For a summer staycation, follow the iconic daisy signs for a scenic road trip all over Denmark
Photographs: Erin Gustafson / Lisbet Lücke Larsen
Text: Erin Gustafson
Have you been watching and wondering how travel and tourism will evolve in the post-lockdown world? And when it all might start up again? While we wait here in Denmark, we’re fortunate that the country has stayed safe and is beginning to open up - at least internally. Until borders reopen for us to travel abroad, we can still get out and about while maintaining a safe physical distance. Wondering where to go? What better place to get some space than exploring outside the more crowded cities and into the Danish countryside. Take a drive along the Margueritruten, or Marguerite Route, to tour some of Denmark’s most scenic back roads.
The path was ceremoniously opened in 1991 by the reigning Queen Margrethe II herself and wend through 3600 kilometres along smaller Danish tracks. Developed by the Danish Tourism Council at the time, it was intended to share more of the country’s natural attractions, historic places and culturally significant sites.
In 2008, management of the Marguerite Route was given to the Dansk Friluftsrådet or Outdoor Council. Today, the route you can ride now connects and incorporates a plethora of outdoor facilities for hiking and biking, offering a total of 4,218 kilometres if you follow the entire thing. Look for small square brown signs with the iconic white daisy when you’re out and about. Turn right! Turn left! Follow it that direction for a new Danish destination you didn’t even know that you needed to see.
DID YOU KNOW? Queen Margrethe II was named after her grandmother Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden. When she was born, the Danish princess was quickly nicknamed “Daisy,” as her given name sounded like the Marguerite Daisies prevalent in Scandinavia. The name stuck and the floral image is now emblematic of the popular Danish queen. The Marguerite Daisy is the National Flower of Denmark.
At present, individual municipalities are responsible for maintaining the darling daisy signage along the length of the route. You can pick a starting point anywhere in Denmark and just follow the flowers for an idyllic day out. Or if you are a planner and want to plot out your journey, you can download the entire map’s GPS to use with the Google Earth app on your phone or plug into your navigation device.
Head to https://naturstyrelsen.dk/naturoplevelser/naturguider/margueritruten/ to find it and download. There are easy to follow directions online for those less tech-savvy. Or explore the incredible interactive map at https://udinaturen.dk/map-page and click on Margueritruten from the key on the right. Choose from the many other map options to find playgrounds for your little people or places where your dog can come along for the day. Infinitely customizable for whatever your crew likes to do - you can track down picnic spots, campsites and pretty places to hike.
The Marguerite Route is divided into eight sections that take you through Zealand, Mon, Falster, Lolland, Aero, Funen and Jutland and never will you traverse the same road twice. It only follows the motorway once across the Great Belt Bridge so that cyclists can join the daisy journey everywhere but there. Designed to share Danish delights and tourist sites both large and small, the path highlights major attractions like Thy National Park, Wadden Sea National Park and Mols Bjerge National Park all in Jutland. On the eastern side of Denmark, wind through little roads to the impressive chalk cliffs at Stevns Klint, across the gorgeous Queen Alexandrine’s Bridge and on to Møns Klint. Or discover some adorable small Danish villages like Praestø, or Nysted on Lolland; Faaborg and Kerteminde on Fyn; or Grenaa, Ebeltoft and Ribe in Jutland.
With so much see and so many options to see it, add a little daisy chain drive to your Scandinavian exploring this summer.