Day 1: Arrival in Kolding – architecture, history, and nature

Our journey in Jutland begins in Kolding. Here, right on the waterfront, there are several houses that stand out for their different shapes and large windows. Inside, the Kolding apartments are even more impressive. They look a little like little treasure chests. The brochures provided include, for example, a scavenger hunt through the area – and the apartments are equipped with everything you could possibly need during a vacation. If you can't find what you're looking for in the apartment, just ask at reception. From camping grills to slacklines, practically everything is available. Jeanette Therkildsen has been managing the Kolding Apartments for 15 years. " Kolding feels a bit like my city,“ explains the former tourism director. Kolding is rich in history, but people also travel from far and wide to visit the Trapholt Museum or the Kolding Design School. ”But it's still not a big city. Here, you can leave your windows open at night and stroll through the city during the day."

The Kolding Apartments are open 365 days a year. “This is partly because of the tourists, but also for our business customers,” explains Jeanette.

Not far from the apartments is a castle that is sure to make the hearts of all royal fans beat faster. “The castle was built 800 years ago,” explains our guide Jerone. The castle, where parts of the Danish royal family still reside from time to time, is currently undergoing partial renovation. "It was destroyed by Spanish soldiers in 1880. For 50 years, only ruins stood here, and we have been rebuilding it for almost 100 years," explains Jerone. Parts of the destruction can still be seen today in the Ruins Hall. It was restored by a couple of architects in such a way that the new structures could be removed at any time.

A large exhibition in the castle is dedicated to children – more specifically, to the royal children. “The exhibition does not only deal with the beautiful part of our history. In the past, royal children were often just a product,” explains the guide. What is special about this exhibition is that many of the exhibits can be touched and tried out. Children and adults can interact with history. For example, there is a huge collection of queen and king costumes, which are sewn by volunteers in the castle's own workshop.

For those who long for peace and quiet after an eventful day, the Haraldskær Sinatur Hotel & Conference in Vejle is the perfect place. Behind the name lies a historic manor house which, surrounded by rolling hills, meadows, and forests, offers a peaceful contrast to the cultural impressions of the day. It is a place to find peace and quiet in the midst of nature.

The manor house dates back to the 15th century, but today it houses a modern, environmentally conscious hotel with a strong focus on sustainability and regional food.

 

Day 2: Vikings, smørrebrød, and modern Danish cuisine

In Jelling, you will encounter an important piece of Viking history: the runestones of King Gorm and his son Harald Bluetooth, as well as two imposing burial mounds, mark the transition from Norse mythology to Christianity and are considered the cradle of the Danish kingdom. “This place is very important to Danes; most come here at least once in their lifetime,” explains Christopher, our tour guide for the day, who has been working in Jelling for many years. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and attracts visitors from all over the world. Particularly noteworthy: King Gorm had a stone erected for his wife Thyra. In the inscription, he refers to her as “Denmark's pride” – which, in addition to being a final compliment to his wife, is also considered the first official mention of the country.

The accompanying Kongernes Jelling museum deliberately avoids large artifacts and instead focuses on interactive knowledge transfer. Visitors are immersed in a multi-layered sensory experience of the life and legacy of the Vikings – from stories told by the fireside about the journey to Valhalla to the crafts of this fascinating culture. Visitors can learn the runic alphabet, explore digital graves, and discover what Harald Bluetooth has to do with today's Bluetooth technology.

A little bonus: a wall several meters long in the museum shows the entire Danish royal line – artfully crocheted.

There's one thing you definitely shouldn't miss on a trip to Denmark: the famous smørrebrød, the traditional Danish dish of artfully topped rye bread. The Remouladen restaurant in Vejle, just under an hour from Jelling, is known for its modern interpretation of Danish cuisine and offers various variations on the classic smørrebrød.

If you prefer to design your own souvenirs rather than buy them, Denmark is the place for you. The country is known for its artistic ceramics, which combine tradition and creativity. In the afternoon, Café Kaffekop in Fredericia invites you to discover your artistic side and paint your own ceramic object. This not only creates a unique souvenir, but also a tangible connection to Danish culture – a small, homemade piece of Denmark to take home with you.

To end the last evening in style, we headed to the Michelin-starred restaurant Treetop, located directly in the Hotel Munkebjerg. As soon as you enter, your gaze falls on shelves full of preserving jars: inside them, pickled pine cones, homemade plum liqueur, and carefully dried mushrooms gleam. Almost all of the ingredients come from the restaurant's own sources – collected in the forest, harvested in the garden, and lovingly processed.

The restaurant's philosophy is as simple as it is consistent: why shop when nature provides everything you need? Instead of looking far afield, the kitchen treats its own surroundings as its pantry. Gathering, pickling, and preserving thus become part of the culinary narrative—and every plate tells a story of the forest, the meadow, and the close connection to the region and well-known local producers.

 

Day 3: Agriculture, sustainability, and LEGO dreams

All of the restaurants we ate at during our trip source most of their food from local suppliers. Simon and Julie, the owners of Ravnsminde, a small farm between Vejle and Børkop, show us what that looks like in Jutland. Julie and Simon bought the farm in 2015 – she is originally a nurse, he is a trained farmer. The couple now have five employees working on the farm. They supply their products to the Michelin-starred restaurant Treetop, among others, and stock their own farm shop. “We are seeing a change in consumption – more people are placing greater value on quality, especially when it comes to meat,” explains Julie. But for the couple, Ravnsminde is not just about being a supplier of high-quality products. They also want to bring people closer to nature again. As a result, it is common to see individual cows grazing on fenced-in meadows in the surrounding area. This has multiple benefits, as Simon explains: “At the moment, cows are grazing near a school route for children. This brings them into closer contact with animals. The grazing cows also promote soil fertility.”

Our last stop takes us to a place that many people associate with Billund: the LEGO® House. Here, LEGO fans of all ages can let off steam on several floors. They can build according to a template, but creative design of their own LEGO sculptures is also encouraged. What is striking is that the LEGO House is inclusive on several levels. It is architecturally barrier-free, quiet rooms with headphones are available for people who are easily overwhelmed by stimuli, and the entrance area with some play options is even accessible without a ticket. If you want to explore the entire LEGO House, it is advisable to buy your ticket online when booking your trip.