Odense, Denmark Travel Guide | One of the jeweled cities of Europe

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, being known in particular as the birthplace of the famous fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen. A city that will surprise you at every step with its beauty, with its streets straight out of stories and old houses with a special architecture. A dynamic cultural center with a bohemian and vibrant atmosphere, Odense is the ideal place to discover Danish culture away from the crowd of the capital.

Useful information

Accommodation – Where are you staying in Odense?

Odense is the city where you will find various accommodation alternatives at reasonable prices and which will offer you all the comfort you need for a successful stay. For a few nights of accommodation, we offer the following options:

• Odense City B&B located in the central area, close to all points of interest, this B&B offers double rooms with a simple but modern design. The property has all the facilities you could need from free parking, coffee maker, free wifi and the price of a double room is 67 euros.

• Amalie Bed and Breakfast & Apartments a 4-star hotel located just 900 meters from the main attractions of Odense, with a modern decor and an extremely good price for the conditions offered. One night's accommodation in a double room costs 89 euros.

• City Hotel Nattergalen this 3-star hotel is located right in the central area of the city, close to all the tourist attractions. For one night's accommodation with breakfast included, prices start from 123 euros for two people.

Odense tourist attractions - What to visit in Odense

Egeskov Castle

A castle as if taken out of a story, Egeskov Castle was built in 1554. Considered one of the most beautiful castles built in the Renaissance style in Europe, it remained as spectacular as on the first day. Located in the middle of a small lake, with imposing fortifications and grandiose towers, this place is an unmissable objective. In addition to the architecture and the fairytale landscape, the castle houses a museum inside where you will be able to see interesting collections such as vintage cars and bicycles. Located at a distance of about 30 km from Odense, it is easily accessible by car and the price of a ticket for adults is 17 euros, you can find details here.

Odense Domkirke

St. Canute's Cathedral (Danish: Odense Domkirke or Sankt Knuds Kirke), also known as Odense Cathedral, is named after the Danish king Canute the Saint. Built around the 1300s, it is a gothic brick cathedral. The most visited section of the church is the crypt where the remains of Canute and his brother Benedict are displayed.

Flakhaven Square & Odense Rådhus

In Flakhaven Square you can find the City Hall of the city of Odense. Today's building was designed by Johan Daniel Herholdt and Carl Lendorf inspired by Italian buildings such as the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, which it closely resembles. The construction of the Town Hall was completed in 1885, but with the 200th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen in 2005, comprehensive renovation works were completed on the interior of the building, including the entrance halls, meeting rooms, banquet hall and council.

Hans Christian Andersen Museum

Here you will be able to discover Hans Christian Andersen from a new perspective, not only from the literary one. You will be able to better understand his work and how it was influenced by the social environment from which the author comes. The son of a poor shoemaker and a laundress, the author became famous thanks to his charming stories for both children and adults. The price of a ticket for adults is 22 euros, it must be reserved in advance, but you can find more details here.

Hans Christian Andersen's parental home

Close to the Odense Cathedral, there is the house where Hans Christian Andersen lived with his parents from the age of 2 to 14. The house was opened to the public in 1930, this place will make you teleport to the past. The cobbled street in front of the house, the modest rooms and the garden detached from stories left their mark on the author's life and later on his work. The price of a ticket for adults is 22 euros and entry is free for those under 18, you can find out more details here.

Brandts Klædefabrik

Brandts Klædefabrik was once a large complex of textile factories in Odense's Latin Quarter, which was later transformed into a modern cultural hub. Here there are several unique shops, a cinema, cafes, concert halls, studios of local artists, and various workshops. It's a vibrant, youthful and ever-changing environment where you can see contemporary art exhibitions, go to dance performances or buy unique pieces from the shops along Brandts Passage.

Odense Zoo

The city's zoo is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to Funen Island. It was opened in 1930 at that time having few animals, namely two monkeys, a peacock, a deer and a mule. Currently, the garden hosts over 147 different species, which are extremely well cared for. This place is ideal for an outing with the little ones and the price of a ticket for adults is 17 euros, you can find more information here.

Galleri Galschiøt

Jens Galschiøt is one of Denmark's most famous artists, sculptor and conceptual artist whose works can be seen in cities all over the world. He lived in Odense from the 1970s to the mid-80s and created an extraordinary studio that combines creative space with exhibition space. This space has 10,000 square meters, being among the largest private art workshops in Denmark. The entrance is free, here you will be able to admire unique and diverse pieces of art, especially bronze sculptures that brought them international fame, but also many other exhibits.

Odense Boldklub

For those passionate about football, this stadium can be a point of interest. The local team Odense Boldkklub is in the Superliga, there are matches here once every two weeks, from autumn to spring, which you can participate in if you are passionate about sports and if you want an evening full of adrenaline.

The train museum

The Danish Railway Museum was founded in 1975. It is the largest railway museum in Scandinavia. The museum covers 10,000 square meters, containing approximately 50 locomotives and railway carriages from all periods of Danish railway history. This museum is a real experience if you are passionate about trains, history and travel. If you want, you can opt for a guided tour and in certain times of the year you can experience a ride on a train with a steam locomotive.

