Overview
A seven day cycling tour on the Island of Funen, which is Denmark’s third largest island, located between Jutland and Zealand. An easy-going itinerary, with an option to rent e-bikes, the trip starts and ends in the city of Odense, staying in three and four-star hotels throughout, with luggage transfers. You also get time on both Ærø and Tåsinge Islands, spending a night in the latter, with time to enjoy traditional island architecture and waterfront sunsets. This is a delightful collection of Danish cycling trails, with beach time, beach forests, castles and coastal chillout time.
- Island of Funen
- Ærø Island
- Tåsinge Island
- Odense
- Faaborg
- Nyborg
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Odense, Island of Funen
Arrive in Odense on the island of Funen, one of Denmark’s oldest cities dating back to the Nordic Iron Age and Viking Age. It is also the birthplace of famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. We recommend wandering through the cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter, visiting Hans Christian Andersen’s childhood home or gaining insight into Odense’s history at Møntergården Museum. Or if you prefer, you can take a leisure walk through Munke Mose Park on the Odense River.
- Accommodation: Hotel Knudsens Gaard or similar in Odense
Day 2: Odense – Faaborg | 52km
Cycle along the Odense River through farmlands and island villages towards Brobyværk, where we recommend stopping for lunch. Continue towards Faaborg, among the foothills of the Funen Alps, where the route becomes hilly but it rewards you with views over the south of Funen Island and its fjords. They aren’t really alpine-like, with the highest elevation being 131m. Arrive in Faaborg, one of Denmark’s oldest market towns, where you can stroll around to see the Klokketårnet bell tower and the Ymerbrønd replica sculpture which depicts Nordic mythology’s creation story, or visit the local marina.
- Accommodation: Hotel Faaborg Fjord or similar in Faaborg
- Cycling for the day: 52km, ↑208m ↓222m
Day 3: Faaborg – Troense, Tåsinge Island | 50km
Cycle along the fjord coast, passing through the countryside and villages to the harbour town of Svendborg. Take some time to wander through the winding streets of the Old Town, passing colourful buildings and homes of early seafarers, or take a stroll along the harbour, passing Sejlskibsbroen, a jetty lined with preserved wooden boats. Continue to Tåsinge Island, where you stay for the night in the traditional Danish village of Troense. Take a chance to explore its streets, which are lined with traditional, thatched timber-framed houses.
- Accommodation: Christiansminde or similar in Troense / Hotel Svendborg or similar in Svendborg
- Cycling for the day: 50km, ↑166m ↓163m
Day 4: Troense – Ærø Island – Troense | 35–60km
Travel by riverboat (ticket included) to Ærøskøbing, the oldest town on Ærø Island. Choose between cycling around the whole island or just part of it, with routes taking you past the seafaring town of Marstal, the cliffs at Voderup Klint, Søbygaard Hunting Lodge and Skjoldnæs Lighthouse. Cycle past colourful bathhouses, before returning to Troense by riverboat (ticket included) where you can end your day watching a sunset over the archipelago.
- Accommodation: Christiansminde or similar in Troense / Hotel Svendborg or similar in Svendborg
- Cycling for the day: 35-60km, ↑239m ↓239m
Day 5: Troense – Nyborg | 55km
Cycle north through quiet paths towards Nyborg. You can stop for a break on one of the beaches along the way. Take in views of the famous Great Belt Bridge before arriving in Nyborg, home to Denmark’s oldest royal castle. In the evening, we recommend a visit to one of the local restaurants or cafés along the harbour to try traditional Danish fare like smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), fiskefrikadeller (fish cakes), or locally-caught fish.
- Accommodation: Nyborg Strand Hotel & Konference or similar in Nyborg
- Cycling for the day: 55km, ↑205m ↓203m
Day 6: Nyborg – Odense | 50km
Follow the route to Kerteminde, passing Ladbyskibet, the remains of a Viking longship from the 10th-century which was also used as a burial site Viking kings. Kerteminde’s Old Town is worth exploring, or just chill on the shores of Kerteminde Fjord. To complete your loop of Funen Island, cycle to Odense alongside the fjord coast where you can take a boat trip (payable locally) on Odense River, with an optional stop at the beech forest in Fruens Bøge.
- Accommodation: Hotel Knudsens Gaard or similar in Odense
- Cycling for the day: 50km, ↑109m ↓94m
Day 7: Departure
Depart after breakfast, or extend your stay with additional nights.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in three and four-star hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that, in the region, twin/double rooms/separate beds are only occasionally available. We treat requests as non-binding customer requests and if the above mentioned room types are a booking condition, it should be mentioned at the time of booking.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Knudsens Gaard (Odense)
- Hotel Faaborg Fjord (Faaborg)
- Christiansminde (Troense) / Hotel Svendborg (Svendborg)
- Nyborg Strand Hotel & Konference (Nyborg)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on route lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops or you may be able to pre-order a packed lunch at your hotel. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or the ones in the town.
Difficulty and terrain
This cycling tour is rated as moderate, with daily cycling distances ranging from 35-60km, with an average of 210m elevation gain (read more about difficulty grades). The route is hilly, on asphalted cycle paths and quiet side roads. The holiday is appropriate for experienced cyclists with a good level of fitness. If you are having doubts about the difficulty, it is possible to rent an e-bike as well. The cycling trail is very well marked. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from end of April until the end of September. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Denmark’s weather is mild in the summer and cold in the winter, with western winds blowing warm air across most of the country. The warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 17-18C. Autumn is the wettest season and spring the driest.
For more information, please see our blog on the Best time to go to Denmark.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this holiday are Copenhagen Airport (CPH) or Billund Airport (BLL)
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Denmark without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a railway station in Odense. For more details see the national rail operator DSB or use the Omio planner above
- Copenhagen Airport to Odense: A direct train connects the airport with Odense (approximately 1.5h)
- Billund Airport to Odense: Take the bus to Vejle (bus 43) or to Kolding (bus 166), and then the train to Odense (approximately 1.5-2h)
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- Luggage transfer on all cycling days (no limit on the number of pieces per person, maximum 20kg per item)
- Return riverboat tickets Svendborg – Æroskøbing
- Cycle route description with maps (one set per room)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Bike and helmet rental
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
- Bike and e-bike rental
Bike rental
For this tour, we offer the rental of the 27-gear bike, 30-gear sports bike, teenager’s bike or an e-bike (minimum age 16). Equipment available:
- Unflat Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres (or similar)
- Hub dynamo
- Pannier rack and bag
- Saddle bag with map holder
- Comfortable saddle
- Odometer, bike lock, pump
- One repair kit per booking
Sample models attached below, note that the exact models may differ depending on the availability, but the standard will be the same.
