Holiday home rentals on Bornholm

Ideas for things to do on Bornholm

Bornholm is a very special part of Denmark with plenty of experiences for everyone, from families with young children to those who prefer action and outdoor pursuits and friends looking for top-notch gastronomy. Here we have gathered some inspiration for your holiday on Denmark’s Sunshine Island.

Fun excursions through Bornholm’s unique nature

Spend your time enjoying the activities in the holiday home, such as billiards, table tennis, darts and the PlayStation, or explore the countless options for fun and adventure around the island’s beauty spots.

Almindingen, Rytterknægten and Rokkestenen on Bornholm

Almindingen is the largest forest on the island of Bornholm and also home to the island’s highest point – Rytterknægten. Make your way up the King’s Memorial Tower (Kongemindet) from 1856, for an exceptional view over Bornholm. The tower was built in remembrance of a visit to Bornholm made by King Frederik VII and Grevinde Danner in 1851. From Rytterknægten, you can then make your way to the famous rift known as Echo Valley (Ekkodalen) and shout something fun. The Danes like to shout “What does Møller drink?” because the sound that comes back means “beers” in Danish!  Your walk will also take you past some of the oldest woodland in Bornholm, which is around 200 years old, as well as the huge Rocking Stone (Rokkestenen), which weighs around seven tonnes. The boulder in Almindingen is just one of three boulders on Bornholm. The island’s Rocking Stone is a relic from the last ice age. See if you can find the right spot to push it so it rocks back and forth. The boulder in Alminden is the third largest rocking stone on Bornholm. The largest can be found in the Paradisbakkerne area, while the second biggest rocking stone is located in Rutsker Højlyng in the north.

The visitor center at Hammershus Castle Ruins

In 2018, a new visitors centre was opened at Hammershus Castle Ruins, so your experience of these historic ruins can now be combined with a visit to this unique building designed by Norwegian architect Christoffer Harlang. The building perfectly blends in to its special surroundings and provides a nice panoramic view over Hammershus.

Various different guided tours are offered at Hammershus, and you will find good options for both adults and kids. There is also a treasure hunt for children, which takes place via your smart phone. There are plenty of ways to have a fantastic experience at the old borgruin Hammershus Castle Ruins!

Visit Christiansø and Frederiksø

The islands of Christiansø and Frederiksø are also well worth visiting. The sea fortress of Christiansø was built by Christian V towards the end of the 17th century, in connection with the Dano-Swedish Wars. The islands are part of the Ertholmene archipelago, and the trip from Gudhjem to Christiansø takes around one hour. From Christiansø you can then cross the suspension bridge to the smaller island of Frederiksø, which has only around 30 inhabitants. Christiansø has approximately 90 permanent residents.

Experiences in Rønne

Bornholm’s “capital” is Rønne, and with its charming half-timbered houses and crooked streets, it is absolutely worth visiting. Some of the things you can do here include the ceramics factory, Hjorts Keramik, or the island’s cultural history museum, the Bornholm Museum. If you haven’t brought your own bike along, you can rent bikes in Rønne and set off along some of the excellent routes that traverse the rocky coastline. You can also take the kids to see the Bird of Prey Show and watch both falcons and eagles hunt. Don’t be fooled by the name, though. The show is more than just birds of prey. It also includes spiders, snakes and more cuddly critters such as rabbits, goats and ponies.

Food experiences on Bornholm

Bornholm is also known for its many herring smokehouses and the perfect place to try a classic “Sol over Gudhjem” open sandwich. Although the dish is said to have been created by a chef in Copenhagen, it has become synonymous with Bornholm and the island’s many herring smokehouses. Ever since 2009, Sol over Gudhjem has also been a cooking competition, which takes place on Bornholm every year in June at the harbour in Gudhjem.

In addition to the herring smokehouses, Bornholm has also become well known in recent years for a great many other ingredients and delicacies. The small town of Svaneke is home to the popular liquorice company Bülow Lakrids as well as Svaneke Brewery, while in Gudhjem you will find Karamel Kompagniet, which makes heavenly caramels. Nexø, meanwhile, is a great place to try a traditional Bornholm liquor called syp. The restaurant scene on Bornholm is also developing. Bornholm got its first Michelin star in 2016 when the restaurant Kadeau in Rønne first put Bornholm on the gastronomical map of Denmark. Kadeau is particularly well known for using many local Bornholm ingredients in their food and is described as Bornholmsk-Nordisk.

Active holidays on Bornholm

There are plenty of options for an active holiday on Bornholm when you visit a luxury holiday home area, no matter whether you are most into golf, hiking or running. The island can also be experienced by bicycle along some of the many undisturbed cycle routes.

The Coastal Route (Kyststien), which goes around the island, is 120 km in total, but it is divided into different stages, so you can choose between shorter walks or longer endeavours for more seasoned hikers. Nature areas such as the Paradise Hills (Paradisbakkerne) and the forest of Almindingen also make for nice places to go walking and hiking.

Given that Bornholm is also known as the rocky island, it is naturally also great for climbing, abseiling and mountain biking. The area around Lake Opal is particularly popular among climbers and mountain bikers. The MTB tracks on Bornholm are regarded as being particularly special thanks to their unique terrain, which can present a challenge even to seasoned mountain bikers.

Holiday home near Bornholm’s best beach

Bornholm is a Mecca for beach bums and water lovers. Our luxury holiday homes are all located between Snogebæk and Dueodde, close to beautiful Dueodde Strand, which has been voted by the travel guide Lonely Planet as one of the best beaches in Europe. But there are many other good beaches on Bornholm. The stretch of coast from Hasle to Balka on the south of the island is actually a long sandy beach measuring approx. 50 km. The beaches on the southern part of the island are shallow, and this makes them especially popular with families that have kids.

Rocky Island

Bornholm is also known in Denmark as the rocky island and the north in particular is characterised by a unique rocky landscape. Here there are many different rock formations to explore, such as the Sanctuary Rocks (Helligdomsklipperne), which you will find on the stretch between the towns of Tejn and Gudhjem. The rocks are named after an ancient holy spring which had its outlet by the rocks. If you visit Hammershus and take a walk along the Coastal Path, you will see another exciting rock formation to the west of the castle ruins. These are the rocks called the camels’ heads which, as the name suggests, resemble the heads of camels looking in towards the land. To the right of the camels’ heads is another formation, which resembles a lion’s head.

Bornholm all year round

Although most guests prefer to visit Denmark’s sunshine island in the summer months, Bornholm is also a great destination for a spring vacation, a winter weekend or a holiday home getaway in the autumn. Our pool houses on Bornholm allow you to enjoy a bathing holiday on Bornholm no matter the time of year. Our luxury holiday homes in Dueodde all boast fun activities to enjoy, such as billiards, table football and table tennis, so even if the weather disappoints, you will not go bored on your holiday to Bornholm. In November, January and February, the houses on Bornholm are also available to rent on a weekend basis from Friday to Sunday. So, if you are looking for the perfect setting for this year’s family holiday or gathering with friends, then Bornholm is an excellent choice. Its unique natural landscapes mean fun experiences all year round, plus its many galleries and small shops are open all through the year.

Frequently asked questions about holiday homes on Bornholm