11 Reasons to Visit the Danish Island of Langeland

When we decided to have a staycation in Denmark during the summer of 2020, we thought that it would be fun to explore the island of Langeland. Beautiful beaches, quiet towns and a wide variety of Danish history were all on the agenda for our 7 days on the island of Langeland, and I couldn’t wait to get our vacation started.

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Preparing for the Trip to Langeland, Denmark

Of course, for any of our summer trips, we needed to get the camper ready. We had taken a few trips already in the spring and early summer with the camper, but this would be our “big” trip where we would be gone for 3 weeks, so we needed to really get strategic. This meant packing my clothes first! I wasn’t about to be sitting in the car when the epiphany hit me that I had managed to forget to pack my stuff.

Yes! This has happened before. Mom struggles are very real. I always make sure that everyone else has what they need first, but I thought that it might not be such a bad thing to focus on myself for a change to cut out that potential stress.

With everyone’s things securely packed away in the camper the night before, we woke and set out for our drive to Langeland just after breakfast! The day was already sunny, and we were more than ready for a week of sunshine on a peaceful island!

Let’s get this party started!

Planning our Langeland, Denmark Itinerary

Before we visited the island, I have to say that I didn’t know what to do on the island of Langeland, so I had to do a bit of research. The Langeland Tourism Office has a great booklet about Langeland that you can find in gas stations and many other places when you are traveling around southern Denmark or the island of Fyn.

If you are on Langeland, you can’t help but find this book everywhere, which is nice for travelers wanting to make the most out of their trip to the island of Langeland. They also have a very helpful website.

Check out these tips for ways to save on your trip to Denmark! HERE

How We Approached out Planning

We used this book to get a few ideas of what to do on Langeland, and we looked for a number of activities and interesting destinations to put on our agenda that would work for me and my family! My husband and I were accompanied by our two boys, ages 10 and 7, so we wanted to find things that would interest all four of us. I was up for the challenge!

Interested in unique places in Denmark? Check out How to Have the Best 2 Days in Ribe, Denmark!

We wanted to find things to do on Langeland that were both educational, natural, and inexpensive. We also wanted an itinerary that would give us plenty of time at the campground to relax with some delicious, boxed wine and many hours on the playground and nearby beach!

If a relaxing week is what you seek, keep reading!

11 Reasons to Visit the Danish Island of Langeland

1. Langelandsfortet / The Cold War Museum on Langeland

If you live with boys like mine, you would know that military-type games are a normal part of life. Whether they are playing with Nerf guns or bows and arrows, my boys love to use their imagination to fight off pretend zombies!

Going to the Langelandsfortet was really one of the main highlights of our trip to Langeland from their perspective, but I have to say that I also really enjoyed it too. I had taught bits and pieces of the Cold War during my time as a teacher, so I knew a little bit about it already. However, I didn’t really know much about Denmark’s situation during that time, and I used this as an opportunity to educate myself!

How the Langelandsfortet is Different from other History Museums

This museum was not like any typical museum with pictures and plaque in one main building. This was actually the old fort that the Danish military used during the Cold War. We were able to go inside their bunkers to see what life was like for those soldiers.

Not only that, but we could also go inside a submarine, ship and even sit inside cannons. It was truly a very unique experience in Denmark for us that summer!

For more information about the Langelandsfortet / Cold War Museum, you can check out this VIDEO!

Langelandsfortet has lots of information in Danish, but there are also some signs that were in English to help with understanding! We spent 3 hours walking around and checking out all that there was to see, and we really felt that it was very worth the visit!

Insider Tips:

1. You have the option of buying some snacks, ice cream, and drinks there, but if you are looking for lunch, you will want to bring your own picnic and eat on one of their many picnic tables.
2. They have wagons for your things if you don’t want to carry them around.
3. In order to get to the different exhibitions, you will need to walk to them outside. Be prepared for the weather.
4. This place can get busy in the summer, so I would recommend getting there right when they open!

2. Skovsgaard Gods Organic Farm and Manor Home on Langeland

One place on Langeland that seemed so interesting to me was the Skovsgaard Gods Organic Farm and Manor Home. I love visiting large, manor homes from the 1700 and 1800s. It is as close as I’m ever going to get to living in a Jane Austen novel, so I will take what I can get! This home from 1887 was so impressive. I had never seen such large and interesting rooms like the ones in this home.

As you started off on the main floor, they even had the furniture arranged with mannequins to show you what life was like then. You could even go in the top floor, basement and all rooms in between. So much to explore.

