What to experience on Tunø
On Tunø, it is the little experiences that make the biggest difference. Stroll through the village, explore the natural surroundings, find peace by the coast, and enjoy the atmosphere of this car-free island. Here, life moves at a gentler pace, giving you time to unwind and be present.
Small experiences – lasting memories
On Tunø, it is the simple pleasures that stay with you. Wander through the charming streets, feel the sand between your toes, admire the views across the Kattegat, or take a break by the harbour with an ice cream in hand. The island is small enough to explore almost entirely on foot, and that is all part of its appeal. There are no cars, no stress, and no busy tourist hotspots – just peaceful island life, where nature, the sea, and the island’s small local community set the pace. Chat with the island’s friendly hosts or set off on a leisurely walk along the coastline, following its small paths and trails. Whether you are visiting for the day or staying overnight, Tunø offers memorable experiences that are not about rushing from place to place, but about slowing down and enjoying the moment.
Our recommendations for experiences on Tunø
Denmark’s only combined church tower and lighthouse
Enjoy the island’s finest views from the unique tower of Tunø Church – the only church tower in Denmark that also serves as a lighthouse. From the top, you will understand why some compare the experience to Olafur Eliasson’s rainbow panorama at ARoS in Aarhus. Here, too, you can enjoy spectacular views through a spectrum of colours. On a clear day, you can even see as far as the Great Belt Bridge.
Go on a treasure hunt
Pick up a treasure map on the ferry and set off on the approximately 8.3 km route around the island with map in hand. Answer the questions correctly along the way, and you will be rewarded with a specially designed Tunø medal, available to collect at Tunø Købmandsgård.
Challenge the family to a game of mini golf
Just a short walk from the harbour, you will find Stalden Tunø Minigolf, a mini golf course set in charming, garden-like surroundings. Stalden also has a café where you can buy drinks, ice cream, sweets and light meals.
Visit the island’s charming art gallery
In the heart of Tunø village, you will find Tunø Det Gamle Posthus, a combined art gallery and café. The gallery primarily showcases paintings and other visual art, but you will also find ceramics, jewellery and much more. The garden is the perfect place to relax with a chilled glass of white wine or a slice of homemade cake.
Rent a bike and explore Tunø
At the harbour on Tunø, just a short stroll from the ferry berth, you can hire a bike at a reasonable price and easily get around this car-free island. Set off with peace of mind and explore at your own pace, without sharing the road with fast-moving, noisy traffic.
Walk around Tunø and experience the island’s dramatic cliffs
A signposted walking trail follows the coastline all the way around Tunø, covering a distance of 8.3 km. It is one of the island’s most scenic walks. Much of the route takes you along the top of Tunø’s impressive coastal cliffs, Nørreklint and Sønderklint, the latter rising 23 metres above sea level.
Crab fishing and family fun at the harbour
Tunø Harbour is home to a lovely playground with an obstacle course, where children can burn off some energy before catching the ferry home. The harbour also has a dedicated crab fishing jetty, so why not bring some string, a clothes peg, a bucket and a little bait from home to make your own crab fishing line?
Swim or soak up the sun on the island’s beaches
Tunø is home to several lovely beaches that are perfect for relaxing in the sun. Just north of the harbour, you will find the island’s most popular beach, which also offers excellent conditions for swimming. If you are looking for a quieter spot, there are several other beautiful beaches to discover around the island, including along the eastern stretch of the north coast.
Rent a SUP board
Tunø Købmandsgård hires out SUP boards at the harbour. Enjoy the opportunity to experience Tunø from the water, paddling just off the beach immediately north of the harbour.
Cast a line from Tunø’s coastline
If you enjoy fishing, be sure to bring your gear on the ferry. Tunø offers several excellent fishing spots with good chances of a catch, particularly around the island’s reefs and below its dramatic coastal cliffs.
The world’s oldest offshore wind farm
From the west side of the island you have a view of a dozen 63-metre high wind turbines that make up Tunø Knob, the world’s oldest offshore wind farm. As they sit on the horizon, the turbines mark a great milestone for Danish wind energy when they were built by the wind turbine giant Vestas in 1995, and are not least a special sight for anyone with an interest in sustainable energy sources.
Visit Tunø’s Viking camp
Tunhalla is the name of Tunø’s annual Viking camp, held every year during Week 28. Here, you can meet Viking warriors, watch skilled craftspeople at work, and take part in workshops. The Viking camp is open to the public during the daytime.
Take the taste of Tunø home with you
Tunø has a proud tradition of growing vegetables, and many believe the island’s produce has a truly distinctive flavour. Whether that is thanks to the many hours of sunshine, the mild island climate or the surrounding sea is open to debate. One thing is certain, however: all around the island, you can buy freshly harvested vegetables directly from local growers at roadside stalls and take a taste of Tunø home with you.
The bird tower on the Mountain
Bjerget (The Mountain) is Tunø’s highest point, rising 24 metres above sea level. At the summit, you will find a birdwatching tower offering fine views across the village, the island’s natural landscape and its rich birdlife.
Pony rides
Tunø Købmandsgård offers pony rides with stunning sea views on their pony, Lillehesten.
Quirky discoveries in the village
One of the most special things about Tunø is the village’s many charming details, each telling part of the island’s unique history and way of life. Look out for the old milk stands outside the houses, where milk churns were once left ready for collection, visit the open blacksmith’s workshop, which still stands just as it was left in the 1960s, and stop by Denmark’s only combined church tower and lighthouse. Along the way, you will also pass the village pond, charming roadside vegetable stalls and peaceful, car-free streets where chickens roam freely – all adding to Tunø’s truly distinctive atmosphere.
