At Vang Harbour, granite history meets modern leisure activities. There is also a coastal route to Vang Pier, a sandy beach south of the harbour and nearby scenic spots. This gives you different options when planning your trip: harbour history, coastal walks or time by the water.

Vang Harbour: granite, fishing and change

The first records of a harbour in Vang date back to the 16th century. In the 18th century, Vang Harbour flourished during the intensive herring fishery in the Baltic Sea. In 1887, the harbour was expanded specifically for transporting granite. After a granite quarry opened in 1898, the modern harbour was built, and Vang became a transshipment point for stone. Granite from Vang was shipped to Copenhagen to build Copenhagen City Hall and rebuild Christiansborg Palace.

In the 1930s, around 200 people worked in the quarry—the town’s heyday. In 1944, a southwestern pier was added to Vang Harbour; the granite quarry closed in 1996. Monuments around the harbour commemorate the often-unpaid work of the stonemasons. Alongside the transport of stone, the history of the workers and the fishing industry are among the themes that shape Vang Harbour.

Today, the harbour is mainly used for tourism and leisure, while preserving its heritage of quarrying and fishing. Vang Harbour offers visiting sailors up to 20 berths and has a slipway for launching boats. If a berth or the slipway is important to your plans, check the current situation in advance; capacity may change.

Coastal route and beach at Vang Pier

South of Vang Harbour, there is a sandy beach by the pier. It has diving platforms at heights of 1, 2 and 3 metres; there are also good fishing spots on the beach by the pier. Swimming with the option to jump into the water and fishing offer different ways to spend time by the shore. Beach conditions and platform availability may change—check this information before your visit if your plans depend on it.

The green Ringebakkerne hiking route starts at the car park in Vang. From there, it follows a gravel path south along the coast to Vang Pier. The starting point, path surface, direction and endpoint provide clear guidance for the walk; route details may change, so check the route before setting out. The beach at the pier is a separate destination south of the harbour.

Near Vang: Ringebakkerne and Vandmølle

Nearby Ringebakkerne has coastal paths and a wild, rugged landscape. The stream Pissebækken flows there and is considered the site of Denmark’s highest waterfall. During warm, dry summers on Bornholm, the stream can dry up for weeks at a time. If you want to experience the landscape there, bear this seasonal feature in mind when setting expectations for the stream. Vang Vandmølle is also close to the town, in a valley on Bornholm’s west coast.

Bornholm in your wider travel plans

For your broader travel plans, Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad in Sweden to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Check current timetables and connections before deciding when to travel, as routes and services may change. Travelling to Bornholm and choosing your activities in Vang are two separate steps in your planning.

Discover more destinations: Balka, Rispebjerg Huse, Sose, Arnager, Nexø, Østerlars, Vester Sømarken, Snogebæk

For the wider travel overview: Bornholm.