Denmark Self Drive

Arrive at Copenhagen Airport and collect your rental car.

Depending on your arrival time, explore the city's highlights at your own pace, including the scenic canal district, Town Hall Square, Christiansborg Castle, Kongens Nytorv Square, and the Royal Theatre. Stroll through Nyhavn, known for its colourful merchant houses and Andersen’s former home at No. 67. Visit Amalienborg Palace, the royal residence, and admire the Gefion Fountain before seeing the iconic Little Mermaid gazing out to sea.

If time allows, take the optional Classic Canal Tour through Copenhagen’s harbour and canals.

Begin your exploration of Sjælland’s castles in Hillerod with a visit to Frederiksborg Castle and its chapel (entrance included). Then, head to Fredensborg to see Fredensborg Castle, the royal family's summer residence, and its park. Please note that entrance to Fredensborg Castle is not included.

Continue along the Strandvejen coastal road to Helsingor (Elsinore), where you can visit Kronborg Castle (NOT included), the 16th-century Renaissance fortress immortalised in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Copenhagen - Roskilde - Nyborg - Odens - Kolding. Head to Roskilde, a city with over 1,000 years of history. Visit its UNESCO-listed cathedral before stepping into the Viking Age at the Viking Ship Museum (entrance included), located on the edge of the fjord and showcasing an extraordinary 31-metre warship — the longest ever discovered.

Continue your journey across the Storebælt Bridge, linking Sjælland to Funen. Along the way, stop in Nyborg, a hidden gem and historic royal city dating back to the early Middle Ages. Once Denmark’s first capital, Nyborg offers a glimpse into over 800 years of history. If time allows, enjoy a 3.1 km walk along the preserved ramparts, passing palisades, moats, bastions and historic gates.

Later today, arrive in Odense, the hometown of Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. You may choose to visit the HC Andersen Museum (not included). One of Denmark’s oldest cities, Odense dates back to the Viking Age and is home to the UNESCO-listed ring fortress of Nonnebakken, offering a fascinating setting for history-themed exploration.

Kolding- Fano. Start the day with a visit to Koldinghus, a 750-year-old castle of national significance. Today it is a modern museum and world-class attraction, known for its award-winning restoration and international exhibitions.

Continue to Ribe, Denmark’s oldest town. From here, trade between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe began, and Christianity spread throughout the region. Ribe also played a key role in Viking history, with wooden ships setting out to trade — and to raid — across Europe. Today, the town offers a peaceful, cosy atmosphere in its pedestrian streets, art museum, abbey and traditional eateries.

Next, drive to Esbjerg, the gateway to the west, to see the giant sculpture Man Meets the Sea, symbolising the meeting between unspoilt mankind and nature.

In the afternoon, take a short ferry ride (12 minutes, every 30 minutes) from Esbjerg Harbour to the island of Fanø. Most of the island is pristine nature, part of the Wadden Sea National Park. Explore the historic villages of Nordby and Sønderho with their charming shops, local artisans, restaurants and cafés. Fans of outdoor activities can enjoy surfing, beach cruising, horse riding, kite flying and more along Fanø’s wide, unspoilt beaches.

Fano - Viborg - Aalborg. Head to Jelling, just west of Vejle, to see the Jelling Runestones, one of the Viking era’s most significant monuments near Jelling Church.

Then, travel to Viborg to admire Northern Europe’s largest granite church.

Continue to Aalborg, home to the Lindholm Hoje, a remarkable Viking necropolis with 700 stone formations.

Aalborg - Skagen -Aalborg. Travel north to Jammer Bay in North Jutland, passing the Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, perched on a 90-metre cliff offering breathtaking views.

Continue to Skagen, a charming town that inspired 19th-century Danish painters.

Visit Grenen, Denmark's northernmost point, where the North Sea and the Baltic meet.

Skagen - Hobro - Aarhus. Travel to Hobro and visit the Viking Centre of Fyrkat, one of Denmark’s four key Viking fortresses. Next, head to Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, known for its youthful energy, with over 40,000 students, and its thriving art and culture scene. Discover the ARoS Art Museum (not included), with its striking building and impressive collection, offering events for all ages.

You can also take in Aarhus Cathedral, Denmark's longest, housing the largest organ and the most frescoes in the country. In the Latin Quarter, near the cathedral, browse antique shops, art galleries, and trendy boutiques. Don’t miss Den Gamle By, an open-air museum where over sixty reconstructed houses bring the city’s past to life.

Aarhus - Copenhagen. Board the ferry to Sjælland Island. Upon arrival in Odden, continue your journey to Copenhagen. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading out for some last-minute Viking souvenir shopping. Then, drive to the airport to return your rental car.