The Atlas Obscura Guide To Denmark

157 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Denmark

Updated November 5, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark

The V House

This striking structure, with balconies jutting out like hedgehog spines, combine cutting-edge design with a playful approach to light and space.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Happy City Birds Mural

Famous for his giant trolls, Thomas Dambo's lesser-known early work is a creative 3D mural with sustainable birdhouses.

Myths and legends swirl around this curious stone.

Roskilde, Denmark

Fandens Fingre (The Devil's Fingers)

Local legend has it that the Devil's claw marks are etched into this distinctive rock.

Death and the Mother.

Copenhagen, Denmark

‘Death and the Mother’

This sculptural representation of an Andersen fairy tale had to be pushed away for being too grim.

Traditional Danish comfort food is on the menu.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Tolbod Bodega

Opened in 1787, this old-world treasure is said to be the oldest restaurant in Copenhagen.

'Støvlen' ('The Boot')

Sønderborg, Denmark

'Støvlen' ('The Boot')

This colossal hiking boot, once built for a scout jamboree, serves as an observation tower and barbecue area.

Køge, Denmark

Defiled Baptismal Font

This historical font became infamous after a maid was allegedly tricked into urinating in it, leading to her tragic death sentence.

'Havfrue' ('Mermaid')

Copenhagen, Denmark

'Havfrue' ('Mermaid')

Copenhagen's "other" little mermaid marks the historic location of past sea maid sightings.

See All 157 Things To Do in Denmark

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Denmark

Traditional Danish comfort food is on the menu.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Tolbod Bodega

Opened in 1787, this old-world treasure is said to be the oldest restaurant in Copenhagen.

All hail the mightiest of snails.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Sankt Peders Bageri

Denmark’s oldest bakery is home to the 'Wednesday Snail,' one of the best cinnamon rolls on the planet.

Anyone with a fear of clowns may want to run as far away as possible.

Aarhus, Denmark

Cirkuskroen (The Circus Pub)

This legendary dive bar boasts a collection of over 1,300 clown figurines.

A smoørrebrød spread.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Restaurant Schønnemann

Traditional Danish spot where the schnapps are flowing and the smørrebrød is loaded.

See all 7 Places to Eat in Denmark

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Architecture 25

Sculptures 17

Art 16

Statues 15

Museums 15

Architectural Oddities 15

Fairytales 11

Collections 9

Towers 9

Churches 7

Animals 7

Plants 7

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has been to 'Min Indre Svinehund' ('My Inner Beast')
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Stories About Denmark

At Alken Enge in Denmark, excavations over the past six decades have uncovered the remains of nearly 400 people.

In Denmark, an Ancient Army Met a Mysterious End in a Lake

Archaeologists have found the remains of hundreds of Iron Age fighters at Alken Enge—but they didn't die there.

by Nicky Nielsen

November 5, 2024

This 1882 engraving of Ragnarok, the Viking doomsday, shows Odin mounted on a horse and fighting the wolf Fenrir.

7 Stories That Show Just How Metal the Nordics Are

From Viking werewolves to snacking on pickled ram's testicles, Europe's northernmost countries are badass.

by Roxanne Hoorn

September 27, 2024

Häxan sets featured a mash-up of iconographies, from Satanism to classical death motifs.

Behold the Weird Glory of Häxan, A Wild 1922 Film About Witchcraft

The ground-breaking documentary blended academic research with salacious scenes of torture and nudity. Censors weren't having it.

by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

The most famous Viking was actually a woman.

New Discovery Uncovers a Forgotten Viking Queen More Celebrated Than Kings

Her legacy is being restored, thanks to runestone forensics.

by Charis McGowan

October 18, 2023

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: The Mystery of the Missing Runes

An Indigenous Mexican healer, known as a curandera, performs a ritual at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas, a living history museum in New Mexico.

Podcast: Witches and Ritual Around the Globe

Explore the mysteries of Mexico's Indigenous healers and Denmark's gruesome witch burnings with Condé Nast Traveler's Women Who Travel Podcast.

by The Podcast Team

A display case at Denmark's Nationalmuseet shows the detritus and historical artifacts a metal detectorist might uncover. Every year, thousands of valuable items are discovered.

How Denmark Became a Nation of Metal Detectorists

The valuable ancient artifacts unearthed by these amateur archeologists are now on display at the national museum.

by Amy Crawford

The trove of spices was found in the stern of the ship by Brendan Foley and a team of archaeologists.

How Did a Medieval Spice Cabinet Survive 500 Years Underwater?

Exotic saffron, black pepper, ginger, cloves, and more offer a look into how Scandinavian royalty lived.

by Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing

Lists Featuring Denmark

A view of the Cushing Center from the entrance

Brain of Helen Hamilton Gardener

The World's Most Fascinating Displays of Preserved Brains

The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Including The Cushing Center, Mammalian Brain Collection, and Brain Museum

Madaba Mosaic Map

The gallery of maps, showing the ceiling

Great Polish Map of Scotland

13 Marvelous Maps That Go Way Beyond Paper

Charting the world's most intriguing out-of-the-box cartography.

Including Madaba Mosaic Map, Gallery of Maps - Galleria delle Carte Geografiche, and Mapparium Globe

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