Discover the Northwest Coast in summer on 5 day trips

Start the day at the Nordsøen Oceanarium in Hirtshals. Here, the whole family can enjoy an accessible morning experience – with fish, seals, aquariums and stories about life beneath the sea.

It’s an obvious first stop, as it appeals to both children and adults, and because you’ll feel the sea in your bones right from the start. The North Sea Oceanarium is highlighted as one of the major attractions in the Hirtshals area.

After this morning’s adventure, you could head towards Hirtshals Harbour or the town centre to find a nice place for lunch. Something informal and maritime would be ideal here, so the day still feels relaxed and holiday-like.

Good specific suggestions include Hirtshals Fiskehus, if you want to stick with the seaside theme, or Café Bawærk, if you’d rather have a cosy café break in town. Hirtshals, Tornby and Tversted generally have eateries offering everything from fresh fish and fine dining to cosy cafés, takeaways and ice cream by the coast.

Continue on to Hirtshals Lighthouse and the area around the Hirtshals 10th Battery Bunker Museum. Here you can enjoy some fresh air, a bit of exercise and a good dose of history without spending too much time.

The lighthouse offers a magnificent view of the North Sea, and the bunker area makes the stop even more exciting – especially for children who enjoy places where they can explore a bit. Hirtshals Lighthouse is 35 metres high, and the Bunker Museum is located in the area around the lighthouse.

Continue south to Tornby, where you can slow the pace down a little. Head to Tornby Beach if you fancy some sand between your toes, the wind in your hair and a short stroll by the water. 

Head to Tornby Klitplantage if you’d rather have some shade, a woodland atmosphere and a little break in the countryside. The area around Hirtshals and Tversted offers wide sandy beaches, dune plantations and plenty of opportunities for play, walking and cycling

Make a quick stop for the afternoon before continuing your journey. One specific suggestion is Tornby Gamle Købmandsgård, where you can enjoy a break with a touch of local atmosphere and nostalgia.

It’s a great spot for a casual stop for coffee, ice cream or some local specialities, and it adds a different kind of experience to the route compared to beaches and attractions. Tornby Gamle Købmandsgård is described as a place offering coffee, local specialities and a classic old-fashioned shop atmosphere.

After your break on the beach or in the countryside in Tornby, the journey continues towards Keramikcafé Møllehuset near Vennebjerg/Lønstrup. Here you can slow down with a good cup of coffee, homemade cakes and a break in cosy surroundings, where ceramics, local produce and a west coast atmosphere go hand in hand.

It’s an obvious stop before the day continues towards Lønstrup’s arts and crafts, small shops and evening meal. Møllehuset itself describes the café with words such as organic, local produce, good coffee, homemade cakes and sourdough bread. 

Drive down towards Lønstrup and spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through the town. This is a great place to pop into craft shops, galleries and small boutiques, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll through the town.

Lønstrup has a strong arts and crafts scene, with workshops, glassblowers, potters and galleries, and the town makes for a lovely, atmospheric stop at the end of the day.

Round off the day with dinner in Lønstrup, where there are several options to choose from depending on your group. Café Slugten, Restaurant Lido or Den Blå Café are all great, relaxed choices for a holiday evening meal, whilst Villa Vest is a better option for adults or families looking to make the evening a little more special and luxurious.

Remember to check opening times and table bookings, as several places are open seasonally.

Round off the day at Rubjerg Knude or with an evening stroll along the beach in Lønstrup. This is the grand finale of the trip: dunes, sea, wind and views in the late afternoon light. Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse stands right on the edge of the dramatic dune landscape, and from the top there are views of the North Sea.

Start the day a little way inland at Børglum Abbey, where history, the views and the beautiful surroundings set the scene for the day’s first experience. Explore the monastery’s stories, enjoy the tranquillity around the old buildings, and feel the landscape opening up around you. It’s an atmospheric start to the trip, before the day continues towards the coast and Løkken’s summer life.

Head to Løkken and find a nice place for lunch in town – for example, Restaurant Løkken Badehotel, Café Frandsen, Slice of Life or North Shore Surf, if you want to be close to the beach and soak up the surfing atmosphere. Afterwards, there’s time for a short stroll through the town, down to the beach or past the iconic bathing huts.

Pop into Blokhus for a quick stop, where you can soak up the classic holiday resort atmosphere. Take a stroll down to the beach, grab an ice cream in town, or pop into Gateway Blokhus if the children need to play and stretch their legs.

It’s the perfect short stop to add even more beach, summer and holiday spirit to your day.

Head south towards Slettestrand. Here, the day takes on a different character, shifting from bustling seaside resorts to the more tranquil and rugged west coast landscape, with its dunes, plantations and open expanses
 

Spend the afternoon in the area around Slettestrand. Take a walk along the beach, feel the sea breeze, or head towards Svinkløv and Fosdalen if you want to experience greener, more undulating countryside. If you’d like to hear a local story, Han Herred Havbåde is also a lovely place to stop.

Round off the day with dinner by the sea. Thorupstrand Fiskehus is the most authentic choice if you’re after fresh fish and coastal culture. Alternatively, Svinkløv Badehotel or Strandhotel Klitrosen can lend the evening a more laid-back seaside hotel atmosphere.

Round off your day at Thorupstrand, where the fishing boats are moored right on the beach, telling the story of coastal fishing today. Take a stroll along the water’s edge, admire the boats, breathe in the sea air and let the day draw to a close in the tranquil evening light. Here you’ll find the perfect end to your day, with a taste of the west coast atmosphere, local stories and views of the North Sea.

