What to experience on Hjarnø

Put on your walking shoes and get to know Hjarnø step by step. The new Discover Hjarnø walking trail takes you on an approximately 8-kilometre route around most of the island. Along the way, you will come across a series of QR posts where you can use your phone to read or listen to stories about the places you pass. This brings the landscape, history, nature and island life of Hjarnø into the walk itself.

If you are visiting with children, you can try the Hjarnø Treasure Hunt instead. The walk around the island becomes a shared hunt for clues and answers, while you learn more about Hjarnø along the way. It is a great way to give little legs something to aim for while exploring the island together.

The Viking Age has left clear traces on Hjarnø. On the island’s south-eastern coast, you will find Kalvestenene, a remarkable Viking burial site where several of the graves are marked by stones arranged in the shape of ships. Here, you can stand in the midst of Danish history with views across Horsens Fjord. The walk to the Viking burial site follows the beach and nature trails through beautiful coastal scenery, making the journey an experience in itself.

Join a tractor tour and let a local show you around the island. From the trailer behind the tractor, the tour takes you along Hjarnø’s small roads and through the open countryside, while you hear stories about the island, its nature and life in the small island community.

The tractor tour is a cosy and unusual way to experience Hjarnø and a great alternative if you do not fancy walking or cycling around the island. Along the way, you will also hear local stories that you might not discover on your own.

Hjarnø Traktorture offers scheduled tours that you can sign up for, as well as the option for groups to book a tour.

Has your family holiday turned competitive? At Hjarnø Minigolf, family and friends can battle it out to see who is best at getting the golf ball past miniature obstacles inspired by local landmarks such as Hjarnø Church and the Hjarnøfærgen ferry. No special skills or experience are required, so everyone can join in.

Right next door, Hjarnø Camping offers park golf on a larger outdoor course. The game is similar to traditional golf but easy to pick up, with no golf licence or previous experience required. The aim is simple: get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible.

Artist Jane Willumsgaard’s studio is also home to a coffee bar serving delicious barista coffee. Pop in to see her work and enjoy this personal, creative spot on the island. Jane regularly hosts events such as linocut workshops and Walk & Draw sessions – walks around the island where you sketch what you see along the way.

What does Hjarnø actually taste like? Join a beach safari and find the answer in nature. Together with a local guide, you will explore the coast, gathering edible herbs and seaweed and catching prawns along the way. Your finds are then cooked over an open fire and turned into tasty little samples of the island’s natural larder.

Along the way, you will also hear stories about Hjarnø’s history and how people have lived on the island through the ages. The tour lasts around two hours, combining nature, local flavours and island history in one experience.

If you want to explore Hjarnø at your own pace, you can hire bicycles and golf buggies close to the ferry terminal. A bicycle makes it easy to get around the island’s small roads and stop whenever a viewpoint, roadside stall or something else catches your eye.

If you would rather give your legs a rest, a golf buggy is a fun and comfortable way to get around. Hjarnø’s compact size means you can cover plenty of ground in a short time while still leaving plenty of time for spontaneous stops along the way.

Shopping does not get much more local or small-scale than on Hjarnø. Besides the campsite kiosk, where you can pick up the essentials for your visit, shopping on the island is all about roadside stalls selling locally produced goods – from fresh vegetables to beer from the island’s brewery. You can also stop by the Vestergård Mølleri farm shop, which produces its own flour and yarn, among other products, or arrange a visit with the island’s winegrowers’ association.

Why settle for just one island? During the summer months, the small bicycle ferry sails between Hjarnø and Alrø, making it easy to combine both islands in one day trip. Bring your bicycle on board or hop on as a foot passenger and enjoy the short crossing across Horsens Fjord.

On Alrø, you can continue your trip through the open island landscape and stop for something to eat at one of the island’s eateries before heading back to Hjarnø.

Hjarnø has always attracted creative souls, and you can see this reflected in the island’s art scene. At Galleri Kirkesvinget, you can browse changing exhibitions of artwork, while Det Grafiske Magasin invites you inside to discover graphic art in cosy surroundings, with the added bonus of enjoying a cup of coffee.

Make sure to also stop by Hårup Keramik, where quality craftsmanship takes centre stage. Together, the three places offer little artistic detours as you explore Hjarnø – and perhaps the chance to take home a unique souvenir from the island.

Hjarnø Church stands close to the water and is considered Denmark’s second-smallest church. Its modest size suits the small island community perfectly, but step inside and you will discover several charming details.

Look out for the votive ship hanging inside the church, which, unusually, is a Viking ship. It is a replica of a ship found in a Viking grave on the island, creating a fascinating link between the church, the sea and Hjarnø’s unique history. The oldest parts of the church date back to the Middle Ages, and for centuries this little church has been a natural gathering place for the islanders.

Put your balance to the test on the water at Hjarnø. At Hjarnø Camping, you can hire SUP boards and paddle around the lagoon on the southern side of the island, where the water is calm and sheltered. Paddleboards are available for one or two people, as well as large boards for groups of 4–8 people.