Discover Frederikshavn

Frederikshavn between culture, gardens, and harbor

Frederikshavn brings together a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: maritime history, historic parts of town, art, gardens, activities in the forest, and ferry connections. Before choosing a hotel, consider which of these will shape your stay. Museums and historic buildings, Bangsbo Garden, outdoor activities in Vandværksskoven, and the harbor appeal to different interests and offer practical starting points for your plans.

Maritime and local history

The Kystmuseet Bangsbo’s maritime exhibition features the Ellingåskibet, dating from 1163. The museum also presents exhibitions on various periods in Danish history. A specific ship and a broader look at the country’s history are thus presented side by side.

The Fiskerklyngen neighborhood around Strandgade is one of Frederikshavn’s oldest neighborhoods. Krudttårnet is the city’s oldest building and now houses an exhibition on the history of the harbor. The Frederikshavn Art Museum has been dedicated to modern art and crafts since 1978. The Bunker Museum at Bangsbo Fort offers a different perspective, making use of around 20 bunkers to date. The neighborhood, harbor, art, and bunker museum provide several distinct cultural highlights.

Gardens and special collections

Bangsbo Botanical Garden was established in Frederikshavn on November 29, 1988, as a botanical garden for the benefit of residents and tourists. The park covers 17,500 square meters; canals and lakes create habitats for plants, insects, and birds. The rose garden has around 150 varieties of roses.

Boolsen’s Stone Collection complements the botanical exhibits with worked stones of various kinds, from ancient millstones and medieval baptismal fonts to more recent millstones and ship anchor stones. Plants and historical collection pieces thus come together in the garden. Guided tours of Bangsbo Botanical Garden, lasting around 1½ hours, can be booked. The Bangsbo Flower Festival is a regular, longstanding tradition in the garden. If you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the current event dates in advance.

Forest, cycling route, and coast

Vandværksskoven stretches from Cloostårnet to Bangsbo Museum. You can walk, mountain bike, fish, and go horseback riding there. These activities give you several ways to plan time in the forest. Cloostårnet is 60 meters high and marks one end of the area described. A cycling route starts at Møllehuset in Bangsbo and leads to the viewing platform at the summit of Pikkerbakken; both the starting point and destination are specified for planning purposes.

Ferries from Frederikshavn Harbor connect to Gothenburg in Sweden, Læsø, and Hirsholmen. If you plan to take a ferry, check the current schedule in advance. There is a large parking lot at the harbor within walking distance of the ferries and the city center; the address is Sydhavnsvej 1. Palmestranden offers a different connection to the coast: the artificial beach was created in 1977 by adding sand.

Discover more destinations: Kvissel, Skagen, Strandby, Nielstrup, Hulsig, Voerså, Lodskovvad, Napstjært

For the broader travel overview: Frederikshavn Municipality.