3 must-visit places for a slow summer holiday in Denmark.

Jun 21, 2019 | 11 comments

Hi! Hello! How are you all doing? I’ve not been putting a lot of effort into my blog for the past couple years which I am actually super sad about. Afterall this is where it all started when I pubilshed my very first post back in 2015! I’ve been thinking about picking back up on writing so many times, but with the rise of short-form content (hello TikTok, Shorts and Reels) it’s just harder to have time for it all these days. As much as I love creating snappy little styling reels I do also miss long-form and slower content, and I’m secretly hoping that we’ll start seeing a slow shift back to that in the near future. I mean, am I the only one feeling super fatigued by the AMOUNT of content out there some times? Everything is so high speed; similar to our consumption habits. I know everyone seems to love TikTok, I’ve given it a go myself and I do kind of like it too, but man. From a content creator perspective (even not just that, from a social media user perspective too), I’m so tired of feeling like you have to be “in it” and that you need to be onboard with all the newest social media trends alive to keep up. Anyway… moan over.

I wanted to check in here with a bit of a life update (for those of you old-school enough to enjoy the written format) as I feel like we’ve not chatted in ages!

 

(Trigger warning: infertility)

One major thing I have been considering openeing up about for a while is infertility and how this has been affecting our lives for the past 2 years. I’ve been going back and forth about sharing this for so long because well, it’s private and intimate and while I do like keeping things real on here some things are just better kept private. Having said that I’ve felt so incredibly alone in this whole process, and actually, after deciding to just be honest about it I’m amazed of how many other people we meet are actually going through the same. According to WHO 1 in 6 people are affected by infertility on a global scale, so really this is something we should talk way more about, yet there seems to be a lot of shame and taboo evolving around it. It’s something you always think happens to the next person and it’s never something I pictured would happen to me. But as this article states “infertility does not discriminate”, and it can happen to anyone.

As you know if you’ve followed me for some time we were blessed with a beautiful daughter back in 2020. When we decided we wanted children at the time, it didn’t take long from making that decision until I actually had a positive pregnancy test in my hands. Not long after that we felt ready to expand the family again, but as it turns out fate had other plans for us. It took a long time for us to even feel sure and ready to become parents the first time around, but once we did (it’s true what everyone always tells you) there was nothing else we rather wanted. That was it. Wanting to experience it all again so bad and then not being able to conceive has been no less than heartbreaking. At some point it becomes part of your life – you kind of get used to the fact that it’s just not happening. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but we were ultimately left with no other option (if we ever wanted more kids) than to go through IVF. I’m currently on my second round of IVF after one unsuccesful attempt back in fall 2023. Full of hormones and super (!) tired, but feeling okay despite it all. Having spring around the corner and generally experiencing lighter days at the moment helps a lot.

I’m very grateful for where we are and what we have, please know that. So we will have to see what the future brings. I just wanted to open up about this so that maybe if you’re going through the same thing; please know that you’re not alone and I know exactly how you feel <3 And maybe also so you guys know why I might be a little absent sometimes. 


Thank you all so much for your reactions and comments to my latest post. Since creating my blog 6 years ago, this is one of the posts that has engaged you guys the most. I can’t describe how amazing it feels knowing, that honest, authentic blogposts and content is so appreciated! Thanks for all your advice and for sharing your own, honest stories with me. You make this an amazing community <3

Do you guys know where you are off to on summer holiday yet? We’re going to Southern France by car for a week, and after that my husband and I are going to spend a lovely holiday home in Denmark with our furbabies. Some of my best holiday memories have actually been in Denmark on Fejø (learn more here and here), and there’s no doubt that I love this kind of holiday. Where you spend your days walking around with messy hair, bare feet, a shabby shirt and jeans, and where you’re just present in the moment. So I thought that today I wanted to share my favourite slow holiday destinations in Denmark. I’m sure there are many other places you can visit that are just as amazing, but these 3 are places I’ve visited myself over the years and that will always have a special place in my heart. This year, following our trip to France, I think we’ll try going to Bogense for a nice Danish holiday. I’ve heard it should be quite cozy there too. If we’re able to find a holiday home at this point that is. Everything pretty much seems to be booked, so guess we should have done it a little more time in advance. Oh well.

