Visit The Best 28 Tourist Places and Things to Do in Bornholm, Denmark

January 26, 2024 Mustafa Natalwala 894 Views

Bornholm is an Island of Denmark in the Baltic Sea. The island is also called Solskinsoen or Sunshine Island owing to its pleasant weather and popularity as a holiday destination. You can enjoy a variety of fun things to do in Bornholm, Denmark. This beautiful island is home to attractions for fun activities, entertainment, adventure, and nature exploration. You will also find some amazing places to visit in Bornholm for leisure and relaxation.

The history of this island dates back to the age of Vikings. The island is located between Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Poland. It is a highly strategic location for trade and warfare. Ever since medieval times, empires and even pirates have fought to seek control over the island. One of the most popular Bornholm attractions is a cultural center that recreates the medieval world. You can get an entertaining experience of the life of knights and pirates who once tried to take over the island.

The island is also well known for being home to superlatives of Denmark and Europe. The top things to see in Bornholm include the largest castle ruins in North Europe, the smallest trotting race track in the world, the highest waterfall in Denmark, the largest miniature golf course in Europe, and the largest amusement park in Denmark.

These are just some of the Bornholm tourist attractions. The island has something to enjoy for people of all types. You can enjoy pristine beaches and coastal cliffs when you visit Bornholm. The island also has lush forests, rocky hills, lakes, waterfalls, and streams. These natural wonders are popular for outdoor activities in Bornholm. You can go for hiking, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and more.

If you fancy the unbound sea, you can also take boat cruises. The cruises can take you on a journey to Bornholm sightseeing as well as to explore the oceans. You can also take a boat to enjoy the sunset in the sea or go to the small islands of Ertholmene.

The island is also home to amusement parks, museums, and experience centers where you can enjoy some leisure time with the entire family. Some people also travel to Bornholm to enjoy a freshly smoked herring at its famous smokehouses. While some people come to this island just for its delightful vibe.

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Table of Contents

Top 28 Tourist Places to Visit in Bornholm, Denmark

1. Hammershus Castle Ruins

Dating back to the early 1300s, this castle served as the stronghold of several rulers of the island. Although the castle now lies in ruins, it is one of the most fascinating things to see in Bornholm. These are the largest castle ruins in Northern Europe.

You can explore the entire ruins with a guided tour. The tour tells you about the history of the castle, the people that lived here, the battles fought over it, and major events in its story. You will need about 2 hours to tour this castle when you visit Bornholm, Denmark.

2. Svaneke Havn & Alligne Havn Marinas

Svaneke and Alligne are two of the most beautiful coastal villages on Bornholm island. While they are known for having a lot of fun things to do in Bornholm, Denmark. The harbours are full of a variety of boats. You can get boat rides, ferries, yachts, and cruises to explore the oceans or get to small islands.

These harbours are major trade ports for the islands. As a result, you will get some amazing things at the markets close to the harbours. These places are also popular for local food and beverages, especially the Svaneke wine. You can easily spend a couple of hours at any of these harbours.

3. Østerlars Church

This is the oldest and the largest round church on the island. It dates back to the 1100s and is dedicated to St. Laurentius. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Bornholm, Denmark because of its unique structure.

These churches round at the corners. They bear a resemblance to Viking temples with mild elements of Gothic architecture. Inside the church, you will find elegant murals and antique woodwork. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church when you visit Bornholm.

4. Dueodde Beach

While there are several amazing beaches in Bornholm island, this is popular for its beauty and activities. Deudode is a fine sand beach with crystal clear waters. The beach also has a lot of sand dunes where you can enjoy bike and dune buggy rides.

The pristine water also makes it one of the top Bornholm tourist attractions for swimming, surfing, kayaking, and other water sports. You can also enjoy beachside trails along the long sandy shoreline. People can easily spend a couple of hours at this beach.

5. Bornholms Museum

This museum traces 10,000 years of history of the island. It is one of the best places to begin Bornholm sightseeing as it helps put the rest of the trip into perspective.

You will get to know about the political, cultural, and social history of the island. The museum also takes a deep dive into seafaring history. You will also get to know about the recent history and development of the island. It takes about an hour and a half to tour this museum.

