Denmark Grand Loop Self-Drive
A grand loop covering Zealand, Funen, Ærø, South Jutland, and Skagen, including three ferry crossings.
An in-depth, long-distance route covering most of Denmark's highlights. Drive from Copenhagen across the Great Belt Bridge to Funen, take a ferry via Ærø to Als, head north along the Wadden Sea, and continue through Billund and Aarhus to Skagen, before taking a fast ferry back to Zealand. With one to two nights in each location, this itinerary is ideal for self-drive travelers with plenty of time, featuring a fast-paced rhythm of consecutive hotel changes.
Best from May to September. The ferry from Ærø to Als may be suspended in spring for maintenance.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival & Nyhavn / Tivoli
Copenhagen（Nyhavn、Strøget、Tivoli Gardens）
Take the metro from the airport for about 15 minutes to reach the city center. No car is needed in the city; enjoy a walking tour in the afternoon.
Stay: Indre By
Day 2 · Royal Palaces & Waterfront
Copenhagen（Rosenborg Castle、Torvehallerne、Amalienborg Palace、The Little Mermaid）
Walk or cycle around the city all day. Attractions are about 10 to 20 minutes apart.
Stay: Indre By
Day 3 · North Zealand Art & Castles
Copenhagen（Louisiana Museum of Modern Art、Kronborg Castle）
Take the Coast Line train for about 40 minutes to Humlebæk, continue to Helsingør, and return to the city in the evening.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is closed on Mondays.
Stay: Indre By
Day 4 · Roskilde & Cross the Bridge to Odense
Copenhagen（Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde、Roskilde Cathedral） → Odense（St. Canute's Cathedral）
Pick up your rental car and drive to Roskilde (about 40 minutes), then cross the Great Belt Bridge to Odense (about 1.5 hours).
The Great Belt Bridge is a toll bridge; research electronic payment options in advance.
Stay: City Centre Pedestrian Streets
Day 5 · Andersen & Water Castle
Odense（H.C. Andersen House、Hans Jensens Stræde (Andersen Quarter)、Egeskov Castle） → Svendborg & South Funen Archipelago（Svendborg Harbour & Old Town）
Walk around the Old Town in the morning. Drive about 45 minutes to Egeskov Castle, then another 30 minutes to Svendborg.
Stay: Svendborg Old Harbour
Day 6 · Ferry to Fairytale Ærø Island
Svendborg & South Funen Archipelago（Ærøskøbing、Marstal Maritime Museum、Voderup Klint）
Take the ferry from Svendborg to Ærøskøbing (about 1 hour 15 minutes). Drive or cycle around the island for about half an hour.
Reservations are required to bring a car onto the island, especially during the busy summer season.
Stay: Ærøskøbing
Day 7 · Ferry to Als Battlefield
Sønderborg & Als（Augustenborg Palace、Sønderborg Castle、History Centre Dybbøl Banke、Sønderborg Harbourfront & Kongevej）
Take the ferry from Søby to Fynshav (about 1 hour), then drive about 30 minutes to Sønderborg.
Reservations are required for both passengers and vehicles on this route; late arrivals will have their bookings canceled.
Stay: Sønderborg City Centre
Day 8 · Along the Wadden Sea to Ribe
Ribe（Møgeltønder & Schackenborg、Rømø & Lakolk Beach、Ribe Night Watchman Tour）
Drive to Møgeltønder (about 1 hour 15 minutes), then to Rømø (about 40 minutes), and continue to Ribe (about 40 minutes).
The Nightwatchman's Round takes place every evening from approximately May to October, subject to local announcements.
Stay: Ribe Old Town
Day 9 · Denmark's Oldest Town
Ribe（Ribe Cathedral (Ribe Domkirke)、Ribe Old Town、Ribe VikingeCenter）
Walk around the Old Town in the morning. In the afternoon, visit the Ribe VikingeCenter in the southern suburbs, then drive about 1 hour to Billund.
Stay: Billund Town Centre
Day 10 · LEGO House & Jelling Stones
Billund（LEGO House、Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church） → Aarhus（Latin Quarter）
Walk to LEGO House in the morning. Drive about 30 minutes to Jelling, then another 1 hour to Aarhus.
Stay: Latin Quarter
Day 11 · Aarhus Art & Museums
Aarhus（ARoS Aarhus Art Museum、Den Gamle By、Moesgaard Museum）
Leave your car at the hotel. Walk to ARoS Art Museum and Den Gamle By. In the afternoon, take a bus or drive to Moesgaard.
Stay: Latin Quarter
Day 12 · Viking Fortress to Aalborg
Aalborg（Fyrkat Viking Fortress、Lindholm Høje、Utzon Center）
Drive north from Aarhus for about 1 hour to Fyrkat, then continue for about 50 minutes to Aalborg.
Stay: Harbour Waterfront
Day 13 · Lighthouse Dunes to Denmark's Northernmost Point
Aalborg（Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse） → Skagen（The Buried Church (Den Tilsandede Kirke)、Grenen）
Drive from Aalborg to Rubjerg Knude (about 1 hour), then head northeast for about 1 hour 15 minutes to Skagen.
After parking at the lighthouse, you will need to walk about 1.5 km through the sand dunes.
Stay: Skagen Old Town
Day 14 · Skagen Painters & Sand Dunes
Skagen（Skagens Museum、Michael & Anna Ancher's House、Skagen Harbour、Råbjerg Mile）
Walk around the town in the morning. In the afternoon, drive about 30 minutes to Råbjerg Mile sand dunes before returning to town.
Stay: Skagen Old Town
Day 15 · Head South & Take the Fast Ferry back to Copenhagen
Drive about 3 hours to Aarhus, take the ferry for about 1.5 hours to Odden, then drive about 1.5 hours to the airport.
This day involves a long drive. Book your ferry in advance and schedule your departure flight for the evening or the following day.