Family holiday in large summer houses with pool in Ebeltoft
Djursland is home to the charming market town of Ebeltoft. Ebeltoft is the oldest market town and has had the right to call itself a market town since the year 1301 when it was first given that status. Ebeltoft is known for its charming and narrow streets, which are laid with cobblestone in the centre and lined by old-fashioned half-timbered houses. The area around Adelgade, Overgade and Nedergade in particular have many pretty old houses that have been well preserved. The quaint and charming atmosphere is what makes this the number one tourist town on the Djursland peninsula. The town also has good options for shopping and lots of nice cafés and restaurants to visit, before a strolling along the harbour where the famous HDMS Jylland rocks in the water.
Holiday homes rentals in Ebeltoft
Experiences in nature on your holiday in Ebeltoft
Nature on Djursland is unique and beautiful, boasting glorious rape fields and hills with a fantastic view as far as the eye can see. Visit the Mols Bjerge National Park and experience open heathland, forests, hiking trails and a rich and varied wildlife. Explore historic manor houses and exceptional landscapes and be sure to visit the viewing points of Agri Bavnehøj (137 m) and Trehøje (127m). The offer wonderful views out over Mols, Kalø Bay, Ebeltoft Bay and the Kattegat.
There are several forested areas close to Ebeltoft, which are good destinations for some hiking in hilly terrain. For example, go and visit Fruerlund Plantage, the Handrup Hills or Skramsø Plantage, where you will also have the option to take a dip in one of the lakes in the area. A good hiking route you can try is Kløverstien, which stretches over 27 km. The trail is divided into four different routes so you can pick the one that suits you best. The trail takes you through Ebeltoft and its surrounding green areas. One of the routes is a walk around Ebeltoft. This route is 2.5 km and called the Old Market Town (Den Gamle Købstad) because it takes you through central Ebeltoft and its historic centre. Another option is the route Around Ebeltoft (Rundt om Ebeltoft), which is 12 km and takes you through the surrounding forests and to some nice lookout spots with views of both Ebeltoft and the sea.
Angling, water sports and swimming near Ebeltoft
If you would rather swim by the beach, then the beaches around Ebeltoft Bay are well suited for families with children. Enjoy a dip from one of the many beaches with calm waters around Ebeltoft Bay. The beaches are child friendly because they are shielded from the larger waves and thus have calm and shallow waters. Ahl Strand has shallow and warm water, which the kids can paddle and play in while the adults enjoy an afternoon in the sun. Ahl Strand is also known for its rich birdlife, whose beautiful melodies you can enjoy as you laze about. If your children are slightly older then you might consider Boeslum Strand. Here the water starts shallow but quickly becomes deeper. This means older children can swim and dive about in the waves, which can reach decent heights since the beach is facing the Kattegat, while the adults can supervise the little ones playing with their nets at the water’s edge.
Meanwhile, the other side of Djursland has some really great options for practising water sports. The East Jutland coast is popular among kayaking, diving, kitesurfing and windsurfing enthusiasts who come here to explore the Kattegat. The water and lakes of Djursland also offer hours upon hours of entertainment for anglers as well. If you prefer fishing by the coast, then a visit to Slettehage Strand would be highly recommended. The water here is deep and flowing, and as you wait for a bite on your hook, you can enjoy the view of Samsø and Slettehage Lighthouse.
Art and culture in Ebeltoft
Sommerfest is held in Ebeltoft on the 29th week of each year from the Thursday to the Sunday. Sommerfest is a big event with a jam-packed programme, which is designed to offer something for every member of the family and all their individual interests. Among other things there is a flea market, live music, disco, a kid’s flea market, a prize-giving, bingo and much, much more. Children under 12 enter free, while for adults there is an admission fee of DKK 10 to access the site on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday is free for adults and kids. Saturday is the biggest night of the event, with suckling pig and fillet steak on the menu. Tickets must be purchased in advance to attend the dinner, which starts at 19:00. These can be bought online or from the Bureau on the grounds from Friday at 12:00.
A car boot sale takes place in Ebeltoft on the third Sunday of each month. This makes for a nice way to spend the day as a family, where you can go hunting for a good buy among the many different stalls and stands. Discover retro and vintage treasures, which you can take back as decorations for your home. Have you got stuff at home that you’ve grown a little tired of but which might bring joy to others? Then you have the opportunity to rent a stand online and be a seller at the car boot sale yourself. Give new life to old things and enjoy a day out in the spirit of nostalgia.
