What to do in North Jutland: a beginner’s guide to the North of Denmark

North Jutland is one of my favourite places in the world. The landscapes of the region are stunning and very unique, the people are welcoming and friendly, there is almost no tourists (the ones that you find are mostly local tourists) and what I love the most: the light. North Jutland (Nordjylland) has a light that I have never seen anywhere else. That is why painters from all over Europe migrated there to get the inspiration for their work. From orange sunsets to blue evenings, the light in the north will captivate you.

I have been in North Jutland many times, as I called Denmark my home for a few years (in my heart I still do). I can tell you there are endless things to see and do in this region. From long white sand beaches where two seas meet, to abandoned lighthouses of stunning beauty, going through flat fjords with thriving wildlife, deserts in the middle of Scandinavia, churches in a field of red grass…The list goes on and on. This topic comes close to my heart, since it is one of my “happy places”. Let’s get started:

What to do in North Jutland

1. Have your base camp in Skagen

This old fishing village is the northernmost town in Denmark, as well as my base camp each time I have been in the area.

The town is actually divided in two areas: Skagen and Old Skagen (Gammel Skagen). The old part is surrounded by sand dunes with the oh-so-typical beach grasses. The new area has a very recognizable look, since all most of the houses are painted in pastel yellow and have red clay roofs.

Funny story, my mom and I got lost after having a few snaps (Danish spirits) and couldn’t find our way home as all the houses looked the same.

A street in Skagen. If one of these was your house, would you recognize it?

A few houses of Old Skagen

Skagen has a picturesque harbour made of small red houses that serve as lunch spots for locals and tourists. Their terraces are extremely crowded in the summer months, but there is almost no one the rest of the year.

Skagen’s old harbour houses

2. Have one foot in each sea in Grenen

If you walk north of Skagen, you can only go to Grenen. Grenen is the northern tip of Jutland peninsula and it is the place where two seas (Kattegat and Skagerrak) meet. The best part is that, since they usually have different currents, you can actually see a line of waves in the sea identifying the border between the two.

The tip of Denmark, separating Kattegat and Skagerrak. Notice the change of colour of the water after the white wave line.

A nice walk along the beach will get you there. There are some remainings of World War II bunkers and the occasional seal. As you walk the land narrows until it becomes a tip, that cartographers cannot map since it moves east or west depending on which sea is striking harder.

Sunken World War II bunker in Grenen.

A seal visits Grenen to swim in between two seas

A bit south of Grenen you can find Skagen’s lighthouse: a beautiful building hosting an exhibition about the local birds.

Skagen’s lighthouse

Also, before the beach walk that leads to the very tip, you can find Grenen Kunstmuseum, an art gallery/museum with a beautiful space and many events during the summer.

The lower floor is dedicated to the Danish-Swedish painter Axel Lind and the sculpture collection, while the upper floor of the museum is dedicated to Gallerie Rasmus, which offers very dynamic and varied collections that are constantly changing, from both Danish and international artists. Gallerie Rasmus has also another space in Old Skagen called Strandgalleriet.

Gallerie Rasmus at Grenen Kunstmuseum

Wine and art are always a good combination

3. See nature beating humans at the sand-buried church

This 14th century church was the biggest one in the region when it was built. However, the desertification of the region caused a constant accumulation of sand that was growing faster than it could be removed. The owners tried for a long time to keep up with digging it out, but eventually had to give up and close it.

Now you can visit the visible tower of the church, in the middle of a forest. Some days you can even enter and climb upstairs to admire the views and feel what the church once was. The surrounding forest has beautiful color changes throughout the year, and it is not unusual to come face to face with deers.

4. Walk through a Scandinavian desert at Råbjerg Mile

This is as weird as it sounds. There’s a desert, or rather a moving sand dune, in the middle of Denmark. It looks as if you walked into a completely different place. Despite looking like an arid landscape, it still has the cool Danish weather, which makes it easier to walk around.

The migrating dunes at Råbjerg Mile

Desert outfit? Well, winter coat and scarf, of course!

The vegetation of the Danish desert

Leaving a trail to make sure we know how to exit the desert

5. Enter the seagull kingdom in Bulbjerg

Bulbjerg is a limestone cliff that was used by the Germans as a lookout point during World War II. It holds a big bird breeding habitat, which means there’s an insane amount of seagulls flying into and from the cliff (and even some chicks!). It is a place with a very dramatic scenery and definitely worth the drive).

