Kerteminde: Old Town, Harbour and Coastal Landscape

Kerteminde combines a medieval old town with harbour life, art history and a distinctive coastal landscape. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Kerteminde can clearly choose their focus: culture and historic buildings, maritime experiences at the harbour, or days by the water and on the paths around the town.

Old Town and Cultural History

Kerteminde’s old town dates back to the Middle Ages. Several Renaissance buildings can be seen on Langegade. Kerteminde Church stands on the market square and, according to tradition, was built in 1476 during the Late Gothic period. Inside is a Gothic cabinet dating from around 1525. For a first overview, the walking tour of Kerteminde begins at Tornøes Hotel in Strandgade.

A special cultural and historical site is the home of Johannes and Alhed Larsen. It became a central meeting place for artists of their time. Johannes Larsen’s home is largely preserved as it was lived in by the Larsen family during their lifetime. The garden is also part of the experience: rare trees and plants grow there, and birds and other animals live there as well. From the garden, there are views of the Great Belt.

Farvergården offers further insights into the town’s history. The exhibitions on three floors deal, among other things, with the lives of craftsmen and fishermen in Kerteminde. A small cinema shows films about Kerteminde recorded between 1938 and 1962. Lillestranden is an old fishing district where fishing still continues. In Kerteminde, you therefore encounter not only museum exhibits but also a connection to fishing that extends into the present day.

Harbour, Mills and Maritime Experiences

Kerteminde Marina is located at the entrance to Kerteminde Fjord. Fjord&Bælt, an aquarium as well as a research and educational centre, is situated at the harbour. A long underwater tunnel reveals life on the seabed. The museum ship Rylen is also moored in the museum harbour on the southern shore of Kerteminde Harbour.

The old customs house, Toldboden, tells of Kerteminde’s former importance. It was built around 1590 by the Odense merchant Niels Bager, while Kerteminde served as a harbour town for Odense. After being destroyed during the Scanian War, it was rebuilt in 1735. Today, Østfyns Museer and Kerteminde Kunstforening alternate exhibitions in the old Toldboden. Svanemøllen stands on Møllebakken; built in 1852, it is the only surviving one of three windmills.

Nordstrand, Sybergland and Routes for Active Days

Kerteminde’s Nordstrand has chalk-white sand and shallow water that extends far out into the sea. Those who prefer to explore on foot can plan the Blue Cloverleaf Route. The circular route is 4.6 km long and leads through the harbour and town areas. Public access is available throughout Sybergland; there are good paths, a fire pit and a shelter site. These different options allow for varied day planning between town, water and landscape, without every holiday day needing to follow the same rhythm.

Kerteminde also offers a specific starting point for a longer cycle tour: the cycle route from Kerteminde to Odense is 24.5 km long. Take this route into account when planning an active day, and then decide whether a shorter outing in the town and harbour areas or a more extensive cycle tour better suits your travel plans.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When looking for accommodation in Kerteminde, it is worth first organising the experiences you want. Those focusing on the old town, town walks, museums and historic buildings should specifically look for a holiday apartment in Kerteminde and plan their visits around the town area. For a holiday focused on the harbour, Fjord&Bælt and Nordstrand, maritime impressions and time by the water may be decisive. Those who enjoy being outdoors should include the 4.6 km Blue Cloverleaf Route, Sybergland or the 24.5 km cycle route to Odense in their daily planning.

All year round, Kerteminde has decentralised self-service tourist information points. These can be helpful for finding your way around locally if you are looking for further ideas for culture, routes or excursions during your stay. For more travel ideas, you can also discover Dalby, Munkebo, Martofte, Marslev, Langeskov, Kertinge, Mesinge and Midskov.

To the higher-level travel overview: Kerteminde.