Walk through beautiful sandy beaches, fishing villages, art galleries, sunlit woods and, the best part, Hamlet’s castle. Not only is this place part of the enchanting Zealand coast, but is also calm and quiet; in other words, this is heaven on Earth. The Danish Riviera, North Zealand, Denmark is a place that you should definitely visit, so take your passport and buy some tickets because this will be an experience that you will never forget.
Head to the north of Copenhagen and come across a lesser-traveled stretch of a coastline known as the Danish Riviera, where many hiking and biking paths go along the shores of quiet beaches. When you leave Copenhagen behind, your journey starts to wander around harbor towns and astonishing woodlands, while the sapphire-blue waters start appearing at your side as you inhale the typical scent of the salty beach air.
As you continue walking, you will see how seaside homes, cozy inns, and peaceful villages start coming up into your view. Stop at the Rungsted to visit author Karen Blixen’s home, well-known for her book “Out of Africa”. The famous house is filled with memorabilia and surrounded by a bird sanctuary. Once you finish visiting Karen Blixen’s former home, we highly recommend you to take a detour inland to explore the gardens of the 18th-century Fredensborg Palace that are still used by the Danish royal family.
Your next step is Klampenborg, where you can visit Dyrehaven (the Deer Garden) which used to be a royal hunting ground and nowadays is a sprawling forest with more than 2,000 deer roaming free and safe. Back on the path, your final destination waits for you in the north, where you will find Helsingør a.k.a Elsinore, home of the majestic and renowned Kronborg Slot: Hamlet’s Castle. This is the exact same place where Shakespearean legends spin around the unique halls of this stately 17th-century building.
Heading to the south of Helsingør, overlooking the Øresund in Humlebæk, you can find the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, with works made by many famous artists like Picasso, Warhol, Ernst, and Giacometti. This museum can be found in a multi-winged complex, set in a spacious parkland. Made in 1855 as a country house for Alexander Brun, the building was named Louisiana by Alexander himself, in order to honor his three successive wives, all named Louise. Additionally, you can take a short walk through the sculpture park, where you’ll see a stunning reclining figure made by Henry Moore, with Sweden visible in the distance.
When to go?
Summers are warm but not uncomfortably hot. Denmark is delightful in spring and fall, but winters are windy and chilly. We recommend you to be always prepared for rain.
How to find it?
Copenhagen and Helsingør are linked together by a cycle path made up of 25 miles (40 km). Alternatively, you can take your bicycle by train from Central Station in Copenhagen to Helsingør station. Also, you can then pedal back to Copenhagen or stay the night before returning.
Planning
A Copenhagen Card entitles you to have free admission to scores of museums, as well as unlimited travel on buses, the metro, and S-Tog trains. Within Copenhagen, you can rent a City Bicycle for free (with refundable deposit), but you are not allowed to take it outside the city limits.
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