Artistic experiences are also aplenty in Ebeltoft. The old courthouse is now an art centre called Tinghuset, which holds interesting events in the winter months, with a focus on music, authorship and understanding art in laid-back surroundings. The Tinghuset Gallery is open year round and gives you the chance to discover local artists, their work and exhibitions. The artists rent the space, so the exhibitions change almost every other week. Tinghuset also offers creative courses within subjects such as watercolour painting and ordinary painting. The courses are offered by private tenants, so the theme or topic will depend on the individual course holder.
Unique experiences in Ebeltoft
A really special experience you can look forward to when you visit Ebeltoft is the craft brewery Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri. Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri is located in idyllic surroundings between fields and with a view of the Kattegat. The estate is more than 150 years old and located 12 km to the north of Ebeltoft, which makes it handy to visit while on your trip. The brewery produces sodas, lemonades and beer – lagers, ales and other delicious brews as well. All production takes place at the brewery itself using local ingredients, such as water from Ebeltoft’s own well. At Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri you can really taste Djursland, not just through the many delicious drinks on offer, but also in the form of the crunchy toasted sandwiches sold at the café.
Another exciting place to visit is Pust Glasværksted. Pust Glasværksted is just one of the many handicraft workshops and businesses which can be found in and around Ebeltoft. The area is particularly known for glass art, and that is exactly what Pust Glasværksted is an eminent example of. The glass workshop is located in the centre of Ebeltoft in beautiful old premises, where there is a view of both the shop and the workshop. You can buy vases, dishes, bowls, jugs, jewellery and many other things in all sorts of different colours and shapes in the store, or watch the glassblowers form glass into cool shapes and create works of modern art. Pust Glasværksted is both an experience and a good place to buy a souvenir to take home with you from your holiday in Djursland.
If you love small, local shops, then Ebeltoft has an ace up its sleeve. Drive to Kalø Vay from Ebeltoft, and you will find Mols Organic by Vrinners. Mols Organic is a quaint farm shop where you will be able to find all the heart desires in terms of sweet treats and organic products. The shop is housed in old dairy buildings and sells chocolates, marzipan and other organic speciality products. The beautiful nature which surrounds the farm shop is reflected both in the aesthetics of their products and also in the ingredients lists. Give your taste buds an experience to remember with a visit to Mols Organic, and pick up something delicious to bring home for dinner.
Gastronomy in Ebeltoft
Ebeltoft may well be a small town, but it is nonetheless home to a great many different restaurants and cosy cafés. Restaurant Mellem Jyder is located inside one of the oldest buildings in town and dates all the way back to 1610. This is a great place to enjoy a good, old hearty pub meal made from organic ingredients. Another nice café is Hyttefadet. Hyttefadet serves good old-fashioned ice cream cones, ice lollies, sweet treats and warm drinks, plus they have a popular large fish buffet in the evenings. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you can enjoy your food while you contemplate the panoramic view over Ebeltoft Harbour, Ebeltoft Bay, the HDMS Jylland and the yachts which lilt and rock in the water.
One of the best restaurants in the country is situated with a view out over Ebeltoft Bay. Molskroen has been a gastronomic frontrunner for many years and has been under the management of several Michelin chefs. Today, Steffen Villadsen manages the inn and ensures that every plate of food served lives up to the high reputation that the inn has earned. French cuisine is the primary source of inspiration behind the style of cooking at Molskroen, and guests can look forward to some modern interpretations of classic dishes. In addition to a gastronomic experience, which will light up your taste buds and make your mouth water, a part of the experience that completes your visit to Molskroen is the view and the scent of the sea, on one side, and the green pastoral landscape on the other.
After a good meal there is nothing better than a cup of coffee. If somebody in your group loves coffee or if you yourself are crazy about the black stuff and the heady aroma of coffee beans, then pay a visit to the roasting house Mols Kafferisteri. This roasting house is just 15 minutes from Ebeltoft and roasts quality beans from Guatemala and India. The roastery is open all through the summer period, so visitors can come and sample some delicious coffee at the roastery’s coffee bar or buy bags filled with roasted coffee beans to take home with them.