6. Rovfugleshow

The show revolves around interactions with birds of prey. This includes owls, eagles, and vultures. You can see how these majestic birds are raised at this center and how well they hunt. People can also enjoy close encounters with these birds.

It is one of the most fun things to do in Bornholm for families. You can even touch and feed little baby birds. Aside from predator birds, the center also has parrots, sheep, goats, turtles, and snakes. You will need about 2 to 3 hours from Bornholm travel to enjoy this place.

7. Opal Lake (Opalsøen)

This lake formed over an abandoned granite quarry. The mine shut down in 1970 and gradually became a beautiful lake with beautiful surroundings. It is popular for outdoor activities in Bornholm.

You can enjoy hiking trails around the lake or swimming in the lake. But it is only suited for people who can swim well. The lake is quite deep with only a few shallow spots. The lake has also a 290-meter-long zipline to take across the lake. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this lake. Then move on to its neighbour.

8. Hammer Lake (Hammersø)

Sitting right next to the Opalsoen is Hameerso Lake, the largest one on the island. These two lakes are just separated by a small stretch of land. This lake too is popular for swimming and hiking trails. The routes from this lake take you to Hammeren Lighthouse and Langjeberg Hill. You can enjoy a couple of hours here.

9. Echo Valley (Ekkodalen)

This is the longest rift valley on Bornholm island. The valley has beautiful sights and some amazing hiking trails. However, it is among the most popular Bornholm attractions for its natural beauty. And people love to test the echo here. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours to explore the valley.

10. Hammeren Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1895 and is the oldest one on the island. It served seafarers till 1990 and is now a popular tourist attraction in Bornholm. The design of the structure makes it look magical.

You can tour the lighthouse and the keepers’ cabin. Make sure you head to the top to see its lantern and enjoy amazing coastline views. You will need about an hour to explore this place when you visit Bornholm.

11. Bornholm Art Museum (Bornholms Kunstmuseum)

This art museum is known as much for its art collection as for its surrounding landscapes. The views from this museum is as mesmerizing as a great painting. The museum houses artworks by artists from Denmark, Russia, Sweden, England, Germany, Estonia, and a few others. The museum also exhibits historical artifacts and handicraft items from Danish culture. You will need 2 hours from Bornholm travel to explore this museum.

12. NaturBornholm Museum

This natural history museum is one of the best Bornholm attractions for families with children. The museum has interesting exhibits and activities for children revolving around fossils, dinosaurs, biology, dinosaurs, and geology. You can easily spend an hour or so here.

13. Gudhjem Town

This is the only town in Denmark that sits on a hill. It is one best places to visit in Bornholm for its historic attractions, natural trails, culture, and vibe. The roads are built along slopes and lined with colourful buildings. You can enjoy nice strolls along these roads to explore local shops, cafes, and restaurants.

The town is also home to a few natural tourist attractions of Bornholm, Denmark. This includes the Kobean Valley, Sanctuary Cliffs, and Salene Graveyard. You can easily spend a day or more at this town when you visit Bornholm.

14. Svaneke Village

This small fishing village is the easternmost town of Denmark. It is also one of the most beautiful towns on the island. Svaneke has some fun things to do in Bornholm for entertainment, exploring nature, and enjoying beaches.

The harbour and beaches of the town are amazing places to relax. You can also enjoy boat cruises and water sports at these places. The Saturday market of the town is one of the biggest cultural highlights of Bornholm sightseeing.

This market creates a vibrant environment for shopping, dining, street food, music, and entertainment. You can easily take a day to explore Svaneke village when you travel to Bornholm.

15. Ertholmene Islands

These islands mark the easternmost point of Denmark. The group comprises of 7 islands. The largest ones among these are Christiansø and Frederiksø. You can get boat cruises and ferries from Alligne and Gudhjem to get to these islands.

These trips are among the best things to do in Bornholm. You get to enjoy nice beaches, forests and rocky cliffs. The group of islands is also home to a magnificent bird sanctuary on Grasholmen island. You will need at least half a day to explore these islands.

