Frederikshavn

Fredrikshamn or Frederikshavn as they say in Denmark is a charming port town on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark.

Take your car from Gothenburg to Frederikshavn and explore the town and a little further afield too - Frederikshavn is the perfect starting point to explore North Jutland. Visit one of Denmark’s longest pedestrian streets where you’ll find stylish stores, speciality shops and delicatessens as well as a great choice of restaurants and bars - try the locally brewed beer at Jerry's or take the pub tour Frederikshavn Beerwalk. Spend the day at Palm Beach, have a Caribbean seaside adventure at The Reef Hotel & Resort, get close to nature, visit Bangsbo Botanical Gardens and enjoy a wealth of experiences on land and at sea.

We recommend starting with a great view of the town with a trip to Pikkerbakken – the unique viewing platform where you’ll have uninterrupted views of Frederikshavn, the harbour and Hirsholmene with a view of both Sæby and Skagen. When the weather is good you can even see all the way to Läsö. Just south of Pikkerbakken is Fort Bangsbo, drive there and take in a guided tour where you’ll see the cannons and bunkers and learn about the role Frederikshavn played in various wars throughout history. 

No trip to Frederikshavn is complete without a trip to Palm Beach (Palmestranden) – Denmark’s most exotic beach with its swaying palm trees and chalk-white sand. Located just north of Frederikshavn, it’s a great place to spend some time enjoying a picnic, catching some sun and swimming in the shallow waters. You can even play beach volleyball on the courts there. Don’t forget to enjoy some Guf, a type of cotton candy at the ice-cream kiosk! If you’re visiting with children and after spending time at the beach, take a trip to Fun House Lekland which is right next to Palmestranden – they’ll love all the games and fun activities. Rønnerstrand harbour located just north of Palm Beach is surrounded by quaint fishing houses and is popular with sailors and anglers. Whilst there pay a visit to Penna´s Restaurant and treat yourself to a Danish classic Stjerneskud. Another great beach where you might like to spend some time is “The Danish Desert” or Råbjerg Mile. Located just 32 km north of Frederikshavn on the way to Skagen, the beach has Northern Europe's largest sand dune – the view from the top is spectacular.

The Art Museum in Frederikshavn showcases both Danish and international art and holds a number of exhibitions that are well worth a visit. The museum houses over 500,000 ex libris (bookplates) which is the world’s largest collection. Children can enter all museums in Frederikshavn for free! Another great way to spend time whilst in Frederikshavn is at the family friendly farm at the Sognefogedgården museum, located about 3 km west of Frederikshavn. You’ll learn so much about old agricultural life at this small authentic and living museum. Voergaard Castle is a beautiful renaissance castle in Dronninglund. Steeped in history and famous for its art collection it’s about a 20 minute drive from Frederikshavn. Learn about the old stories of Ingeborg Skeel and Stygge Krumpen and you can even visit the dungeon.

If exploring the great out outdoors is your thing, Frederikshavn won’t disappoint. There are many great cycling and hiking routes and if you pop into the tourist office at the end of the Stena bridge in Frederikshavn you can pick up some maps to help you find your way. Härvejen is a 500 km long cycle route that runs from Frederikshavn to Padborg at the German border. To make it “easier”, the route is divided into stages so you can take one stage at a time – it’s Frederikshavn’s answer to the Spanish Camino! If you like to fish, spend a day at Nodre Mole, the long pier is a popular fishing spot where you can spend the day catching sea trout, cod, herring and mackerel as you watch the ferries come and go. If golf is your passion, then why not play a round at Frederikshavn’s Golf Club? A beautiful course surrounded by lakes and streams and with many challenging and exciting holes. It has a great restaurant, ProShop, practice area, as well as a covered driving range, recording green and 2 putting greens.

The charming fishing village of Strandby just south of Frederikshavn is easily reached by bike and is an ideal spot to enjoy some freshly caught fish and a Danish ice-cream. It has many great restaurants and a modern marina for you to enjoy. A trip to experience the unique nature, landscapes and tranquillity of Hirsholmarna, an archipelago consisting of 8 islands, one of which, Hirsholm, is inhabited, is a day well spent. Get to the archipelago by pre-booking at seadog.dk or the tourist office.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay whilst in Frederikshavn then you’ll love the Caribbean adventure at The Reef Hotel & Resort. The Reef features a 1,500 sqm Caribbean aquapark where both kids and adults can have a great time playing on the slide, under the waterfall and in the outdoor pool whilst enjoying the warm, tropical heat. It’s a great place for kids and adults alike!

Frederikshavn – so much to see, so much to do!