Summer activities on Djursland: 7 fun activities with children

The cottage is a sanctuary where there's time to take things at the children's pace: pick up morning bread at the bakery and freshly fried fish cakes at the fishmonger, play board games on grey days and cards on the terrace, and build sandcastles on the beach. And then, of course, it's time to explore Djursland's beautiful attractions – you can, among other things, greet the giraffes at Ree Park Safari, eat what might be the country's best ice cream, go on an adventure in Mols Bjerge, and take a time machine back to the medieval castle.

Hear the lions roar at Ree Park Safari

Travel around the world and get up close to the animal kingdom at Ree Park Safari. The safari park is home to wild animals from four continents: on a real steam train, you'll rush across the North American prairie, where bears, wolves, and bison roam. And in a Land Rover safari car, you can head towards the savannah, where you can see the king of animals, the world's largest bird, and the world's tallest animal up close. An adult ticket costs 195 DKK, while tickets for children aged 3-11 cost 115 DKK.

Other great tips for animal lovers: If you haven't had enough wildlife after visiting Ree Park Safari, then stop by Munkholm Zoo, where you can pet cute goats, cuddle rabbits, and feel the strange skin of a snake. For a trip beneath the ocean's surface, Kattegatcentret awaits you with all sorts of marine animals, including adorable seals and lightning-fast penguins.

Go on an adventure in Mols Bjerge

The national park is suitable for adventurers with its high ice age hills and deep kettle holes. Here you can pick cherries and raspberries at the forest edge, spot rare insects and plants, and greet grazing cows and wild horses. And if you climb to the top of the Bronze Age burial mounds, you can enjoy the most beautiful panoramic view of the landscape and the water.

Start your trip at Karpenhøj Naturcenter, which is open all year round for visitors and organizes activities throughout the summer for children and their adults. For example, eat wilderness brunch cooked over a campfire, or carve your own knife. You can find an overview of the nature center's activities here, and get many more great recommendations for places you can visit in Mols Bjerge.

Jump in the water and eat Djursland's (perhaps) biggest ice cream

Jump into the waves at one of the beautiful beaches on Djursland's 250 kilometers of coastline. Here you can spend warm days at the water's edge at beaches like Grenaa Strand or Gjerrild Nordstrand with chalk-white sand, soft dunes, and shallow water to splash around in. Both beaches boast a blue flag, good facilities, and no stones at the water's edge.

For water enthusiasts, there are good opportunities to rent SUPs and sea kayaks and embark on a trip along the coast, either on your own or with experienced guides. End the beach day with an ice cream at Fjellerup Vaffelbageri, which has been named Denmark's best and offers what might be the country's biggest ice cream. Enjoy a crispy homemade waffle and homemade guf by the water's edge.

Travel back in time on the waves

Lean back and look up at the three giant black and yellow masts of the Frigate Jylland. The ship lets you explore between mast and rigging, cannons and figurehead, where you can vividly imagine life at sea and feel the mighty forces of the ocean. Tickets cost 145 DKK for adults and 90 DKK for children aged 4-17. Landlubbers can also admire the ship from the harbor, where the playground Horisonten awaits you with a sandbox, climbing tower, obstacle course, and zip line.

Climb trees in the fairy tale forest

Jernhatten is reportedly named after its shape, which strikingly resembles a war helmet. A route with steep slopes and small hills leads you through the forest, where the outlaw Marsk Stig is said to have roamed, and out to the top of the hat – a 49-meter-high vantage point where you can look out over the water and the island of Hjelm. But most magical of all is Jernhatten's fairy tale forest with its crooked climbing trees.

If you need a rest and a refreshment after your forest walk, Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri is just a stone's throw away. The farm offers homemade soda for the children and beer for the adults, and you can stock up on sausages and bread for the grill, which is lit for free use all summer long.

Make paper art at Maltfabrikken

Maltfabrikken opens its old industrial doors for a string of fine activities throughout the summer – including summer music and workshops on the program. But even if you don't catch one of the summer events, the old red factory is always worth a visit.

Enjoy cardamom buns from Spisehuset, put on your helmet and let loose on the skate park, or climb the 108 steps up Maltfabrikken's old chimney, which holds the best view of the town. Throughout the summer, you can also take part in the art installation Papirhavet/Papirhaven with patterns formed by thousands of folded and open books. By folding your own beautiful pattern, you can leave your own fingerprint on the work.

Take the time machine back to the medieval castle

Kalø Castle Ruin feeds the imagination with knights, kings, and prisoners locked up on the island. Take the lovely 1.5-kilometer walk over the stone causeway along the medieval road until you reach the old castle, where aspiring knights can explore among the ring walls and entrench themselves in the defense tower. When you climb the steel staircase, the most beautiful view opens up over the cove. After the walk, you can enjoy a well-deserved ice cream or perhaps a cup of coffee for the adults at Kalø Slotscafé.

Have the Natureventyr app at hand. Natureventyr creates adventure routes for children aged 3-8, and at Kalø Castle Ruin, you can follow in the footsteps of the brave boy Svend, who crosses the stone causeway to free his best friend from the evil witch who has taken over the castle.

Looking for more great tips for scenic Djursland, we have asked our local Landfolk for advice. Read the guide to a cottage holiday in Djursland here, and follow us on our Instagram and Facebook for even more inspiration for your cottage trip.

See our selection of very special cottages in Mols Bjerge National Park..