Day 3 · Skagen, Denmark
Skagen on Foot & Local Delicacies Walk through Skagen with a local to sample some of the region’s sweets, wines and snacks. Meet your guide and drive to the heart of Skagen where you will walk through the city to enjoy a variety of local foods. Stop at Vin, Spirit & Deli Centralen to browse a selection of local food and drinks before tasting some wine and snacks from North Jutland. Continue to family-owned sweet shop Bolcheriet to see how their award-winning candies are made by hand over an open fire from organic cane sugar and other natural ingredients. You will have the chance to taste a variety of caramels, lollipops and other traditional candies. After, visit the cozy waterfront of Skagen Harbour Hotel to sample a selection of homemade cakes and pastries with coffee or tea. Your appetited sated, you may enjoy free time in town to explore independently or return to your awaiting ship. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Grenen, Skagen Museum and the Buried Church Be captivated by colorful wooden houses in the picturesque village of Skagen, and visit Denmark’s northern tip. Head to Grenen to marvel at the meeting place of two seas: the Skagerrak and the Kattegat. Enjoy a thrilling ride across the sand by tractor trolley as you drive to the northern tip of Denmark, and witness nature as the two oceans collide. Continue on to the Skagen Museum, where you will be able to admire the work of the Skagen Painters; thanks to its stunning seascapes and beautiful scenery, Skagen became popular among impressionist artists during the late 19th century. View the museum’s extensive collection of their works and learn more about this famous group. Finally, visit the Buried Church (or Sand-Covered Church). This 14th-century place of worship has been buried beneath the dunes since the late 1700s, and today only the tower of the ancient church is visible. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Ancient Viking Burial Site and Picturesque City Drive Learn about the culture and history of Ålborg during an all-day excursion to the city along the Limfjorden. Ålborg was founded during the late 10th century by the Vikings, and quickly prospered through a combination of fishing and trade. Drive to Lindholm Hoje and learn about the importance of this ancient Viking burial site, which features more than 700 gravesites and 150 stone ships. See museum exhibits, where accounts of the inhabitants’ lives are conveyed through reconstructions, illustrations and animations. Continue your drive, passing historical landmarks such as the half-timbered Ålborghus Castle, the whitewashed facade of the Budolfi Church and more. Enjoy lunch at a local brewery, paired with a refreshing beverage and the locally produced Red Aalborg Aquavit. Afterward, head to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and learn more about its history, before returning to Skagen. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Seaside Town Sights and Råbjerg Mile Sand Dunes Enjoy the natural beauty of Denmark and the idyllic town of Skagen during a panoramic excursion. Embark on a journey by motor coach through the protected landscape surrounding Skagen. Stop for photos at the marina, with its quaint views of the harbor, the fishmongers and restaurants of the famous Fiskepakhuse. Continue to Skagen’s famous buried church—constructed during the late 14th century and dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome, it was once the largest church in the region and the primary parish for Skagen’s fishing community. From the 1600s onwards, sand drift from the nearby Råbjerg Mile dunes began to block the road, forcing the church’s closure in 1795. After a photo stop, drive through Kandestederne, one of Denmark’s oldest summer house areas; here, Danish author Karen Blixen wrote her famous novel, Out of Africa . After coffee and pastries, return to your ship. * Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.
Scenic Cycle of Skagen’s Countryside Explore the quaint fishing village of Skagen and its surrounding countryside on an invigorating cycling tour. Meet your guide and set off on your bike toward the east coast. Pedal through stunning scenery to the sound of birdsong and waves crashing along the shore. Nestled among the sand dunes, see the ancient tower of the 14th-century Buried Church. For almost 100 years, the congregation would dig their way into church each Sunday morning in their struggle against the sand drift. It was eventually closed by royal decree in 1795. Continue your cycle along the coast to idyllic Old Skagen. Witness the characteristic yellow houses, many of which belong to local fishermen. Enjoy a snack with views overlooking the North Sea before continuing through the residential area to the north of Skagen. Marvel at the patchwork of tiny allotment gardens before completing your journey at Skagen Marina. Stop for photos before returning to your ship. * Demanding - Physically challenging activities, including extensive walks, hiking, riding, water sports, and high altitude activities. Activities by foot may contain difficult, unpaved surfaces and/or multiple stairs
Explore Skagen from the Sea Enjoy a two-hour cruise around Skagen harbor and its coast from Denmark’s northernmost point. Board a rare historic fishing vessel-turned-comfortable-sailing-ship to embark on a two-hour sail of Skagen’s harbor and coast. Situated on the Jutland Peninsula, where the North and Baltic Seas meet, Skagen is a 600-year-old fishing town as well as Denmark’s northernmost town and its sunniest destination. Surrounded by wild natural scenery and vast stretches of sea, its lively harbor, pristine beaches and rugged landscapes have drawn visitors and artists from around the world for decades. As you traverse the harbor, you will admire landmarks and centuries-old lighthouses while you learn about the area’s history as a royal borough and a fishing and shipping port. Afterward, you can explore the town on your own or return to your waiting ship. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Picturesque Danish Coastal Town Visit the small, picturesque fishing village of Skagen, Denmark’s northernmost town. Its origins can be traced back to the 13th century and for hundreds of years, the fishing trade has sustained this small community. Set out on foot from the cruise terminal to discover its treasures, journeying along the waterfront and past traditional fishing boats as your guide shares stories of Skagen’s maritime heritage. At Kystmuseet, the Museum of Local History, uncover more of the village’s past as you explore its exhibits—they offer insight into life in Skagen from the 18th century to the present. See replicas of traditional houses and a historic Hansa cutter boat, built in 1924. After, continue on foot through Skt. Laurentivej and Kappelborgvej, two of Skagen’s main thoroughfares. Return to your ship via shuttle, or spend time exploring more on your own. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Wartime Relics and Resistance Discover the remains of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall in northern Denmark and explore a genuine German wartime bunker. Your day begins with a visit to the Skagen Bunker Museum. The bunker, which was used as an infirmary during World War II, now exhibits a collection of uniforms, artifacts and weapons. Next, you will head to Bangsbo Fort, where you will have the chance to experience the conditions under which the German soldiers stationed in the bunker lived. Originally established by German forces to defend the port of Frederikshavn, the fort was further developed by the Royal Danish Navy during the cold war. After enjoying a cup of coffee and Danish pastry at Møllehuset restaurant, continue to the Jutland Resistance Museum, part of Bangsbo’s Coastal Museum. Learn the story of the Danish resistance movement, its cooperation with the British Special Operations Executive in London and the everyday lives of the Danes during the German occupation. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.
Discover a Treasure Trove of Historic Artifacts Immerse yourself in tales of old as you visit Voergaard House. Denmark’s most beautiful Renaissance manor house is rich in history and hosts the country’s finest private art collection. Its last owner, Count Oberbech-Clausen, amassed a number of spectacular pieces of furniture, antiques, porcelain and silverware from his voyages throughout France, including treasures from Louis XIV and Louis XVI and personal effects once belonging to Marie Antoinette. During a guided tour, you can imagine the prosperity enjoyed by its occupants. Venture down to the infamous dungeon, Rosedonten, which now houses a fine wine collection. Enjoy a glass of Péan wine from the count’s own winery as you learn more about the manor’s history. Then head to Voer Church, the final resting place of Voergaard Castle’s previous owners, before returning to your ship. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.