Accessible-friendly spots to visit in Denmark during summer.
Photograph: Lyndsay Jensen
Text: Martina Popadakova / Sara R. Newell
Both adults and children love summer and want to make the best out of it. Indeed, this also applies to children with special needs. Denmark offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, so even unpredictable Danish weather is no excuse for not finding something fun to do. We have listed our favourite and most fabulous ideas for activities you can do with your child.
Enjoying nature
Are you stuck at home on a rainy day? Creative activities are always fun and can be educational at the same time. On days when the weather is good, it can be a good idea to take a walk in the woods and collect different materials such as stones, twigs and leaves, so you can be prepared for your next creative rainy day. You and your child can create beautiful works of art that also evoke good holiday memories. Enjoying nature can be a good activity for sensory sensitive children, and many outdoor facilities and natural areas are also accessible for children with walking difficulties or/and who use a wheelchair.
On the website udinaturen.dk you can find information about facilities and nature areas around Denmark suitable for people with walking difficulties and wheelchair users.
Beautiful Copenhagen
Visiting Copenhagen during the summer is an excellent opportunity to create family memories. It is easy to get around Denmark's capital with accessible sidewalks and streets, wheelchair ramps for public transport, toilets and much more. Most major attractions are up-to-date with regard to accessibility. From world-renowned historical museums, castles and palaces to parks, Copenhagen offers many kid-friendly adventures. Copenhagen has sights and attractions that suit every interest and taste. If your child is sensory sensitive, it may be advisable to plan your visit at a time of the day when there is less crowding, which would typically be early in the morning or late in the afternoon or early evening.
Visitcopenhagen.com has prepared a complete guide to accessible travel in Copenhagen, where you can find inspiration, practical information and valuable links to rentals and other services: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/accessible-copenhagen-guide-disabled-travelers
Visiting museums
Denmark has a rich history and many museums. A trip to a museum can be a pleasant activity for the whole family, particularly for sensory sensitive children, and most museums are wheelchair accessible. If your child has walking difficulties, we suggest that you contact the museum of choice ahead of time to inquire about accessibility and which times of day are the best to visit if you prefer to avoid crowding. The National Museum in Copenhagen has a section specially dedicated to children, called The Children's Museum. During the summer months, the museum provides guided tours in English. If you prefer a self-guided tour, it takes roughly an hour to see the majority of the museum.
If you are visiting Aarhus, we can recommend visiting ARoS or Moesgaard Museum. ARoS has a junior workshop, where the whole family can try different creative techniques, and where workshop employees can help in providing creative supplies and providing creative tasks for your child to explore.
Most Danish museums also have a café or restaurant where it is possible to buy snacks, sandwiches, and hot meals.
Find more information about museums by visiting:
Let's go to the beach
Sadly, after we investigated, we didn't find too many wheelchair accessible beaches. A solid path and a lift to get into the sea are needed for the whole beach experience. We did, however, find three great gems that are making life a little more fun for wheelchair users:
In 2019 disability carriages were launched in North Zealand cities after lifeguard John Mogensen was inspired after seeing the concept in Spain. Specially designed disability carriages can roll on the beach and float in the water, thereby making it possible for people with disabilities to enjoy the beach and the ocean. Disability carriages are parked at Liseleje, Tisvildeleje, Drønningmølle and Hørnbæk beach. If you want to visit one of the beaches and try one, there is always a lifeguard to help. Find more about the North Zealand Coastal Rescue Services on their website: https://dnl.dk/
In Nationalpark Mols Bjerge, Bogens Strand in Ebeltoft Vig (about a 40-minute drive by car from Aarhus), is a beach suitable for the whole family. A new 30-meter-long wheelchair-friendly jetty and a ramp reinforced with solid gravel so you can access the water without getting stuck.
Our last discovery is Vejers and Børsmose Strand (about a 34-minute drive from Esbjerg). On these rugged beaches, it is possible to roll all the way to the water's edge!
So remember to get out there and enjoy whatever the Danish summer brings you.