Skagen town centre

Skagen is a town in North Jutland.

In the Danish language, the town is namesake of the very sand spit it is located on, and the name 'Skagen' can refer to both. In the English language, the spit is known as the Skaw Spit.

Understand

Skagen (Danish: [ˈskɛˀjn̩]) is the northernmost town in Denmark, with the northernmost point in Denmark, Grenen. This is where Kattegat (waters between Denmark and Sweden) and the Skagerrak (part of the North Sea) meet.

It is a town where the main turnover are the fishing fleet and the connected industries - food industries and different industries supporting the fleet. Second income is tourism. There are 7,500 permanent habitants in the town (2023), but in the main tourist season the population increase up to 60,000.

Get in

Skagen train station. This yellow old-style architecture is typical for Skagen.

By bus

• #99 from Blokhus, stops in Hjørring and Hirtshals, ending in Skagen.

By train

The semi-private Nordjyske Jernbaner railway runs between Frederikshavn, interchange with the national railway system, and Skagen.

• 1 Skagen railway station (Skagen banegård), Sankt Laurentii Vej 22. (updated Oct 2019)

By car

The easiest option is following the E45 highway to Frederikshavn and take national road 40 from there. To the port of Hirtshals with ferry connections to Norway, catch road 597 Skagensvej/Hirsthalsvej and make a turn in the village Ålbæk.

Get around

A very popular way of transport in the area is by bicycle on a distributed net of bicycle paths. Between Easter and wk43, there is also a "sand train" at Grenen, called Sandormen, carrying tourists between the parking lot and the northernmost point of Denmark. It is a sort of a special vehicle driving through the sand, so it can be an experience taking it. You can only pay cash and the first run starts at 10:00. It also makes the hike between Skagen and Grenen shorter, if you decide to do this by foot.

See

• Bolcheriet, Havnevej 6, ☏ +45 9899 0007, fax: +45 9899 0607, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Here you can see how candy is made, taste the sweets and buy some to take home. Free. 
• 1 Grenen (use road 40 to get there; it is 2-3 km from the parking lot). The northernmost point in Denmark where Baltic sea and North sea meet. (updated Jul 2019)
• The Harbour. The main spot in summer where thousands of tourist frequents the different restaurants on the quay. The harbour itself is a big marina with many guesting boats from Norway, Sweden and Germany. 
• 2 Råbjerg Mile (right south of town). One of the biggest migrating dunes in Europe. It is moving about 15 m per year eastward leaving a new land to be populated by plants and animals on the western side.  
• The Buried Church (Den tilsandede kirke), ☏ +45 9844 4371. This church from the 14th century became buried by the moving sand dunes and is not in use anymore. Inside is now a tourist shop. small fee. 
• 3 Skagen Lighthouse, Corner of Markvej & Sct. Laurentii Road. 10:00-16:00. Built in 1858. 46 metres high and thereby the highest in Denmark. (Only open on weekends from Apr 1 to May 31, and from Sep 16 to Oct 31.) 10 kr (5 kr children).  
• 4 Grenen Kunstmuseum, Fyrvej 40, ☏ +45 9844 2288. A very good art museum showing a vast collection of paintings from the famous school of artists from the late 19th century, the Skagen Painters. free.  
• Water Tower, Markvej/Sct. Laurentii Vej. 11:00-17:00. Built in 1934 and was in use until 1983. It is 34 metres high and contained 150,000 litres of water. 120 steps will take you to the top with a fantastic view of town. 10 kr, children 5 kr. 

• 
  Grenen, the very top of the Skaw Spit
• 
  Skaw Spit Nature Center
• 
  Skagen Museum, one of several museums displaying works of the famous Skagen painters.
• 
  Michael and Anna Ancher's House, now a museum.
• 
  The sand-buried church
• 
  Råbjerg Mile

Do

Bunken plantation. The Skaw Spit presents some good nature experiences.

• Fishing: The harbour in Skagen is a good place to fish, because of the two seas meeting at Grenen.
• Bird watching: 'Grenen' and the areas right south west of it is one of the best spots in Denmark watching migrating birds and the town is visited by hundreds of bird watchers in spring and fall.
• Beach Life: Skagen is surrounded of fine white beaches.

Sports

• Skagen Kultur & Fritidscenter: Indoor swimming, Handball, Volley, Badminton. Does also have a small restaurant.
• SkawBowling: A bowling center with 8 bowling lanes, pool tables, slot machines and a restaurant.

Tours

• Skagen Turist arranges guided tours in Skagen.
• Bike rental: Bikes can be rented at Skagen Cykeludlejning

Buy

Amber and different handicrafts

Eat

Skagens Fiskerestaurant and Pakhuset. Restaurants in refurbished old fishing warehouses.

Skagen is well known for its fish products in general and for its fresh cooked shrimps in particular. Enjoy them on the quey at the small restaurants in the old fishing houses or bring them with you home.

• Restaurant De 2 Have, Fyrvej 42, ☏ +45 98 44 24 35. Gastropub and restaurant at Grenen's parking lot, with a view at the two oceans. 
• Pakhuset, Rødspættevej 6, ☏ +45 98 44 20 00. Fish restaurant at the harbour. 
• Jakobs Café & Bar, Havnevej 4A, ☏ +45 98 44 16 90. Popular café and bar in the city center. 
• Bodilles Kro, Østre Strandvej 11, ☏ +45 98 44 33 00. Restaurant with traditional Danish food. 
• Skagen Fiskerestaurant, Fiskehuskaj 13, ☏ +45 98 44 35 44. Fish restaurant at the harbour. 
• Restaurante Firenze, Havnevej 9, ☏ +45 98 45 19 22. Italian restaurant and pizzeria. 

Drink

• Jakobs Café & Bar, Havnevej 4A, ☏ +45 98 44 16 90. Popular café and bar in the city center. 
• Boddy Holly Skagen, Havnevej 16. Night club 
• Green's Pub & Café, Havnevej 3A, ☏ +45 98 45 15 85. Café and bar in the city center. 

Sleep

Brøndums Hotel (1891). One of many beach hotels in Skagen.

• Brøndums Hotel, Anchersvej 3, ☏ +45 98 44 15 55. Prices starting at €87. 
• Color Hotel Skagen, Gl. Landevej 39, ☏ +45 98 44 22 33. Prices starting at €128. 
• Hotel Petit, Holstvej 4, ☏ +45 98 44 11 99. Prices starting at €87. 
• Aalbæk Gl. Kro, Skagensvej 42, 9982 Aalbæk, ☏ +45 98 48 90 22. Prices starting at €105. 
• Hotel Skibssmedien, Vestre Strandvej 28, ☏ +45 98 44 67 16, [email protected]. 08:00-18:00. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Prices starting at €134. 
• Hotel Traneklit, Chr. Møllersvej, ☏ +45 98 44 13 22. Prices starting at €613 per week. 
• Hotel Strandly, Østre Strandvej 35, ☏ +45 98 44 11 31. Prices starting at €67. 
• Clausens Hotel, Sct. Laurentii Vej 35, ☏ +45 98 45 01 66. Prices starting at €74. 
• Danhostel Skagen Vandrerhjem, Rolighedsvej 2, ☏ +45 98 44 22 00. Youth hostel Prices starting at €20.