Along with their beautiful manor home that was one of the biggest homes I had ever been in, they also had a huge display of tractors, carriages, and science experiments.

Skovsgaard Gods is a great place for Kids on Langeland

Yes. You heard me right. This working farm had a building that was dedicated to teaching children (and adults) about nature and wildlife by being able to investigate and learn with hands-on activities.

I felt like I was on a field trip to the farm in this building and in the space just outside of it. Here, you could find tables that let you play with lambs’ wool, make your own paper from recycled paper, look at objects under a microscope and many more stations. They even had nets that you could use to catch things from the creek that was located next to the manor home.

Do you love visiting manor homes that offer something for the kids? Then, check out Gammel Estrup!

I had never been to a place that encouraged so much exploration. It was very refreshing to see a place that felt the importance of educating its visitors about the farm and its surrounding areas. They also had an area with animals, and you could go in to pet the goats.

Insider Tips:

1. They have a café there, so you can get something to eat if you arrive during lunchtime. The café is even open after the museum has closed if you are thinking of eating at Skovsgaard Gods after your visit.
2. They have a great selection of their own meats, veggies, etc. If you are looking for some local, organic foods, this would be the place to fill up your cooler or camper refrigerator!

3. Bronze-Age Graves / King Humble’s Grave in Humble, Denmark

If experiencing Danish history from the 1800s and 1900s wasn’t enough, you could step even further back in time to the years of the Bronze Age in Denmark. This was a few thousand years before Christ ever walked the earth, which is unbelievably old!  

In Humble, Denmark, you can find King Humble’s grave, which is actually the largest grave of its kind on the entire island. Measuring 55 meters long and 9 meters wide with very large boulders all around it, King Humble’s grave is like nothing we have ever seen! It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience in Denmark.

Path Soft Enough for Bare Feet

It was even more one-of-a-kind than when I realized that my youngest was walking without shoes very far behind us to the grave. Apparently, his feet hurt in his shoes from the walking. Really? Where are all the struggling parents at? If you’ve got a kid who has issues walking from the car to a store, put your hands up! I feel your pain!

Back to focusing on King Humble! This King Humble guy was one of the first kings of Denmark who is said to have lived over 4000 years ago. Wow! That’s not something you see every day.

Would you like to learn more about ancient times in Denmark? Check out the Hvolris Jernalderlandsby in Central Denmark.

Peaceful resting place after 1000s of Years

To make it even more special, we were in the middle of a wheat field, not in a big city and not in a museum. It was literally in the middle of farmland. How cool is that!?!

In my opinion, you can’t experience anything more unique than finding Bronze-Age burial grounds. Langeland was really starting to surprise us with every new place we visited.

Insider tips:

1. There is a parking lot very close to the field where you will find this grave. It is actually in the town of Kaedeby near a second-hand store.
2. Since this is also located in the middle of a wheat field, it isn’t the best place for a stroller. I would leave that behind.
3. If you are interested in getting your picture with King Humble, you can find a large, wooden statue in the town of Humble near the main road!
4. There are around 250 relics from this time period on the island of Langeland, but not all are accessible. However, if you are interested in seeing more, look for signs along the road that say some variation of the word “dyssen“ to go on your own to explore more of these great examples of Danish history. 

4. Tranekaer Slot and TICKON Gardens on Langeland

Closer to the northern part of the island is the castle town of Tranekaer, which has a very impressive church, castle, mill and gardens. The only thing that is a bit different about this castle is that it is actually the home to royals.

A Danish Count and his family allow the public to tour the inside of the castle during the summer, but since it was the “summer of corona”, it was closed to the public. We still were able to get a good view of the outside from the neighboring forested area called TICKON, though.

Artistic Forest of TICKON in Langeland

TICKON, which stands for Tranekaer International Centre for Art and Nature opened to the public in 1993 as a forest and walking path that has artwork from 14 different artist from Denmark and other countries. Though weather and time have been a factor to the deterioration of some of these art pieces, we found enough in this garden to hold our interests for a few hours one morning.

Not only were we surprised to find many interesting artistic pieces made from trees and other natural materials, but we also loved the many different types of trees that the forest had. Trees might not seem that interesting to some people, but these were “climbing trees”. With all the tall, birch trees that adorn our streets and neighborhoods in Denmark, we were so excited to see some trees that we could actually climb!

