Why You Need to Visit Thyborøn, Denmark

For a weekend in early April, we decided to take a weekend trip in Denmark to the west coast and the quaint fishing village of Thyborøn. We were in search of a place to relax with some beautiful views of the coast as well as get some experience with fish and other sea life. After all, we were in the area where the Limfjord connected with the North Sea. What better place to find sea life. We were able to find all of that and much more. Stick around, and I will show you why you need to visit Thyborøn, Denmark!

This is a sponsored post and my contain affiliate links. Thank you to the Jyllandsakvariet for hosting our visit at your aquarium and to Thyborøn Camping for a fantastic stay. All thoughts and comments in this post belong solely to the author. Learn more on our Disclaimer and Disclosure page. Thanks for your support.

When traveling anywhere, we looked for the same things that we found in Thyborørn: a great restaurant, unique experiences for the family, camping options, and in this case, a terrific beach. We wanted to find things that would interest the kids and give us a great, family experience in this part of Denmark.

Here is what we found!

1) Jyllandsakvariet

When visiting Thyborøn, Denmark, we made it a priority to visit the Jyllandsakvariet first. This aquarium on Denmark’s northwestern coast seemed like an average building on the outside, but a closer look would show that it was surrounded by all things having to do with the sea.

Looking for a fun indoor museum in the area? Check out the Struer Museum and Sound Experience!

An Underwater Theme at the Jyllandsakvariet

There was a fishing boat next to many large anchors that seemed to be sitting on the bottom of the sea. You could also see a giant whale like the one that swallowed Pinocchio.

If we weren’t interested already from the outside, we definitely were after we walked into the building. The lovely gift shop had not only fun toy souvenirs, but it was also filled Nautical decorations that had made me rethink how I decorated at home. It all looked so nice!

Walking into the aquarium was also a unique experience for our family. Right away, we felt like we were sent to the bottom of the sea with many different types of fish all around us. We loved how some parts of the aquarium looked like we were walking in a fishing shack where others felt like we were diving down with a scuba diver or looking out the window of a fishing boat. The entire place gave us the feeling of make believe, so it was very easy to walk around the aquarium and feel that we were walking under the water.

A Hands-on Experience at the Jyllandsakvariet

There were special areas where we could pet sharks and stingrays. You could even try to pick up a crab. It was quite hands-on.

There were other areas where children could play. There was a boat that you could climb in and drive as well as a place to look out through a periscope.

You could also dig in the sand for amber or drive the sea boat. Outside, there were other areas for play, and they even had a dog park area. It was nice that they even thought of the dogs. They had tables where you could even sit and have a snack if you brought some with you. It was a very nice place overall, and we were happy to spend some time there.

Guided Tours and Oyster Safari in Denmark

The Jyllandsakvariet also had many guided tours that they offer throughout the year. You can search for amber stones, help with the feeding of different sea animals, take a tour with the tractor bus, go on a seal safari, tag along with a fisherman or take an oyster safari. The oyster safari was the big reason why we planned a visit to Thyborøn, Denmark and got so interested in all that the Jyllandsakvariet had to offer.

Read all about our time on our Oyster Safari with the Jyllands akvariet in Denmark!

Getting in Touch with the Jyllandsakvariet: Vesterhavsgade 16, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 45 97 83 28 08 / Website

2) Iskunsten

The Iskunsten is a unique art experience in Denmark. Here, you get a different perspective of what art can be. This museum is a combination of beautiful art sculptures and history of the harbor and fishing village of Thyborøn.

The Ice Sculptures

As we arrived, we were given blankets to wrap around ourselves. The temperatures of the area where the ice sculptures were houses was a chilly -12 Celcius / Fahrenheit. We walked through a plastic, flappy door like one you would see if you were going into a large meat locker or food cooler. What we saw on the other side of this doorway really shocked us. We knew that we were going to see ice sculptures, but we had no idea just how amazing they would be.

Anne Maria at the reception desk told us that the sculptures were changed every three months. During our visit, the ice sculptures mostly had a spring theme with many different types of flowers either frozen in ice or sculpted out of ice. There was also some peaceful music playing as we walked through the chilly space. The entire experience was very magical! We loved it and would love to return for another exhibit!