The cliffs of Bulbjerg

The true kings of the cliffs

And more seagulls

The view from the top of Bulbjerg

6. Admire wildlife at Limfjorden

Limfjorden is a shallow part of the sea that separates North Jutland from the rest of mainland Denmark. It is approximately 180 km long and it has plenty of bays and islands. It is a perfect escape to connect with nature in the wildlife reserves, birdwatching stations, or simple go collect some fossils at the beach.

In Danish, wild reserve

Drive in between waters in the narrowests of roads

Go birdwatching in one of the stations spread along the area

Visit some picturesque towns

7. Enter an abandoned lighthouse at Rubjerg Knude

Rubjerg Knude is a lighthose located on the western coast od Jutland, facing the North Sea. Dating from 1900, the lighthouse is standing on top of a cliff, some 60 meters above sea level.

The lighthouse of Rubjerg Knude

In a similar way as the sand-buried church, the shifting sands and coastal erosion caused the eventual abandonment of the lighthouse, which is expected to fall into the sea by 2023, so hurry up and visit it!

Update: it’s 2023 and the lighthouse is still there, so you have time!

The cliff edge is dangerously close now

Not only is the Rubjerg Knude a landmark on itself, but the views from atop are also astonishing (you can still climb upstairs), and the walk there is beautifully wild.

Views from the top of Rubjerg Knude

Nature is central during the walk towards Rubjerg Knude

8. Visit a viking graveyard

In North Jutland there are many viking graveyards spread around the area. The viking graves usually consist of a tumulus surrounded by stones laid out in the shape of a ship. The most famous viking grave field is Lindholm Høje, just north of the city of Aalborg. This graveyard was covered by sand around the year 1000 AD and preserved until the current times, when archeologists found it almost intact.

Viking graveyard of Lindholm Høje in Aalborg

Ship shaped tombs to honor the fallen vikings

Oddly coloured forest surrounding Lindholm Høje

Other graveyards can be found around the area, often just on the side of the road with not even an indication of it.

Small graveyard somewhere on the side of a small road

Tombstone on the way to Rubjerg Knude

9. Get lost in the countryside

The whole area of North Jutland is primarily fisherman and agriculture based. Exploring the rural part of Denmark is an experience in itself, and it is worth losing the map and following the road.

Windmill in the fields of North Jutland

10. Just sit and enjoy the light

As I said in the beginning of the post, one of the things I love the most of the North Jutland region is the light. Throughout the day the sky changes rapidly shapes and colours, and it is worth spending some time admiring it while sipping a cup of tea.

Sunset from Grenen

Evening at the Skagen’s lighthouse

Afternoon sun hitting the grass

How to move around in North Jutland

There are many ways to arrive to North Jutland. The easiest is to fly to Aalborg. However, most of the flights are domestic, so check in Skyscanner if there is a direct route from your city. Otherwise you can always fly to Copenhagen, which is well connected, and then take a short 35 minute flight to Aalborg.

Another option is by sea. There are ferries arriving from different cities in Norway and Sweden and, of course, from other places in Denmark.

Moving around in North Jutland is relatively easy, given that you rent a car. I have read posts talking about buses and trains. I do not recommend that unless you plan to stay in the same town throughout your visit. Most of the attractions that I have mentioned are not close to any town, so a car is rather necessary, and it gives you a lot of freedom that public transportation does not provide. You can get a 10% discount with Sixt if you follow this link.

Where to stay in North Jutland

North Jutland is a big region, so when you have decided your itinerary, use the map below to find your accommodation! Two good places to have a base are Aalborg and Skagen. For me the best area to stay is Skagen because of its proximity to many of the attractions. Another option is Aalborg, which is probably cheaper and still close to many sights, but in my opinion it lacks the charm that Skagen has. My last suggestion would be to just rent a house in the middle of nowhere and enjoy the soothing silence of the Danish countryside or a remote beach house.

Booking.com

Closing statement

I hope you enjoyed this post and that I convinced you to add North Jutland to your bucket list. I can really vouch for it, and you will probably want to come back again and again! If you’re planning a trip to Denmark, make sure you don’t miss Feast of Travel’s posts on Copenhagen!

Top 15 things to do in Copenhagen, Denmark

Day trips from Copenhagen: Top 9 excursions

Where to eat and drink in Copenhagen: best restaurants and bars

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