The Kanhave Canal is about 500 metres long, 11 metres wide and around 1.25 metres deep. It connected Stavns Fjord with the sea west of Samsø. On the island, you can combine landmarks from the past with landscapes, village life and trails that offer a range of different perspectives.
Ramparts, lighthouse and museum
Vesborg Fyr stands on the site of a castle complex that was among Denmark’s largest ramparts in the Middle Ages and is associated with Valdemar Atterdag. At the tower, information panels on the parapet explain the view of the surrounding area and the horizon. Krudthuset at Vesborg Fyr houses an exhibition about Samsø’s five medieval ramparts. Check access to the exhibition before your trip.
Samsø Museum also presents the island’s cultural history through exhibitions and activities. Samsø Museumsgård offers a different perspective: there you can see authentic interiors and objects from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. In Nordby, a village pond and surrounding half-timbered houses shape the townscape. In 1990, the village was named Denmark’s best-preserved village.
Fjord landscape and natural harbour
Protected Stavns Fjord includes islands covered with grass and shrubs, and a rich variety of wildlife and plant life. Langør Havn is a natural harbour in the protected fjord and has been used since the Viking Age. Nordby Bakker offers a different landscape: most of this 480-hectare area is protected. Grassland, ravines, hills, shrubs, small forests and wetlands shape its varied scenery.
The beaches also differ, ranging from child-friendly, gently sloping shores to stony stretches with good fishing opportunities. The type of beach you are looking for may therefore influence your choice of outing. Conditions vary by beach and season.
Cycling and hiking compared
For a longer cycling tour, the regional “Kulturringen” has two stages on Samsø. The first Samsø stage is 42 kilometres in total and runs from Sælvig across the north of the island to Ballen. Check the route details again before setting off. Ø-CAMINO SAMSØ is another way to explore the island in stages: its 91 kilometres are divided into eight stages. The start and finish are in Sælvig, but you can also begin and end elsewhere. Important for navigation: the Ø-CAMINO is not a signposted hiking route.
Shorter hikes differ in more than just length. At Møgelskår, an approximately two-kilometre trail follows a valley path to the sea, then loops back over the hills. The roughly five-kilometre route around Issehoved runs along coastal slopes and narrow paths through scrub, passing small farms before returning to the car park. The hike at Asmindør Hage is about 3.3 kilometres long and takes around an hour; its first section follows a stony beach. This makes Møgelskår the shortest and Issehoved the longest of the three routes described. Terrain and access may change; check conditions before setting off.
Another destination for explorers is Samsø Labyrinten. It is considered the world’s largest maze and covers 60,000 square metres, with a network of paths measuring 5.5 kilometres. As these measurements may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before visiting.
Activities and local produce
Samsø Naturskole is located right by Stavns Fjord, a few hundred metres from Langør Havn, and offers activities for all age groups. Its six aluminium dinghies can be used as rowing boats; water observation equipment lets you explore plant and animal life in the fjord. Groups must coordinate their participation in advance, and public activities are seasonal.
Local produce and food culture are at the heart of the annual Samsø Råvarefestival, held in mid-June. Visitors can meet Samsø’s producers and chefs and take part in tastings, workshops, talks and short courses. Exact dates and the programme vary from year to year. Samsø Bryghus serves food made with its own vegetables and meat from the farm, as well as its own beer and homemade berry juice; the menu may change.
Getting to Samsø
SAMSØLINJEN connects Ballen on Samsø with Kalundborg on Zealand; the crossing takes 80 minutes. As schedules and crossing times may change, check the details with the operator before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Brundby, Kolby, Nordby, Ørby, Mårup, Samsø, Ballen, Ikast-Brande Municipality
Go to the overarching travel overview: Central Jutland.
