Samsø.
Your next chapter?

Overview

Samsø is an island in central Denmark, between the big island of Zealand and the mainland Jutland peninsula.

Understand

Internationally, Samsø has garnered attention as a Green Energy leader, as the island reached self-sufficiency with green energy (electricity and heat), exclusively produced from locally sourced renewables, as early as 2007.

Although a relatively large island by Danish standards, Samsø is only home to roughly 3 700 permanent residents, so everything on the island has a rural feel to it, which is part of its charm. Tranebjerg is the main town of Samsø and where the municipal headquarters are located. Ballen is also a reasonably big village, but much more touristy, as holiday makers tends to flock here in the summertime.

There are a lot of summerhouses on Samsø, as well as campsites and marinas, so the islands' population swells in June, July and August, in particular during the Samsø Festival in July.

In Denmark, Samsø is well-known for producing the first Danish potatoes of the year, and Samsø potatoes are generally viewed as a special culinary treat. As an island of mostly farmers, plenty of other fresh vegetables and fruits are on offer as well, especially in the summer.

Get in

Like the entire Kattegat Sea, Samsø is well-equipped with good marinas, with a total of four. Standard basic amenities include communal bathhouse, toilets, electricity, water, and Wi-Fi.

By ferry From Jutland, you can take a small ferry from Aarhus to , or a larger car-ferry from the port town of Hou south of Aarhus, also to Sælvig. The journey takes an hour.

From Zealand, you can sail from Kalundborg to .

By plane While it is possible to take a taxi flight from Roskilde Airport to the island's small airfield, the vast majority of travelers take one of the island's three ferries.

Get around

Samsø is ideal for hiking and biking. Bring your own bicycle, or rent one on arrival. Samsø has a good network of well-maintained asphalted roads, that supports a bus route connecting the towns of Nordby, Mårup, Sælvig, Tranebjerg, Ballen, and Kolby Kås (in that order), including several small settlements in-between. If you have a car, you can easily drive around the island as well.

Cycling Samsø is ideal for cycling. All ferries to Samsø have room for bicycles, but book a special ticket on-line in advance to make sure they have extra space for yours. There are also many bike rentals on the island itself; every town has at least one.

Apart from all the regular roads, Samsø have a specially designated asphalted bike route of no less than 100 kilometres all-in-all, that guarantees a diverse experience, presenting the best of what Samsø has to offer. You will find plenty of air pump stations and battery chargers along the route, check the map here. The Danish islands of Læsø, Langeland, and Ærø offers similar 100-km bike routes.

If you bike outside the designated route, be extra careful of car traffic, as the roads tends to be narrow, and there are no streetlighting outside towns after dark, just like in the rest of Denmark's countryside.

By bus Samsø Bus is a local bus company, serving all the island.

From late June to early August, you can ride the summer bus for free. Check the website for the exact routes and updated schedules. The rest of the year, Samsø Bus offers two kinds of bus transport: Telebus and school bussing. The service is available every day (Su-F 07:00-21:00 and Sa 07:00-19:00). Call at least two hours in advance to make an appointment; the telephones are open M-F 07:00-18:00 and Sa Su (& special holidays) 08:00-18:00. You can also book a trip by email .

School bussing is a free service to all school kids on the island, but you can ride along for free as well. Check the website for the exact routes and schedules.

Be aware that the busses only have limited space for cargo and luggage, and summer busses does not offer extra space for bicycle or cart transport. If you are confined to a wheelchair, call the special telebus service in the summer time.

By car Bring your own car to Samsø by ferry, or rent one in the town of Ballen. The passenger catamaran between Aarhus and Samsø does not take motor vehicles.

See

Museum Samsø. Visit the Eco Museum Samsø in Tranebjerg. The museum has several departments spread out across the Samsean landscape, and tries to communicate the cultural history of the island through activities, events, exhibitions and restored historic buildings. The headquarters in Tranebjerg are situated in an old restored half-timbered and thatched roof farm from 1917. It has been furnished and decorated as a Danish farmhouse from the 1850s (supposedly wealthy residents) and the garden has several activities going on throughout the summer months, including weaving, spinning and folk music arrangements. A part of the farm house has been dedicated to exhibit Samsø's pre-historic past, from the Stone Age to Medieval times. Other Eco Museum buildings on Samsø includes two old style mills, several different historic farm house types, an old post office, a blacksmith shop and archives on local history. Open from April to October all days. Some locations are only open in June, July and August. Interesting for both kids and adults.

The Morgan Garage. Museum of Morgan cars from 1937 to 2017

Do

Although cars are allowed and public transportation by bus is available, Samsø is ideal for bicycling. It allows you to take in the nature and countryside much better, do small side trips and get some fresh air in your system.

Samsø is great for surf fishing. The coast is varied and you can change location easily on an island the size of Samsø, so you should have a good chance of catching a nice fish. Trout, mullet and flatfish are common, great for garfish in May-June.

Soak some sun, play or swim at the beach. Nearly everywhere you go, the beaches are good and accessible. Go to the Stavns Fjord laguna on the northwest coast. Besides the beautiful scenery here, the shallow waters and sandy beaches north (Mårup strand) and west (Sælvig strand), makes for a very good and child friendly beach experience in the summer.

Pick up some fresh produce from the farmers. The groceries are displayed in front of many farms, when they are in season. You just pay for what you pick up and it is good quality. Strawberries, potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots, green peas, you name it. Some sell local honey, pickles or jams as well.

