In Dragør, maritime history and distinctive architectural features sit alongside coastal paths and abundant birdlife. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can choose your focus accordingly: historic sites and collections, or walking and hiking trails and nature watching.

Old Town and Maritime History

With its narrow streets and low houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, Dragør’s town centre is one of the best-preserved towns in Denmark. The Old Town includes 76 listed properties. Among its distinctive architectural features are the so-called Kikkenborge: small roof structures, often with a window, that were used to watch ships at sea.

Dragør Museum is located in the middle of the harbour, in the old town hall and a former warehouse. It displays ship models, navigation equipment, paintings and interiors that tell the story of Dragør through the ages. It offers a way to explore local history through objects and rooms, rather than only through the houses of the Old Town.

Lodsmuseet offers a different maritime perspective: an authentic pilot station at the harbour. Its collection includes original nautical charts, books, logbooks and tools used in maritime work. The old pilot station has been preserved as it looked in 1984. Dragør Museum and Lodsmuseet therefore offer distinct perspectives: one is a collection about Dragør’s history, the other a pilot station connected with the practical work of being at sea.

The museum cutter Elisabeth K571 is moored near the pilot tower on the quay in the old harbour. It is one of the few known surviving Danish ships that transported refugees from occupied Denmark to neutral Sweden in October 1943. As mooring locations can change, it is advisable to check where it is before planning a visit specifically to see it.

Dragør Harbour has been a hub of maritime activity since the Middle Ages. This included herring fishing, exporting goods, privateering, pilotage and salvaging ships that had run aground. A specific link to fishing is Stejlepladsen, south of the pilot tower: there, fishermen hung their nets on wooden posts to dry and repair them.

Coast, Trails and Birdlife

Sydstranden stretches 5 kilometres south from the harbour to Søvang and has numerous paths for walkers and cyclists. The coastal meadows are home to abundant birdlife, including grey herons, greylag geese, lapwings, coots and barnacle geese. Visitors who want to get to know Dragør beyond its architectural history will find a different focus here.

When planning your route, it is worth keeping two different distances in mind: Sydstranden stretches for 5 kilometres, while the Amarminoen is a hiking route about 27 kilometres long. It runs from DR Byen in the north, via Sydvestpynten in the south, to Dragør Fort in the east. Dragør Søbad lies just south of the harbour and is divided into a men’s area, a women’s area and a mixed area.

Havnepakhuset, the Church and Dragør Fort

Havnepakhuset was built in 1845 for Dragør’s pilot service, which needed a place to store its equipment. Today, it houses Dragør Besøgscenter. Dragør Church also offers a precisely dated link to the area’s history: it was consecrated on 26 April 1885.

Dragør Fort was built between 1910 and 1915 on an artificial island south of Dragør. It was part of Copenhagen’s coastal defences and is now privately owned, with limited public access. Check the access conditions before visiting. This is especially important if you plan to follow the Amarminoen to the fort: the route ends there, but access to the fort itself is restricted.

Glassblowing as Another Activity

At Glaspusteriet Glasseriet, visitors can watch molten glass being transformed into works of art. The glassblowing studio also offers hands-on experiences where visitors work with molten glass to blow, for example, a coloured glass ball, a drinking glass or a small bowl. As workshop availability can change, it is advisable to check before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Over Dråby, Helsinge, Birkerød, Hvidovre Municipality, Tisvildeleje, Asserbo, Brøndbyøster, Liseleje.

For the overview of the wider region: Hovedstaden.