Guide to a cottage holiday in Mols

Explore the unique nature of Mols Bjerge

*Recommended by Jakob and Christine

Just a short trip from Aarhus or a ferry ride from Sjællands Odde, you'll find Mols Bjerge, which stretches over 180 square kilometers and is one of Denmark's five national parks. In the National Park, a network of beautiful nature trails awaits, where you can hike through the hilly landscape's undulating brownish-purple grass, heather, and moss, and see rare insects and plants.

Take the National Park's app in hand and let it guide you around Danish mountains and deep kettle holes, where large ice caps have pressed deep down between the hills. In the summer, Jakob and Christine enjoy horseback riding through the hills, and in the autumn, they go mushroom hunting or gather blackberries for homemade jam.

Climb the Bronze Age mounds and enjoy the view over the coves

*Recommended by Susanne

From the windswept tops of Mols' mini-mountains, you can enjoy a unique 360-degree view of the landscape formed during the last ice age advance. Susanne recommends taking binoculars and climbing Trehøje, named after three prominent Bronze Age mounds, rising 127 meters above sea level. From the top, a spectacular view opens up over hills and valleys, the coastline from Aarhus to Ebeltoft, and the coves. The most energetic can also climb the mountains' highest point, the 137-meter-high Agri Bavnehøj (pronounced 'auri').

Enjoy delicious food at the beach hotel

*Recommended by Katrine and Peter

Katrine and Peter often stop by Molskroen, which guarantees world-class gastronomic experiences. The beach hotel exudes a genuine seaside hotel atmosphere and is also distinguished as one of the Nordic region's most sustainable restaurants, focusing on organic ingredients from local producers on Djursland. Enjoy grilled langoustine or moules frites in the relaxed atmosphere of the Brasserie, or indulge in the grand gourmet menu with 7 or 10 courses.

Travel back to the Middle Ages at Kalø Castle Ruin

*Recommended by Rikke

When Rikke and her family go on an outing, they often head to Kalø Castle Ruin. The weathered ruins send you back on history's wings to the 14th century, when King Erik Menved had the castle built to keep the peasant uprising in check. To reach the ruins, you must walk one and a half kilometers along the medieval road over a causeway. At the tip of Kalø, the tower rises in the landscape, offering a spectacular view over the cove. On the way home, you can stop at Kalø Økologisk Gårdbutik, where you can pet cows and fill your basket with fresh greens, sweet strawberries, meat, and dairy products.

Drink sparkling wine from Mols Bjerge

Andersen Winery produces sparkling wines of all kinds from Danish berries, fruits, and grapes in the unique landscape of Mols Bjerge – try, for example, Ingrid made from Danish apples, Stevns from cherries, or Elmsfeuer from rhubarb – which can easily be mixed into a rhubarb spritz. Andersen Winery welcomes wine lovers and the curious for a tour and a tasting, and if you stop by on Fridays from 3 to 6, you can taste a small meal specifically prepared to pair with one of their sparkling wines.

Get a taste of cottage idyll in Ebeltoft

*Recommended by Camilla and Petur

Ebeltoft is made of the stuff of cottage idyll with its cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and blooming hollyhocks, where you can stroll among artisans, second-hand shops, and cafés, and visit the town hall, said to be the world's smallest. Camilla and Petur's favorite spot in town is the popular cultural center and creative haven Maltfabrikken. Here you can find lovely home decor, have lunch at the eatery, drink beer and sodas from Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri, and listen to music during the summer months.

Take a refreshing sea bath in the cove

*Recommended by Lisbeth and Niels

Mols' long coastline invites you for a refreshing morning dip or long, warm days at the beach. Explore the string of beautiful beaches like Skødshoved Strand or the beach at Begtrup Vig, which await you with fine sand, clear shallow water, and small 'lagoons' in the water, perfect for children.

Lisbeth and Niels also recommend a visit to the scenic Fuglsø Strand with its fine network of paths, where you can take a refreshing dip from the bathing jetty in the morning sun. At Fuglsø Strand, you can also test your diving skills at the underwater course with a game of tic-tac-toe at four meters depth. If you get hungry after your diving exertions, Lisbeth and Niels recommend a visit to Café Fuglsø, which serves lunch in atmospheric surroundings during the summer.

Enjoy green gourmet food

At Feldballe, you can enjoy a gourmet meal of the biodynamic, sustainable, and vegetarian kind. The owners of Moment, Morten Storm Overgaard and Rikke Storm Overgaard, are a professor of cognitive neuroscience and a geologist, respectively. With Moment, they experiment with permaculture, recycling of waste and wastewater, and prioritize small local producers, nature, and the vegetable garden outside the door. Settle down in the green surroundings for a meal that revolves around the bitter, crispy, and sweet universe of vegetables.

See the view from Sletterhage Lighthouse

*Recommended by Nanna

Head towards the southern tip of Helgenæs, where you can visit a small piece of lighthouse history at Sletterhage Lighthouse. The small white lighthouse with colored windows is located in untouched natural surroundings, and in the summer, you can go up to the top, which offers a beautiful view over the water.

Follow the paths from the lighthouse, where you can get wind-swept cheeks and explore the wild nature. If you visit Helgenæs outside the summer months, you can walk a little further inland to Ellemandsbjerg, where a marked path leads you to the top of the 99-meter-high mountain. The viewpoint offers a unique view, and the plantation around the mountain is a popular spot for mushroom hunters and berry pickers.

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