17 Best Sights in Jutland, Denmark

This library, community center, and cultural space is a true display of Danish, democratic architecture. Since it opened in 2015 it's become a fixture in the city, attracting young families with its in- and outdoor playgrounds, youngsters with its cultural offerings, the startup scene with its coworking spaces, and bookworms with its library. The many terraces offer great views of the harbor, and from here you can take a leisurely stroll through Aarhus Ø, an artificial island that's home to harbor baths and stunning residential buildings.

Locals call it "mini Christiania” for good reason: there are several similarities between Copenhagen’s freetown and this harbor-front community centered around more than 100 self-constructed houses. Most of them are based on former fishermen’s sheds, but nowadays the community is home to freethinkers of all income levels. There’s a street-food market and a harbor bath close to the community’s imaginative houses, so set aside at least half a day for exploring the area.

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.

It might be tempting to spend the day in the sculpture garden, which is surrounded by forest and home to sculptures by Olafur Eliasson, Jeppe Hein, and Bjørn Nørgaard, but Aalborg’s museum of modern art has much more to offer. Wander through the airy, light-filled galleries and divide your time between the permanent and changing exhibitions and the building itself, an architectural masterpiece by Alvar Aalto. The café has an ambitious lunch menu and is a wonderful spot to stop for a light meal or a coffee. There's free admission to the sculpture garden, which is open 24/7, outside of the museum's opening hours.

Aarhus's historic heart is a jumble of quaint, cobblestoned streets, cute cafés, and colorful houses. Spend at least one day strolling through Graven, Volden, Klostergade, Badstuegade, Borggade, and Rosensgade, whiling away hours at the many coffee shops, designer boutiques, and restaurants in the area.

At Legoland just about everything is constructed from Lego bricks—more than 58 million of them. Among its incredible structures are scaled-down versions of cities and villages from around the world (Miniland), with working harbors and airports; the Statue of Liberty; a statue of Sitting Bull; Mt. Rushmore; a safari park; and Pirate Land. Some of the park's other attractions are more interactive than the impressive constructions. The Falck Fire Brigade, for example, allows a family or group to race eight mini fire engines. The Power Builder Robots allow children and adults to sit inside robots as they program their own ride.

Prehistory might not sound exciting to all, but at Moesgaard Museum it’s presented in a way that’s anything but dusty and dated. The exhibitions are created with care and creativity, but the architectural and natural settings are so stunning that you have to force yourself to focus on the exhibits rather than the forest and sea surrounding the remarkable museum.

Even more famed than the area's sand-buried church is the west coast's dramatic Råbjerg Mile, a protected desert-like migrating dune that moves about 50 feet a year. You can reach it on foot from the Kandestederne.

The lush island of Rømø, 35 km (22 miles) southwest of Ribe, has one of Denmark's widest beaches, which unfurls along a sunny western coast and has protected areas for windsurfers, horseback riders, nudists, and dune-buggy riders—space for everyone, it seems. Rømø has fewer than 600 permanent residents, but masses of vacationing German and Danish families increase this number tenfold in summer. It's a haven for campers, cyclists, and budget vacationers. A causeway crosses green fields and marshy wetlands to connect Rømø to the mainland. Many birds live here, feeding off the seaweed and shellfish washed up by the tides. Summer houses dot the island; most of Rømø's services and accommodations are in and around the village of Havneby, 8 km (5 miles) south of the causeway, and in the camping and shopping complex of Lakolk, in the west.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site national park is a flat, wet, and large marshland stretching from southern Denmark to the Netherlands. The dynamic landscape is home to many migratory birds and, since 2017, a visitor center designed by the world-famous Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. The building blends into the flat marshland and has become as much of an attraction as the mudflat area itself. It is home to changing exhibitions, guided tours, activities, and teaching programs for schools.

In the 19th century, the tiny island of Fanø (30 km [19 miles] northwest of Ribe—plus a 12-minute ferry from Esbjerg) had an enormous shipbuilding industry and a fleet second only to Copenhagen's. The shipping industry deteriorated, but the maritime heritage remains. Today Fanø is a summer oasis for legions of Danes and other northern Europeans. Silky sand beaches unfold along the west coast, buffered by windswept dunes and green reeds. Cars are allowed on the beach, and it's well worth taking a ride along the flat sandy coast between the ferry port in Nordby, Fanø's capital, and the traditional town of Sønderho, 13 km (8 miles) to the south. Spinning along the white sandy expanse is like crossing a desert; only the dark blue sea off in the distance reminds you of your island whereabouts. The beach is so level and wide that the military used to train here. In the off-season, when summer visitors have returned home, the Fanø shore becomes a tranquil retreat, hauntingly silent save for the rustle of reeds and the far-off squawk of a bird.

The Ribe Viking Museum chronicles Viking history with conventional exhibits of household goods, tools, and clothing. There's a multimedia room with an interactive computer screen where you can search for more Viking information in the form of text, pictures, and videos.

This outdoor exhibit, 2 km (1 mile) south of the Ribe railway station, details how the Vikings lived day to day, with demonstrations about homes, food, and crafts.

Aalborg has made it its mission to attract street artists from all over the world, and at the time of this writing there were more than 65 murals giving the city a pop of color. Some of them are found along busy intersections on the highway, others are hidden in residential courtyards, while a few are found along the pedestrian streets in the city. Stop by the tourist information office for an updated list and map of the murals.