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TOURISM

Who visits Denmark in summer and where do the tourists go?

Tourism in Denmark is still rebounding after the bottom fell out in 2020. But which kind of tourists come to Denmark in the summer? Where are they from and where do they go?

Who visits Denmark in summer and where do the tourists go?
Every day in Copenhagen's scenic Nyhavn, sightseers line up for boat tours of the canals. But where are these tourists from? Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix

The Local scoured data from Tourism Denmark to learn who it is asking for directions in Copenhagen and hogging beach space on Danish shores. 

Overwhelmingly, it’s Danes that visit Denmark — two thirds of all overnight tourism in 2021 was from Danes spending their holidays in other parts of their own country. 

But as for foreign tourism, Denmark’s neighbours to the south take the lion’s share. Germans spent more than 13.2 million overnight visits in Denmark in 2021. 

Next up is the Netherlands, which sent more than 717,000 overnight guests to Denmark. Swedes and Norwegians spent 604,000 and 412,00 overnight stays in Denmark, respectively, while the UK and the US both contributed about 200,000 stays. 

Country of Origin  Overnight visitors to Denmark in 2021
1. Germany 13.2 million
2. The Netherlands 717,900
3. Sweden 604,000
4. Norway 412,600
5. The United Kingdom 208,900
6. United States 199,300
7. France 164,100
8. Italy 161,500
9. India 18,100
10. China 14,500

Where do they spend the night? 

Forty-two percent of all tourists, including Danes, spent their vacations in rented holiday homes, while 23 percent camped outside. Only 23 percent of all overnight stays in Denmark were in hotels — holiday centers, hostels, and marinas round out the rest. 

READ MORE: Summer houses in Denmark: What are the rules and when can you live in them?

Beaches beat the cities 

A whopping 80 percent of overnight stays were for coastal and nature tourism — that’s the summer house culture for you — while only 11 percent was tourism to big cities. Business tourism accounted for the last 9 percent. 

Favourite destinations by country 

German tourists flocked to a region called Vesterhavet (literally ‘the western sea’ in Danish), spending 5 million overnight stays there in 2021. The distant second and third favorite destinations for holiday-making Germans in Denmark were Nordvestkysten (‘the north west coast,’ which saw 2.3 million overnight stays) and Southern Jutland with 1.6 million. 

As far as the US is concerned, Denmark might as well be a city-state — 77 percent of American visitors stayed in Denmark’s capital city, while 63 percent of UK tourists and nearly half of all visits from Swedes were to Copenhagen. 

Norwegians have a broader palate for Denmark’s diverse charms, with about a third staying in Copenhagen and the other two thirds spread across the Danish islands and beaches. 

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The best places to camp in Denmark this summer (that are close to Aarhus and Copenhagen)

With the summer break around the corner, we've some idyllic places in Denmark where you can set up a tent, gather around a camp fire and gaze at the stars -- and won't have to travel for hours to do so.

The best places to camp in Denmark this summer (that are close to Aarhus and Copenhagen)

Møns Klint

Located south of Copenhagen, this place is nicknamed the Cold Caribbean because of its crystal clear water, created by the 70 million-year-old chalk cliffs gentling crumbling into the Baltic Sea. Møns Klint is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the beach is full of ancient fossils, making it a special place to visit.

The area is Scandinavia’s first Dark Sky Park; an area completely free of light pollution, making stargazing, with the added reflection from the sea below, a magical experience.

The camping site here offers options of tents, caravans and either basic or family cabins. There are lots of amenities such as kitchen, washing and drying facilities, outdoor heated pool in the summer, mini golf course, playground, football pitch, tennis court, a fenced-in dog park with washing facilities.

The campsite also has a small kiosk and pizza restaurant and WIFI-internet which covers most of the area. Horse riding, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, sailing, fishing are all activities you can enjoy nearby. 

Møn is around a two-hour journey from Copenhagen, making it the longest journey from one of Denmark’s two largest cities on this list. But it’s such a beautiful place, we think it’s worth the extra effort.

Photo by Levin Kohrt on Unsplash

Vejle

Around an hour south of Aarhus is Denmark’s ninth largest city, Vejle. The town is surrounded by nature including Vejle Fjord, where the low forested hills, something of a rarity in Denmark, were shaped by glaciers during the last ice age. 

The campsite is located close to Vejle Fjord and Albuen Strand. Here you can pitch up your tent, caravan or motorhome, or rent out one of the 13 luxury cabins. Facilities include a kitchen, playground, TV room and equipment for fishing. 

Just outside the campsite is the forest Nørreskoven with the deer park, Dyrehaven. Nørreskoven is well-known for its large beech trees from the early sixteenth century. You can enjoy the forest from above in the treetop climbing park, Gorilla Park, or enjoy an obstacle course or mountain bike trail, organised by the sports college, Vejle Idrætshøjskole.

The campsite is also close to the family-friendly sandy Albuen beach, which has benches, picnic tables, a playground, beach volley court and kiosk.

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Aarhus

At Blommehaven campsite in Aarhus, you can pitch up a tent in the middle of Marselisborg Forest, enjoy a view of Aarhus Bay and walk to a variety of beautiful beaches.

There are activities for children including a playground, trampoline, climbing wall, ball field and indoor playroom, miniature golf and bike rental.

The campsite is only 5km from central Aarhus, so you can get an urban fix by cycling into the city to enjoy museums, Tivoli Friheden or the well-known Den Gamle By. Further afield, in less than an hour you can get to Mols Bjerge, Ebeltoft, Randers Regnskov, or take a boat trip to Samsø.

As well as camping, there are simple cabins without bathrooms.

Photo by Mikkel Jönck Schmidt on Unsplash

Ebeltoft

Ebeltoft Strand Camping Site in the southern part of Djursland, is set along a one-kilometre, child-friendly sandy beach meaning swimming, sand-castle building, wind and kite surfing are right on the doorstep.

You can arrive at the site with a tent, caravan, camper van or rent a luxury cabin and there’s a swimming pool and sauna, as well as football pitch, playground, table tennis and minigolf course.

You can walk into the town of Ebeltoft, where you can visit the world’s longest wooden warship at the Frigate Jutland, or wander through Ebeltoft’s charming cobbled streets. Ree Park and Mols Bjerge National Park are also worth exploring.

Fire pit, camping, Denmark

Enjoying wild camping at Bøllemosen, Skodsborg, north of Copenhagen. Photo: Emma Pouncey
 

Wild camping

If you want a no-frills camping experience, you can find suitable spots in forests on the Danish Nature Agency website called ‘primitive overnatningspladser og shelters,’ directly translated as ‘primitive accommodation and shelters.’

The Nature Agency lists forests with suitable clearings for tents to be pitched, areas for camp fires and in some places, a water tap. You can stay up to two consecutive nights on the site and it’s all free.

There is also the option of a basic shelter for those not wanting to use a tent, which are also free. You can book in advance or use on on a first come, first served basis for up to two consecutive nights. You can see all shelters and wild camping spots at udinaturen.

READ ALSO:Five music festivals happening in Denmark this summer

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