Gudhjem brings together a harbour, smokehouse chimneys and a former railway terminus: from 1916 to 1952, the line from Christianshøj in Almindingen ended here. For your travel plans, there are several options to consider: railway history at the museum, a section of the coastal path, or a guided boat trip.
Smokehouse tradition and museum
Gudhjem is considered Denmark’s only mountain town; numerous smokehouse chimneys define the place. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. Gudhjem also has an active smokehouse where you can enjoy the Bornholm speciality Sol over Gudhjem. Check whether the smokehouse is currently operating before visiting.
At Gudhjem Museum, an exhibition and the film “Tracing the Track” tell the story of the Almindingen–Gudhjem railway. The grounds in front of the museum are managed as a living nature project: wildflowers, shrubs and trees provide a habitat for butterflies and other insects. Here, cultural history and a thoughtfully created nature project stand side by side.
Harbour, boat and coastal path
Two berths in Gudhjem’s eastern harbour are reserved for the Christiansø ferry service and the excursion boat Thor. From Gudhjem, Thor offers guided trips to the Helligdomsklipperne cliffs and the Bornholm Art Museum. If you are planning a trip, check the current timetable. The harbour promenade has bathing and toilet facilities; the laundry is reserved for guests with yachts.
The coastal path section from Gudhjem to Svaneke starts at the steps at the southern end of the harbour and follows the coast along and between the cliffs to the campsite in Melsted. This makes it possible to plan a coastal outing differently from a guided trip on Thor: the coastal path is defined by the route described, while the boat trips are defined by their stated destinations.
Seasonal activities in the surrounding area
Nearby, Melstedgård offers daily activities and workshops during the summer holidays. These include cooking over an open fire, foraging trips and horse-drawn carriage rides. As these activities are seasonal, check the current summer holiday programme before your trip.
Nearby Gudhjem, participants can prepare food at Bornholms Madkulturhus during a range of cookery classes and themed events. They are guided by the centre’s specialists and historians. The classes and events on offer vary, so it is worth checking the organiser’s calendar when planning.
Bornholm as a wider setting
Bornholm itself also helps you choose where to travel: the island can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Check the current timetables before travelling.
Other attractions on Bornholm include the exhibitions at the NaturBornholm experience centre, with dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging, interactive way. For landscapes, there is Ekkodalen in Almindingen, Bornholm’s largest rift valley.
When no service is taking place, visitors can enter Østerlars Round Church for a fee and climb up to the roof beams. Check the current visiting conditions before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Vester Sømarken, Nyker, Aakirkeby, Muleby, Knudsker, Pedersker, Svaneke, Ertholmene.
For the main travel overview: Bornholm.