Some of the best trees on the island of Langeland, Denmark

Nothing beats a good climbing tree! My husband also got into climbing, so it wasn’t just something for the boys! I liked that many of the trees were even labeled on the map making them part of our scavenger hunt. Learning about different types of trees while being able to climb and look for weird, artistic objects was quite an adventure for this little family.

Insider tips:

1. It costs money for adults to visit the forest. It was free for the boys, though. There wasn’t anyone working at the gate when we went, so you will have to use Mobil Pay when you visit.
2. There should be maps at the entrance. Be sure to pick one up, so you can read more about the artwork and about the special trees in the forest.
3. The castle has a café just outside of it, so if you are in need of a meal, you don’t have far to go.
4. There is also a café near the parking lot to the forest. Here, you can find ice cream, sweets and drinks.
5. The church in town is also quite impressive. It is one of the only churches that I have seen in Denmark with this specific architectural style, and it is also yellow! Very interesting.

5. Biking, Hiking and the Ristinge Klint (Cliff) on Langeland

Biking on Langeland

Langeland is very flat, so it is the perfect place for biking. We, of course, didn’t have our bikes, because it always seems to work out that we don’t have them when we really could use them. I looked on in envy as we drove past multiple families riding their bikes to the various places on Langeland.

Read all about our bike trip around three Danish islands HERE.

In some areas where there was more traffic, you could see bike paths, but in most other places, people would just be biking along the road with the rest of the traffic. Since these roads were very narrow and people in Denmark were very used to sharing the road with cyclists, you could expect it to be safe for your biking trip.

Hiking on Langeland

We were able to have our share of hiking experiences though, since there were many paths along the coast in Langeland. One such path started at the parking lot to the Ristinge Beach, which is a Blue Flag beach and led all the way around a small peninsula of that area of the island.

If you are traveling to Langeland and would like to go on your own hike, check out their 29 different routes!

Along our hike, we saw some very beautiful coastline as well as lots of pretty wildflowers. It was early enough in our day that the boys weren’t too crabby and didn’t have an uncontrollable desire to eat an entire grocery cart of food, so life was pleasant on the walk.

Ristinge Klint Hike on Langeland, Denmark

We were there mainly to see the Ristinge Klint (or cliff), since I recently started this obsession with finding as many cliffs in Denmark as possible. If you don’t believe me, you should check out my post on the Island of Fur. They have tons of great cliffs there!

On our walk, we even found some burial stones that were built by Ristinge´s first peasants around 6000 years ago! Amazing!! Those stones were huge and heavy! I can’t imagine people so long ago being able to move such heavy objects without the use of modern technology. The sight was truly fascinating to me!

Insider Tips:

1. If you go to the Ristinge Cliff, it is best to park at the beach parking lot instead of the smaller one that is closer to the cliff. You will get a better view of the coastline by taking the longer hike.
2. Also, there is a toilet building at the Ristinge Beach parking lot in case you are in need of one during your hike. Here, you will also find a grey box with a brochure and map of the paths.
3. If you stay at a campground or in one of the towns, you may find that you can easily rent a bike during your stay on Langeland. Be sure to ask if you are interested to try it out on your trip. 

6. Dovns Klint, Gulstav Marsh and Wild Horses of Langeland

If you love looking for cliffs as much as I do, you will not want to miss out on yet another great cliff on Langeland, the Dovns Klint. This one is much easier to see, since there aren’t many large bushes or plants along the path that leads you to it from the parking lot.

Another interesting fact about Dovns Klint (cliff) is that it is the southern-most tip of the island of Langeland. Also, on one side of the cliff is the beautiful beach and sea, but on the other side, you are in the perfect spot to see the famous Wild Horses of Langeland.

Wild Horses of Langeland

These horses are called “wild” because they are allowed to live alone within their herd and have very little contact with humans. They are able to find their own food on the marsh where they live, but the area is looked after by a Danish environmental protection agency. There are wire fences that separate the horses from the walking paths, but they are still very easy to see.

Denmark is a great country for horses, and there are many opportunities to see them in other parts of the country. These horses, however, are different from others you’ll find on Danish farms, and they are well worth the visit if you are an animal-lover.

Gulstav Mose (March) on Langeland, Denmark

You can continue your walk all the way around the Gulstav Mose (Marsh) to see the beautiful plants, ponds and horses. At the beginning of the path that is near one of the first parking lots, you will find an observation tower. This is a great place to visit with a pair of binoculars if you are looking for wildlife.

