Kolding is Denmark’s seventh-largest city and a great destination if you want to visit a lesser known place. With a history dating back 800 years and an active cultural scene, there are plenty of nice things to do in Kolding. Get the full overview of the top attractions here.
DON’T MISS: Where to Stay in Kolding – Best Hotels & Areas
Below you can read about the 11 best attractions in Kolding. We will include details such as addresses, prices, and other useful pieces of information.
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Koldinghus
The main symbol of Kolding is Koldinghus – an old castle located right in the middle of the city on a lonely hill overlooking the Slotsø lake and the rest of the city.
If you could only visit one attraction in Kolding, this should be the one.
The castle is impressive as you see it from the outside. When you get inside, you can expect a very fascinating visit. It used to be a royal residence, but now it is a museum with exhibitions related to the castle’s history along with several items and art works from the area. Koldinghus also has an interesting history. It was first built in the 13th century but caught fire in 1808. For a long time, it was in ruins but it has now been fully restored.
Koldinghus is open from 10 am to 5 pm with an entrance fee of 80 DKK for adults. Guided tours are available in the summer. It is the most visited paid attraction in Kolding.
Address: Koldinghus 1, 6000 Kolding
Slotssøen
Slotssøen, also known as Slotsø, is the lake located at the foot of the hill where Koldinghus stands. Therefore, you can cross of two attractions when you visit this particular area of the city.
Despite the fact that the castle steals most of the attention, beautiful buildings surround the lake on all sides. There is a trail around the lake, so you can walk all the way around it and fully enjoy the setting. It is a much-frequented area by locals as well as tourists.
Since it is a free attraction, we consider it a must-visit place in Kolding.
Sankt Nicolai Church
The oldest church in Kolding is Sankt Nicolai Kirke. Built in the mid-13th century with red bricks, it is one of the oldest buildings in Kolding that still exists. It has gone through some renovations – the most important one being in 1886 – but it still has a very traditional feel to it. The tower pops up and is easily visible from many points in the city.
Sankt Nikolai Church has an impressive interior with an altarpiece, a pulpit and a baptismal font, all dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It also has stained glass art and several memorials.
Overall, a church highly worth visiting – and it is completely free to enter on weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm.
Address: Nicolaiplads 3, 6000 Kolding
Skamlingsbanken
A large hill located just a few kilometers southeast of the city. It is the highest point in Southern Jutland and from the top you’ll have a great view of the landscape.
Aside from the natural beauty, it also has historic significance. Skamlingsbanken was once a hunting area of the Danish king but later it became a place for public celebrations, folk festivals, speeches, and perhaps most famously it was the site of the Danish-North Schleswig reunion party after World War I. The Wikipedia article about Skamlingsbanken has some surprisingly fascinating insights.
When you visit it, you should notice the 16 meter tall stone-memorial dedicated to the advocates of Danish Schleswig. This memorial is at the peak of the hill. Another memorial is also found at Skamlingsbanken, dedicated to the fallen members of the Danish resistance in World War 2.
Skamlingsbanken is an amazing place to visit if you have time for it on your trip to Kolding. But it does require you to leave the city centre and get to the top of the hill. We recommend renting a bicycle for this purpose.
Address: Skamlingsbanken, 6093 Sjølund
Trapholt
Trapholt is a museum of modern art and design. Many Danes consider it their favorite museum and that is a good testament to the quality of the place.
While the museum does have fine arts such as paintings and drawings, it is arguably most famous for its exhibitions of furniture and design pieces. The Arne Jacobsen section is a permanent exhibition where the Cube Flex is considered the highlight. The sculpture park is also part of the museum and it exhibits pieces made by the best Danish sculptors of the last few decades.
On top of the permanent exhibitions, Trapholt regularly brings in new pieces for temporary presentations. There’s always something new to see and the museum even has a workshop.
You have to pay 80 DKK to get in to the museum – unless you are under 18 in which case it is free. The Trapholt museum is free for everyone on Wednesdays between 5 and 8 pm. Get all the information at the Trapholt website.
Address: Æblehaven 23, 6000 Kolding
Geografisk Have
The botanical garden in Kolding is known as Geografisk Have. Located in a quiet area in the southern part of the city, it is a popular place for excursion among the locals.
There are multiple things to see in and near the garden: The outdoor amphitheater, the miniature exhibition of the city (which we will describe in detail in the next section) and obviously the beautiful nature. Geografisk Have is a big open space, but it has many well-kept trees, plants and flowers all over. Some of these are native Danish species while others have been brought in.
