The coastal gem of Skagen is, perhaps, Denmark’s best-kept secret! Located at the very top of the country (it is, after all, the northernmost point of the country), Skagen is a charming fishing village that you should definitely add to your itinerary.
The town has an especially relaxing atmosphere, with its cheerful yellow and red houses, soft sandy beaches, and wild nature.
Speaking of which… Skagen is also renowned for its beautiful beaches, like Grenen, where the North Sea meets the Baltic Sea in a breathtaking natural spectacle you definitely shouldn’t miss.
Our Skagen travel guide will go over everything you need to know before your trip, including what to do in Skagen, how to get here, some helpful travel tips, where to stay in Skagen, and much more.
After you travel to Skagen, you’ll see why it’s one of the most popular destinations amongst Danes. 🙂 Let’s check it out!
How to Get to Skagen
While getting to Skagen might take a little effort, it’s well worth it in the end! Here are a few ways on how to travel to Skagen:
By plane | Skagen is a small town that does not have its own airport, so your best option is the nearest airport, which is in Aalborg. There is a regular flight to Aalborg Airport (AAL) from the capital of Denmark (Copenhagen), as well as many capitals in Europe, including Amsterdam (Netherlands), Kaunas (Lithuania), Oslo (Norway), and London Stansted (the UK).
In addition, there are seasonal routes from Spain (Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona), USA (Newark), Italy (Naples), and other countries. For the full list, check out our Aalborg City Guide here!
From Aalborg, take the 75 train up to Skagen — click here to plan your trip via the North Jutland Transport Company.
By train | There are a handful of train routes to Skagen, but most require a layover in Aalborg. For example, the journey from Copenhagen to Skagen takes about 6 hours and includes a trip on the InterCity train from Copenhagen to Aalborg, and another train from Aalborg to Skagen. As mentioned above, you’ll most likely be taking the 75 train from Aalborg to Skagen.
By car | There are a few options of traveling to Skagen by car. You can either take the quickest route, which is the E39 road and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. You can also opt to go through Frederikshavn on the E45, which takes a bit longer but has views of the Danish countryside (and a few peeks of the seaside!)
By bus | There are a few options to travel to Skagen by bus, but they involve multiple stopovers (depending where you’re traveling from) and aren’t the most convenient option. We recommend a different option (such as renting a car or taking the train) in order to get to Skagen.
By ferry | If you’re coming from Sweden, you can take the ferry from Gothenburg to Frederikshavn. From there, it’s a 40-minute train ride on train #75, the same one that goes from Aalborg (mentioned above).
Transportation in Skagen
By car | If you are traveling by car, you can easily explore Skagen and its surroundings by car. Parking is readily available in the city center – just be aware that some of the narrow streets in Skagen’s old town can be tricky to navigate, so consider parking your car in the designated parking lot and exploring the city on foot. Take the car only to further-out attractions like the Migrating Sand Dune or Grenen Beach.
On foot | If you prefer to explore Skagen on foot, you will find it easy to do so as the city is small and compact, with most attractions within walking distance of each other. We recommend grouping together the attractions furthest away (i.e. Grenen Beach and the Skagen Bunker Museum) to make logistics easier.
By bike | You can rent a bike from one of the several bike rentals in the city center. Biking is a popular and convenient way to get around Skagen, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic seaside at a leisurely pace. There is a network of paths and parking spaces for bicycles throughout the city, so you will not have any problems with movement and parking. Two of the best companies include Skagen Cykeludlejning and Skagen BikeRental.
Where To Stay in Skagen
There are plenty of accommodations and hotels in Skagen, and you won’t have any trouble finding one that meets your needs and budget – just be sure to book ahead of time, as it gets very popular during summer and the good hotels are quickly sold out!
Because Skagen is a popular summer tourist destination (and has tons of bed & breakfast-style hotels), many accommodations also offer complimentary breakfast – be sure to keep this in mind when planning your trip.
Skagen Harbour Hotel | Without a doubt, Skagen Harbour is one of the best hotels in Skagen! The beautiful modern rooms are inspired by local landscapes and colors, plus you’ll definitely feel the hygge atmosphere from the moment you step into your room. In short, this is the creme de la creme of hotels and an absolutely delightful experience – no wonder it has a 4.8 out of 5 review on Google. 🙂
Hotel Plesner | Delightfully minimalist and bright, Hotel Plesner is right next to the city center and within walking distance to the harbor. As a nice bonus, this is one of the hotels in Skagen with complimentary breakfast!
