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Right during the COVID-19 pandemic, after being sequestered at home for six months, we rented a camper van and drove along the west coast of Denmark.
The time of year was irrelevant to us. Endless sand beaches, dunes as high as hills and lonely lighthouses have their charm whatever the weather.
In this post you will find out more about our 6-day itinerary and highlights from our Denmark road trip in a camper van.
The carbon footprint for this trip is approximately 0.46 T CO2e, as calculated with GoodPlanet (www.goodplanet.org/).
Contents
Quick facts about Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. It consists of the Jutland (Jylland in Danish) Peninsula and more than 400 islands in the Baltic Sea, referred to as the Danish Archipelago. The largest islands are Zealand (Sjælland) and Funen (Fyn).
The only land border of Denmark is that with Germany. Other than this connection, all the borders with surrounding countries are maritime, including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway.
The country’s capital, Copenhagen, is located in Zealand. Roughly 1.3 million people live in and around Copenhagen whilst the total population is around 5.8 million.
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. Officially known as the Kingdom of Denmark, it also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, both located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland, which had been a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, declared itself a republic and became fully independent in 1944.
Check our post about our trip to Iceland here: https://our-place-in-the-sun.com/iceland-a-modern-saga/
Danish is the official language in Denmark, however, the majority of the population speaks English as a second language, as it is mandatory in school.
The Danish Krone (DKK) is the official currency of Denmark, however, euros are accepted in some larger towns and cities as the country is part of the European Union. 1 DKK equals 0.13 EUR as of 2023.
6-day road trip itinerary
Day 1 – Rømø
Rømø is a beautiful island located in the western South Jutland region, about three hours from Hamburg. Due to its location, it is a perfect destination for the first stop on our Denmark road trip.
The entire west coast of Rømø is but one long sandy beach, which can be driven on with motor vehicles legally. Driving on the beach with the camper is one of our absolute highlights in Denmark and should therefore not be missed!
Unfortunately, wild camping is not permitted in Rømø so if you want to spend the night on the beach, do it at your own risk. Nevertheless, the island offers a lot of accommodation options for road trips with a car, tent or camper.
Day 2 – Esbjerg
From Rømø, we hit the road to Blåvand, the westernmost point of Denmark. The journey takes about one and a half hours and inevitably takes us through the small town of Ribe.
The crooked cobblestone streets invite you to take a short walk where Vikings once established a permanent settlement.
We make sure to take a very inspiring photo in front of a colourful traditional house…
Located at the heart of the medieval town center, stands Denmark’s oldest cathedral, an impressive building combining different architectural styles and traditions.
About thirty minutes from Ribe is Esbjerg, a young city (by Danish standards) and the main city for Denmark’s oil and offshore activities.
We were not impressed by the town so we recommend not to spend too much time there.
Day 3 – Blåvand
The region around Blåvand is exactly what you would expect on a postcard from the Danish seashore: endless dunes and a healing atmosphere.
In the southeast, a snow-white beach emerges at the end of a picturesque Peninsula (Skallingen). A stark stone pier progresses into the ocean, like a bridge to somewhere.
In the west, a charming seaside town, Vejers Strand, lies between sand dunes.
Arriving at Vejers Strand is a peaceful and calm greeting on the Danish coast. The water is so clean and refreshing and the natural landscape is lush and green. There is a sense of calm and serenity that is overwhelming.
From https://www.daenemark-reisen.com/
Two children, standing on the shore, look at the distant horizon with a spyglass.
Day 4 – Hvide Sande
Here, our Denmark road trip is heading north. On our way, we pass Hvide Sande, a small town situated on the narrow strip of land between the North Sea and Ringkøbing Fjord. It is particularly popular for a large number of tourists who come here to harness the wind.
Besides, it is also an important fishing harbour with trawler boats, seafood processing factories and fish auction halls.
Lyngvig Fyr is one of the most famous landmarks in Denmark. Located in the middle of the dunes, the lighthouse offers a spectacular view of the sea and the fjord… if you dare to climb the mad spiral staircase!
Day 5 – Vejlby Klit
The Vejlby Klit region is an ideal destination for a completely relaxing holiday in Denmark. An old bunker and an abandoned pipeline add to the tranquil atmosphere.
With a little bit of luck, you can spot seals on the shore, which have also landed on the beach of Vejlby Klit in search of peace.
In the small port town of Thorsminde, the coastal rescue service station (Kystredningstjenesten) inevitably catches the eye.
Day 6 – Thy
Our road trip draws to an end. We are now in northern Denmark and at the border with North Jutland.
A ferry connects the port town of Thyborøn, on the northern tip of Vejlby Klit, to the Agger Peninsula in Thy National Park. Alternatively, it is possible to drive around the Nissum Fjord directly to Thy National Park.
The ferry leaves every half hour during the summer and it takes about fifteen minutes. Costs about 130 DKK for the car and 35 DKK per person (20 DKK for children under 11 years).
Thy National Park is a large and unspoiled nature reserve scattered with dunes, heaths and moors. Several hiking routes take you through wild and beautiful landscapes.
Our final halt is the former fishing village of Klitmøller. Today, Klitmøller is one of Europe’s most famous surfing destinations, due to the exceptionally good wind and wave conditions. It is commonly known as “Cold Hawaii”, where wetsuit-clad surfers roam the streets, seemingly oblivious to the cold.
Day 7 – Rubjerg Knude (bonus)
If you drive further north, you will arrive at Rubjerg Knude, which is probably the most beautiful and loneliest lighthouse in Denmark. Here, the landscape is constantly changing due to the shifting dunes, which is why the lighthouse was put on rails and moved 80 meters inland in 2019 as part of an unprecedented rescue operation.
I was so sad that we didn’t have time to do this, but we will definitely be doing it on our next trip to Denmark!
Useful information when traveling in Denmark
How to get around Denmark?
The best way to get around Denmark, especially if you are staying away from Copenhagen, is by renting a car. It is the easiest way to stop along the way and explore the wild wild places.
We rented a camper van on the sharing platform PaulCamper (https://paulcamper.com/), where private owners of camper vans can offer their vehicles for rent, and thus allow beginners to try this type of holiday.
Where to sleep in Denmark?
Unlike in the rest of Scandinavia, wild camping is not allowed in public spaces in Denmark. This means on beaches, in the forest, at the roadside, in car parks, in nature reserves… basically everywhere.
However, Denmark offers many opportunities to spend the night outdoors at a moderate cost.
Check the app Park4Night (https://park4night.com/) to look for campsites as well as private places in nature or in parking lots.
Where to eat in Denmark?
Most supermarkets have vegan and vegetarian products, and many restaurants offer at least one vegan option.
However, since eating out is relatively expensive in Denmark, we decided to cook most of our own meals.
Our camper van featured a small kitchen (a fridge, a sink and two stoves), which allowed us to cook almost everything!
To find vegan options in Denmark, we used the app HappyCow (https://www.happycow.net/).