Varde: Experience Nature, the Coast and Culture

A trip to Varde can be explored through a wide range of nature and culture. The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; most of its land area lies within Varde Municipality. Millions of migratory birds use it as a resting area. There is also Vesterhavet Nature Park, established in 2014: its coastal strip, up to nine kilometres wide, stretches from Blåvandshuk to Nymindegab and covers about 22,500 hectares.

The Wadden Sea, wetlands and birdwatching

Filsø also offers a special perspective on the region’s natural environment. The lake was restored to its original form and is now a nature and wetland area of about 915 hectares. It is an important resting area for 234 bird species. Walking and cycling routes, bird towers and car parks are part of the visitor facilities. Alongside the extensive coastal area, routes and viewpoints around a wetland can therefore be a focus when planning your trip.

One striking landscape feature is the Blåbjerg dune: at 64 metres high, it is Denmark’s tallest dune. Blåbjerg Plantation lies partly on the Varde bakkeø and offers marked walking trails, bridleways and a mountain biking trail. The national cycle route Vestkyststien also runs through the plantation. Hennegårds Klitter, Lyngbos Hede and Løvklitten in the plantation are part of Natura 2000 site No. 83.

Routes for different travel plans

If you’re planning longer walks, the Kyst til Kyst Stien is a 130-kilometre hiking trail from Blåvandshuk to Vejle. Along the route, there are shelters and tent pitches with fire pits, water and toilets; car parks are located near the trail. As facilities may change, it’s a good idea to check their availability before setting out. The cycling route through Blåbjerg Plantation and the long-distance hiking trail differ mainly in activity and route length—two practical criteria to help you plan your days.

Museums spanning coastal history and art

Tirpitz brings together three permanent exhibitions: “Den skjulte vestkyst”, “En hær af beton” and “Havets guld”. The museum complex also includes the original TIRPITZ fortress, which visitors can explore. FLUGT – Refugee Museum of Denmark offers a different focus. The museum is set in the historic Oksbøl refugee camp and tells stories of displacement through personal accounts.

Nymindegab Museum is dedicated to the Nymindegab painters, who belonged to one of Denmark’s first artists’ colonies, founded by Laurits Tuxen. Its authentic setting includes a carpenter’s house and a sawmill with a working workshop. JANUS – Museum for Samtidskunst, by contrast, offers a contemporary focus: its collection spans from 1950 to the present and centres primarily on works by women artists, outsider art and artists from West Jutland.

History through scale and original spaces

At Hjedding Andelsmejeri, you can trace the history of Denmark’s first cooperative dairy, founded in 1882. The rooms are furnished as they were when the dairy was established; exhibits include a steam engine, a centrifuge, a butter machine and a kneading table. Varde Miniby depicts the old market town of Varde as it looked around 1860: more than 300 miniature buildings recreate it at a scale of 1:10. During the season, visitors can watch the miniature builders’ daily precision work in the workshop.

A recurring event is Varde Å Dag, with activities and culinary experiences. It takes place along the river near Hodde, Varde, Janderup and Ho Bugt/Kjelst. As the event programme should be checked before travelling, you can take the event into account when planning your dates without assuming a specific date.

Find a hotel to suit your priorities

When choosing a hotel in Varde, it helps to first decide what matters most for your trip: if you plan to spend time in nature areas and on trails, your priorities will differ from those of a trip with several museum visits. Consider which places will shape your plans, then choose your hotel location to match those priorities.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Blavand, Hovstrup, Vejers Strand, Grærup, Nymindegab, Lønne, Henne Strand, Henne, Nørre Nebel, Kvong, Ansager, Oksbøl, Årre, Billum, Frøstrup, Næsbjerg, Sædding, Ovtrup, Borre, Tistrup, Agerbæk, Varde.

For the broader travel overview: South Jutland.