Horsens

Horsens is a city in eastern Jutland with a population of around 55,000. Horsens is a port-town placed at the end of a beautiful long shallowwater inlet. Such inlets are known as "fjord"'s in Denmark and there are several of them on the East Jutland coast. Horsens fjord is typical with rolling hills and forests stretching all the way down to the water and its presence make the city feel less like a coastal town. The larger city of Vejle south of Horsens also sits at the bottom of a Danish fjord.

Cobbled street in the old central parts of Horsens.

Horsens has a pedestrianised center with historic buildings, cafés, restaurants and opportunities for specialty shopping and the inner city is dotted with art installitions. The local tourist office is at Søndergade 28.

Horsens is an old town. Already during the Viking age it was a settlement called Horsnes. The name probably referred to the breeding of a large numbers of horses in the area.

Get in

It takes 28 mins to reach Horsens from Aarhus by DSB Intercity trains, the main train service operating in Denmark. Horsens is two stops from Aarhus towards Copenhagen on the main line running from Frederikshavn in north to Copenhagen.

The nearest airport is Billund Airport, the country's second largest airport.

There is also a smaller airport in Tirstrup, north of Aarhus. Passengers arriving at that airport and are depending on public transportation will have to catch the airport coach into Aarhus station and then a train from Aarhus to Horsens.

From Copenhagen, Horsens can be reached with trains running from Copenhagen Airport Kastrup. The journey time is approx. 2 ½ to 3 hours (most often passengers will have to change trains at the main station in Copenhagen).

Get around

A great way to discover Horsens is by bike. You can rent bikes at different locations, ask at the tourist office. The central train station unloads you in the city center and most of the interesting parts of the inner city can be done in a day if you choose to walk on your own two feet. Walking is safe, easy and enjoyable in Horsens. There is a local network of buses in Horsens and the central terminal is conveniently located at the central station. A ticket purchased on a local bus is valid for one hour and costs DKK 19. A ten-trips card costs DKK 115, each trip is valid for an hour as well.

See

Søndergade (High Street), The old prison (closes by the end of 2008) and the special churches.

• Bygholm Park (Immediately west of the central station in the city center). This is a large historic park with ponds, canals and rolling lawns in the English garden tradition. Its a beautiful place and perfect for a stroll or a picnic in the summer. There is a large playground in the park including opportunities for a fitness workout too, public toilets and a 9 "hole" disc-golf field. In the winter months, an outdoor ice rink is assembled. A dominant feature of the park is the large romantic Bygholm manor house from 1775, now a hotel and restaurant since 1919. The park was originally the site of a historic castle, Erik Menved's Castle, from 1313, but nowadays only a small ruin is left. (updated Jun 2016)
• Vitus Bering Park (East of the central station in the city center). A nice park that you can hardly miss on your way from the central station to the shopping facilities in the city center. Constructed in cobblestone and brick with large elevated plant beds of rhododendron. A very beautiful sight when the flowers blossom in May. Take a rest here in the shade of the oak trees. Vitus Bering was a famous Danish explorer, employed as marine officer by the Tzar of Russia in the early 1700s. Bering was from Horsens and this park has been constructed and named in his honor. You can dive into the story of Vitus Bering at Horsens Museum. (updated Jun 2016)

Do

European Medieval Festival.

• European Medieval Festival. One of the largest cultural events in Horsens, every year on the last Friday and Saturday in August. The town centre of Horsens is transformed into the largest medieval market town in Northern Europe with activities and entertainment for families and children of all ages. Free. (updated Jun 2016)
• Horsens Museum, Sundvej 1A. 10-16 all days in July and August (otherwise 11-16 Tuesday-Sunday). Here you can dive into the many facettes of Horsens' history. The museum has made an effort to make the experience enjoyable for both kids and adults. A relatively large collection of historic toys where you are encouraged to try for yourself. Follow the fictional boy Erik through Horsens' history or learn about the life of Vitus Bering, a famous arctic explorer from Horsens. Horsens Museum has a total of five permanent exhibitions. At the museum shop you can buy a piece of toy from your own childhood, books, candy or high-end copies of historical Danish jewellery and glassware. In December copies of former times Christmas decorations are on sale. DKK 30 (below 18 are free). (updated Jun 2016)

Buy

The pedestrianised city centre has plenty of options for some specialty shopping.

• Bytorv Horsens (on the highstreet, Søndergade). A shoppingcentre. 
• Bilka, Høegh Guldbergsgade 10. The largest supermarket in the town of Horsens. 

