Silkeborg combines lakes and waterfront paths with wildlife watching, forest activities, and the history of art, paper and archaeology. Options range from a walk along Silkeborg Langsø to a hiking route or a museum visit. If you’re looking for a hotel in Silkeborg, it’s best to first decide which of these interests you want to shape your stay; this will help you assess the specific location of your accommodation in relation to your own plans.
Lakes and trails around Silkeborg
The lakes around Silkeborg, including Silkeborg Langsø, Almind Sø and Julsø, invite you to enjoy peaceful walks by the water. The walking path along Silkeborg Langsø is seven kilometres long. It is not signposted, but easy to follow, as a network of paths runs around the eastern part of the lake.
For a shorter route, try Ørnsøstien: this family-friendly walking path is about 3.5 kilometres long and passes through varied natural surroundings at Ørnsø. By comparison, the walking path along Langsø is seven kilometres long—a useful reference when deciding how far you want to walk. At Ørnsø, you can watch geese, coots and ducks. Kingfishers and herons are often seen along the lake shores; such sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed.
The path around Almindsø is also certified as a family trail and recognised as a quality trail by the Danish Hiking Association. The Trækstien, meanwhile, is a hiking trail that runs through green landscapes along the Gudenå. You can divide it into sections according to how far you want to walk. The Silkeruten has three official starting points, with parking and information boards about the route.
Maps and brochures for hiking trails in and around Silkeborg are available to download; some PDFs are older. The Silkeborg Østerskov route starts at the AQUA car park on Vejlsøvej. Bus route 4 runs from Silkeborg Trafikterminal to AQUA. Check the timetable before travelling.
Nature experiences and activities
Wildlife watching is the main focus at Ørnsø, while Nordskoven has a mountain-bike training area at Korsdalshus, covering around ten hectares. Riding is permitted everywhere on the forest floor within the area; the usual rules for cycling in forests apply. These details help distinguish a walk by the lake from an activity in the forest.
AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark is a large, family-friendly attraction dedicated to Danish nature. Experiences described there include otter feeding: visitors prepare the food together with an animal keeper and then feed the otters. Check whether this experience is available before booking.
Art, paper and history
Silkeborg also offers several specific points of interest for a culture-focused stay. Papirmuseet is Denmark’s specialist museum for paper and papermaking. It is also a living museum, a production site for handmade paper and a knowledge centre. It is housed in the former production rooms of the old Silkeborg Papirfabrik—here, the subject of paper is connected with the site’s former industrial use.
Asger Jorn’s gift to Silkeborg is part of the town’s art history: between 1953 and 1973, he donated almost 5,500 works by around 150 different artists to the town. KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad has around 4,000 works by more than 200 Danish artists, as well as a number of international artists; the works date from the 1830s to the 1990s. The two collections therefore differ in both size and the artists and periods represented.
The Tollund Man has been housed at Hovedgården in Silkeborg since 1952. Earlier traces of the town’s history can be found at Silkeborg Slot: the castle stood on a projecting headland where the Remstrup Å—this is the name for this part of the Gudenå—flows into Silkeborg Langsø. Its roots date back to the Middle Ages; nobles, bishops and kings owned the castle at different times.
Plan your stay around your interests
The trails offer different distances and focuses, from walks by the lake to hiking sections along the Gudenå. Museums, collections and medieval history offer other points of interest.
Discover more destinations: Gjern Municipality, Kongensbro, Them Municipality, Virklund, Linå, Bording, Ans, Bryrup
For the main travel overview: Silkeborg Municipality.