Funen village

An open-air, extremely picturesque museum that was founded in 1942 as a space where festivals and events took place. Currently the museum has 25 traditional Danish houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to the traditional houses that served as homes for people, here you will also be able to see an inn, a typical Danish school from that time, a windmill and many other interesting buildings. Most of the buildings are made of wood, this being the material most often used for construction in the year 1800. Besides the buildings, here you will be able to relax enjoying nature, the ornamental gardens with trees and flowers. The price of a ticket for adults is approximately 20 euros, you can find out more details here.

Odense Slot

The current building was built in 1723. However, the history of the property is much older. Portions of Odense Slot date back to the 15th century, when it was a monastery run by the monks of the Knights of St. John. It was confiscated by the king at the beginning of the 16th century. As the centuries passed and politics changed, it had several successive occupants. Today, this Dutch Baroque palace houses administrative offices of the municipality of Odense.

Storms Pakhaus Streetfood

One obvious thing is that Danes love food, especially dishes made with fresh ingredients. Storms Pakhaus in Odense is a vibrant place, a sensory experience full of unique aromas. You can stop here to try local and international delicacies. I sell it considering that it is a place that combines delicious dishes with good music and a vibrant atmosphere, this place is a favorite of both tourists and locals, so if you want to have a unique evening, it would be best to reserve a table in advance, you can find details here.

Møntergården

Located in a building with a unique architecture, in this museum you will learn more about the history of the city of Odense from the prehistoric period to the Middle Ages. The building built in Renaissance style is an attraction in itself with its solid wood decorations and lead windows. Inside you will see interactive exhibitions that show the development of the city in the late medieval period, when trade became flourishing and the economic situation evolved. The city of Odense was a key access point between Scandinavia and Europe, and merchants managed to collect unique pieces. The price of a ticket for adults is 14 euros, you can find more details here.

Odense Bunker Museum

An overwhelming museum, a memory of the war and its horrors. A reminder that, not too long ago, Europe was preparing for a possible nuclear war. Bunkers like these being built in various locations. With an area of 450 square meters, here you will be able to see military equipment, uniforms, telephones and old computers kept as if in a time capsule. Access is free, guided tours take place between 11 am and 2 pm, and this experience is not to be missed.

Port of Odense

The port of Odense was built at the beginning of the 19th century and a lot has happened since then. For 150 years it served as a busy industrial port, but now it is transforming into a new and exciting area with residential buildings, a house of culture, the House of the North Atlantic, cafes and a lot of free activities for sports. The area has obvious references to the past in the form of many preserved and "recycled" buildings.

Kerteminde

If you visit Odense during the summer and want to enjoy the Danish coast, Kerteminde is the ideal choice. A small town, known for its beaches, for the aquarium with various species of fish and for the orchards and gardens that surround it. Also nicknamed the "garden by the sea", Kerteminde is the place where you will definitely relax. If you have more time, you can also visit Fyns Hoved (Funen's Head), a place with a view that will leave you speechless.

Gastronomy & Restaurants

When it comes to Danish gastronomy, it is mainly based on simple and fresh ingredients. Most traditional Danish dishes are cooked according to centuries-old recipes. With the main ingredients being fish, seafood, pork or beef and fresh vegetables, Danish cuisine is diverse and full of at least novel combinations. Humorously called the "Land of 700 sandwiches" it is worth trying at least a few of these traditional dishes.

• Stegt flæsk is a very old dish based on crispy pork with a parsley sauce served with Romanian potatoes. Considered the national food of the Danes, this dish is definitely delicious.

• Meatballs - a kind of meatballs made of pork or beef, mixed with onions, eggs, milk and breadcrumbs, served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. A very familiar and absolutely delicious dish that you must try.

• Smørrebrød - a diverse and delicious sandwich served especially at lunch. Having various ingredients such as raw herring or shrimp, smoked salmon, hard boiled eggs, meat or vegetables, you just need to be able to choose your favorite option. 

• Kanelsnegl a fluffy, delicious and extremely aromatic snail with cinnamon, ideal to start your day with something sweet with a coffee.

restaurants

• Restaurant Vaar – gourmet restaurant this small restaurant with only 6 tables is an unmissable culinary experience. With a unique menu, aromatic dishes and an excellent taste, dinner here will be a real experience. All dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients from sustainable sources. The prices are average, a main dish costs around 30 euros.

• Restaurant HOS a restaurant located in the heart of the city of Odense, with a varied and innovative menu, this restaurant is an ideal choice both for lunch where you can try delicious Danish sandwiches and for dinner where you can enjoy dishes with fresh ingredients that differ according to season. The prices are extremely good, the price for a main dish starting from 20 euros.

• Sortebro Kro this restaurant is the ideal place if you want to try traditional dishes, prepared according to authentic recipes. The restaurant has a rich history, its story starting from 1805. The menu is diverse, the atmosphere is quiet and the prices for a main course start from 30 euros.

Odense is a charming city that will surprise you at every step. With a varied range of activities and a rich cultural life, it is the ideal choice for a vacation where you will relax, learn new information and have new unique experiences.