16. Almindingen Forest

This lush forest is home to some of the most beautiful things to see in Bornholm, Denmark. The forest was created in the 1800s and is known for its exceptional beauty. It is home to rivers, ravines, lakes, valleys, waterfalls, and cliffs.

It is the best spot for outdoor activities in Bornholm. It has incredible hiking trails leading natural landmarks, viewpoints, and historical sites. The most popular tourist attractions in Bornholm you can find in this forest include Echo Valley, Fuglsangrenden path, Rytterknagten viewpoint, Gamleborg castle ruins, Romersminde stone wall, Jomfrubjerget lake, Lilleborg castle, and several others. You will need at least 4 to 5 hours to explore this forest.

17. Christiansø Fortress

Built in the 17th century to defend trade ships from pirates and invasions. The fortress contains bastions, defense towers, stone cottages, a prison, and half-timber houses. It gives you great insight into the life of maritime merchants, pirates, and soldiers during the 17th and 18th centuries. You will need about an hour to tour this fortress if you visit Ertholmene islands during your trip to Bornholm, Denmark.

18. Bornholmertarnet Museum

This museum is housed in a former unit of the Danish Intelligence Service. This base was an active part of NATO during the Cold War. The tower was used for surveillance and listening activities. It is now turned into a museum dedicated to military and intelligence services.

The museum primarily focuses on the Cold War period. It is one of the most interesting Bornholm tourist attractions. The exhibits include photographs, stories, operation details, surveillance equipments, video footages, warcrafts, airplanes, and so on. You will need about 2 hours to explore this museum.

19. Medeival Center of Bornholm (Bornholms Middelaldercenter)

This wonderful experience center takes you back to the age of kings, queens, knights, archers, peasants, farmers, and pirates. It recreates the world of medieval Europe. You will see forts, pirate ships, farmlands, watermills, animal farm, tents, and battlegrounds.

The center also has numerous fun things to do in Bornholm based on medieval theme. You can dress up as a knight, participate in sword fights, shoot arrows, tend to animals, mint silver coins, and more. You will need 3 to 4 hours to experience this place when you visit Bornholm in Denmark.

20. Bornholm Brand Park Racecourse

Stretching for only 580 meters, this is the smallest trotting race track in the world. However, the entertainment is big. This track is one of the most popular attractions in Bornholm for tourists and locals.

You will love the fast-paced action of trotting race with some snacks, beverages, and an exciting atmosphere. There are also green spaces and tables to enjoy a picnic while watching the race. You will need 2 hours or so to experience this event when you travel to Bornholm Island.

21. BornPark Minigolf

This is the largest miniature golf course in Europe. The course has a variety of interesting and themed challenges. It is one of the best places in Bornholm to spend leisure time with family. You can easily enjoy a couple of hours overcoming tricky obstacles at this golf course.

22. Sanctuary Rocks (Helligdomsklipperne)

These coastal cliffs formed over 1700 million years ago. They create one of the most beautiful landscapes to see and explore on the Bornholm island. There are several viewpoints around to admire the majestic view of waves crashing against these rocks.

You can also get closer and explore the cliffs on foot. The sights here are some of the most beautiful things to see in Bornholm Island. Alongside the cinematic appeal, the cliffs are also home to deep caves. Some of these are open to explore. They are well-known for cave spiders that build nests in the shape of Chinese lanterns. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring Sanctuary cliffs.

23. Rocking Stone of Paradisebakkerne

The rocking stones of Bornholm Island are a legend in their own right. These are remnants from the Ice Age. The snow melted away leaving these rocks in a unique position. These are huge boulders that can only be rocked in a specific way.

There are three in particular that have become Bornholm tourist attractions. Each of these also has a folklore or a fairytale of its own. These stones are located in Paradise Hills, Rutsker Hojlyng Forest, and Almindingen Forest.

You can take up the challenge of rocking these stones. All you need to do is find their unique trigger points and push. Believe it or not, this is one of the most popular tourist activity on Bornholm island. You will need at least a few minutes to figure it out.

24. Dondalen Waterfall

Falling 20 meters, this is the highest waterfall in Denmark. It is quite a delightful sight as the stream elegantly cascades down the Amtmandsstenen cliff. You can access both the top and bottom of the waterfall.