Ebel festival in Ebeltoft
A very special event which characterises Ebeltoft is the so-called Ebel Festival. The festival is held on the 42nd week of each year and aims to spread awareness about Ebeltoft as a town but also about the many different varieties of apple which can be found in Denmark. The festival relies on the help of volunteers and takes place around Jernbanegade, Adelgade and Bryggerivej – all streets which are very close to the harbour and to the HDMS Jylland. Visitors to the Ebel Festival will encounter a sea of stalls selling a wide range of different products. Taste pancakes filled with candied apples, traditional æbleskiver or freshly pressed apple juice – or why not have a go at pressing some apples yourself? Children can also take part in the fun. Buy some beautiful wicker or explore the stands of various lifestyle stores. Buy open-pan salt, fresh fish, wool and fur products or jewellery. The festival has many stalls selling homemade jewellery, paintings, glassware, pottery and much, much more. Many of the stalls take the form of functional workshops, so you can watch as the products sold are made right before your eyes from start to finish. There are plenty of activities on offer for children as well such as The Apple Art Workshop (Æblekunst Værkstedet) or candle making.
Attractions and sights near Ebeltoft
Djursland is brimming with sights and attractions for all the family to enjoy. The old town is a good place to start, no matter whether you like fast-paced adventures or more laid-back experiences. if you are interested in the animal kingdom, then you will find lots of suitable options for an entertaining day trip. Here is just a selection of the many places you can visit.
You simply can’t visit Ebeltoft without checking out HDMS Jylland. The ship measures an impressive 102 metres and this makes it the longest wooden frigate in the world. The cabins have been carefully restored in relation to the original, and the vessel reflects an important piece of Denmark’s history. The frigate has undergone a full restoration and today operates as a museum ship. Explore all the ship and get a sense of what life on board must have been like, as well as an introduction to Denmark’s maritime history in a modern way.
Swing by the Kattegat Centre in Grenaa, which has plenty of fun and excitement to offer. Here you will have the opportunity to get up and close with some of the many animals that inhabit the world’s seas. The Kattegat Centre is made up of different aquariums, each of which offer unique and fascinating insight into life under the surface of the water. The aquarium is home to more than 250 species of animal including the 2.5 metre sand tiger sharks, which you can dive with as well as feed. It that sounds too terrifying then you can instead visit the seals, which live in the pools outside the aquarium itself. In both 2016 and 2018 the centre was named the best aquarium in the Nordic Region, so if you haven’t been yet, it is absolutely worth a visit.
From Ebeltoft, Djurs Sommerland is just 32 km away. This is one of the largest amusement parks in Denmark, with more than 60 different attractions. There is something here for all the family no matter whether you are into wild rollercoasters or if you prefer things a little calmer. Djurs Sommerland is divided up into eight different theme lands, and each year, the park is visited by thousands of guests. Bring along your own packed lunch or buy food from one of the many eateries and recharge your energy levels for a whole day of fun, excitement and that whooshing feeling in your tummy.
Approx. 10 km away from Ebeltoft is Ree Park Safari, where you can get a real taste of safari adventure. Ree Park Safari is brimming with interactive experiences that will give you a whole new perspective on the many animal species of our world. Visiting the park is a great way to get up close and personal with many animal species, which normally live in different geographical zones. The park is set apart from others by its gorgeous nature playground, which is sure to stir up excitement, particularly with the youngest members of your family. Ree Park Safari is also one of the biggest centres in Europe for the breeding of cheetahs, and in fact, it is the only place in Denmark where you can experience this endangered animal. The park is also involved in other international breeding projects, which aim to help protect endangered animals.
If you are visiting in the winter or the weather turns rainy, you will love a visit to Jump ‘n’ Fun. Jump ‘n’ Fun is a 1,500 sqm play centre with lots and lots of physical activities for the whole family.
Holiday home rentals in Ebeltoft and East Jutland
Holiday home rentals are not only popular in the summer half of the year, they are also popular in the winter. Here at VillaVilla, we rent out large holiday homes with pools all across Denmark. In East Jutland and on Djursland we also offer vacation rentals in Fjellerup, Hvidbjerg, Juelsminde, Saksild, Grenå Strand and on Samsø.
