Must-see attractions in Odense

  • The Danish Railway museum, a red brick building in Odense, Denmark.

    Jernbanemuseet

    Odense

    For train buffs, this fabulous video-rich museum is almost reason enough to come to Denmark. The core collection of over 30 engines and wagons, ranging…

  • Den Fynske Landsby

    Odense

    Wind back the clock to the 1850s at this delightful open-air museum, a landscaped 'village' of over two dozen furnished old buildings transplanted from…

  • HC Andersens Hus

    Odense

    Lying amid the seemingly miniaturised streets of the former poor quarter is the sparse little cottage where Hans Christian Andersen was born. Visiting it…

  • Møntergården

    Odense

    The new, stylishly designed main section of this city-history museum takes visitors on a thematic walk through humorously named 'Funen – Centre of the…

  • Odense Domkirke

    Odense

    A feast of whitewashed Gothic arches and vaulting, Odense’s imposing cathedral took 200 years to build (1300–1499) with the tower added in the 1580s.

  • Odense Zoo

    Odense

    Denmark’s showpiece zoo, 2km south of the city centre, is an active supporter of conservation and education programs. There's an ‘oceanium’ with penguins…

  • Brandts

    Odense

    This sprawling arts centre occupies a beautifully converted 1887 textile mill. Most of the gallery space is used for well-curated, frequently changing…

  • Sankt Albani Kirke

    Odense

    With its seemingly endless, sharpened spire, Sankt Albani Kirke is an 1867 Catholic church whose exterior is interesting for the wooden knight and naive,…

  • HC Andersens Barndomshjem

    Odense

    The small childhood home of Hans Christian Andersen paints a picture of the writer's poverty-stricken childhood. He lived here from 1807 to 1819, aged two…

  • Mediemuseum

    Odense

    Tracing the role of the media in our lives from X Factor to the monastic scriptorium, most of this excellent museum is in Danish and has a Denmark…

  • HC Andersen Museum

    Odense

    This striking exhibition takes its design cues from Hans Christian Andersen's playful papercuts, and features his personal effects plus a virtual reality…

  • Sankt Hans Kirke

    Odense

    Though most of the triple-transept brick structure you see today dates from 1880, there has been a church on this spot since before 1295, and for much of…

  • Albani Brewery

    Odense

    Founded in 1859, the city's ubiquitous Odense beers are brewed by Albani right in the heart of town, though the company is now part of conglomerate Royal…

  • Børnekulturhuset Fyrtøjet

    Odense

    In the charming Fyrtøjet, children are encouraged to explore the world of Hans Christian Andersen through music and storytelling.

  • Tinsoldaten

    Odense

    The one-legged military figure outside a branch of Nelle's cafe-bar is not to commemorate a historical conflict but represents the Tin Soldier, sad hero…

  • Oceania

    Odense

    With a classical face, seal-flipper feet and a triumphalist six-pack tummy, this astonishing female figure reclines naked on Odense's central square. But…

  • Treenigheden

    Odense

    Bjørn Nørgaard's fascinating sculpture 'Trinity' is an almost orgiastic trio of intertwined geriatric male figures sprouting uncomfortable bumps, mini sub…

  • Brandts 13

    Odense

    In a stately, porticoed building from 1884, this airy gallery presents regularly changing contemporary art exhibitions, a lot of them multimedia which…

  • Stoppenålen

    Odense

    These two shaped-stone pillars look provocatively sexual, but are supposed to represent the proud if hapless 'darning needle' that's the antihero of Hans…

  • Vor Frue Kirke

    Odense

    With a stepped-brick tower, this church is often cited as Odense's oldest. Though records are hazy, most of the whitewashed interior dates back to the…

  • Paaskestræde

    Odense

    For one of Odense's prettiest street scenes, stand at the corner of Adelgade and watch the little cottages tumbling down Paaskestræde towards the…

  • Hans Andersen Statue

    Odense

    Outside the low-rise Radisson Blu hotel, Hans Christian Andersen sits with top hat on a seat awaiting selfies.