Esbjerg – A Travel Guide to Denmark’s Western Port City

As the fifth-largest city in Denmark and an important port city with plenty of international traffic, Esbjerg is an interesting place to visit. There are many things to see and do, and there are several historic towns in the vicinity.

If you’re going to Esbjerg, then make sure you read this guide first: It’s written by a Dane who has been there countless times, and the guide will look into some facts about the city, how to get there, where to stay, and most importantly – the best tourist attractions in Esbjerg!

Facts about Esbjerg

Esbjerg is located in the southwestern part of Denmark. The city itself has approximately 72,000 inhabitants, while the Esbjerg municipality has around 115,000. That makes it the fifth-largest city in Denmark, only surpassed by Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg.

For a long time, Esbjerg has been best known as a port city. While the port mainly works for import and export, there are also many ferries going to (and from) Esbjerg. In other words, there is a good chance you can sail there. Some cruises even stop by, usually before heading to Norway.

It’s a relatively new city as it wasn’t officially founded until 1868. Before that, fewer than 100 people were living in the area! Not much. So it has grown somewhat rapidly. Esbjerg was put into importance because Denmark had just lost the important port of Altona to Germany in the war four years prior. A new commercial port was needed, an Esbjerg was chosen to serve as the new import/export city on the west coast of Denmark.

Esbjerg has a minor airport, mainly used to transport workers out to the oil platforms in the North Sea; there are just two touristic routes right now, so most people come in via Billund (BLL) when they visit Esbjerg for leisure – a much larger airport with countless destination, and located just 50 kilometers away.

Things to see in Esbjerg

As a relatively new city, Esbjerg does not have that many classic sights to see. But on the contrary, there are a couple of modern attractions, so you can still get to experience something.

The giant monument Mennesket ved Havet (pictured above) is located near the port and it was built in 1994 when Esbjerg celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary as an official municipality in Denmark. The sculpture shows four huge characters looking out over the ocean. It is free to see the sculpture since it is standing out in the open. It also has a symbolic meaning of welcoming people to Esbjerg when coming in with a ship. The port itself is also worth a visit if you are into ships and trade. It’s a massive port, especially for a city with just 115K inhabitants.

We also recommend that you walk around the central part of Esbjerg to get a taste of the local life. You can see the architecture, the churches, and much more. Vor Frelsers Kirke is the main church to see. It has the typical red-bricked northern European look – a very common architectural style in both Denmark and Germany.

If you enjoy tranquility, you will love some of Esbjerg’s many parks. There are both manmade and natural parks in the city and its vicinity. Visit the beautiful Vognsbølparken, I.C. Møllerparken or Hjerting Strandpark – the last is famous for its varied nature.

Right outside of Esbjerg, you can visit Nationalpark Vadehavet, a Danish national park where you can get a guided tour and experience the sea. The tour will take you around the area where you can watch seals, collect mussels and witness the phenomenon of Sort Sol.

Best activities in Esbjerg

If you’re hungry, go to Esbjerg Street Food. It’s not actually on the street, but you enter a building, and inside you’ll find all kinds of food stands. Most of them are foreign, so you can try foods from around the world. A really good experience (especially if you don’t fancy Danish food and want to try something foreign, like Mexican or Thai).

Esbjerg has several museums that you can consider visiting. These are the main ones:

• Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet (Museum for Fishing and Maritime)
• Esbjerg Museum (Historical City Museum)
• Esbjerg Kunstmuseum (Art Museum)
• Bogtrykmuseet (Book Museum)

Another nice activity in Esbjerg is Svømmestadion Danmark, a large indoor water park where you can swim and play. The facility is nice for everybody – families, kids, adults. There is a section just for kids, and there are sections just for adults.

One of the highlights of Svømmestadion Danmark is the Roman bath where you can change between cold and hot water, and where you can enter a special room with nice oily scents.

If you are into football (soccer), you should visit Blue Water Arena – the local stadium where the football club Esbjerg fB plays its matches. Esbjerg fB has had mixed success over the years, but sometimes plays in the best Danish league, meaning that there are regularly competitive matches here.

Esbjerg is known for its crazy football fans. Even in cold winter temperatures, the Esbjerg football fans will not shy away from taking their shirts off and singing loud songs on the tribunes. Usually completely drunk by the time the match begins, it is best to leave these fans alone since some of them will try to pick fights with opposing fans. But it certainly is fun to watch Esbjerg play, as long as you are prepared for the situation!

