Odense; Denmark's fairytale town

Odense, Denmark’s third largest city, is located southwest of Copenhagen, on an island called Funen. Odense is not only known for its charming streets and greenery, but also for being the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen.

Hans Christian Andersen, also known as "Denmark’s father of fairy tales" since the 19th century, was born in the city of Odense. To learn more about his work and his life as a writer, pay a visit to the Hans Christian Andersen museum. For the big fans out there, you can also extend your outing by visiting his childhood home.

H.C. Andersens Hus / The Hans Christian Andersen Museum

Bangs Boder 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark

© Photo: Mikkelwilliam

The Funen Village

The Funen village- is a really must see while in Odense. This is not your typical crowded museum, but instead a unique, open-air museum. It portrays and demonstrates the village life from the 18th and 19th century, giving you a rather realistic impression of how the day-to-day life used to be. The style of the village includes 25 timber-built buildings and streets from older days, as well as farms with animals and farmlands. Many stories from the Funen village are included in the Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales.

The Funen Village

Sejerskovvej 20, 5260 Odense S, Danemark

© Photo: Gim42

St. Canute’s Cathedral

For the history buffs and Viking fans out there, the St. Canute’s Cathedral should be on your list of things to visit. The cathedral is an historic attraction due to its Gothic architecture, which dates back to the pre-Viking times.

St. Canute’s Cathedral

Klosterbakken 2, 5000 Odense C, Denmark

Odense ZOO

Let’s not forget, Odense is also well known for its greenery and beautiful nature. One of the most popular green destinations is the Odense Zoo, which in 2013 became an award-winning Zoo in Europe. The zoo enables visitors to see animals from up close and in their most natural and realistic habitat. Hence during your visit you will have the chance to experience Savannah, Antarctica but also an adventurous trek through the jungle.

Odense Zoo

5000 Odense, Danemark

Odense Style Street Food

The city of Odense is not all about sights, it also offers a good variety of food places. In front of the Odense concert hall you can find a local farmers' market filled with produce from the region (on Wednesdays and Saturdays).

Farmers' market Odense

Sortebrødre Torv, 5000 Odense, Denmark

You will also find delicious street food in Odense, specifically in two different suggested locations. The first one is called Storms Pakhus and it's located in a warehouse at the harbour. This is a popular place with a unique atmosphere, including over 24 food stalls and bars. This is a rather atypical food market, where chefs are able to experiment and show their potentials through cooking.

Storms Pakhus

Seebladsgade, 5000 Odense, Denmark

© Photo: Visitdenmark

The second great place to grab a bite and hang out is the Arkaden (the arcades) food market, offering worldwide gastronomy, as well as local dishes from the region. The market is also popular for its wine and beer choices.

Arkaden market

Vestergade, 5000 Odense, Denmark

© Photo: Lise Haniball