Odense has a very laid-back vibe and a handful of really cool sights to check out.

Odense was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Funen, and here's everything to know before your visit.

After crossing over to Funen, we finally arrived in Odense, the third largest city in Denmark. There were a few reasons we were excited to visit, even though at the time we knew very little about its main attractions. First of all, it's by far the biggest city on Funen, and after several days exploring Jutland and spending lots of time in places like the Wadden Sea and Thy National Park, we were definitely ready to leave nature behind for a bit and enjoy a 'big' city experience again. Well, it turned out not to be all that big, more relaxed, really, but you get the idea.

The second reason we added it to our itinerary was that this is the birthplace of the world-famous author of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen. The city is now home to a place that promised a truly unique experience. But honestly, that was about all we knew about Odense going in, and if you're in the same boat, keep on reading.

Odense blends old and modern vibes, and that mix really worked for us.

Where to Stay in Odense

As evening slowly settled in and we finally said goodbye to Jutland, we figured it made sense to stay overnight in Odense, since that was the place we planned to explore the next day. As soon as we left Christiansfeld, Lucie started searching for a nice hotel in Odense, something that looked comfortable and was in a good location.

First Hotel Grand is easily one of the most popular places to stay in Odense.

She actually found some really great options. Immediately, Hotel Odeon and First Hotel Grand stood out as two of the best hotels in Odense. But there was a bit of a catch. Because we'd been keeping our plans super flexible and were booking everything at the last minute, all the centrally located hotels were either sold out or just way too pricey for what they were. Even budget spots like Danhostel Odense City and Cabinn Odense were charging more than they were worth that night.

Odeon is a modern hotel right in the center of Odense.

After a short back-and-forth, we figured it was worth widening the search to see if anything on the outskirts of Odense, or just a quick drive away, was a better deal. That's how we came across Frederik VI's Hotel, a quiet place with nice rooms and free parking, about 10 kilometers west of the city. It had everything we needed right then, and it was a lot more affordable than the few overpriced options left in town.

Frederik VI's Hotel turned out to be cozy and comfortable.

We also looked into Best Western Plus Hotel Odense and Hotel Knudsens Gaard, which are both on the outskirts of the city, but we went with Frederik VI's Hotel since it was just more convenient for the direction we were driving.

That said, if your budget allows, staying in central Odense definitely makes the most sense. But since we were traveling by car, being a bit outside the city really wasn't a big deal for us.

We got a room with a garden view, which was super quiet.

What to See and Do in Odense in One Day

Despite being Denmark's third largest city, Odense is actually really compact, walkable, and you can cover a lot without much effort. In the morning, we were set on visiting H.C. Andersen's House, checking out the harbor, strolling through the Old Town, and just enjoying the relaxed vibe, which, honestly, was way more chill than we expected.

For the average tourist, we'd say there might not be quite enough to see and do to fill a full day in Odense itself (unless you plan to visit every museum), so we recommend adding a trip to Egeskov Castle or the Viking Museum in Ladby in the afternoon. Up next, we'll go into more detail about all the places worth checking out in the city.

Odense has a very charming Old Town full of traditional architecture.

Exploring Odense Harbor

We got to Odense super early in the morning, and pretty much everything was still closed, including the H.C. Andersen Museum, which was the main reason we were here. So for a moment, we stood around thinking, 'Okay, now what?' Since we wanted to explore the Old Town later, we figured it might be fun to check out Odense Havn before the city really got going. After a relaxed 30-minute walk through the slowly waking city center, we made it to the harbor (we parked a bit farther, but from Odeon Parking, for instance, it's under 15 minutes on foot).

To be honest, I had no idea Odense even had a harbor. I remembered seeing the canal on the map, but since the city is a few kilometers from Odense Fjord, I didn't think much of it.

Odense's harbor is actually really charming.

It wasn't until we got there that we learned Odense built a canal back in the early 1800s to connect the city to Odense Fjord, and eventually to the Kattegat Sea. Over the next two centuries, the Odense Canal allowed the city to thrive as a hub for coal imports, trade, and even shipbuilding. While its industrial role has diminished, it still links Odense to maritime routes.

These days, the old industrial port has been completely transformed into a sleek waterfront district with modern apartments and public spaces. It was super quiet in the morning, and we just wandered around for a bit before sitting down to soak it all in.

Even on a cloudy morning, the harbor views were really picturesque.

The harbor had an almost intimate feel. While it didn't have the full sea or coastal vibe like Aarhus, it felt more like a charming river port, and the overall atmosphere was very laid-back. Besides modern condos and various boats, two standout structures caught our attention. The first was Nordatlantisk Hus (North Atlantic House), a cultural center with a restaurant.

The other was Odense Havnebad, a free outdoor pool with a sauna. From the outside, it looked like a ship, especially with the red and white striped funnel marking the entrance. I really wished we had brought swimsuits, although Lucie wasn't quite as into the idea of a morning swim as I was. The best part is that it's open all year, even in winter.