Most of you guys know that I’m from a city called Aabenraa, which is located about 30 minutes by car above the German border. And the Southern part of Jutland in Denmark is definitely worth a visit, if you’re looking for a quiet holiday with lots of hygge.

Ved I hvor I skal hen på sommerferie endnu? For os går turen i år til Sydfrankrig på kør-selv ferie i en uge, og efterfølgende holder manden og jeg ferie hjemme i dejlige Danmark med vores to pelsede venner. Nogle af mine bedste ferie-minder har faktisk været på Fejø (se her og her), og der er ingen tvivl om at jeg elsker denne type ferie. Hvor man render rundt med uglet hår, bare tæer, en nusset skjorte og jeans ligeså, og bare er til stede i nuet. Derfor tænkte jeg, at jeg ville dele mine yndlings ferie destinationer herhjemme i Danmark med jer. Jeg er sikker på der er mange flere skønne steder man kan besøge, men disse 3 steder er nogle jeg selv har besøgt gennem årene og som virkelig får mig helt ned i gear. Steder som altid vil have en helt særlig plads i mit hjerte. I år tror jeg måske vi vil prøve at tage til Bogense på Fyn efter vores tur til Frankrig, som også skulle være et helt vildt hyggeligt sted at holde dansk sommerferie. Hvis vi kan få fingrene i et sommerhus, det ser ud til at være booket altsammen at this point. Vi skulle vidst have været lidt tidligere ude. Oh well.

De fleste af jer ved måske jeg kommer fra en by der hedder Aabenraa, som ligger en halv time nord for den tyske grænse. Og den sydlige del af Danmark er helt klart et besøg værd, hvis du er på udkig efter en rolig ferie med masser af hygge og idyl.



Sandskær/ Løjt Kirkeby

Since moving back to Aabenraa we actually often drive to the beaches near Løjt, a small suburb to Aabenraa where Morten and I used to live for a couple years when we met each other. Back then we often drove our bikes to the beach, which is a wonderful ride where you’re surrounded by lots of nature and fields all the way down to the ocean. There are many great beaches in this area, but a place we really love is Sandskær. Morten and his mum actually used to have a holiday house there once (way before we met each other), where they would spend holidays sometimes. The pictures in this post are in fact taken in this very area. It’s so lovely and “hyggeligt” there, and the beach right by the foot of the holiday homes is amazing. It’s a very nice, clean and soft beach which is a rare thing in Denmark where most beaches are taken over by stones and seaweed. And the view from the top among the houses is amazing!

I recommend that you also visit the beach by the campsite a little further down the road. The beach there is not nearly as nice for swimming, but the surroundings are beautiful! You’re surrounded by tall pinetrees and the scenery is just a little more magnificent there, compared to the norm in Denmark which is in general very flat. We actually saw two backpackers the last time we went there, and I’m sure this area is perfect for just that too. There are activities for the whole family in this area – a pool, playground, golf course, kiosk and you only have a few minutes to the nearest grocery store or pizzeria (by car, but it’s doable by bike too). I also think that if you’re into riding a mountain bike, you’ll find some good trails in this area. If you feel like getting a little more “out there” for a little while, you can take a drive to Aabenraa which is only about 25 minutes away by car. I’d recommend you to eat at Under Sejlet by the beach (but if it’s for a weekend brunch you’ll need to book a table in advance some time before) or at one of the local cafés. I like Café Storm or Fru Geest, for more classic café food. And then you need to take a walk through the cute, Danish streets like Store Pottergade, Slotsgade and Skibrogade to experience the old, Danish houses. You can also take a walk to Brundlund Castle. If not to visit the castle itself, then just to take a walk or have a picnic in the park behind the castle. 

I haven’t stayed in one of the holiday homes in Sandskær myself (nor spend time at the campsite), but as I said we go there often just to spend time in the lovely area and at the beach. As you might have seen over on my Instagram, we actually drove there earlier this week for this year’s first (and very cold) swim. No matter if you’re from Denmark or from another country, this is a perfect place to experience a Danish holiday filled with hygge.

