Routes · Europe

Zurich to Denmark: Copenhagen, Aarhus and Skagen

Zurich → Copenhagen → Aarhus → Skagen

Design cities & the northern tip of Jutland Best season (general guide): May–Sep

Denmark is small, flat and easy to cross by train, from the capital on Zealand to the sandy tip of Jutland. This route spends a week between Copenhagen, Aarhus and Skagen. From Zurich there are frequent short flights to Copenhagen.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Copenhagen: day one, Nyhavn and a canal tour; day two, Tivoli and the city by bike; day three, design museums and food halls. Then spend days four and five in Aarhus: day four, train across to Aarhus, then ARoS; day five, Den Gamle By and the harbour. Then spend days six and seven in Skagen: day six, travel north to Skagen, then the old town; day seven, Grenen and the Råbjerg Mile dune.

Copenhagen is one of Europe's most bike-friendly cities. Nyhavn, a canal lined with painted townhouses and old wooden ships, is the classic view, and canal boats leave from here. Tivoli Gardens, an amusement park and garden that opened in 1843, is lit up beautifully at night.

The city's design museums, food halls and neighbourhoods such as Vesterbro reward slow exploration. Many locals swim in the clean harbour baths in summer.

A train crosses the Great Belt to Aarhus, Denmark's second city. On the roof of the ARoS art museum, a circular walkway of coloured glass, 'Your rainbow panorama', frames views of the city. Den Gamle By is an open-air museum of old Danish houses and shops moved here from around the country.

Skagen, at the far northern tip of Jutland, is a town of yellow houses and wide beaches. At Grenen, a sandbar reaches into the sea where the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet, and you can stand with a foot in each. In the late nineteenth century, the Skagen Painters came here for the light, and their work hangs in the town's museum. South of town, the Råbjerg Mile is a large migrating sand dune.

May to September brings long days and the mildest weather. Summer evenings stay light until late.

Good to know: Trains link all three places, so a car isn't needed, and bikes can be hired everywhere. Bakeries and lunch menus are an easy way to keep costs down. Book Tivoli and popular restaurants ahead in summer.

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