You can swim for free year-round at Odense Harbor Bath.

We'd seen similar changes in places like Nyborg and Aalborg, and the transformation here is also pretty impressive. You can enjoy it like we did, just walking around and soaking it all in, or take it further with a swim and sauna session, or even try the Nordic food at the restaurant. There's also the option of joining an Odense Tour, which dives deeper into the harbor's history and features.

Experiencing H.C. Andersen's Hus

After we wrapped up our visit to the harbor, it was finally time to head to H.C. Andersen's House, which was just about to open. We picked up our tickets at the front desk and walked in, expecting a fairly standard museum visit. But what we got instead was one of the most extraordinary museum experiences we've ever had.

H.C. Andersen's offers a relatively short but very captivating experience.

Hans Christian Andersen, of course, is the famous Danish author best known for fairy tales like The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor's New Clothes, though he wrote many more stories (some of which were later adapted by Disney, for instance). This museum brought his world to life through a beautifully narrated experience that felt incredibly immersive. It was like stepping into his life, imagination, and fairy tale universe all at once.

H.C. Andersen's story is told through headphones.

We've written a separate post all about what it was like to experience H.C. Andersen's House, so be sure to check that out for a deeper look. And it wasn't just the experience inside that impressed us, but also the museum's architecture and overall design were absolutely stunning as well.

Even outside, H.C. Andersen's house shows incredible architecture.

If you're on the fence about whether Odense is worth visiting, we'd say yes, absolutely, and that's largely thanks to H.C. Andersen's House. We've visited some great museums before, mostly in Jutland, which often focused on World War II, like Tirpitz and Hanstholm, and were much more traditional. But this one was something else entirely.

Visiting H.C. Andersen's Childhood Home

After finishing our visit to H.C. Andersen's House, there was one more place included in the ticket we wanted to see, H.C. Andersen's Childhood Home. This is where he lived with his parents as a child. It was a modest beginning, something he later reflected in many of his stories.

H.C. Andersen's childhood home looks pretty inconspicuous from the outside.

Since it's the original house, it's quite small, with just three rooms and a little fairy-tale garden where Andersen often sparked his imagination. The rooms are well-preserved, designed to look like they did in the 1800s, and include several displays with personal stories and insights into his early life.

This museum was part of our H.C. Andersen's House ticket, and while we wouldn't call it a must-see, we were definitely glad we stopped by.

Inside, the modest rooms have been carefully preserved.

Wandering Around the Old Town

Throughout our time in Odense, we were mostly navigating through and around the Old Town, which turned out to be surprisingly charming. In the morning, it was very quiet, and with many of the cobblestone streets being car-free, the whole area felt calm and relaxing.

One of the first landmarks we came across was the striking St. Canute's Cathedral, which tells a very different story than, for instance, Roskilde Cathedral and holds the remains of King Canute IV. Right next to it stood Odense City Hall (Odense Rådhus), built in the same red-brick architectural style as the cathedral.

St. Canute's Cathedral has that classic Nordic church look.

Before heading to the harbor, we first turned left and explored the western part of the city center. It was full of pedestrianized streets (and even some small passages), along with more modern buildings. Along the way, we passed the French-style Odense Castle (Odense Slot), which dates back to the 13th century. It's now used by the city council, so it's closed to the public, but we admired it at least from the outside.

After visiting the harbor and H.C. Andersen's House, we wandered around the Old Town a bit more. We passed by the TID City Museum (Møntergården Museum), which focuses on the history of Odense and the island of Funen. We didn't have time to go inside, so we just enjoyed the picturesque streets around this area, like Paaskestræde, Overgade, and Nedergade. There were several sculptures from Andersen's fairy tales, like Thumbelina and The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and we also took a peek at the Kramboden, a small historic shop filled with antiques.

We were surprised by how charming Odense's Old Town is.

After seeing H.C. Andersen's Childhood Home, we walked to the Odense River to explore Eventyrhaven, also known as the Fairy Tale Garden. From there, we followed the river to Munke Mose, a city park full of trees and ponds. You can rent pedal boats here or hop on one of Odense Aafart's scenic riverboats for a relaxing cruise through the city.

Travel Insurance

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World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.

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Day Trips from Odense

After spending the whole morning and early afternoon exploring Odense's highlights, we felt like we'd seen enough and decided to shift our focus outside the city. There were two places we wanted to visit: Egeskov Castle and the Viking Museum Ladby. But with limited time, we had to pick just one.

Visiting Egeskov Castle on a Trip from Odense

We chose to visit Egeskov Castle, said to be one of the top attractions on Funen. After a 30-minute uneventful drive, we pulled into the huge Egeskov parking lot and set off to see if it lived up to the hype.

Egeskov is definitely one of the most beautiful castles in Denmark.