Learning about the History of Thyborøn

When we were done inside the Iskunsten, we got a hot chocolate from the machine in the reception area and drank our warm drinks while we explored the other half of this museum. This part wasn’t as cold at the area with the ice sculptures, but we still kept our blankets on! This part of the building showed the history of the fishing village of Thyborøn. We were able to see pictures and learn historical facts about the town from the 1920s to present day! It was really interesting to learn of this very unique way of life.

Getting in Touch with the Iskunsten: Jernbanegade 1A, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 97 83 28 08 / Website

3) Sneglehuset

If you want to have an experience like no other, head over to the Sneglehus. This house is covered in thousands of shells that are neatly organized in patterns to make the prettiest house you will find in Thyborøn. From what I have heard, a man started to decorate his house with all types of shells from the sea to please his wife who didn’t want to move there. He continued to make the house completely unique for the next 25 years thereafter. Sounds like my kind of guy!

What is inside Sneglehuset

Though it isn’t open year round, you still can see the outside of the house and all the work that went into the decorations. However, if you are there during the warmer parts of the year, you will get to go inside to see more displays of shells. They also have a shop where you can buy jewelry, shells, and other, random items. They also have a café that serves pastries and ice cream. It would have been nice to have visited inside, but we were just there too early in the season.

Getting in Touch with Sneglehuset: Klitvej 9, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 97831167 or 97834760 / Website

4) Sea War Museum

The Sea War Museum in Thyborøn, Denmark is one of the most impressive, WWI museums I have ever visited. It really opened our eyes to an important, Nautical battles in European history, the Battle of Jutland. I have to admit that I never hear of this battle before. Apparently, the British and German navies had a battle in 1916 not far off the coast of Thyborøn.

This battle lasted just two days, but the destruction was immense. 14 British ships and 11 German ships sank to the bottom of the North Sea, and over 8,000 people died. While we walked around the Sea War Museum, it was amazing to see all of the artifacts that were found during excavations of the wreckage. It was even more incredible to think that so much destruction occurred so close to the Danish coast. 

The museum did a fantastic job telling the story of the battle. We even had an audio device that told us more about the story as we walked around to look at giant parts of ships, uniforms, cannons and much more. Outside the building, you can also find a memorial to those men who lost their lives during the battle with a large stone representing each of the 25 ships. You won’t want to miss this amazing, historical museum on your visit to Thyborøn, Denmark.

Getting in Touch with the Sea War Museum: Kystcentervej 11, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 54 55 55 60 / Website

5) Wærket Indoor Swimming Pool

Though we were at Thyborøn Camping during the low season, we were still very excited that free passes to Wærket was included in our stay at the campground. We were also happy to see that the building was next to the campground, which meant we could walk there.

Our free passes allow us to explore the Vandwærket, the indoor swimming pool. They had a playing pool with waterfalls, a warm pool, a lap pool, a sauna, a steam bath and a slide. It really was a lot of fun!! We stayed there for a few hours and really had a nice time.

Do you love indoor swimming pools? Then, you will love a trip to Lalandia, Scandinavia’s Largest, Indoor Water Park in Denmark!

We also had a quick meal in the Madwærket, which is the snack café that was inside this sports center. My husband got a pølsemix (sausage and fries with dressing), the boys got nachos, and I got a panini with salad. They also have a good variety of candies and drinks.

Getting in Touch with Wærket: Kirkegaardsvej 15, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 97 83 13 90 / Website

6) German Bunkers and Sunset on the Beach in Thyborøn

Since the sun sets in the west, you can’t visit Denmark’s west coast in the spring, fall or winter without going to the beach to watch the sun set. We were so lucky to have seen it on our first night in Thyborøn as the boys played in the bunkers.

The Sunset off the Danish West Coast

The air was crisp, but the waves were so calming. If you are visiting Denmark in the summertime, be aware that the sun doesn’t often set at night. Being so far up north, the summers in Denmark are quite long. That is why we were happy to be there in April to enjoy a sunset after supper!

German Bunkers on Denmark’s West Coast

During the 1940s, the Nazis invaded Denmark and set up bunkers along Denmark’s western coastline in preparation of attacks from the British.

…or so they say…

Though the war ended a long time ago, you can still se many German bunkers in Denmark. In fact, at one point in time, Thyborøn had nearly 100 bunkers, which was part of the larger “Atlantic Wall”, which Hitler built to fortify the west coast from the Allies.

