Guide to a cottage holiday on Helgenæs

See the view from Sletterhage Lighthouse

Sletterhage Lighthouse stands as an outpost on the outermost tip of Helgenæs, where the landscape meets the open sea. Visitors flock to the lighthouse to enjoy the wild and untouched trip along the steep cliffs, spot large container ships and supertankers on their way to Aarhus Harbour, and of course, to see the view from the top of the lighthouse, which is open to visitors during the summer months.

From here, you might spot a ship or perhaps a porpoise through binoculars and enjoy an ice cream from Hans, who is also the lighthouse keeper. If you have fishing enthusiasts in the family, the point by the lighthouse is a popular spot for anglers. However, it is not recommended to swim here, as the waters are deep and current-filled.

If you continue east along the Coastal Fortification Path along the beach, you will reach Tyskertårnet (the German Tower), the last remnants of the radar facility built by the Germans during World War II. If you instead walk north along the beach, you will come to Ørby Klint with its beautiful terraces formed by clay slides. The trip to the cliff from the lighthouse and back again takes about an hour and a half.

Watch the sunset from Helgenæs' highest point

With its impressive 99 meters, Ellemandsbjerg between Esby and Ørby is the highest point on Helgenæs. From the car park, you can follow a nice gravel path up to the top of the mountain, where a unique view awaits you over Aarhus, Samsø, and Hjelm, and the open expanses, deep green forests, and rolling hills of the Helgenæs landscape. If you bring buckets and containers in the autumn, the plantation around the mountain is a perfect spot for picking mushrooms and blackberries.

See cultural gems in Ebeltoft town

The over 700-year-old small East Jutland market town is a sight in itself with its winding alleys of half-timbered houses, blooming hollyhocks, and cobblestones. But Ebeltoft also hides a wide range of attractions that you shouldn't miss. For example, visit Fregatten Jylland, which sends you on waves back to the seafaring past. Also, stop by Glasmuseet Ebeltoft by the harbour front, where you can both see and buy world-class glass art. Stroll further along the fishing boats in the harbour, where you can buy fresh fish, enjoy bubbles and oysters at the oyster bar or drink the town's best coffee at the café Apelgren Jordt.

Explore the national park's unique ice age landscape

Nationalpark Mols Bjerge is one of Denmark's five national parks – selected for its distinctive nature and rare abundance of wildlife and plants. The national park, which stretches over 180 square kilometres, is a testament to the colossal forces of the last ice age, which moved the landscape like giant bulldozers. Today, the terminal moraine hills remain in Helgenæs' backyard – ready to be climbed.

So lace up your good hiking boots, fill your water bottle, and go on an adventure in the national park's landscape with heather, moss, high moraine hills, and deep kettle holes. On foot or by bike, you can follow a string of routes around the landscape, which, for example, lead you to the popular Bronze Age burial mounds Agri Bavnehøj and Trehøje, from where, 137 and 127 meters above sea level, you can gaze out over the impressive landscape, the coastline, and the coves.

Say hello to lions and giraffes at Ree Park Safari

There are animals from all four continents to discover at Ree Park Safari, which is a wonderland for children and the young at heart. Here you can get up close to animal feedings, take a train ride through the prairie, or go on a safari through the savannah, where you can meet, among others, the king of the animals, the world's fastest animal, and the world's tallest animal. A ticket costs 195 DKK for adults and 115 DKK for children aged 3-11.

Take a trip along Lushage's dramatic coastal slopes and cliffs

Get up close to Helgenæs' dramatic nature with the route that leads you from the car park at the end of Klæbjergvej to the coast at Lushage, which is a popular spot for sea trout fishermen. The path leads you through blooming grasslands with wild roses, blackberries, sloes, and hawthorn to Lushage's steep coastal slopes and viewpoint, where you can enjoy the breathtaking sight with a view into Ebeltoft Vig. See colourful butterflies along the way, and say hello to the cows grazing on the pasture.

Jump into the water at calm coves and soft sandy beaches

The sea around Helgenæs is quite deep and current-filled, but if you know where to look, there are calm coves and soft sandy beaches to be found in the nearby area. For example, spend warm days at Kongsgårde's cosy beach, or jump into the blue waves at Strands' beach, which is also an ideal spot for kite and windsurfing. For the less daring, the beach is a good place to watch paragliders soar over the water.

If you fancy a refreshing morning dip, you won't find a better spot than the east-facing Fuglsø Strand. Bring your coffee, get the morning sun on your face, and enjoy the walk through the enchanting Fuglsø Skov, where honeysuckle smells sweet in the summer. At Fuglsø Strand, you will also find Denmark's first underwater activity course, which allows you to try your hand at snorkelling and diving on the seabed. If you get hungry after your beach trip, the historic Fuglsø Kro is not far away. Here you can satisfy your hunger with lunch or homemade cake in the garden or in the idyllic rooms.

Eat green food in Mols Bjerge

If you're craving a true gourmet meal, Molskroen is just a short drive from Helgenæs. The half-timbered building was part of Denmark's first planned holiday town from the 1920s. Today, the inn invites you to delicious food in the Brasserie or the grand 7- or 10-course menu made with the best that Mols' nature has to offer. In fact, the inn is recognized for its sustainable gastronomy and local ingredients.

If you drive 10 minutes further inland, you will find another gourmet restaurant in green attire, namely Restaurant Moment, which serves organic, sustainable, and biodynamic food from the vegetable garden and the surroundings of the restaurant. Enjoy a green meal with dew-fresh vegetables, bursting with flavour and complemented by natural wine.

Get more great local recommendations for your cottage holiday on Djursland, and explore our very special, beautiful cottage gems near Nationalpark Mols Bjerge.