Perched at the top of the Skagen Odde peninsula, Skagen is a lively fishing port and the northernmost town in Denmark. It’s home to several fascinating museums dedicated to everything from history to teddy bears and Scandinavian artists who were attracted to the region’s captivating light and landscapes.
Things to do in Skagen
See Denmark’s oldest brick lighthouse, the White Lighthouse, which was first illuminated in 1747 and houses changing art exhibitions. Also not to miss is the 14th-century Sand-Covered Church, a Gothic-style church dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome that’s been partially buried by sand. Today, only its whitewashed tower with its distinctive crow-stepped gable roof can be seen protruding from the dunes.
Art lovers should make a point of visiting Skagens Museum, which exhibits works by the Skagen Painters. This group of Scandinavian artists moved to the region in the late 19th century to document its landscapes and fishing lifestyle in a style that mimicked the French Impressionists. After browsing the works by Laurits Tuxen, Viggo Johansen and Holger Drachmann, you can enjoy afternoon tea in the Garden House, which occupies the former home and studio of Anna and Michael Ancher.
Travelling with kids? Pay a visit to the Teddy Bear Museum, which is the only museum of its kind in Scandinavia. In addition to housing around 1,000 bears from the private collection of Jonna Thygesen, the museum features a sculpture garden, a cafe and a shop where you can purchase teddy bears to take home.
Getting around Skagen
Aalborg Airport is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Skagen and has flights to destinations across Europe while regular trains connect south to Frederikshavn. Ferries travel from Frederikshavn to Oslo and Gothenburg while buses make the journey to and from Blokhus in the summer months.