The Samsø Labyrinth. The world's largest labyrinth

Nordby. This is the northernmost village on Samsø. It has a nice old-fashioned village charm, with timber framed houses, thatched roofed farms and a lovely central village pond with ducks. Superb options for eating and also hotels.

Nordby Bakker. Nordby Bakker is a very beautiful landscape on the northern tip of the island. The rolling grassy hill slopes offers excellent vistas. It is a protected area and no agriculture is allowed here, except for a few grazing sheep, that help maintain the habitat free of tree and shrub growth. Good site for a picnic.

Energy Academy. Visit the Energy Academy and learn more about how Samsø evolved into a community powered completely by renewable energy.

Samsø Festival. Samsø Festival near Ballen on the southeast coast, is an annual music festival and worth a visit if you happens to be around. A couple of other small festivals might also be worthwhile, including the Samsø Chamber Music Festival or the Children's Culture Festival perhaps.

Samsø Golf Club. Play some golf at the 18-hole seaside golf course at Besser. Very varied field with natural waterholes, rolling hills and a great view. Certified by the Peugeot Golf Guide as one of Denmark's 14 best golf courses.

Horses. At Nørreskiftegaard near Ballen, you can try horse riding.

Vesborg lighthouse. You can enter the lighthouse and it has a café and souvenir shop.

Brattingsborg Manor. You can have a look at the romantic Manor, and for a fee you can experience the beautiful English-style garden from 1870 here. The manor also rents out apartments and cottages all over Samsø for tourists.

Eat

With plenty of fresh local produce, good dedicated cooks, and a broad interest in organic farming and experimentation, Samsø offers many good to excellent dining opportunities. Cafés and restaurants are to be found all across the island.

Restaurant Mårup Havn. Harbourside seafood restaurant with a cozy and quiet atmosphere. Enjoy your food and drinks inside or on the big open terrace. Bulgarian wines are a speciality of this place.

Smokehouse Langør. Smokehouse and restaurant with big terrace with a great view.

Samsø Perlen. This restaurant also has take-away and they bring out all across the island for 50 kr extra. It is also a hotel.

Carlos Corner. A cosy lunch eatery with attached café, wine, liquor and gift shop in the center of Tranebjerg. Great open-faced sandwiches, plenty of seafood options, but also other dishes. Cakes and coffee and many luxury liquors to go along. Sometimes arrangements or musical events.

Himmel & Havn. Lovely street food place on the harbour in Kolby Kaas. Great spot for sunsets. Ever-changing menu here, call in advance if you want to know, but in the summertime there will most likely be a lot of seafood! Paella, tapas plates, pan-fried fish, mussels, or occassional stone-oven baked pizzas.

Nordby Kro. Nice inn in the village of Nordby that also offers accommodation, just like every traditional Danish kro. The restaurant serves lunch and evening dinners. For lunch, try a serving of traditional Danish smørrebrød - they know what they are doing -, or one of several single meals such as stjerneskud or hakkebøf for example. The three-course evening dinners changes according to season, so call in advance to check up what is on the menu if you want to know beforehand. Also à la carte. Nordby Kro restaurant offers special take-away dinners, snacks, and meals, which is a great choice for a picnic. Check the website for details.

Dokken. Lunch and evening dinners with traditional Danish food. Discotheque every Saturday night in the summer (above 18, show identity).

SAK. Gourmet restaurant with plenty of local produce. Lunch and evening menus.

Skipperly. Great quality lunch and evening menus every day of the week. Modern Danish cuisine with plenty of local seasonal produce, including seafood.

Behrnt. Ambitious restaurant focusing on products from the island.

Drink

Samsø Bryghus. Try the Samsø Bryghus brewery and farm in Nordby. Here local organic brews of all kinds are produced from scratch. With more than 11 standard brews, you should be able to find a favourite. The many flavours of beer can be enjoyed in a nice attached café.The café also sells hot meals, cake and assorted organic and locally produced groceries such as wine, candy, vegetables, meat, and even yarn. The meat and vegetables are produced on the farm. Every Tuesday evening in the summer, you can participate in a beer tasting and guided tour. Reservation required (kr 100).

Høst. You can have a glass of wine or champagne on the terrace. It is also a fashion store.

Sleep

There are plenty of options for a place to stay on Samsø, but the island is a popular destination in the summer, so you might not always get what you had hoped for.

Ballen Badehotel. Historic high-end seaside hotel from 1928 in Ballen. The hotel restaurant Restaurant Behrnt serves excellent gourmet food, mentioned in The White Guide (2015). Good choice for romantic weekends or mini-vacations. Several room type options.

Flinch's Hotel. Historic high-end and old-fashioned city hotel from the late 1800s in Samsø's capital of Tranebjerg. At Flinch's Hotel you can both eat and sleep. High quality dining. Good choice for romantic weekends or mini-vacations.

Casa Tua. Small charming town-hotel in Nordby with both double and single rooms open throughout the year. Dogs allowed.

Oasen. Small rooms but huge common areas. This place used to be a school. Great dining.

Summer house. You can rent one of the many summer houses on Samsø for an extended stay.

Ballen Strandcamping. A camping ground near the town of Ballen on the east coast. Bring your own tent, rent or bring your own caravan or rent a small cottage. Most sites have sea view.

Sælvigbugtens Camping. Beachside camping ground in the Sælvig Bay. Family oriented with playgrounds, space for kids activities and bicycle rental. Bring your own tent or rent a hut or a room. Open from April through October.