Eat

• Cafe Corfitz (Cafe and restaurant), Søndergade 21, DK-8700 Horsens, ☎ [phone]. 
• China House (Restaurant), Søndergade 15, ☎ [phone]. 
• Scandic Bygholm Park, Schüttesvej 6 (Go to Bygholm Park), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. All week (closed for lunch in the summer). Beautiful romantic restaurant in the restored Bygholm manor from 1775 with room for sixty guests. Sometimes outdoor serving on the park terrace. At this place you can eat breakfast, lunch or evening dinners, but the restaurant is closed for lunch in the summer months though. There is also a spacious bar where you can meet before or after dinner for drinks, coffe or a sweet treat.
  Regular gourmet cuisine but with several Danish specialties, including langoustine from the island of Læsø, veal from Suså Valley and perhaps most importantly free range Danish Black Angus beef. For cheese lovers, be sure to try the selection of Unika cheese, a series of Danish top-notch cheese. Every Friday and Saturday the restaurant offers all-you-can-eat sirloin with sideorders for a very favourable price. Mid-range. (updated Jun 2016)

Drink

There is a wide selection of cafées and bars in Horsens

• Café Gran, Grønnegade 15. 
• Hekkenfeldt, Graven 17-19. 
• Cafe Koks, Nørregade 7. 
• Corfitz, Søndergade 21. 

Sleep

Jørgensens Hotel in the city center.

There are a few primitive, but free, camping grounds available.

• 🌍 Best Western Hotel Danica, Ove Jensens Alle 28, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From DKK 895. 
• 🌍 Jørgensen Hotel, Søndergade 17-19 (centrally), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From DKK 695. 
• 🌍 Scandic Hotel Bygholm Park, Schüttesvej 6, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Historic hotel in Bygholm Manor (1775) since 1919. Beautifully and romantically placed in Bygholm Park not far from the central station. Families with children are most welcome here. From DKK 750. 
• 🌍 Danhostel Horsens Vandrerhjem (Youth hostel), Flintebakken 150, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From DKK 400, shared room from DKK 200. 
• 🌍 Hotel Opus Horsens, Egebjergvej 1, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From DKK 875. 
• 🌍 TeaterHotellet.dk, Søndergade 22, 2nd floor (on the main street), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Singles from DKK 995. 
• 🌍 Motel Thorsvang, Vejlevej 58-60, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From DKK 400. 

Go next

View across Horsens Fjord and Alrø from Sondrup Bakker.

• Endelave. Take the bus to the small town of Snaptun and then the 1 hour ferry to the island of Endelave. A beautiful and varied nature experience with plenty of opportunity for leisurely beach activities. Bring a bike or rent one on the island and you can see Endelave in a day or two. Do this as a day trip or stay overnight for a mini vacation. Bird tours and nature walks are regularly arranged. Several options for sleeping and dining.
• Hjarnø. Another small and very flat island nearby, situated at Horsens fjord. Take the short seven-minute ferry trip there from Snaptun. Hjarnø has around 100 habitants and has a history of long-distance seafaring. Nowadays most people there either work regular jobs on the mainland or are active as farmers on the island. A small group of them are experimenting with wineproduction, a rare sight in Denmark. A haven for seabirds and with opportunities for a small nature hike experience, just follow the marked routes, and some leisurely beach activities as well. Several stone settings from The Viking Age. Do Hjarnø in a day or stay overnight at the camping grounds. You can eat at a café in the old smithy or bring your own food.
• Alrø. Small flat island just north of Hjarnø, also in Horsens fjord. Twice as large and a bit higher than Hjarnø, Alrø rises a mere 15 metres above sealevel on its highest spot. In the summer months there is a ferry connection from Snaptun, but Alrø can also be accessed from an artificial landbridge on the northern side. The landbridge can be reached in about a 30 minutes drive from Horsens or Skanderborg; c. 40 minutes from Aarhus. This drive can be combined with a good nature experience in and around Sondrup Bakker, a beautiful area on the northern shores of Horsens fjord. Alrø is a bit similar to Hjarnø; it has a rich bird life and nearly all of it is cultivated land. Bird tours are regularly arranged, as are small canoe trips. Several options for dining and staying overnight.
• The city of Aarhus can be reached by intercity trains within 30 mins while the town of Vejle is about 15 minutes away by train in the opposite direction, towards Copenhagen.
• Vejle, The regional capital of south Jutland

Routes through Horsens

Aalborg ← Skanderborg ←

N  S

→ Vejle → Hamburg