Insider Tips:

1. There are multiple parking lots at the Gulstav Mose (Marsh), so if you find that the first one is full, there should be room at another one. They tend to get full fast during the summer vacation weeks, so going there early is always a good idea.
2. There are many picnic tables closer to the final parking lot near the coast. If you are looking to have a picnic, this is a great place to bring your lunch.
3. The walking path to the cliff and in the marshes is well-maintained and easy to walk on with a stroller if you need one for your trip. 

7. Visiting the Town of Rudkøbing on Langeland

Whenever you enter or leave the island, chances are that you had to drive past the town of Rudkøbing, which is Langeland´s biggest city. We were there in time for lunch, and we were very pleased to find a good variety of food options. This is probably the best town to get a meal on the island if you are looking for a place to eat.

Rudkøbing is also the birthplace of H. C. Ørsted, who discovered electromagnetism. The town is very proud of him, and you can find statues of him all around the pedestrian area of town. 

Beautiful Butterflies of Rudkøbing, Langeland

You can also find many butterflies adorning the old buildings on the walking street in the town´s center. The butterfly has become a local symbol for the town, and counting how many you can find would be a fun activity for families. It is also very pretty, if you ask me.

We were there long enough to get lunch and to visit the tourist office to get a stamp in our island passport book, which is a book that helps you keep track of all the islands you visit in Denmark. You can get them at any tourist information office. I would have loved to explore more of the town and see the Langeland´s Museum, but it was meltdown time for one of the boys, who just wasn´t interested to be away from the campground any longer. Kids can really through a wrench in a day of shopping and sightseeing.

Insider Tips:

1. Parking may be an issue, so be sure to look for signs. Some parking lots have limited time of up to 2 hours, which might not allow you to spend a lot of time in the town. Luckily, it is a small place where you can easily stay for 2 hours if you are looking for a place to grab lunch or buy a few things.
2. They have lots of different shops from clothing stores to antique stores to novelty places. There are also a variety of art galleries, which would be a great place to buy something to help you remember your trip.
3. The town also has its own mill, so if you have made it a mission to find mills in Denmark, you are in luck. This one is right in the middle of the town, but it is off to the side, so you’ll have to look for it. 

8. Visiting the Harbor in Bagenkop and Seeing the Home of Rasmus Klump

If you have small children, you will want to check out the harbor town of Bagenkop to see the boat and home of Rasmus Klump, one of Denmark´s most beloved cartoon characters. He has been known to children all over Denmark since 1951, and any child would love to experience an unexpected addition to the Bagenkop harbor on Langeland’s southern part of the island. 

Rasmus Klump’s Pandekage Hus

At the harbor, there is a small house that looks more like a playhouse for children. It is a great place for a photo opportunity. This is Rasmus’ house where he is very well-known for making pancakes. Ask any Danish child; they’ll tell you!

Rasmus Klump’s Boat on Langeland, Denmark

Next to this little house is a boat that is actually docked at the harbor and on the water. This is Rasmus´ boat, which you can go on and, at least when we were there, fish for crabs. There were many children there that day fishing for crabs, so it was quite entertaining to watch.

We were hoping to get lunch there on that day, but apparently, all the restaurants that are usually closed on Mondays were closed that summer on Tuesdays instead. We were unaware, so we suddenly had no plans for lunch.

If you love boats, you will love a Day in Ebeltoft, Denmark at the Fregatten Jylland Warship!

Picnic Lunch on Langeland, Denmark

Luckily, the town´s grocery store was open, and we were able to find a salad for me (in the fruit and vegetable section) and boxed sandwiches for the rest of the family (near the bakery cabinet by the checkouts). With a few snacks and drinks added to it, we were ready for a picnic, which we had at the Gulstav Mors (marsh).

Insider Tips:

1. If you are planning on visiting a town in Langeland for the day, be sure to have a look at the Langeland Tourism Booklet for restaurant suggestions. You can call ahead to be sure that the restaurant will be open before planning your trip. We had no idea that all restaurants would be closed on the same day.
2. This is a great place to make a quick stop when you are on your way to either the Langelandsfortet or to see the Wild Horses at the Gulstav Klint. It is not a place that will take up much of your day, so if you are not into harbors or you don´t have smaller children, it might not be a place that you would have to visit. We were very excited to try their Bagenkop Kro, which is supposed to have great seafood. That would´ve been enough of a reason for us! 

9. Go Island-Hopping from Rudkøbing on Langeland in Denmark

One thing that we would have loved to do was to go island hopping from Langeland to the many smaller islands that were located just off the western coast of the Langeland. This would have been a great way to see other places in Denmark, and we also were excited to get more stamps in our island passport.

