Wondering what to see and do on your road trip to Denmark? Having criss-crossed southern Europe in a motorhome, we were keen to explore the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway and Denmark).
Denmark is an ideal destination for a motorhome road trip, with its varied landscapes, wild coastlines and charming, culturally rich towns.
This guide gives you all the tips you need to make the most of your stay!
Why visit Denmark in a motorhome?
- Geographical proximity to France: Denmark is easily accessible from France, ideal for a Scandinavian road trip without too many kilometers to cover.
- Contrasting landscapes: from white sandy beaches to lush green forests, from the cliffs of Møns Klint to the tip of Skagen.
- An exotic culture: The Danish art of living, particularly hygge, is an invitation to relax, very different from the French way of life.
- A rich history and heritage: impressive castles and picturesque villages to discover.
- Ideal infrastructure for motorhomes: service areas and well-maintained roads. It’s one of our favorite countries for vanlife in Europe.
Top 5 must-sees in Denmark with your family
1. Copenhagen: Denmark’s capital is a vibrant, dynamic city, where modernity and history meet in harmony. The colorful port of Nyhavn is one of the capital’s symbols, with its picturesque houses and lively terraces. This is one of the capitals not to be missed on your Scandinavian road trip.
➡️ We loved this city so much that we decided to devote an entire site to it, which you can consult at the following address: Passion Copenhagen
2. The Møns Klint cliffs: These chalk cliffs on the island of Møn offer one of Denmark’s most beautiful landscapes.
3. Kronborg Castle in Helsingør: This castle, made famous by Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, is one of the most beautiful in Scandinavia.
4. Mols Bjerge National Park: Ideal for nature lovers, this park offers breathtaking panoramas, perfect for nature hikes.
5. Skagen: In the far north of Denmark, where the two seas meet, this fishing village is a magical place not to be missed on a motorhome road trip.
➡️ Bonus with children :
- The world-famous Legoland parks, which are sure to please young and old alike, should be booked well in advance in high season.
- Following in the footsteps of Thomas Dambo’s Giants means discovering gigantic wooden sculptures, hidden away in Danish nature and created from recycled materials. Scattered throughout Denmark, these figures offer a real treasure hunt for children, while allowing families to discover a variety of landscapes. A perfect itinerary for families visiting Denmark off the beaten tourist track, these giants are even listed on a map.
Preparing your in Denmark
Formalities and rules of the road
Driving in Denmark is a pleasure, with well-maintained roads and drivers who respect the rules of the road. Speed limits are clear and must be strictly adhered to: 50 km/h in town, 80 km/h on national roads, and 130 km/h on freeways (in some cases, 110 km/h). Good news for travellers: as on a road trip to Sweden, freeways are free of charge. Only bridges are chargeable.
Parking lots around towns and cities are generally chargeable via applications such as Easypark.
The best times to visit
The best time for a motorhome road trip in Denmark is from May to September, when temperatures are pleasant and the days longer. However, if you like the idea of discovering Christmas markets or snow-covered landscapes, visiting Denmark in winter can also be a magical option with suitable tires or chains.
Administrative formalities
We needed the same documents as on our tour of Southern Europe.
- Identity papers: a valid identity card or passport is all you need to enter the country.
- Valid French driving license and vehicle documents (registration and insurance).
- Don’t forget the European Health Insurance Card.
- Vehicle insurance: If you’re bringing your own vehicle, check that your vehicle insurance covers you in these 2 countries.
Where to sleep in a motorhome in Denmark?
Is wilderness camping allowed?
Unlike Sweden and Norway, wild camping is regulated in Denmark. However, bivouacking for a night or two is permitted in Denmark as it is in France. We slept in many different places during our 2 weeks in our motorhome, including forests (our favorite spots), park parking lots, beaches…
Service areas and campsites
Denmark is very well equipped in terms of service areas for motorhomes. You’ll find many campsites with modern facilities, often located close to major tourist attractions. These areas offer electricity, drinking water, and sometimes even free dumping zones.
