Bornholm
A sunny granite island in the Baltic - round churches, smokehouses, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches, closer to Sweden than to Denmark.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Bornholm is a Danish island set far out in the Baltic, closer to Sweden and Poland, blessed with more sun than the rest of the country and a landscape all its own: pink granite cliffs and rocky north coast, sandy beaches in the south, and unique round white churches. Add fish smokehouses and a strong craft scene and it is a beloved summer island.
What you actually see
- The round churches - the distinctive white fortified round churches, unique to the island.
- Hammershus - the largest medieval castle ruin in Northern Europe on the north cliffs.
- The rocky north and sandy south - the granite coast and the Dueodde beaches.
- Smokehouses and crafts - the fish smokehouses and the island's ceramics and glass.
When to go
High summer for the beaches, ferries and warm weather; it is very much a summer island, quieter and with reduced services outside. Cycling is a lovely way to see it.
Honest expectations
It takes a ferry or flight to reach, so it is a destination rather than a day trip, best over a few days. Summer is busy and accommodation books ahead. Outside summer many places close and the ferries thin.
Nearby
Ferries connect to Ystad in Sweden and Copenhagen; the Ertholmene islets lie further out.
What to pack for Bornholm
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
