Ekkodalen
Denmark's longest rift valley, approx. 12 km long, lies in Almindingen Forest. A loud call distinctly echoes from the steep granite walls, hence its name. Trails run through the valley and up to the rock edges.
Denmark
Bornholm
RegionNatureCultureBeachFor FamiliesCulinary
The Baltic Sea island of Bornholm is closer to Sweden than to the rest of Denmark. Granite coasts in the north, fine sandy beaches in the south, round churches, smokehouses, and fishing villages make it a unique travel destination.
by Felix Gillen
The Baltic Sea island of Bornholm is closer to Sweden than to the rest of Denmark. Granite coasts in the north, fine sandy beaches in the south, round churches, smokehouses, and fishing villages make it a unique travel destination.
Bornholm, Denmark's Baltic Sea island, captivates with its contrasting nature, from granite cliffs to fine sandy beaches. The Helligdomsklipperne in the north and Dueodde beach in the south are prominent highlights. Historically, medieval round churches like Østerlars and the castle ruins of Hammershus define the island's landscape. Picturesque fishing villages like Gudhjem and Svaneke invite visitors to enjoy fresh fish at their smokehouses. The vibrant arts and crafts scene and excellent cycling paths are best explored in spring or autumn.
Sights in Bornholm
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Park
Helligdomsklipperne
The granite cliffs on the northeast coast between Gudhjem and Tejn drop steeply into the sea, with grottoes, crevices, and rock pinnacles. Wooden stairs lead down to the cliffs, and a hiking trail runs along the coast. Directly above them lies the island's Art Museum.
Church
Østerlars Church
The largest of Bornholm's four round churches dates from the 12th century and also served as a fortified structure. Inside, medieval frescoes are preserved, and you can ascend to the roof truss via narrow staircases within the walls. A small admission fee is charged for visits.
Beach
Dueodde
At the southern tip of the island, a wide beach with very fine, light sand extends, backed by high dunes and a pine forest. The water is shallow for a long way, making it good for families. Above the dunes stands the lighthouse of Dueodde.
Museum
Bornholm's Art Museum
The art museum is located above Helligdomsklipperne with views of the Baltic Sea. It showcases works by painters who worked on Bornholm, plus ceramics, glass, and changing exhibitions. Closed on Mondays.
Svaneke
This harbor town on the east coast is considered one of Denmark's best-preserved, with low half-timbered and merchant houses and a small granite harbor. Around the market square and harbor are a brewery, smokehouse, candy kitchen, and artisan workshops.
Food & Drink
Inn at the entrance to Ekkodalen in Almindingen Forest, a practical stop before or after a hike. Its menu offers Danish classics and Smørrebrød.
Historic country inn by Almindingen forest, on the Rønne-Svaneke road. Serving traditional Danish cuisine, with Smørrebrød a lunch specialty.
Inland restaurant north of Almindingen, serving Danish cuisine with local ingredients. Evening reservations recommended.
Traditional smokehouse directly on the coast north of Svaneke harbour, with indoor and outdoor seating by the water. Serving smoked herring, mackerel, salmon, and eel, open during the day.
Inselbrauerei restaurant on Svaneke's market square. Serving their own beers, also as a tasting set, plus Smørrebrød and Danish home cooking.
Smokehouse with a restaurant by the water in Allinge on the north coast. Famous for its herring buffet with smoked, pickled, and fried herring, plus à la carte fish dishes.
Food and Drink
Sun over Gudhjem
The island classic features smoked herring on rye bread with raw egg yolk, chives, and radishes. You can find it in nearly every smokehouse.
Smokehouses
In Gudhjem, Svaneke, Allinge and Hasle, traditional smokehouses smoke herring, mackerel, and salmon over alder wood. Many run restaurants with waterfront seating.
Island Products
Bornholm is known for its own breweries, confectioneries, cheese, and mustard. Farm shops and markets sell many of these products directly.
Culture & History
Castles, Round Churches, Frontier StatusBornholm's central Baltic Sea location made it a medieval object of contention for the Danish Crown, the Archbishop of Lund, and the Hanseatic League. Hammershus castle ruin and four round churches, also used as refuges, date from this period. After 1945, Soviet troops occupied the island for almost a year, a unique Danish episode.Smokehouses and HandicraftsThe white chimneys of the island's smokehouses define many coastal towns; smoked herring is their best-known specialty. Potters, glassblowers, and painters have settled on the island since the 20th century, with their workshops often open to visitors.
Traveling locally
Most visitors travel by ferry from Ystad in southern Sweden to Rønne, a journey of about 1 hour 20 minutes. From Copenhagen, take the train via Malmö to Ystad, then a connecting service (with a through ticket) to Rønne. Flights to Rønne and an overnight ferry from Køge are also options. From Germany, ferries depart from Sassnitz on Rügen; the crossing takes over three hours and is not daily.Buses connect all major towns on the island. Bornholm, with its dense cycle path network, is great for bike tours, but the northern terrain is hilly. By car, any point on the island can be reached in about an hour.
