11 Places in Denmark Perfect for Food Lovers

Seeing Copenhagen on the top of a list with Denmark’s top places for foodies certainly comes as no surprise. Being the hometown of Noma Restaurant and the place where the inception of New Nordic Cuisine started 18 years ago, Copenhagen has fairly earned its reputation as one of the best cities for food lovers worldwide. Even though the capital of Denmark has become known for its Michelin-starred restaurants, that doesn’t mean you can’t find lots of other places where you can taste traditional or modern Nordic cuisine without paying a fortune.

The Aarhus gastronomy scene is as strong and diverse as Copenhagen’s. Denmark’s second-largest city can without a doubt brag about hosting some of the country’s best restaurants – and, with the recently opened Central Food Market, offers even more choices to travelers of all budgets.

Every year Skagen, Denmark’s northernmost city, attracts thousands of tourists who travel to the top of Denmark. Some come to witness the unique phenomenon where the Baltic and the North Sea meet, while others come to spend a few days on the long, sandy beaches, or to explore the city that during the 19th century attracted some of the best artists of the time. Aside for its diverse landscape and cultural attractions, Skagen is also a real favorite among seafood-lovers, as it is known for its restaurants serving fresh seafood meals prepared with traditional recipes. Pakhuset and Skagen Fiskerestaurant are considered to be among the best.

Being the most sunny place in Denmark, Bornholm has been a favorite summer destination for locals since forever. In the past few years, however, there’s an added reason why this small island in the middle of the Baltic Sea gets packed with tourists: its culinary scene. Among rocky hills, sandy beaches and vast forests lie gourmet restaurants, smokehouses and traditional taverns that offer an original taste of Danish cuisine.

At Wadden Sea National Park food-lovers will not only have the chance to indulge in a delicious meal, they’ll also have a unique experience. Visitors of Denmark’s largest national park can go on an oyster safari and collect their own lunch from Wadden Sea’s seabed, and at the end of the day enjoy a plate of oysters—the favorite gourmet dish of every seafood lover.

The Limfjord area, in the northwestern part of Denmark, is also ideal for those craving oysters. Many people from the neighboring countries, such as Norway and the Netherlands, travel to Limfjorden just to take part in the oyster safari, and reward themselves with one of the most nutritious and tasty meals. If you have a special preference for your oysters, keep in mind that in Limfjorden you’ll find native oyster species, while in the Wadden Sea you’ll find more Pacific oysters than European ones.

Fanø is a small island on the west coast of Denmark, particularly known for its high-quality local beer that a few years ago was served in Noma, Copenhagen’s renowned restaurant. Aside for its local brewery, Fanø Bryghus, Fanø is also known for its traditional and fine-dining restaurants, with Sønderho Kro being the first choice among foodies.

Møn Island, in the south of Denmark, is one of the country’s top tourist attractions due to its breathtaking scenery—especially along the island’s eastern coast, where chalk cliffs 100 meters (330 feet) tall stretch across six kilometers (3.7 miles). If that isn’t a good enough reason to add Møn to your bucket list then its culinary scene, with traditional restaurants and cafés, will definitely do the trick. Both meat- and seafood-lovers will find something to their liking.

Odense offers plenty of choices, including Pasfall, a Michelin-starred restaurant that many food enthusiasts will be thrilled to discover. Hans Christian Andersen’s birth town has a strong culinary scene, with restaurants inspired by local and international cuisines. From traditional and New Nordic to French and Vietnamese, this small city has something for everyone.

Nestled in the eastern part of the Jutland peninsula lies Fredericia, a small city of only 40,000 inhabitants. Due to its position and its beautiful landscape, Fredericia is popular with nature-lovers. But, with two Michelin-starred restaurants in its gastronomy scene, it has become a favorite destination for food enthusiasts as well.