You will need to take a 2 km hiking trail through the Dondalen Valley to reach this waterfall. The route is beautiful by itself. But you would need rubber boots as the water level is usually high in this valley.

The valley also has several other amazing hiking trails if you are looking for adventurous outdoor activities in Bornholm. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours enjoying the forest, streams, and nature views in Dondalen Valley.

25. Rytterknægten Viewpoint

This memorial tower stands 162 meters above sea level. It is the highest point on Bornholm Island. At this height, you get an incredible view of the island. It is the best spot for panoramic Bornholm sightseeing. You will be seen all the way to the shoreline. If the sky is clear, you can also spot Christiansø island and the shore of Sweden from this tower. You will need about an hour to enjoy the views from this tower.

26. John’s Chapel (Jons Kapel)

This church is a cave in a freestanding cliff formation on the west coast of the island. Legend has it that a monk named Jon resided here and preached the bible to the people of the island.

The cave is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Bornholm, Denmark. The road leading up to it is quite an interesting trail. You will walk down several flights of stairs amidst the jungle and follow a rocky path. This road will take you to the cave. You will need about 2 to 3 hours to explore the path and Jon’s chapel.

27. Bornholm Smokehouses

The smokehouses are an integral part of Bornholm’s culture. They date back to the 19th century. These are the best places in Bornholm for a nice traditional meal.

The smokehouses dining destinations serve freshly smoked fishes, seafoods, and other delights. While the most popular choice is smoked herring, you can get a variety of other dishes.

Some of the most popular smokehouses in Bornholm are located in Alligne, Svaneke, Nexo, Hasle, and Gudhjem. You will need about an hour or so to enjoy a nice meal here.

28. Joboland (Brandesgårdshaven)

Joboland is the largest amusement park in Denmark. The park has an incredible variety of attractions and activities. It is a combination of waterpark, playground, thrill rides, and a zoo.

If you like to take some time to enjoy yourself with your family, this is the perfect place for fun things to do in Bornholm, Denmark. You can easily enjoy an entire day here.

If you are looking for more tourist attractions or activities in Bornholm, check out the sections below. We have compiled a complete list of all the small and big places that you can explore on this island.

Things to do in Bornholm, Denmark

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Bornholm, Denmark

Hammershus Castle Ruins
Osterlars Church
Bornholm Technical Collection Museum
Hammeren Lighthouse
Bornholm Kunts Museum
Natur Bornholm Museum
Christianso Forestress
Bornholmertarnet Museum
Jon’s Chapel
Madsebakke Rock Carvings
Bornholms Museum
Hjorths Fabrik Museum
St. Anne Chapel
Lundestenen Jattestue Stone Chamber
The Brogard Stone
Lilleborg
New Church
Gamleborg Castle Ruins
St. Nicholas Church
AA Church
Nylars Church
Sankt Ols Church
Alligne Church
St. Clement’s Church
Ruts Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Bornholm, Denmark

Opalsoen Lake
Hammerso Lake
Ekkodalen Valley
Almindingen Forest
Bornpark Miniature Golf
Sanctuary Cliffs
Rocking Stone of Paradisebakkerne
Dondalen Waterfall
Jagergrotten Waterfall
Bagagraven Land Bridge
Roverborgen Cliff
Blaskinsdalen
Rutsker Hojlyng
Lovehovederne Rock Formation
Stevelen Trail
Vade Ovn Trail
Torre Ovn Trail
Brucke uber Bach Trail
Dondalen Vandfald
Stavehol Vandfald ved Kobbea Waterfall
Dronningestenen Trail
Ringborgen Rispebjerg
Paradisebakkerne Trail
Sorte Gryde Trail
Bison Pa
Kobbeadalen
Kaolinsoen Lake
Hellingsdomsklipperne Trail
Verstermarie Plantage Forest

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Bornholm, Denmark

Rovflugle Show
Medeival Center of Bornholm
Bornholm Brand Park
Bornholm Smokehouses
Joboland Brandesgardshaven
Slaus Stene
Vikingegard
Vinegarden Lille Gadegard