Efter vi er flyttet hjem til Aabenraa igen, så kører vi faktisk ofte til vandet ude ved Løjt, hvor Morten og jeg boede sammen nogle år dengang vi mødte hinanden. Dengang cyklede vi tit ud til vandet om sommeren, hvilket er en skøn tur hvor man er omgivet af masser af smuk natur hele vejen på de små landeveje. Der ligger flere rigtig fine strande i området omkring Løjt, men ét sted vi især holder rigtig meget af begge to er Sandskær. Morten og hans mor havde et sommerhus der engang (længe før vi mødte hinanden), hvor de holdt ferie indimellem. Billederne i indlægget her er faktisk taget i netop dette område. Der er så fint og hyggeligt og så er stranden ved foden af sommerhusområdet virkelig skøn. Det er faktisk en rigtig lækker sandstrand, som er lidt en sjælden ting i Danmark hvor strandene ofte er fulde af tang og sten. Og så er udsigten oppe fra sommerhusene helt fantastisk!

Jeg anbefaler også, at man besøger stranden nede ved campingpladsen lidt længere nede af vejen. Stranden i sig selv er ikke nær så god som oppe ved sommerhusene, men naturen er så smuk! Der er man omgivet af høje grantræer og lidt mere storslået natur, hvor man kan gå sig nogle lange ture. Vi så faktisk et par backpack’ere sidst vi var derude, og jeg kunne forestille mig at hvis man er til dén slags så er området helt perfekt.  Der er desuden aktiviteter for hele familien i dette område – pool, hoppepude, legeplads, golf, kiosk og kun få minutters kørsel (i bil, men man kan også sagtens cykle) til den nærmeste købmand og pizzeria inde i Løjt by. Er sikker på, at hvis man er til sådan noget som at køre mountain bike, så er der sikkert nogle gode spor i området også. Trænger man til lidt mere “by” så ligger Aabenraa kun ca. 25 minutters kørsel derfra. Her vil jeg anbefale man tager ud at spise på Under Sejlet nede ved vandet (hvis det er til weekendbrunch skal man dog booke bord i god tid) eller på én af caféerne på gågaden. Café Storm eller Fru Geest fx, hvis man er mere til klassisk Café mad. Og så skal man gå en tur i de hyggelige små gader der er i byen, som fx Store Pottergade, Slotsgade og Skibrogade, der rummer de fineste små, gamle byhuse. Man kan også gå en tur ned til Brundlund Slot. Hvis ikke for at besøge selve slottet, så bare for at gå en tur eller holde picnic i den dejlige park bag ved slottet.

Jeg har ikke selv prøvet at bo i sommerhus (eller på camping for den sags skyld) ved Sandskær, men som sagt kører vi jævnligt dertil med hunden, bare for at nyde det smukke område. Som I måske så på min Instagram kørte vi derud tidligere på ugen, for at få årets første (og meget kolde) dukkert. Uanset om man kommer fra Danmark eller fra et helt andet land, så er det her ihvertfald et super godt bud på Dansk ferie af den hyggeligste slags.



Rømø

Oh, Rømø. An island which beholds a special place in many Danish people’s hearts (especially those who come from the southern part of Jutland). For many young people this is a place to go to from week 28-30 to party every day. I used to do that too, but now I go back for other reasons 😉 Rømø is located in The National Park Wadden Sea and the nature there is characterized by sandbanks, reeds and dunes. If you want to go to the beach you drive there by car through the many miles of sand. There are various different campsites and holiday homes to rent in the area, and if you feel like going out for dinner or to do grocery shopping you can do that in Lakolk which is located right at the entrance to the beach. You could also drive to Tønder which is a lovely Danish city similar to Aabenraa, where there’s lots of possibilities to eat out or do some shopping. If you’ve got kids you can drive to Hjemsted Oldtidspark which is an amusement park where you can experience Danish antique history in a fun and lively way. 

