HOW TO: Spend the best summer vacation in Denmark.

Photographs: Kelly Kristensen

Text: Natália Šepitková

Kelly Kristensen is the creator of My New Danish Life, a blog and YouTube channel about an expat’s new life in Denmark. Since 2019, she has also been on Instagram and TikTok with the same name. Kelly moved from Rockford, Illinois, USA, to Bjerringbro, Midtjylland, in March 2016, when her Danish husband got a job there. She works in communications and administration at Tetra Pak Ice Cream in Aarhus.

Q: How is your Danish life?

A: I have lived in Denmark for 9 years, so I feel more comfortable with how things are here. I must say that I feel like I fit the country better now than I did before. Life is good, and I appreciate being here more than ever.

Q: Your blog, My New Danish Life, gives many tips on what to visit in Denmark. What is your favourite place here?

A: It is hard to pick one place to be my favourite. I love being in nature, so anything outdoors can be my happy place. I love going to National Park Thy or being on the coastline. Hald Sø is another great place. I also love seeing the many impressive cliffs in Denmark.

Q: Where is the best vacation spot during summer in Denmark?

A: It is hard for me to recommend one specific itinerary for the best summer vacation in Denmark without knowing the people first. If you have kids, Billund is definitely a great place to go for Lego House, Legoland, Lalandia, and WOW Park. The Givskud Zoo is also nearby, featuring a drive-through safari and an amazing playground. However, if I were older without kids, I might enjoy a weekend trip to Ribe to walk down the old streets and see the many unique museums there. Others might enjoy visiting towns on Fyn, such as Svendborg or Odense, with a side trip to Egeskov Slot. It is hard to say, but I have quite enjoyed them all.

Q: What is the easiest way to travel around the country?

A: I think the most convenient way to travel is by car, since many of the places I like to visit are in nature and hard to reach by other means of transportation. However, the trains in Denmark are quite nice, making it easy to travel from one city to another. Travelling by bicycle is relatively easy, as there are numerous bike paths and routes throughout this relatively flat country.

Q: What are the best destinations for families with kids in Denmark?

A: The best destinations for families can be found all over my blog. It is hard to pick just one, since Denmark is a great country for children. It seems that even at places that might seem better suited for adults, you can also find something for the kids there. Billund has to be the number 1 spot for me, though. With Legoland, Lego House, Lalandia and WOW Park, you can spend quite a bit of time in this small town and have a lot of really great adventures. Parents and grandparents can even find ways to have fun at these places. However, if you have smaller children, it can be great to visit Jespers Hus, which features an indoor zoo, swimming pool, and nighttime shows that are sure to attract the little ones. You can also stay there in a cabin.

Q: What's your recommendation to young people or couples without children?

A: For young people or those without children, I would recommend going to towns. Copenhagen has many great museums, concerts, restaurants, and other things that might be best experienced without children. Tivoli Gardens, although an amusement park, hosts concerts throughout the summer and features many excellent restaurants. Exploring quaint towns like Ebeltoft, Ribe, Tønder, and Sønderborg can also be enjoyable without children, as these places are filled with some great historical buildings and museums that might be too slow-paced for kids.

Q: Where would you take your friends to show them authentic Denmark?

A: If I wanted to show my friends an authentic Denmark, I would take them to Ribe. I don't think there's another place quite like it. I have a post on my blog about staying in Ribe, and I think I would follow the same recommendations for places to eat, stay, and visit while there. I would also take them to the coastline. Blue Hawaii and Vorupør Strand are also quite impressive places with the large waves and boats parked on the sand. Getting a fish dinner at one of these places would also add to the experience. Since I live in Midtjylland, I tend to pick places that are closer to where I live, as this is my authentic Denmark. However, I also think that places like Ærø and Farø showcase parts of Denmark that you won't find anywhere else. Roskilde also boasts great diversity in its historical contributions, including the cathedral, Viking Ship Museum, and picturesque town centre. I will also take them to Copenhagen, because it is what they expect to see.

Q: Which place in Denmark would take our breath away?

A: That is a tough one. Many places in Denmark will take your breath away. Again, I think of natural places like National Park Thy and Hald Sø, my favourite places. Møns Klit and the cliffs on the island of Fur are also quite breathtaking. I also think the area around Skagen is quite nice, with Råbjerg Mile, Grenen, and the coastlines of Kandestederne and Damstederne are perfect places to enjoy the sea view.