➡️ Copenhagen: If you’re looking for a motorhome park in Copenhagen, Copenhagen City Camp is a good option. Located about 4 kilometers from the city center, this basic, large site offers basic motorhome services such as electricity, drinking water and waste disposal. We stayed here for 3 nights and cycled to downtown Copenhagen, where the cycle path passes right in front of the campsite. (open in summer 35€ per night, pitch free)
How do I get to Denmark from France?
To drive to Denmark from France, here are the most common steps:
- By road: The most direct route is via Germany. North of Hamburg, we recommend the HolstenTherme Kaltenkirchen termal pool, which offers excellent value for money. We loved taking an aquatic break after crossing Denmark before tackling our crossing of Germany.
- Via ferry: You can also take a ferry, for example from Puttgarden (Germany) to Rødby (Denmark), for faster passage to certain parts of the country.
We crossed Germany 3 times on our way back from 2 long trips, so we’re starting to get the hang of it. Even if the freeways are free, if you have the time, we advise you to take the secondary roads, as they’ll be less crowded (German roads are ultra-congested in all seasons) and you’ll find it easier to find spots in the heart of nature or in the woods. It’s hot in Germany in summer, especially if you’re coming from Scandinavia.
Rent a van or motorhome in Denmark
To find a vehicle in Denmark, you can compare prices on professional Danish rental sites. We find that prices are really high, which can certainly be explained by the fact that the cost of living is already more expensive than in France, and it’s worth noting that the Danes love van and camping car life! And then there are the airfares.
Rent a van or motorhome in France
Another option, which we think is more cost-effective, is to rent a vehicle in France and then travel to Denmark in it.
We advise you to rent your motorhome, van, camper van, etc. privately, using the Yescapa platform, which puts tenants and owners in touch with each other. Vehicle prices are more attractive in France than in Denmark. It’s a French company, from Bordeaux, leader with more than 13’000 vehicles available, you will find your happiness!
For our part, we used this platform to test several motorhome models before choosing our own. We’ve always been happy with the different vehicles, and we’ve also had plenty of advice from the owners, who usually really take the time to explain how the vehicle works.
It’s very simple: you select your departure city, then your travel dates, then the platform suggests the available vehicles. Then, you can sort by price, number of beds, unlimited kilometers, foreign travel possible or not …. And the most important thing in our opinion, comments from other renters, reading the different feedbacks gives us a lot of information (reliability of the ad, accommodating renter, availability…) and reassures us! To travel abroad with your vehicle, check the following 2 boxes in the “Travel preferences” section: Unlimited km and International travel.
Compare car prices in your area
Once you’ve found what you’re looking for on the vehicle side, don’t forget to make sure you’re on the right track. Equip yourself to travel light. We’ve put together a list of all our essential motorhome accessories, some of which may surprise you!
Itinerary of our Road Trip to Denmark in a motorhome
- Day 1: We came from Stockholm in Sweden, crossing the magnificent Oresund Bridge + Jaegersborg National Park, a former hunting reserve north of Copenhagen with many free-ranging deer and hinds.
- D2: Kronborg Castle in Helsingør (if you are without children you can add Frederiksborg Castle 30 minutes away)
- D3-4 and 5 Copenhagen (our favorite place in Denmark)
- D6 Kongholmbjergets park to see 2 Thomas giants including Thomas on the mountain, drive to Klint cliffs
- J7 Møns Klint road to Odense
- J8 Egeskov Castle
- J9 Kongernes Jelling – Viking Museum (free)
- D10 Lego house (allow 2 days if you wish to visit both parks)
- J11 Ribe
- D12 Road to Germany
Additional itinerary: Discovering the west coast
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to discover Denmark’s west coast during our trip, but it’s definitely a part we’re saving for a future adventure. Several travelers recommended this itinerary, which runs from the cultural capital Aarhus to Skagen, where the North Sea meets the Baltic. With its wild beaches, historic lighthouses and picturesque harbours, this region seems to be a real gem to explore, and we look forward to discovering it on a future trip.
We thank you for reading all the way through, we hope we have answered all your questions. Don’t hesitate to drop us a note below if you’re planning this trip, or to ask us any questions you may have – we’ll be delighted to answer them! If you liked this article, please rate it with 5 stars below.