How to get to the city

If you’re coming in from abroad, fly to Billund Airport and take a bus onwards to Esbjerg. You can also rent a car at the airport and drive the rest of the way.

Another option is to sail by ferry or cruise since Esbjerg receives many ships from various places around Europe. For a long time, there was a famous ferry line between London and Esbjerg. It doesn’t exist anymore, but there are some alternatives. These days, there are ferries between Esbjerg and Northern Germany. There are also connections to the Netherlands and even to Norway.

If you’re visiting Copenhagen, the most popular Danish city among foreign tourists, you can easily get to Esbjerg as well: Simply take the westbound train leaving from Copenhagen. It’s a direct train and it takes 3-4 hours. Try to book your ticket at least a week in advance on dsb.dk since it will allow you to get an ‘Orange ticket’ in time. An Orange ticket is a discounted ticket you get for booking in advance, often at half price of what a regular ticket costs!

There are also direct trains between Aarhus and Esbjerg. So if you’re visiting Aarhus and want to do a quick visit to Esbjerg, or vice versa, that’s an option as well.

Where to stay in Esbjerg

Ideally, you should stay as central as possible. It’s easy to get around in Esbjerg, so the location doesn’t mean everything, but it is nice to be close to the main attractions, along with the restaurants and shops, most of which are in the city center.

Thanks to Esbjerg’s role as an important port city where lots of people come in every day, there is a decent selection of hotels, hostels and holiday apartments.

The best hotel in Esbjerg is Hotel Britannia. It’s very central and has a location just 50 meters away from the central city square. The rooms are nice and comfy, so you’ll never go wrong by staying here. Britannia is the preferred hotel for most visitors and it has a pretty good reputation among Danes.

An alternative is Hjerting Badehotel. This hotel is located a bit northwest of Esbjerg, around 8 kilometers away from the city center. But – it’s right by the beach, and it literally takes one minute to walk to the sea. Many rooms have a great view, and the hotel is highly popular among its guests. While Hotel Britannica in central Esbjerg is good for business travelers, shoppers and cultural enthusiasts, Hjerting Badehotel is best for the relaxed traveler who wants a calm holiday close to the sea.

On average, it is cheaper to stay in Esbjerg than it is to stay in Copenhagen or one of the other large cities in Denmark. But it is still Denmark, and the prices can be quite high at times. The average price for a night in a hotel will be around $150-200 per night. It is a good idea to book your room a month in advance. Especially if you arrive in the summer when the demand is at its highest.

Day trips from Esbjerg

If you’re staying in Esbjerg but want to explore the nearby area, you have many great options.

The best idea is to visit Ribe, Denmark’s oldest city, located very close to Esbjerg. It takes less than 1.5 hours to reach Ribe by car. In a single day, you can see most of the city’s attractions and go back again, so Ribe is ideal for a day trip from Esbjerg.

Another option is Billund’s Legoland – it takes around an hour to reach it by car, and a little more by bus. Legoland is a particularly good choice for families visiting Denmark, although groups of friends will also find it very entertaining.

The entire west coast of Denmark is very interesting in general, and you can also explore nature there. Take a look at Nationalpark Vadehavet, one of the best natural attractions in the whole country.

A trip to the island Rømø can be considered if you want a relaxing, romantic holiday a bit away from the typical city life.

There is also Fanø, just a 12-minute ferry ride away from Esbjerg! Fanø is super idyllic and a popular summer destination among Danes. Several artists like to live on that island for tranquility and inspiration.

And of course, Denmark’s second-largest city Aarhus is not that far away either: There is a direct train which has a transportation time of just around two hours. If you’re up for a slightly longer ride, Copenhagen can also be reached in just a couple of hours. Even the German border is within a fair distance when staying in Esbjerg, although that trip is a lot easier to take by car.

Conclusion

Esbjerg is a very nice city. It’s not too big, and probably not too small since it actually has a lot to offer. We hope you have enjoyed this travel guide to Esbjerg – it will be useful if you’re ever going to visit!

While still underrated, Esbjerg has been getting more attention recently: Many foreigners are beginning to pay interest to destinations like Ribe and Billund, two cities that are very near Esbjerg. This means more people are getting acquainted with Esbjerg as well.

A trip to the city is recommended – and my primary hotel recommendation is Hotel Britannia. Without a doubt, the best place to stay in Esbjerg.

Leave a comment below if you’re curious about anything that hasn’t been mentioned yet!