Experience Bornholm: Nature, Culture and Smoking Traditions

Bornholm can be explored through a wide range of themes: striking landscapes, views of Hammershus, history at the open-air museum and a long smoking tradition. If you are planning a hotel stay, these highlights can help guide what you want to experience on the island. NaturBornholm and Ekkodalen appeal to different interests than medieval history or the smoking traditions of Gudhjem and Hasle.

Landscapes and Views

Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley. Two distinct viewpoints add to this landscape experience: the Hammershus visitor centre offers panoramic views of Hammershus itself, while from the cliffs above Opal Lake, the view extends over the surrounding area, the Baltic Sea and the Hammershus castle ruins. When planning a trip focused on viewpoints, this makes the distinction clear: here, the castle is the main attraction; there, the sea and surrounding area are also part of the view.

Nature, History and Visiting

At the NaturBornholm experience centre, you can see dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition. The exhibits on offer may change over time; check the current selection before your visit. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging, interactive way. The area describes its scale, while the century defines its historical focus. When visiting Østerlars Round Church, the service schedule matters: if no service is taking place, visitors can enter for a fee and climb up to the roof beams. Check current access arrangements before your visit. For planning purposes, these are two different kinds of cultural attraction: Middelaldercenter is set within a particular historical period, while at the round church, service times and paid admission are the deciding factors.

Smoking Traditions in Gudhjem and Hasle

Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked in the traditional way, using open chimneys and alder wood. The two locations offer different connections to the island’s tradition: Gudhjem points to its historic beginnings and continuing herring tradition, while Hasle showcases the specific smoking method. The historical timeframes also differ: Bornholms Middelaldercenter focuses on the 14th century, while Gudhjem’s first smokehouse opened in 1866. These cultural themes therefore belong to different periods: one takes you back to the Middle Ages, while the other is anchored to a specific later year.

Getting There and Finding a Hotel

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 connections and schedules before travelling, as routes and services may change.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Arsballe, Knudsker, Østermarie, Østerlars, Årsdale, Vester Sømarken, Tejn, Svaneke, Sose, Snogebæk, Sandkås, Rø, Rispebjerg Huse, Pedersker, Olsker, Nyker, Nexø, Muleby, Listed, Klemensker, Hasle, Gudhjem, Arnager, Aakirkeby, Kås, Boderne, Vang, Nylars, Bodilsker, Allinge-Sandvig, Ertholmene, Balka, Rønne Sogn

For the overview of the wider travel area: Denmark.