Anholt brings together vast dune landscapes, wildlife watching and culture. Ørkenen, the museum and the coast offer different focal points for planning your trip. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you’ll find distinctive landscapes and trails; if you’re interested in history, you can include the exhibitions at Anholt Museum in your plans.
Dunes, trails and protected nature
Ørkenen is Northern Europe’s largest heathland and can be explored on foot. Up to 280 species of lichen grow on the sand, including many unusual and rare species. In total, 1,881 hectares of Anholt are protected; the protection regulations also govern public access. Motor vehicles are prohibited in Ørkenen and on all beaches, with the exception of work-related journeys covered by a special permit.
Kærlighedsstien/Nordbjergstien runs between Anholt village and the harbor, offering views of Ørkenen and Flakket. Another route option leads to Anholt Fyr: the lighthouse is accessible only on foot. The route goes either through Ørkenen or along the beach and is 7 to 10 kilometers long. Anholt Fyr was built in 1788 and is one of Denmark’s oldest lighthouses. These well-known routes and views can be included in your plans as different aspects of the landscape, rather than combined into a single circular route.
The coast also features a variety of landscapes. Pakhusbugten is a deep bay sheltered from westerly winds, with large areas of sand and migrating dunes that reach about 20 meters in height. Sønderbjerg is 48 meters high and offers views across much of Anholt, the dune landscape and Ørkenen. You can therefore choose between the sandy bay with its migrating dunes and a viewpoint with expansive vistas as distinct landscape experiences.
Watch seals and experience the island’s nature
Totten is fully protected and is one of the largest and most important resting and breeding areas for the grey seal population in Europe. You can watch the seals at Totten from a distance from an observation hut next to Anholt Fyr; a powerful pair of binoculars is available there free of charge. It is important to bear the lighthouse’s location in mind when planning: Anholt Fyr can only be reached on foot via one of the routes mentioned above.
If you’d rather experience nature on the water, you can rent kayaks and SUPs from Anholt Vandsport for half a day or a full day. Life jackets and wetsuits are included in the equipment. Fishing is possible on Anholt all year round; the island has 23 kilometers of coastline, so you can fish all around the island. Species and conditions may vary by season. Wildlife watching, paddling and fishing are different ways to experience the landscape, not a description of a set daily itinerary.
There is also an interactive, child-friendly Natureventyr route at Nordbjerg for children aged 3 to 9 and their families. It complements the other nature experiences with an activity specifically designed for this age group and families.
Museum, history and literature
Anholt Museum features changing exhibitions of old household items, photographs, tools, traditional costumes and other objects. An exhibition on the Stone Age explores the different Stone Age cultures on Anholt: from the hunter-gatherer Stone Age, when the area was still connected to Jutland, to later flint knappers and seafaring peoples of the subsequent farming Stone Age. A visit to the museum thus ranges from everyday objects and photographs to a longer historical development.
During the summer season, the museum organizes one or two guided tours of the village per week. They start at 10 a.m. at the museum and last about two hours; times may vary by season. If you’d like to plan a tour, check the dates before your visit. The Anholt Literature Festival brings new Danish literature together with Swedish, Norwegian, Faroese, Greenlandic, Finnish and Icelandic literature.
Getting here and finding accommodation
The ferry crossing between mainland Denmark and Anholt on the M/F Anholt takes about three hours. Factor this into your travel plans and check the timetable before setting off. When looking for a hotel in Anholt, you can start by deciding which themes you’d like to focus on during your trip: landscapes and trails, seal watching, the museum and culture, or activities on the water.
Discover more destinations: Store Sjørup, Ørsted, Ørum Djurs, Selkær, Auning, Lyngby, Ramten, Allingåbro.
For the broader travel overview: Norddjurs Municipality.
