Gudhjem: Harbour, Coastal Paths and Culture

Gudhjem is considered Denmark’s only mountain town and is characterised by numerous smokehouse chimneys. When choosing a destination for your hotel stay, the harbour and coast come together here with a distinctive railway history, a smoking tradition and things to do nearby. If you’re looking for hotels in Gudhjem, you can consider which of these aspects you want to shape your trip. The places and activities offer practical starting points—from museum exhibits and harbour trips to seasonal workshops.

Smoking tradition and local cuisine

Gudhjem still has an active smokehouse where you can enjoy the Bornholm speciality Sol over Gudhjem. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. The history of smoking is therefore tied to a specific place and an enduring culinary tradition. If you want to try Sol over Gudhjem locally, check that the smokehouse is open before your visit. This makes it easy to include a culinary highlight in your plans.

Railway history and nature at Gudhjem Museum

Gudhjem Museum features an exhibition and the film “Tracing the Track” about the history of the Almindingen–Gudhjem railway. From 1916 to 1952, Gudhjem was the terminus of the former line from Christianshøj in Almindingen. The museum offers a tangible introduction to the former railway connection and its relationship to the town. The grounds in front of Gudhjem Museum are managed as a living nature project: wildflowers, shrubs and trees provide a habitat for butterflies and other insects. At the museum, railway history and a nature project providing a dedicated habitat for insects come together.

Harbour, ferry service and excursion boat

Two berths in Gudhjem’s eastern harbour are reserved for the Christiansø ferry service and the excursion boat Thor. Thor offers guided tours from Gudhjem to the Helligdomsklipperne cliffs and the Bornholm Art Museum. The harbour is therefore a meeting point for the ferry service and guided excursions to named destinations. Check the current timetables if you’re planning a crossing or a tour. The harbour waterfront has bathing and toilet facilities, as well as a laundry. The laundry is reserved for guests with yachts.

Coastal path and summer activities

The coastal path section from Gudhjem to Svaneke starts at the steps at the southern end of the harbour and follows the coast along and between the cliffs to the campsite in Melsted. Unlike Thor, whose tours go to the Helligdomsklipperne cliffs and the Bornholm Art Museum, this stretch of path focuses on the coastline. This lets you compare two different kinds of excursion: a guided boat trip to named destinations or a section of the coastal path.

Nearby Melstedgård offers daily activities and workshops during the summer holidays. These include cooking over an open fire, foraging trips and carriage rides. Check the current seasonal programme before your visit. Also nearby, you can take part in various cooking classes or themed events at Bornholms Madkulturhus. There, participants prepare food under the guidance of the centre’s experts and historians. The range of classes and events varies, so check the organiser’s calendar. The two offerings have different focuses: Melstedgård combines cooking activities with other workshops and excursions, while Madkulturhus centres on guided food preparation.

Bornholm as a wider regional context

The wider destination of Bornholm offers additional themes. At the NaturBornholm experience centre, you’ll find dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition. Since exhibitions may change, check what’s currently on before your visit. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging and interactive way. These attractions on Bornholm broaden the picture of Gudhjem to include natural history and the island’s medieval past.

Discover more destinations: Kås, Klemensker, Sose, Rønne Sogn, Rispebjerg Huse, Hasle, Sandkås, Arsballe

For the wider travel overview: Bornholm.