On my birthday back in May we actually drove to Rømø, even though the weather was terrible. There’s something magical about the west coast in Denmark, even when it’s raining or when it’s really windy. Nothing good practical wear cant handle, haha! We brought some lunch to eat hidden behind one of the many dunes, when the rain stopped for a short while. If you like the more rough and windy nature by the west coast, then I think Rømø would be the thing for you.

Åh, Rømø. En ø som har en særlig plads i manges (især Sønderjyders) hjerte. For mange unge er øen et sted man valfarter til, for at feste hver dag i uge 28, 29 og 30. Bevares, jeg har da selv været der engang, men nu tager jeg dertil af nogle lidt andre årsager 😉 Rømø ligger i Nationalpark Vadehavet, og her er naturen præget af sandbanker, siv og klitter. Når man skal på stranden kører man derud i bil, og der er strand og vand så langt øjet rækker. Der er forskellige både camping og sommerhusområder på øen, og vil man ud og spise eller handle ind kan det klares i Lakolk som ligger lige ved “indgangen” til stranden. Man kan også køre til Tønder som ligger en lille time fra Rømø, hvis man trænger til at opleve lidt andet end dét øen har at byde på. Det er en rigtig hyggelig lille by, som på mange måder minder lidt om Aabenraa, hvor der er masser af muligheder for både at spise og købe ind. Har man børn ligger desuden Hjemsted Oldtidspark rigtig tæt på. Vi kom der som børn, og jeg husker det som et super hyggeligt sted hvor man får mulighed for, at rejse tilbage i tiden og opleve Dansk historie på en anderledes og mere levende måde.

På min fødselsdag i Maj måned kørte vi faktisk til Rømø en tur, selvom det blæste og regnede helt vildt. Der er noget magisk ved Vestkysten i Danmark, selv i dårligt vejr. Så det var bare på med regntøjet, haha! Vi tog en madpakke med, som vi sad og spiste i én af klitterne, da der for en kort stund var ophold for regnvejret. Hvis man kan lide den lidt mere barske og blæsende natur ved vestkysten, så er Rømø helt sikkert et besøg værd.



Fejø

As mentioned earlier in this post I’ve visited Fejø twice before, and this is one of places where I’ve collected some of the best holiday memories ever. It’s such a magical little island, where you can just let time stand still for a little while. We’ve rented this cottage both times we’ve been there by the way. It’s located at Sletteren, which is a lovely area filled with small holiday homes and cottages and where you have easy access to the beach within minutes. 

Fejø is probably most known for their apple orchards and apple juice (which you need to try when you’re there), and all along the road you’ll find private little stalls selling homemade apple juice, jam, honey or fresh fruit like apples and berries from the island. We made homemade apple porridge the last time we were there, and it was so good! Both as “Gammeldags Æblegrød” or just a little bit on top of our oat porridge in the morning. We also ate at Fejø Ny Kro, and even though it might look a bit questionable from the outside they make wonderful, classic Danish food! There’s also a café called Dybvig by the port, that makes amazing pizzas. You just need to double check the opening hours on these places beforehand. The same goes for the local grocery store, which is not open all the time. We usually drive and bring the car to the island with the ferry, so that we can bring most of the food for the week with us from home (breakfast, lunch, dinner and lots of snacks of course). 

Other places I’d like to recommend is Fejø Mølle (the old mill), where you’ll be able to get a cup of coffee and homemade cake which you can enjoy in the yard outside the mill. It’s no culinary experience, but it won’t get more “hyggeligt” or Danish. There’s also Kernegaarden and Den Helbredende Have (the healing yard), which are both fun and idyllic places to experience. Fejø is all about that Danish slow living, and I could easily drop everything I’m doing and go back anytime. It’s a wonderful place to recharge your batteries.

Fejø har jeg besøgt 2 gange, og som nævnt tidligere i indlægget, så har jeg virkelig taget nogle af mine bedste ferieminder med mig derfra. Det er en magisk lille ø, hvor man kan lade tiden gå i stå for en stund. Vi har iøvrigt lejet dette sommerhus, begge gange vi har været der. Det ligger ude på Sletteren, som er et rigtig hyggeligt sommerhusområde, hvor man let kan gå ned til vandet i løbet af få minutter.

