Copenhagen- Kastrup, railway to Odense from Castrup airport to Hotel distance 1 hour duration by railway: main station Odense.
The island of Funen is often referred to as the garden of Denmark. Renowned for it fruit there might be something to the talk about this wonderful island.
where time and fastness is not that important.
The landscape is really welcoming and scenic with a good variation of flat distances and gentle hills. The start is in Odense, Denmark’s 3rd largest city.
The tour follows the route Odense, Assens, Faaborg, Svendborg (2 nights), Kerteminde, Odense – going anticlockwise. By choice the tour can be shortened, leaving out Assens and/or Kerteminde or having only 1 night in Svendborg.
Arrive on your own to Odense and prepare for a relaxing and exiting tour. If you have booked a rental bike you will find it at the hotel. Tonight you stay in Odense.
Odense is the capital of Fyn – and also well known as the birthplace of author Hans Christian Andersen. It is worth to have a stroll around the city. From urban environment out into rural landscape on minor roads, starting to experience the idyllic scenery of Denmark’s garden. Today you end up in Assens – a charming old town on the west coast of Fyn overlooking Lillebælt (Small Belt) and the hometown of and art museum and the old grocers house Willemosegaarden.
Heading southeast towards the “Alps of Fyn” todays route gives you both very nice looks over the water and also comfortable challenges in the gently hilled landscape. You pass manor houses and century old churches and approaching your destination – the old harbour town of Faaborg – you start overlooking the archipelago of south Fyn, where you might spot a local ferry or the sail of an old wooden ship. Faaborg itself offers small streets to stroll and old houses to create a very specific atmosphere.
Today it’s your turn to literally experience the archipelago: you start of with the ferry from Faaborg to the island of Ærø (Aeroe). The trip lasts one hour and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while arriving “the proper way” to a real island: by boat. Landing harbour on Ærø is Søby (Soeby) from where you follow small roads to the fascinating town of Ærøskøbing (Aeroeskoebing). Old houses and cobble stoned streets awaits you – along with an interesting history.
Remember your camera! From Ærøskøbing you take another ferry back to Fyn and arrives at Svendborg, where you stay 2 nights. An alternative to the ferries and the visit to Ærø is to bike directly from Faaborg to Svendborg – approx. the same distance, but saving the time and costs of the ferries.
Svendborg is the maritime centre of Fyn. Just next to the quay of the ferry from Ærø is “Træskibsbroen” (the wooden ships bridge), where you can be lucky to see a very fine collection of old wooden ships. The city itself offers shopping, attractions, restaurants – and of course a variety of bars, as it is still a lively seaman’s town. You might also take a daytrip in the surroundings – and maybe visit the castle Egeskov, hosting a fine collection of old cars and aeroplanes.
From Svendborg and north the water on your right hand changes it’s name to Storebælt (Great Belt). Often you see small stalls along the route selling local fruits and vegetables. Again you pass impressing old manor houses – and arriving in Nyborg you see the Storebæltsbroen (Great Belt Bridge) – not long ago the longest spanning bridge in the world. Nyborg is your goal for today – maybe you want to visit the impressive Nyborg Castle.
From Nyborg you head north to the picturesque town Kerteminde. A good choice could be to visit the Fjord & Bælt-center (“Fiord and Belt Centre”) – or maybe have an ice cream at the harbour – before you head back for Odense, enjoying even more beautiful scenery, timbered houses and lovely gardens on the way.
Time to travel home – or maybe to extend your holiday with a day or two extra in Odense – or maybe in Copenhagen.
and/or Kerteminde or having only 1 night in Svendborg.
The Denmark’s Romantic Heart tour stays in 3* and 4* hotels carefully chosen for their location, hospitality and proximity to your tour route.