If you are interested in seeing how bunkers have been turned into art, check out the bunkers in Blåvand, Denmark!

This was a very important area for the Germans during these days. Thyborøn was not only on the western coast, which was a great location for observation towers and gun positions towards invading ships, but it is also where the Limfjord connects with the North Sea. Many people don’t realize that the Limfjord separates northern Jutland (Nordjylland) completely from central Denmark (Midtjylland). This means that ships could use it as a passage from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea while having the protection of Danish lands on both sides.

Nowadays, you can explore the bunkers on your own or climb to the top for a better few of the waves.

Where to Eat in Thyborøn

When we were in Thyborøn, we wanted to eat at a place that was near the harbor with great, fresh fish. They Fiskhallen was just the place to go for a great restaurant in Thyborøn where we could do just that.

My husband got the classic “stjerneskud”, which is a piece of bread with a breaded fish on top. Then, there can be shrimp, smoked salmon, cucumbers, lemon slices, etc. The boys and I got fish and chips, which was delicious. The fish was so fresh, and the breading was very crispy. Just how we like it! As we ate, we enjoyed some Danish beers, soft drinks and a lovely view of the harbor with sailboats and fishing boats coming in from the sea.

A Great Restaurant for Kids in Thyborøn

The boys wanted to eat outside, but since the beginning of April is still quite chilly, we ate inside. There were others eating outside with some blankets, though.

The boys also had to get an icy drink before we left. They chose to do this instead of taking a tour of the small playground that was next to the restaurant. In all honesty, this playground looked like it was perfect for smaller children, so it might not have been the perfect place for my bigger guys anyway!

Within the same building as the restaurant, you can also find an ice cream during the high season. For those who are interested in buying your own fish to take home and cook, you can also do that here, as well.

Getting in Touch with the Fiskehallen Restaurant: Havnegade 5A, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 97 83 28 82 / Website

Where to Stay in Thyborøn

When we visited the town of Thyborøn, we stayed at the Thyborøn Camping, Hotel and Hytteby. Though we normally love to camp in our camper caravan, we thought that we would try to stay in one of the cabins in the “hytteby” at Thyborøn Camping. It was during the low season, so we weren’t very excited about having to walk to the bathroom in the cold, west-coast breezes that early in the spring. We were lucky to get a cabin with a bathroom to save us a trip.

A Perfect Choice When Staying in Thyborøn

This small campground had cozy little cabins, a great playground, and a perfect location. We were within walking distance to an amazing beach with the largest gathering of German bunkers that you can find in this area. That made it much more interesting to get out and explore the area around the campground.

What to do at Thyborøn Camping

Because we stayed there during the off season, we were unable to try out the mini-golf course, but it looked like a fun one. We were also unable to see the indoor playroom, but we really enjoyed our time on the giant playground. The boys loved climbing up the play tower and spinning in the fish net. For me, I had a nice time on the swings. It is always nice when playgrounds have the large, spider-net swing. Those are my favorite!

They also had a soccer field there, so don’t forget to bring your ball.

We would recommend a stay at the Thyborøn Camping if you are looking for a place to stay in Thyborøn that is great for kids and close to many fun attractions. If you bring a bike on your trip, you can easily see the entire town on two wheels without having to go far from the campground.

Getting in Touch with Thyborøn Camping, Hotel and Hytteby: Idrætsvej 3, 7680 Thyborøn / Tlf: 97 83 12 77 / Website

Overall Impressions of Thyborøn, Denmark

It is kind of funny to think that we briefly stopped in Thyborøn a few years ago when we were traveling in that area. However, we had no idea that these amazing places existed, so we missed out on experiencing them. We are so glad that we made Thyborøn the only focus on this trip so that we could really get the most out of our weekend there.

Our boys were 12 and 9 during this trip, which may have been on the young side for oyster hunting, they were the perfect age for the other activities. We really enjoyed being out in nature and learning about the different sea creatures of that area. The Sea War Museum was a complete shock to us, and I am so glad that we decided to stop there before we went back home. The history that we learned there was like no other I had experienced in my 6 years in Denmark. Of course, we also loved all of the fun, hands-on experiences at the Jyllandsakvariet.

The weekend was slow. We took our time looking at things and experiencing each place with no rush. With great food and fun activities, we would highly recommend a visit to Thyborøn, Denmark for any family or traveler. 

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