You can walk around the garden by following the trails, or you can simply sit down for a picnic. It is open all year round although most people visit it in the summer. Unfortunately, it is not one of the free attractions in Kolding, as you will have to pay 65 DKK to get in. Teenagers get a discount while kids can get in for free.
Address: Christian 4 Vej 23, 6000 Kolding
Kolding Miniby
Kolding Miniby is a miniature exhibition of the city, located in the same part of the city as Geografisk Have. Open from 10 am to 5.30 pm all days of the week, it is a great place to visit, especially on Sundays and Mondays when other attractions in Kolding are typically closed.
Compared to the real buildings of Kolding, the miniature exhibition is built in a 1:10 ratio. It mostly shows the city as it was in the 1860s. At this time, there were around 700 buildings in the city of Kolding – of which 400 are now portrayed in this exhibition. The highlight is obviously the miniature version of Koldinghus (the principal attraction in the city that we mentioned as our first recommendation) but every part of this exhibition is highly impressive. Locals have worked on these models for years and regularly take care of maintenance. So you can also consider Kolding Miniby a great insight into the local craftsmanship!
You have to enter at Geografisk Have and walk through the park to reach Kolding Miniby.
Address: Christian 4 Vej 53, 6000 Kolding (entrance at Christian 4 Vej 23)
Danish Museum of Nursing History
This is one of the most unique museums you will find in Denmark.
It is dedicated to nursing and in Danish known as Dansk Sygeplejehistorisk Museum. The exhibitions show how the care of patients have developed over the years. What makes the museum so interesting is that it has very realistic rooms that perfectly display how traditional health care worked. Most rooms have authentic equipment and human-sized dolls.
Among the most impressive rooms in the exhibition are the 1930s men’s ward, the 1950s operating room, the nursing school, and the 1800s private ward. View images of the exhibitions here and you will likely get a strong urge to go see it in person!
The museum itself is relatively new (founded in 1999). It is open every day from 11 am to 4 pm expect Mondays. Entrance is 50 DKK for adults. There are reduced prices for seniors and students, while kids get in for free.
Address: Fjordvej 152, 6000 Kolding
Kolding Storcenter
Kolding Storcenter is one of the largest malls in Denmark. It is located in the northern part of the city. You can reach it from the city centre by car, bus or bicycle.
There are over 100 stores, a huge supermarket, some restaurants, a cinema, bathrooms, and the mall frequently hosts some cool events.
Parking is no issue as there are over 2,800 free parking spots outside the mall. There is almost always parking spots available, although the interior of the mall can sometimes be quite busy with people.
It is the best place to visit in Kolding if you want to go shopping!
Address: Skovvangen 42, 6000 Kolding
Bowl’n’Fun
If you simply want to go out for a fun experience, try Bowl’n’Fun in Kolding. It’s a typical bowling alley with plenty of lanes. Most people go there to bowl, but the venue also has a go-kart track, virtual reality, darts, minigolf, an escape room, a playground and a restaurant. It’s the kind of place where you show up in the afternoon and end up spending the entire night.
Bowl’n’Fun is open from midday to 9 pm with extended opening hours on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Mondays. One hour of bowling costs between 240 and 275 DKK depending on the time you show up. Shoe rental is 18 DKK per person. If you want to try some of the other attractions, you can check up on the prices on the website ahead of your visit.
Address: Skovvangen 35, 6000 Kolding
Jump’it Trampoline Park
This indoor trampoline park is an extremely fun place to visit. It is popular among locals and it is a nice family place. Jump’it is open for everyone between 5 and 99 years old. There are specific kids areas for families with children under 4.
The park has ‘free jump’ areas where you can just jump around with a smile on your face, and there are also days where Jump’it has special events, such as parkour classes and jump dance classes.
Here are the prices:
- Free Jump 1 hour: 110 DKK
- Free Jump 2 hours: 169 DKK
- Free Jump 3 hours: 209 DKK
- Unlimited (only possible Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday): 169 DKK
As you see, it makes sense to stay there for several hours as you get more value for the price.
The place is open from 3 pm to 8 pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.
Address: C F Tietgens Vej 10, 6000 Kolding
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That was our suggestions on cool things you can do in Kolding! Despite the fact that this is a small city, you can experience a lot of culture and entertainment while you visit. Enjoy your visit, and don’t forget to check out other Danish destinations!
