Why This Secret Island in Denmark is a Hot New Destination
The Danes probably don’t want you to know about this sunny holiday island in Denmark. They’ve been spending idyllic summer vacations on the island of Bornholm for years.
But now, the word is starting to get out.
To be honest, I hadn’t heard of Bornholm until I visited during a luxury Baltic Sea cruise with Windstar Cruises. The island, which is actually closer to Sweden and Poland, was a stop on the cruise on the way to Copenhagen.
Why is Bornholm becoming the new “it” destination?
The landscape is one reason. On my Windstar excursion, we traveled over gently rolling countryside of forests and fertile fields. Along the coast, you’ll find wide sandy beaches. In the red-roofed villages, the artisanal and foodie scenes are booming.
It’s a place where the pace of life moves more slowly. It’s an island in Denmark that’s seemingly made for the perfect holiday getaway.
Check pricing and availability for accommodations in Bornholm.
Quaint villages
We visited the towns of Svaneke and Gudhjem on our visit. Svaneke was chosen as the most beautiful town in Denmark in 2013 and it lives up to the billing.
Here, you’ll find a lovely harbour and narrow laneways filled with half-timbered houses and independent shops selling clothing, ceramics and glass. When it comes to gourmet treats, the town is known for its smoked herring, craft beer and licorice. What a combination! The licorice is made at the candy store, Lakrids by Bülow.
Historical sites
Bornholm is more of a getaway destination, than a historical one. But there are a few sites that are worth the visit.
Round white churches are iconic on the island. The oldest one, Osterlars, dates back to 1160. At one point, it was fortified with a shooting gallery on the top floor to be used in battle.
The ruins of the 13th-century fortress of Hammershus castle is dramtically perched on the rocky northern tip of the island. The ruins are the largest in Scandinavia. Locals will tell you that there is also a troll who lives nearby.
In Gudhjem, the nautically-themed parish church is worth a peek. It’s built on the foundation of St. Anne’s Chapel which served the island community since the 1300s.
Fine sand beaches
They say the beaches in Bornholm have sand so fine that it can be used in hour glasses. Most of the beaches are found along the southern coastline and locals recommend the wide Dueodde beach as one of the best.
Foodie paradise
Bornholm residents relied on the fishing industry for the livelihoods before it collapsed in the 1990s. Smoked fish is still a specialty and you’ll see the smokehouses topped by chimneys throughout the island’s villages.
To make up for the loss of the fishing industry, residents turned to the land to produce local products. With plenty of sunlight, sheltered valleys and fertile soil, Bornholm has something of a microclimate – – perfect for growing local produce.
The island’s products were used to supply the hot restaurant scene in Copenhagen. You’ll also see “honesty boxes” on every street with cartons of produce or eggs.
Gourmet restaurants
With excellent local ingredients aplenty, it was just a matter of time before the island became home to Michelin-starred restaurants of its own. One of the best is Kadeau, open for the summer months and known for its new Nordic dishes based on seasonal farm ingredients. It was the inspiration for the sizzling hot food scene in Bornholm.
Another hotspot (pictured above) is a restaurant in the boutique hotel, The Nordlandet, on the northern tip of the island. The space is minimalist and laid-back and people are traveling to Bornholm to dine here.
Ice cream parlours galore
Then there are people, like me, who will travel for dessert. And great ice cream certainly qualifies.
In Bornholm the ice cream is made with milk and cream from local Jersey cows and flavoured with natural berries, herbs and honey. So naturally, I had to stop by Gudhjem Special (in the town of Gudhjem) for a delicious sample. I did not attempt to tackle the giant Apollo creation like this young fellow did, but I challenge you to try it, without wearing it.
The gourmet food scene and the beaches alone are enough to make me want to return to this quiet, little-known island in Denmark. There is also something special about a place where people live off the land, make things with their own hands and trust their neighbours by leaving their products out for sale.
Bornholm may be a somewhat sleepy kind of place, at least for now, but it seems like the perfect escape from the rest of the world to me.
More Information:
Cruise Details: Windstar Cruises
Where to stay: Check pricing and availability for accommodations in Bornholm.
Tourism Information: Visit Copenhagen, Visit Denmark
Suggested Reading: Lonely Planet Denmark (Travel Guide)
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So how many non-Danish tourists are about in the island, or is it still overwhelmingly Danish? If they’re voting Svaneke the most beauty town in the country, I suppose it must be popular with them. I love the round white churches. Smoked fish is quite the favorite with me, so I would visit just for that, but I think I’ll skip the Apollo-size cone.
Thanks Tom. I understand that about half of the tourists nowadays are Danish, so the island is catching on.
Bornholm really is a nice place to visit, and for Danes (I’m one of them) Bornholm is a little bit exotic. I mean, it is a part of Denmark, but the island is just sooo far away, and they talk funny on Bornholm:-) But Bornholm definitely has some interesting sights – and the nature is very dramatic – very unique in Denmark.
Thanks Line. I had heard that the accent is different in Bornholm, but of course, I couldn’t tell. Great to have your perspective!
This place looks amazing! That ice cream cone is gigantic, haha. If I ever find myself over that way I definitely will feel inclined to visit! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Joshua! I think it would be a lovely getaway and how can you miss with giant ice cream?
It makes so much of a difference if the photos are crisp and well conceptualized. All of the shots are making this little island so tempting. You have a good eye for perspective.
Thank you so much, Punita, for your kind comment!
This is such a beautiful place. I need to return to explore more of Denmark and Bornholm has definitely jumped to the top of the list now! Just so many pretty houses and anywhere with a reputation for ice cream is certainly for me – although that cone is crazy. I’d make such a mess!
Thank you Kirstin! It really is a lovely little place.
We’d both love Bornholm! I knew there were islands, but I hadn’t done much research on them and what kinds of things there are to do there. I’m all for visiting small towns and enjoying a more relaxed travel pace. Saving!
Thanks Lara. I think it is the perfect place for a “taking it easy” travel experience.
The beach actually reminds me of Northern Germany (the Vorpommern)! Denmark has been on my radar for quite some time but I’ve never heard of Bornholm- it looks like just kind of place I’d love to spend my holidays at. (Especially with all the fresh produce!)
I think it would be a lovely holiday getaway! Thanks Anja.
WOW! You had me hooked at the ice cream! I’ve never thought of adding herbs and honey to my ice cream but I’ll definitely need to test it out now. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
They had a lot of great flavours to inspire. Enjoy!
I love the history! This is a great island, thank you!
Thank you Ann! I really enjoyed my visit.