Q: Danish summers are pretty short and not always sunny and warm, but if we have the opportunity to go swimming, which beaches do you recommend?

A: There are so many great beaches! However, if you want to find warmer water, the coastline is not the best place to look. You would find warmer water if you swam in the lakes. Silkeborg features a stunning swimming lake set within a picturesque hiking area, surrounded by lush trees and rolling hills. We love going to Djursland in the summer. Gjerrild has a fantastic beach, as well as Bønnerup and Fjellerup in the nearby area. You can also find some of the best ice cream shops in this area.

Q: Many Danish families spend summer vacations in a “sommerhuse”. Have you ever spent a holiday in one? What is the advantage of holiday houses? Can you explain this concept?

A: My husband’s family acquired a summer house when he was in high school, and they still owned it when we were dating. My first summer in Denmark was partially spent at their summerhouse, which was about 20 minutes away from their home. Many Danes will have a summerhouse near where they live, allowing them to enjoy it more often. My in-laws would even go to the summerhouse for afternoons since they lived so close. I loved staying there because it became very familiar to me over the years. We had all we needed, and the location to the beach was a very relaxing walk from the house. This summerhouse was located on the island of Kægnes, a small island near Germany. There wasn’t much to do on the island, except for relaxing at the house or on the beach and going for walks. To me, it is very typical of Danes to have a summerhouse, as they are all about making time to relax. We were also able to share the experience with our children when they were smaller, before my mother-in-law sold it. We had lots of great memories there.

Q: Is it easy to go camping in Denmark? And what about a caravan holiday?

A: Camping in Denmark is probably one of my favourite things to do. We bought our camper caravan in 2017 to explore more of Denmark. We loved the idea of staying at a campground that had fun things for our kids. I have camped in many different countries, and I have to say that Danish campgrounds are probably the cleanest I have ever seen. Many great campgrounds offer wonderful playgrounds, swimming pools, activities, and bonfires. Kids can play while the parents can relax. It's a massive win-win, in my opinion. Staying at a campground on a spring holiday weekend or during the summer is ideal, as many campgrounds will also host events.'

The best Danish city: Ribe

Most interesting museum or gallery: Hexe Museum in Ribe

Most beautiful Danish island: Fur

Q: Denmark is a bicycle-friendly country. Do you have any tips and advice for those who want to spend their holiday in Denmark on two wheels?

A: My husband and I travelled around part of Denmark by bicycle when we first started dating. I was so surprised how easy it was to travel that way. I have a post about this on my blog. Denmark makes it very easy for people of all ages to travel by bicycle, as it has many bike routes. You can find a map of them online to plan your route. We travelled from Als to Ærø to Fyn and back to Als. These are all islands in Denmark. However, the ferry stops in different places on the islands, so we would have to ride our bikes from one spot to the next. We stayed at campgrounds and bed-and-breakfasts along the way, but Kros would also have been a good option for a place to stay. We even travelled up to Egeskov Castle, where they had a place for us to put our bikes and lockers for us to store our things. It was also easy to travel on the ferry boats with our bikes.

Q: Where do you enjoy going the most and most frequently?

A: I think the place I enjoy the most is Hald Sø. I don't know what it is about this area that keeps me coming back. Perhaps, it is the rolling hills, the purple patches of heather, the remains of the Hald Castle, the trees stretching out into the water, the unique playground hidden in the woods, the trails of hiking paths.

Q: What part of Denmark have you not been to yet?

A: I haven't been to Bornholm yet, but I would love to go there one day. I think it could be fun to hear the dialect that they have there, which is supposed to be very different from other areas of Denmark. I am also eager to see how the buildings and landscape differ. I would also like to visit more islands, such as Samsø and Læsø. We always talk about visiting them, but have never made it out there. I would also like to see the island of Lolland. I hear it is lovely.

Q: How will you spend this summer vacation?

A: This summer, I will be returning to the US to celebrate my grandmother's 100th birthday in my hometown of childhood. It will be great to see family I have not seen in a long time. We will also be visiting Copenhagen to see family, but I am unsure about the rest of our plans.