Our first impression wasn't the best, the admission was 265 DKK per person, which felt steep, even for Denmark. Honestly, we came thinking we'd just see the castle and had no idea it was only a small part of what the ticket included.

We started with Egeskov's gardens, which are known for being beautiful. The weather didn't help. It was cold and rainy when we arrived, and since it was late summer, part of the gardens were closed off for renovations. So, let's just say they were fine but didn't wow us.

Egeskov's gardens were really nice to stroll through.

Next, we moved on to the castle itself. Egeskov, with its red-brick walls and moat, is a true water castle and might be one of the most picturesque castles we've seen. It's smaller and less grand than Frederiksborg Castle, but it has tons of charm. We did a self-guided tour inside, then continued exploring the grounds.

I wasn't expecting to see Ferrari and other cool cars before our Egeskov visit.

That's when we realized how much more Egeskov offers, its complex is full of various museums (vintage cars, dresses, camping gear, etc.). Some were quirky, some were interesting, and we actually ended up spending more time in them than inside the castle itself. We've visited other castles like Rosenborg and Kronborg, but none of them had this many exhibits on their grounds. That's what sets Egeskov apart from the rest.

There was even a section at the Egeskov Museum with gliders and balloons on display.

By late afternoon, we thought about heading back to Odense, but since we felt we'd already seen everything there, we decided to keep going south to the coastal town of Svendborg instead.

Viking Museum Ladby

Lucie really wanted to see the Viking Museum Ladby, but with the opening hours 10 AM to 5 PM, we weren't able to fit it into our itinerary. It was a bit disappointing, since this is the only preserved burial mound where a Viking king was laid to rest in his warship, but that's the way travel often is. Museum Ladby is under 20 kilometers from Odense, and if you like Viking history, it's a perfect place to visit on a trip.

The next day, we were in a similar situation, only this time, we were heading to Zealand Island early in the morning. Our plan was to visit Trelleborg Fortress, one of the five Viking ring fortresses in Denmark that are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. It's packed with Viking history, so that definitely helped lift our spirits a bit, but we were still a bit disappointed about the Ladby situation.

Places in Odense We Missed

There were a few places in Odense we didn't have the time, or honestly, the mood, to visit, but we think they're still worth mentioning.

The Danish Railway Museum

If you're not particularly into H.C. Andersen or literature in general, Odense is also home to Denmark's national railway museum. It features over 50 locomotives and carriages, and dives into the history of how the Royal Family traveled, the use of railway ferries, and the evolution of trains from coal to electricity.

Danmarks Jernbanemuseum is located right next to the main train station, so if you're arriving in Odense by train from Copenhagen, it could be a perfect first stop. Admission is 140 DKK, and it's open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, with an earlier opening at 9 AM on weekends and Wednesdays.

If trains are your thing, the Danish Railway Museum is totally worth a visit.

Storms Pakhus Street Food Market

If you're returning to Odense or looking for something great to eat before heading out, check out Storms Pakhus Street Food Market. Open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM, it's one of the best spots in town to grab food, whether you're craving Thai, Greek, Mexican, Indian, or just want to explore something new. It's also located right next to the main train station, so getting there couldn't be easier.

How to Get to Odense

Odense is located roughly in the center of Funen, the large island between Jutland and Zealand. That makes the city easily accessible by both car and train.

By Train: Even though we were driving ourselves, we honestly think the train is the best way to reach Odense from Copenhagen if you're just planning to visit the city itself. The journey takes just under 40 minutes, making it fast and easy. You can also reach Kolding from Odense in less than 40 minutes.

Odense is only a quick train ride from Copenhagen, and the main station is right next to the Old Town.

By Car However, there's a catch, as several attractions worth visiting lie outside the city, and without a car, getting to them can be difficult. In that case, having your own car becomes a major advantage. The drive from Copenhagen to Odense takes about two hours, including crossing the scenic (and admittedly pricey) Great Belt Bridge. But once you're in Funen, a car really allows you to explore beyond Odense, and since the island isn't that big, you can cover a lot. You can check car rental price comparisons here if you're thinking about driving.

Parking

We parked overnight at our hotel, but since we stayed outside the city, we had to figure out where to leave our car during the day. I found a smaller parking lot simply named Parkering Odense on Google Maps (GPS coordinates: 55.38933, 10.38416). It was reasonably priced, and we were within a 10–15 minute walk from the heart of the city and sights like H.C. Andersen's House.

We parked at this smaller lot, just a 10-minute walk from the Old Town.

Of course, there are also several Q-Parks scattered throughout the city center, like the one at the Odeon Center, which is especially convenient if you're visiting the museum we mentioned earlier. Other popular Q-Parks include Grønnegade, Magasin, and Toldkammeret. Some are underground garages, others are open lots, but they all have fairly strict rules, like parking within marked lines and paying at the machine right after arrival, so make sure you're aware of the guidelines to avoid fines.

One of the several Q-Parks right in Odense's city center.

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

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How to Spend a Day in Odense