Fejø er nok mest kendt for deres æbleplantager og æblemost (som man iøvrigt skal smage når man er der), og alle steder langs vejen er der små boder der sælger hjemmelavet æblemost, marmelade, honning eller friske æbler og andet frugt fra øen. Vi lavede hjemmelavet æblegrød sidst vi var der, det smagte fantastisk! Både på gammeldags manér med flødeskum og makroner, men faktisk også ovenpå havregrøden om morgenen. Vi har spist på kroen (Fejø Ny Kro) et par gange, og selvom det måske ser lidt questionable ud udefra, så laver de altså virkelig god, Dansk mad! Café Dybvig nede ved havnen er også et besøg værd. Deres pizzaer smager helt fantastisk! Man skal dog lige sørge for, at tjekke åbningstiderne forinden på disse steder hvis man vil ud at spise. Det samme gælder Købmanden, der også har nogle lidt særlige åbningstider. Vi plejer at have bil med derover, så vi har haft handlet ind til det meste forinden (morgenmad, frokost og aftensmad et par enkelte aftner. Og masser af snacks selvfølgelig).

Af andre steder jeg vil anbefale, at besøge på Fejø er Fejø Mølle (hvor man iøvrigt kan få sig en kop filterkaffe fra Termokande og et stykke hjemmeavet lagkage), som man kan nyde på én af bænkene udenfor. Ingen kulinarisk oplevelse men altså, bliver det mere hyggeligt og mere Dansk? Der er også Kernegaarden og Den Helbredende Have, som helt klart er et besøg værd. Fejø er indbegrebet af Dansk slow living, og jeg kunne smide alt jeg har i hænderne og tage tilbage når som helst. Det er virkelig et fantastisk sted, at lade op mentalt.

11 Comments

  1. Krystal

    Signe this places are stunning!

    I definitely regret not leaving Copenhagen’s city limits when we visited Denmark. (But that just means we have to return, right?)

    Reply
    • signeh24

      haha indeed, you’ll have to return! x

      Reply
  2. Dasha

    Wonderful post! Looking forward to visiting Denmark one day. Hopefully in the summer 😉

    Reply
    • signeh24

      Thank you! <3 I hope you will! x

      Reply
  3. Amy

    Every time you speak of the different places in Denmark (either here or on your YouTube channel), I always get this feeling of calmness and excitement in me. This is definitely a place marked on my bucket list now for the future. Thanks for sharing! <3

    Reply
    • signeh24

      Aaaw I’m so happy to hear that Amy! No problem love <3 x

      Reply
  4. Marta

    Hey Signe, I had a problem with tangling neckleces. Out of your recommendation I bought a layer slayer and I must say – it works like a charm! Thanks so much for the tip!

    Reply
  5. Marta

    Hey Signe, sorry for an off-top, but I just popped in to say thanks! Just like you, I had a problem with tangling neckleces. Out of your recommendation I bought a layer slayer and I must say – it works like a charm! Thanks so much for the tip!

    Reply
    • signeh24

      I’m so happy to hear that Marta! <3

      Reply
  6. Leila

    Hello Signe!
    After two days I got the chance to go to Copenhagen again for my work, and I’ll have one entire day to explore!
    I was going through your blog to see if I find any information about used clothes shops, but I couldn’t find.
    When I googled it, I found one that call “Prag” and another one call “waste Land”.
    If you have any shop, or brand that you recommend in Copenhagen could you please let me know??
    It will really make my stay in Copenhagen more fun and happy!!
    Thank you:)

    Reply
    • signeh24

      Hi Leila! Thanks for your comment 🙂 I do have a larger guide coming up on Copenhagen within the next week, since I’ve been there a couple days to check out all the cool secondhand shops and sustainable shops. Including those two 🙂 thanks for your tip though! Keep an eye out for the blog for the guide. Love Signe

      Reply

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