Skagen Grey Tower
The Grey Lighthouse from 1858 is located just before the Grenen headland. Ascend around 200 steps to the platform for views over dunes and the two seas. Inside, an exhibition showcases migratory birds and the headland's nature.
Denmark
Skagen
RegionNatureBeachCultureFor Families
Skagen is located at the northern tip of Denmark, where Skagerrak and Kattegat converge at the Grenen spit. The town is known for its yellow houses with red roofs and the painters who worked here in the late 19th century.
by Felix Gillen
Skagen is located at the northern tip of Denmark, where Skagerrak and Kattegat converge at the Grenen spit. The town is known for its yellow houses with red roofs and the painters who worked here in the late 19th century. All around are beaches, dunes, the sand-covered church, and the migrating dune Råbjerg Mile.
Skagen, a small town of over 7,000, hosts one of Denmark's largest fishing ports. Station, pedestrian zone, harbor, and Skagen Painters' museums are walkable. Grenen and the Grey Lighthouse are 4 km away; the Sand-Covered Church and Råbjerg Mile are reached by bike or car. West of town, Gammel Skagen is quieter, with a sunset beach. Summer is busy; spring and autumn are calmer.
More places in Skagen
Grenen is the narrow sand spit at the northern tip of Denmark, approximately four kilometers north of Skagen. At its tip, the waves of the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet head-on. Along the way there, the Grey Lighthouse and World War II bunkers are located in the dunes.
Sights in Skagen
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Skagen Kirke
The central City Church was built in 1841 based on C. F. Hansen's plans, after the old church was abandoned in 1795 due to sand drift. Ulrik Plesner rebuilt it in 1909 and 1910, with Thorvald Bindesbøll designing the interior ornaments.
Skagens Havn Østmole
The East Pier at the harbor is a promenade with views of arriving and departing cutters and cruise ships. At the end, there are tables, and you can also fish there. Bring your own provisions.
The Sand-Buried Church
Only the white tower of the medieval Saint Lawrence Church, southwest of Skagen, still rises from the dunes. Drifting sand rendered the church unusable; it was abandoned in 1795 and its nave was demolished. During the summer season, you can climb the tower for an entrance fee; tickets are available at the kiosk by the car park. From the car park, it's about a 400-meter walk.
Museum
Skagens Museum
The art museum showcases works by the Skagen Painters like Anna and Michael Ancher, P. S. Krøyer, and Marie Krøyer. The halls are bright and easy to navigate; allow about an hour. There’s a café at the back, and a combi-ticket is also valid for Anchers Hus.
Museum
Ancher Home
The house of Anna and Michael Ancher has been largely preserved in its original state, including furniture, pictures, and everyday objects. You'll gain a good insight into how the painter family lived. A small garden is also included.
Dining & Drinks
Brewery with a restaurant in the center. House beers, also as a tasting flight, plus herring, fish, burgers, and salads. The sheltered garden often hosts live music with free entry.
French-inspired bistro & Champagne bar in the pedestrian zone. Croque Monsieur, rillettes, mussels, plus wine, macarons, croissants. Portions small.
Casual spot by the harbor, order and pay at the counter. Fish and Chips with homemade remoulade, with Danish daily specials at fair prices.
Large fish restaurant by the harbour, with sand on the floor inside. Seafood platters, fish soup and fish and chips. Busy in summer, waits are frequent.
Permanent hot dog stand in the center with many varieties of Danish hot dogs, including the Fransk Hotdog in a baguette. Cheap and fast.
Gourmet restaurant in Ruths Hotel in Gammel Skagen with a tasting menu featuring many local ingredients, with wine or non-alcoholic pairings. Open only on select evenings, reservations required.
Food & Drink
Skagen eats fish, right by the harbour. The row of restaurants along the basin is the town's summer hub.
Harbour Restaurants
Restaurants and snack bars line the harbor basin, offering views of the cutters. Shrimp, fried plaice and fish soup are on almost every menu, often eaten at long tables outside.
Smokehouses
Several smokehouses sell mackerel, salmon, and herring fresh from the oven. The perfect takeaway for the beach, accompanied by bread from the local baker.
Cafes on Sankt Laurentii Vej
In the pedestrian zone between the train station and harbour, you'll find cafés and patisseries in the yellow houses. Busy in the afternoons; in high summer, be early.
The Artist Colony and the Light of the Cape
Skagen was a remote, poor fishing village until the 19th century. From the 1870s, painters arrived, drawn by its light and the fishermen's lives. Anna and Michael Ancher lived permanently there; P. S. Krøyer spent many summers here. Their paintings of fishermen on the beach and social gatherings hang today in Skagens Museum; the Anchers' home is now a museum.Ochre-yellow houses, red tiled roofs, and white eaves still define Skagen's townscape. Southwest of town, the sand-covered church shows what drifting sand could do. Of the medieval church, only its tower protrudes from the dune; it was abandoned in 1795.
On-site exploring
Skagen lies at the end of the railway line from Frederikshavn, the Skagensbanen. The trip takes just over 35 minutes and is part of the Danish rail network, so you won't need a car to get there.The town itself is small and flat; everything important is within walking distance between the station, harbour, and beach. For destinations in the surrounding area, a bicycle is the best choice: continuous bike paths lead to Grenen, the sand-covered church, and the beaches, and rental bikes are readily available in town.You can reach the tip of Grenen on foot in about 30 minutes through the sand or with the Sandormen, a tractor bus that shuttles during the season. By car, you can only go as far as the car park; the last one and a half kilometres are closed.