Hotel Strandly Skagen | An adorable old school hotel that’s family-run and with plenty of character – it feels as if you’re visiting your sailor captain grandpa! Try to find subtle hints of Skagen, such as the posters of the vippefyr or the old wooden barrels used as tables. 🙂
Hotel Marie | Located right near the harborfront, Hotel Marie is a laidback hotel with all the comforts you could ever need. The rooms are spacious, have plenty of amenities (tea and coffee maker!), and are soundproof. The adorable white shiplap around the room and blue hues are an extra touch that make the hotel feel like it was meant to be in Skagen.
Things to Do in Skagen
Grenen Beach
Grenen Beach is the most popular tourist attraction in Skagen, and for good reason!
This beach is Denmark’s northernmost point where two seas meet – the Skagerrak (which makes up part of the North Sea) and Kattegat (which the Baltic Sea drains into) – creating a unique natural phenomenon. As a result, many tourists like to come here and stand in two seas at once. Cool, isn’t it?
You can get to Grenen Beach by walking about 4 kilometers (about 50 minutes) from the city center or taking a taxi. Likewise, there is also a parking lot within short walking distance to the beach.
Skagen Bunker Museum
Located 1 kilometer from Grenen Beach is another famous tourist landmark: the Skagen Bunkermuseum! During World War II, this bunker was used as a makeshift hospital to treat wounded German soldiers. Visitors can see the operating room, armory storage, and artifacts from the era (such as original weapons, uniforms, and personal items).
Skagens Museum
If history isn’t your thing, no worries – there’s also the Skagens Museum. The Skagen Museum features a wonderful collection of works by Danish artists, with a focus on the famous artists of Skagen.
These ‘Skagen painters,’ which included the likes of Anna Ancher, Thorvald Bindesbøll (the man who created the Carlsberg beer logo!), and Peder Severin Krøyer, were heavily inspired by the region’s stunning natural beauty.
This is one of our favorite museums in Skagen, and an excellent introduction to the area to get yourself in the relaxed ‘Skagen mindset’. 🙂
See the Migrating Sand Dune (Råbjerg Mile)
Råbjerg Mile is, perhaps, one of the most unique landmarks in Denmark – and for good reason! This is a massive sand dune located southwest of Skage and considered to be the largest migratory dune in Northern Europe, moving about 15 meters per year!
Over time, the Migrating Sand Dune will eventually cover the main road to Skagen as it moves northeast. However, the local government does not ‘stop’ (stabilize) the dune from moving because it allows future generations to research dune migration patterns.
You can climb to the ‘top’ of the dunes and enjoy lovely views of the surrounding landscapes – it feels as if you’re in a mini-desert!
The Sand-Covered Church
While we’re on the topic of the Migrating Sand Dune… As you might have guessed from the name, The Buried Church was one of the landmarks affected by the sand dune. 😉
Built sometime in the 14th century and dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome, this church was mostly buried between the 17th and 18th century by the Råbjerg Mile (Migrating Sand Dune) mentioned above. Interestingly, the churchgoers constantly tried to clean the church from sand, but unfortunately the church was officially closed by royal decree in the late 1700s and demolished.
Nowadays, only the church tower is visible – which is still impressive, considering that its height is about 22 meters! Travelers can go inside (entrance is free) and there is a nice view of the surrounding area.
Ancher’s Hus
If the name Anna Ancher sounds familiar, congratulations – you have a great memory. 😉
We first mentioned her in the Skagens Museum (above), but Anna also has another awesome tourist attraction in Skagen: her house!
This adorable red house is where Anna Ancher lived with her husband, Michael Ancher (also a famous painter), and their daughter Helga — who, you guessed it, was also a painter!
After Helga Ancher died in 1964, the house was taken under guardianship and restored over the next few years. It opened in 1967 as an art collection / museum, exhibiting the Ancher’s collection of more than 200 paintings by various Nordic, British, and Dutch artists.
Besides the art, the Anchers Hus also has lovely timepiece furniture – as you walk through the museum, it feels like you went back in time and are a guest at the Anchers!
Vippefyr
Located slightly outside of Skagen’s city center, this mechanism was used in ancient times as a beacon for navigation and now serves as a historical maritime attraction for tourists. The original vippefyr was built in 1627 and has been rebuilt many times during its existence. The current vipperfyr is a well-made replica, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting.
Stroll Around the Historic City Center
Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to enjoy a relaxing stroll around Skagen! There are plenty of things to see, from the colorful houses to the charming cobblestoned streets, but perhaps the best views are from a cafe along the harbor. 😉
Photo Credits: Danish train by Oxyman | Grenen Beach by Christian Faber | Sand-Covered Church via Joshua Kettle | Skagens Museum and Ancher’s Hus via Art Museums of Skagen | Bikes, vippefyr, and city center via Peter Jørgensen (Destination Nord)