure Roskilde would actually make a really good home-base for some of our Denmark travels.  So even with its close proximity to Copenhagen, we decided to give Roskilde a try, and I’m glad we did.

Review: SiXT rent a car Denmark

Our SiXT rent a car in front of Viby's windmill.

As I mentioned in my post about our Denmark road trip, I believe the best way to really get to know a country is by getting away from the big popular cities and driving through the countryside.  For our road trip through Denmark, we chose SiXT rent a car for our car rental.  Here are the reasons why you should take a road trip through Denmark and rent your car from SiXT.

5 Top Sites to Visit on a Denmark Road Trip

Egeskov Slot

A great way to really discover a country is to plan a road trip.  Driving isn’t always the easiest option when traveling around the world, but some countries are best seen from the road.  Some of our favorite times in Denmark were during our road trip around the country.  We visited a few great cities and towns during our road trip, including Odense, Aarhus, Ribe, and Roskilde, but the following sites were not found in these cities and towns, but rather were scattered throughout the Denmark countryside and can only be conveniently visited with a rental car. 

Meandering Through Copenhagen’s Museums

Models of Vor Frue Kirke's Christ and the Aposltes can be closely examined in Thorvaldsen's Museum. 

Did you know the famous furniture designer who designed what Americans call “The Chair” was Danish?  Or that one of the world’s important sculptors was from Denmark?  Or that a brewer created an entire museum filled with art for the city of Copenhagen?  Among the many things to do in Copenhagen, there are a number of museums that are well worth a visit. 

Copenhagen's Churches: Ships, Swans, Staircases, and Statues

Stunning views of Copenhagen from atop Vor Frelsers Kirke.

While Denmark is an archipelago and Copenhagen is situated on one of Denmark’s islands and riddled with canals and waterways, it is sometimes easy to forget somehow that this cosmopolitan country has an extensive seafaring history.  However, visiting Denmark’s churches provides a reminder as most of the churches have model ships hanging from the ceilings, something you don’t often see in a European church.  Denmark’s churches have for centuries been visited by women praying for the safe return of their seafaring fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons.  This is just one of the unusual and unique features you will see when visiting some of Copenhagen’s churches during your travels.

Leave a Slot in Your Schedule for Copenhagen Palaces and Castles

One of three silver lions guarding the coronation chairs in The Knights' Hall of Rosenborg Castle.

Christiansborg Slot, Amalienborg Slot, and Rosenborg Slot are all located in Copenhagen’s historic center.  But what is a slot, you might ask.  Has Copenhagen turned into a gambler’s destination?  Slot is actually the Danish word for castle or palace, and Denmark is littered with slots, including three in Copenhagen which have all housed the royal family at some point in history.  

96 Hours of Michelin in Copenhagen

The Standard, a waterfront dining location containing one of Copenhagen's newest Michelin-starred restaurants, Studio.

Copenhagen is one of the most Michelin-starred cities in the world, laying claim to 18 Michelin stars held by 15 of its restaurants. Given Copenhagen’s small size, most of its Michelin-starred restaurants are easy to get to, and many can be reached with a short walk.  What makes Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred restaurants unique is that many of them serve the New Nordic Cuisine and use ingredients exclusive to this area of the world. 

10 Top Copenhagen Experiences

Copenhagen's colorful Nyhavn.

Copenhagen is Denmark’s capital city, the residence of the Danish royal family, and Denmark’s most popular travel destination.  There is a long list of things to do in Copenhagen, which is why we devoted four full days to the city.  Copenhagen has palaces, churches, and museums galore.  With so many attractions that will appeal to a variety of travelers, it’s impossible to list the best.  But here is my attempt to list 10 top Copenhagen experiences that will introduce a traveler to the uniqueness Copenhagen has to offer.

Noma: The World’s Best Restaurant

Nordic coconuts at noma.

Noma, Copenhagen’s two Michelin star restaurant run by chef-owner Rene Redzepi, recently regained its title as the world’s best restaurant on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.  Noma had previously been named world’s best restaurant three years in a row, but lost the title in 2013 when it was demoted to number two.  With two Michelin stars and the title of the world’s best restaurant, obtaining a reservation at this 45-seat restaurant is extremely difficult.  But if you’re lucky enough to get a lunch or dinner reservation at noma, you are in for quite a New Nordic Cuisine experience.