Line is a resident of Denmark, and along with her family, she created Nordic Travellers, which focuses on family travels in the Nordic countries and around the world. Line put together the best things to do in Odense, Denmark for us because a trip to Denmark should include the capital city, but getting out into the smaller cities is essential to understanding life in Denmark.
About Odense
Odense is the third biggest city in Denmark, but until now it has lived a quiet life. The city has a reputation of being a bit boring with not a lot to offer, but within recent years that has changed dramatically. As someone who lives in Odense (not biased at all), I can tell you that the city is transforming from being a sleepy town with no aspirations at all into what it really should be – a big city with a vibrant cultural scene and a busy city center. In recent years the city has also attracted a lot of investors, which means the outline of the city is changing from a big flat city to a more compact city with highrises and new interesting neighborhoods. About 200.000 people live in Odense, but the number is rising.
How to get to Odense: Odense has an airport, the Hans Christian Andersen Airport, close by, but most people choose to fly to Copenhagen and go by train to Odense. The trains run every hour and the trip takes about one and a half hours. You can see the schedule here: DSB. You can buy train tickets on all stations.
Currency: The currency in Denmark is Kroner (DKK). Find the rates here: Exchange rates. Most all stores take all the major credit cards.
Food: A lot is happening on the food-scene in Odense right now, so you will be able to find interesting gourmet-restaurants as well as really cozy and inviting medium priced restaurants. And if you like food-halls with mouthwatering dishes, check out this post: Odense Pakhus – The best street food in Odense.
One Day in Odense, Denmark Itinerary
So what should you see and do if you had a day in Odense? To many people, Odense is synonymous with the world-famous writer H.C. Andersen as he was born in Odense, so why not start in the old town where you can visit his birth home and childhood home.
1: Visit the old town in Odense
If you are a romantic with a weakness for cobbled streets, small townhouses and village idyll, the old town quarter in Odense is the place to be. The neighborhood dates back to medieval times, and you find some of the oldest houses in Odense in this area.
Two things you will want to see while strolling around in the old town enjoying the relaxed atmosphere are H.C. Andersen’s birth home and the house where he lived as a child from 1807 to 1819. If you are interested in H.C. Andersen you will probably want to visit the H.C. Andersen Museum as well. A new prestigious H.C. Andersen Museum drawn by the world-famous Japanese architect Kengo Kumais is scheduled to be completed in 2020.
If you happen to be in Odense on a Wednesday or Saturday you will probably notice a lot of activity on Sorte brødre Plads. Wednesday and Saturday from 8 am – 1 pm farmers come into town to sell their produce. You can buy anything from asparagus to cheese to oils, and you can´t help but stumble upon the square if you walk around the old town.
2: Shop in the city center
Vestergade and Kongensgade are the two main shopping streets in Odense, and you find a lot of different shops and restaurants on the two street. Right at the beginning of Vestergade, close to the Town Hall, you find Magasin, a big warehouse with luxury brands. But don’t just stay on Vestergade and Kongensgade – explore small alleys and beautiful passageways such as Vintapperstræde as well. They usually lead to something good like courtyards or small oases in the city. You should also make your way to The Latin Quater. The Latin Quarter is a car-free zone and known for its small shops, a laidback atmosphere and a thriving cultural scene. The Latin Quarter is located around Brandts (an old textile factory – now a museum).
3: Go back in time in The Funen Village
The Funen Village is an open-air museum that presents a Funen village milieu from the 17th to the 19th century. In the village, you find houses from that era, and you can talk to the blacksmith, watch children herd livestock to the fenced enclosures and see women doing their chores such as cooking, cleaning and sowing. The Funen Village is definitely worth a visit if you want to experience what it was like to live in Denmark a few centuries ago.
During the summer there are a large number of activities and events involving both children and grown-ups, many of them connected to the regular maintenance in The Funen Village. To get to The Funen Village you have to take a bus or go by bike. You can also drive, but it is a lot easier to get around in Odense on a bike. Odense is actually considered to be one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities.
All photos of the old town, Hans Christian Anderson Home, and the Funen Village are courtesy of Odense Bys Museer.
Address: Sejerskovvej 20, 5260 Odense S
Admission and opening hours: The Funen Village
4: Roar in one of Europe’s best zoos
Odense Zoo is visited by around 500.000 people every year, and two times it has been named Europe’s best zoo in “What Zoos Can DO – The Leading Zoological Gardens of Europe 2010-2020”. The zoo opened in 1930 and quickly became a very popular attraction, and it still is today. In the 1990s a big renovation of the zoo started, and today the zoo is bigger, more animal- and guest-friendly than ever before.
At the zoo, you can see animals from all over the world, and if you like birds, you are in the right place as Odense Zoo has the biggest aviary in Europe. That means the bird’s wings do not have to be clipped any more. You can also see trainers interact with tigers, go underwater in the Oceanium where you find sea animals from South America and feed a giraffe on the African savannah.
All photos of Odense Zoo are courtesy of Odense Zoo Undervisning.
Address: Søndre Boulevard 306. (It is close to the city center)
Admission:
Children – 34 Euros
Adults – 53 Euros
Seniors (+65) – 45 Euros
Ready to spend a day in Odense, Denmark?
If you visit Denmark, don’t be one of those travelers who stops only in Copenhagen, missing the rest of the country. A day in Odense, Denmark will help you unwind, and experience some of what keeps the Danish people so happy. There are plenty of things to do in Odense, Denmark, at a nice relaxing pace that you and your family will love.
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If you are visiting northern Europe, you may be travelling to other countries. If you are going south, into Germany, we think you might love some days in Düsseldorf, or the more relaxed but very cool Münster.
On the other hand, if you will be going into the Netherlands, we know you will love Amsterdam, and cruising the canals.
Behind www.nordictravellers.com you find a Danish family of four. We try to hike, laugh, drive, taste, swim and play our way through as much of the world as we can. Our goal: To have fun, but also to teach our kids, that there are a lot of different ways to live, and that our planet is magnificent – one of a kind really. To us, traveling is all about widening your horizon, gaining insight into other cultures and really appreciating nature. Oh – and then we love to eat. You should not only explore the world through your eyes but also through your taste buds, we say. When we have become rich (you have to believe in it) we want to do the grand tour of Canada. You can find Nordic Travellers on Facebook, and on Instagram.
Our cover photo is thanks to Travel Mag.
