Holiday apartment in Fanø: Wadden Sea, culture and beach

Fanø is part of the Wadden Sea National Park, which has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. At the same time, maritime history, distinctive landscapes, cycle paths, beaches and vibrant traditions shape the island. FANØLINJEN connects Esbjerg in Jutland with Nordby on Fanø; the crossing takes approximately 12 minutes.

Culture and history

Fannikerdagene takes place every year on the second weekend of July and presents Fanø costumes, special music and dancing in Nordby. Sønderhodag follows every year on the third Sunday in July with a bridal procession, traditional costumes, and the local music and dance tradition. The Fanø International Kite Fliers Meeting also takes place on Fanø every year in June.

In Nordby, the maritime character and seafaring history are reflected in old captains’ houses, street names and former maritime schools, among other things. Sønderho is known for its narrow streets and many beautiful houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Fanø Museum, housed in a Fanø home built in 1801, displays furniture, tools, household items and objects brought back by sailors from all over the world. Hannes Hus is a captain’s house built in the 1750s, with its original furnishings and domestic fixtures preserved.

Further insights into the island’s history are provided by Sønderho Gl. Redningsstation, with its lifeboat, rescue equipment, historical photographs and crew lists, as well as Fanø Skibsfart og Dragtsamling. The latter conveys Fanø’s maritime culture through ship paintings, ship models at a scale of 1:48 and traditional Fanø costumes. Sønderho Mølle has been restored and is now arranged as a museum.

Nature and coast

A hiking trail leads to Pælebjerg, Fanø’s highest point at 21 m, and offers views of the sea, Fanø Plantage and the heathland. At Sønderho Strandsø, a birdwatching shelter with information boards about the area’s history and the distinctive nature around the lake is located in the dune. Sønderho Gl. Fuglekøje features an exhibition on the history of the historic bird decoy system, as well as an observation tower with views across the Wadden Sea.

Søren Jessens Sand is Fanø’s largest sandy desert and is accessible to pedestrians all year round. Hønen, south of Sønderho, is considered a particularly suitable place for observing migratory birds. The beach section between Fanø Bad and Rindby Strand is used for bathing.

Activities

Cycle paths connect the towns and settlement areas of Nordby, Fanø Bad, Rindby Strand and Sønderho on Fanø. A 7 km-long mountain bike trail runs through the western part of Fanø Klitplantage. At Fanøs Skovlegeplads, a fairytale-themed play area is combined with opportunities for picnics, barbecues and making fires.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing are permitted in the sea off Fanø Plantage. The marked beach activity area south of Rindby, colloquially known as Buggy Beach, offers opportunities for surfing, kitesurfing, blokart land sailing, kite buggying and landboarding.

Culinary specialities

Specialities include Bakskuld: a salted and smoked dab that is fried in a pan and served with rye bread and, optionally, a coffee punch. Bakskuld is offered in several restaurants on Fanø. Fanø smørrebrød is made with six different toppings on thin slices of white bread and arranged in a multi-layered pattern; the varieties from Sønderho and Nordby differ slightly.

Local food production on Fanø includes beef and lamb, ham, sausages and other charcuterie, cold-smoked salmon, beer and the ship’s rum that has been revived.

View several holiday apartment offers and, on the respective accommodation pages, check in particular whether occupancy, price components and conditions are clearly stated.

Further destination pages: Rindby, Nordby, Sønderho, Fanø

For the higher-level travel overview: South Jutland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Sønderborg Municipality, Haderslev Municipality, Varde, Vejle Municipality.