Skagen
Save18 hand-picked places in 8 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓Show on the map
Tips
8 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Denmark's northern tip where the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas meet.
3 tips
- Stand with a foot in each sea at the very tip
- Sandormen tractor-bus runs from the car park
- Swimming is forbidden due to strong currents
📷 Photos
- 2
Home of the Skagen Painters' luminous art beside Brøndums Hotel.
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- See Krøyer's famous summer evening scenes
- Allow about two hours
- Garden cafe in summer
📷 Photos
- 3
Church tower half-buried by drifting sand, now standing in the dunes.
3 tips
- Free to walk around the tower
- Short walk through the plantation from the car park
- Tower interior open only in summer
📷 Photos
- 4
Huge migrating sand dune, the largest in Northern Europe.
3 tips
- Go barefoot and climb to the top
- Wind-blown sand: protect cameras
- About 20 minutes' drive south of Skagen
📷 Photos
- 5
Preserved home of painters Michael and Anna Ancher.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Combined ticket with Skagens Museum
- Rooms kept as the family left them
📷 Photos
- 6
Working fishing harbour lined with red warehouses and seafood shacks.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: At night
2 tips
- Buy fresh shrimp from the harbour stalls
- Lively in summer evenings
📷 Photos
- 7
Tall grey lighthouse with a bird-migration centre and top-floor view.
3 tips
- Climb 210 steps to the gallery
- Great spot to watch migrating raptors in spring
- Walk on to Grenen from here
📷 Photos
- 8
West-coast village and beach famed for Skagen's best sunsets.
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Locals gather at the dunes for sunset
- Bike here along the cycle path from town
- Wide sandy beach for walks
📷 Photos
Take this map with you
Opens Google Maps with these places, ready to save to your own list.
Before you go: Skagen tips
Transportation
- Take the local train: Regional trains connect Skagen with Frederikshavn, which links to the rest of Denmark's rail network.
- Rent a bike: Skagen is flat and compact, and bike paths lead to Grenen, the beaches and nearby sights.
- Ride the Sandormen: The tractor-pulled Sandormen bus takes visitors along the sand to the very tip of Grenen.
Security
- Never swim at Grenen: The meeting of the two seas creates dangerous currents, and swimming at the tip is forbidden.
- Watch the wind: Strong winds can whip up sand and make sea conditions rough; check forecasts before boat trips.
- Lock your bike: Bike theft can happen in busy summer months, so always lock your bike securely.
Saving
- Visit outside July: Rooms are pricier in peak summer; June and August still offer long days at lower prices.
- Buy fish at the harbour: Fish shops and smokehouses at the harbour sell fresh and smoked fish for a cheap lunch.
- Enjoy free nature: Grenen, Råbjerg Mile and the beaches cost nothing to explore.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack a windbreaker: It is often windy at the tip of Denmark; a windproof jacket is useful year-round.
- Enjoy mild summers: Summers are pleasant and bright with long evenings; bring layers for cooler nights.
- Prepare for cold winters: Winters are cold and grey, so pack a warm coat, hat and gloves.
Cultural
- See the Skagen painters: Skagens Museum displays works by the artists drawn here by the famous light.
- Celebrate Sankt Hans: Midsummer Eve is marked with bonfires on the beach, a cherished Danish tradition.
- Admire yellow houses: The town's yellow houses with red roofs are part of Skagen's character; respect private gardens when photographing.
Local Hacks
- Stand in two seas: At Grenen you can stand where the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet, with waves coming from both sides.
- Walk the migrating dune: Råbjerg Mile is a huge moving sand dune; go early or late for softer light and fewer people.
- Visit the buried church: Den Tilsandede Kirke, a church partly swallowed by sand, is a unique short stop.
1-day itineraries in Skagen
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.