Visiting Langeland During Corona Times

Sadly, it was just not meant to be. During the Corona summer of 2020, there was an incentive to get people out and seeing Denmark by offering free ferry trips for pedestrians and cyclists. This meant that all of the times were reserved/sold out whenever we wanted to go. We would just have to try it another time!

Learn what life was like for us getting out of Lockdown in Denmark during the Spring of 2020.

There are multiple options for traveling from Langeland to other islands. Not all of them had this “free 2020 summer” initiative, though. You’d have to inquire on your own about that. Here are a few of them:

1. Ærø Expressen
2. Ø-Hop
3. Strynø Ferry

Insider Tips:

1. If you really want to go island hoping, be sure to book your tickets on the ferry in advance online.
2. Langeland is not the only place where you can do an island-hopping tour. You can also try to board at Svendborg on the island of Fyn, but be sure to book your tickets in advance. These were also sold out when we looked.
3. You may also be able to rent a boat of your own if that is something you are interested in doing. There are many options for being on the water from kayaking, fishing, etc. Visit langeland.dk for more information. 

10. Relaxing at one of Langeland´s Best Beaches in Denmark

I have to say the one of the highlights of our camping trip to Langeland was just relaxing at the beach. We stayed at the Ristinge Camping, which was located just 300 meters from one of the best beaches on the entire island, the Ristinge Strand (beach).

A small parking lot is located just next to the entrance to the campground and across the street to the foot path to the beach, so it is very easy to access if you are not staying at the campground.

The beach was very clean and clear, and it didn’t have any annoying, sharp rocks or seaweed forests that make entering the water very difficult, which you find on so many other beaches. We enjoyed playing in the water and the sand, and it was even fun for the boys to see some of their new friends from the campground in the water.

Always Make Time for Ice Cream 🙂

On our walk back to the campground, we would often stop at the store for an ice cream, which was close to the parking lot, next to the large, mini-golf course. Getting ice cream was a MUST for us most days, as it was most other Danish families! 😉

Insider Tips:

1. The walking path to the beach is mostly in an area of summer houses, so it is easy to access and walk. However, when you get directly in front of the large sand dunes that block the view of the coast, it may be difficult to use a stroller. You will have to carry it up the small hill to the beach. We only took what was on our backs, so we had no issues.
2. This area also doesn´t have bathrooms, but if you drive closer to the Ristinge Cliff, you will find a bathroom at that beach. 

11. Day Trip from Langeland: Visiting the Valdemar´s Slot (Castle) on the nearby island of Tåsinge

Though it is technically on the nearby island of Tåsinge, the Valdemars Slot (or Valdemar´s Castle) is just a short drive away and well worth the trip if you love castles.

Built in the 1600s by King Christian IV for his son Valdemar Christian, the castle was never really inhabited by the royal family. Instead, it was seized during the Swedish Wars and finally rescued by a Danish, Naval Admiral who was awarded the castle as a gift from the King. The ancestors of that Danish Admiral still own the castle to this day.

It actually feels like a home, since there are many rooms that have pictures of those living family members on shelves and tables. You could almost expect one of them to come through the door with the newspaper or a cup of coffee.

I loved the chapel that they had inside the castle and the side balcony that gave you a great view of the chapel down below. It is always so fascinating how chapels were just sections of the home instead of a church you would have to go to. Fancy!

Animal Display in the Valdemars Slot attic

In the very top level of the castle, you could see almost every animal known on earth. This was the room with stuffed, dead animals that showcased sustainable hunting.

Being a vegetarian, I’m not all that interested in dead animals. I’d rather go to a zoo and see them alive. The whole idea of parading a dead animal in a “trophy” room seemed a bit crude to me, but the room was also very informative and very “museum-like”.

I had never heard of sustainable hunting before. It seemed that they only targeted animals that were really old anyway. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but I thought it was interesting to see some animals from far-off places that I had never known to exist. You have to take the good with the bad, but I am sure that others would find it rather interesting. Perhaps it is just me, but I preferred the rest of the castle!

Insider Tips:

1. They have a lot of green grass and picnic tables that guests can use responsibly for picnics. You can also find a café if you are need of a light meal or snack with seating both inside and outside.

       2. They also have a small playground and mini-golf course if your little ones need more entertainment.

Thanks for coming along with us on our trip to Langeland!! If you have visited Langeland in the past, what has been your favorite part of the island? If you are hoping to go, which attraction are you most eager to visit?

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