Shopping in Bornholm, Denmark

Snellemark Shopping Center
Bente Hammer
Store Trov Street

Beaches & Islands in Bornholm, Denmark

Deudode Beach
Ertholmene Islands
Hasle Strand
Baptist Stein
Snogebak Strand

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Bornholm, Denmark

Hiking
Swimming
Boating
Helicopter Tour
Island Tour

Sightseeing in Bornholm, Denmark

Svaneke Havn
Alligne Havn Marinas
Gudhjem Town
Svaneke Village
Rytterknagten Viewpoint
Svaneke Gamle Fyr
Vang Pier

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Bornholm, Denmark

Genlyd Cafe
Svaneke Bryghus
Kadeau
Mergeritten
Le Port
Razapaz
Stammershalle
Christianshojkroen
Bryghuset
Det Brune Varksted
The Old Post Office
Nexo Gamel Rogeri
Nordbornholms Smokehouse
Hostet
Nordlandet
Vinost
Gudhjem Rogeri
Lakrids by Bulow

Where to Stay in Bornholm?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Bornholm. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Bornholm.

Custom Tours Package in Bornholm

How to Reach Bornholm, Denmark?

By Air

The Bornholm airport is the only one on the island. This airport receives direct flights from Copenhagen, Oslo, Antalya, and Mallorca. If you want to visit Bornholm from anywhere else, you first need to get to either of these airports. Among these, Copenhagen is the best option as you get daily flights to get to Bornholm.

This airport sits close to Ronne. You can get buses and cabs from Bornholm airport to get to the town.

By Road

Bornholm is an island so there are no road routes or bridges to get you there. However, you can reach towns that are connected to Bornholm by ferry. These are Koge, Ystad, Simrishamn, Kolobrzeg, and Sassnitz. You can get to these cities by road, train or bus. Then take a ferry to travel to Bornholm.

By Water

You can get direct ferries and boat trips to reach Bornholm from Koge (Denmark), Sassnitz (Germany), and Ystad (Sweden). These ferries will take you to the harbour of Ronne on Bornholm Island. The ferries from Simrishamn (Sweden) and Kolobrzeg (Poland) will take you to Alligne and Nexo respectively.

You can also get ferries and boat rides to visit Christiansø Island from Alligne and Gudhjem on Bornholm Island.

Image Reference

Hammershus Castle Ruins – Helen Simonsson / Flickr
Svaneke Havn & Alligne Havn Marinas – t.przechlewski / Wikimedia Commons
Østerlars Church – Hubertus / Wikimedia Commons
Dueodde Beach – Marcel Huisman / Flickr
Bornholms Museum – Robert de Jong / Wikimedia Commons
Rovfugleshow – Susanne Nilsson / Flickr
Opal Lake (Opalsøen) – Helen Meulengracht / Flickr
Hammer Lake (Hammersø) – Chrissie Sternschnuppe / Flickr
Echo Valley (Ekkodalen) – Klugschnacker / Wikimedia Commons
Hammeren Lighthouse – 7alaskan / Wikimedia Commons
Bornholm Art Museum (Bornholms Kunstmuseum) – Hans-Peter Balfanz / Wikimedia Commons
NaturBornholm Museum – Ole Andersen / Wikimedia Commons
Gudhjem Town – Nick S. / Flickr
Svaneke Village – ThomasLendt / Wikimedia Commons
Ertholmene Islands – David Stanley / Flickr
Almindingen Forest – ThomasLendt / Wikimedia Commons
Christiansø Fortress – Alfred Koop / PixaBay
Bornholmertarnet Museum – Hannob / Wikimedia Commons
Medeival Center of Bornholm – Thordur Thorarinsson / Wikimedia Commons
Bornholm Brand Park Racecourse –
BornPark Minigolf –
Sanctuary Rocks (Helligdomsklipperne) – Klugschnacker / Wikimedia Commons
Rocking Stone of Paradisebakkerne –
Dondalen Waterfall –
Rytterknægten Viewpoint – 7alaskan / Wikimedia Commons
John’s Chapel (Jons Kapel) – Sjaak Kempe / Flickr
Bornholm Smokehouses – Szymon Nitka / Wikimedia Commons
Joboland (Brandesgårdshaven) – Karl E. Jorgensen / Wikimedia Commons