Start your day in Hanstholm, where you can choose from a range of memorable experiences. Take a walk by Hanstholm Lighthouse, feel the wind on the coast, or visit the Hanstholm Bunker Museum if you’d like to add a touch of history and drama from the Atlantic Wall to your day. It’s a great way to start the day, as Hanstholm showcases the rugged side of Thy with its sea, wind, views and stories rooted in the landscape. The Hanstholm Bunker Museum is renowned as Denmark’s largest bunker museum, and Hanstholm Lighthouse stands at Denmark’s north-westernmost point.

Stay in Hanstholm for lunch and stick with the maritime theme. Det Gamle Røgeri Hanstholm is an obvious choice if you fancy fish, smoked specialities and a meal that fits in perfectly with this harbour town. If you’d prefer a more modern lunch break featuring local produce and a relaxed atmosphere, Hanstholm Madbar is also a strong contender. Both places offer a smooth transition from the morning’s experiences at the lighthouse, harbour and coastal history to the rest of the day’s journey along the Thy coast.

Continue on to Klitmøller, where Thy changes pace. Here you can take a stroll through the town, watch the surfers out on the water, grab a coffee or simply soak up the atmosphere of Cold Hawaii. Klitmøller is the perfect lively stop in the middle of the day, as the town offers a beach, a surfing culture, small shops and good places to eat, all within easy reach of one another. Cold Hawaii covers the stretch of coast in Thy between Agger and Hanstholm, and Thy National Park lies right next door, with dunes, heathland, lakes and vast beaches.

Break suggestion:
Pop into Café Hawgus, Kesses Hus or Haandpluk for a coffee, a cake or a quick break, depending on whether you’re after a café atmosphere, a bite to eat or something a bit more local and laid-back. 

After Klitmøller, it makes perfect sense to let nature take over. A good place to start is the Thy National Park Centre in Vorupør, where you can find inspiration for routes, learn more about the national park’s natural environment, and discover your next stop in the countryside. 

From there, you can head for a short nature stop in Thy National Park – for example, Bøgsted Rende, Stenbjerg Landing or another nearby spot where you can get out for a walk without spending the whole day on a long hike. Here you’ll find dunes, sea air, heathland and that special feeling of the landscape opening up. Thy National Park stretches from Hanstholm in the north to Agger Tange in the south and features dune heaths, lakes, forests and long beaches.

Make a stop at Stenbjerg Landing Site if you want a small, very local experience. The white boathouses, the beach, and the story of coastal fishing provide a calm and local break along the route between Klitmøller and Vorupør. It's not a big stop, but because of that, it works well as a nice place to take a short walk, take pictures, and experience the coastal culture. Stenbjerg Landing Site is highlighted as an information point in Thy National Park with fishing boats, the North Sea, and national park landscape.

Continue to Vorupør, where the day can be slowed down. Take a walk on the beach, out on the pier, or down around Vorupør Sea Bath, and let the children search for stones, shells, or amber along the shore. Vorupør has a different rhythm than Klitmøller - more tranquil, but still with plenty of sea, life, and summer vibes. Vorupør is also a place where it is popular to take a walk along the beach, collect stones or amber, buy ice cream, go out on the pier, or eat at a café with a sea view.

End the day with dinner in Vorupør, where you can choose something relaxed close to the water. Look for a place with a sea view, fish, a café atmosphere, or easy holiday food, so the day doesn't become too heavy. If you want to make the evening a bit more special, the restaurant at Vorupør Badehotel can also be a good option with its seaside hotel atmosphere and a calm end to the day.

Vorupør works well as the last stop because dinner can easily be combined with the beach, ice cream, and a little evening stroll by the seawater pool or the pier.

End the day at the beach in Vorupør. Take a final walk along the water, look towards the sea bath and pier, and let the day settle with a view of the North Sea. It is a simple but strong ending to a trip that has included harbour, history, surf, national park, coastal culture, and local flavours.

Start the day at SMK Thy in Hurup/Doverodde, where art meets the fjord landscape. It is a calm and different start to the day trip, where you can explore the exhibitions and get a cultural foundation before the journey continues towards the coast. SMK Thy is located in scenic surroundings by the Limfjord and is the National Gallery of Denmark in a new setting.

Be aware of opening hours during the peak season. Check opening hours at https://www.smkthy.dk/en/

After the museum visit, the journey heads towards Agger and the ferry to Thyborøn. Here, the journey itself becomes part of the experience: fjord, sea, ferry atmosphere, and the feeling of crossing from one part of the Northwest Coast to another.

The ferry between Agger and Thyborøn connects the West Coast across the Thyborøn Canal, and it is a good idea to check the sailing schedule before you go.

When you land in Thyborøn, it's a good time for lunch. An obvious and very location-specific choice is Restaurant Mallemukken, where the iconic upside-down boats set the scene for the meal. Another option is the Fiskehallen i Den Røde Hal. Here you can stick to the sea theme with fish, burgers, and shooting stars, before the afternoon continues with experiences in Thyborøn.

Continue to JyllandsAkvariet, which is a great stop for both children and adults. Here, you can get up close to fish, crabs, and sea creatures from the North Sea and Limfjord – and the experience is particularly interesting because it is hands-on and easy for families to enjoy. JyllandsAkvariet has, among other things, touch pools where you can get close to the sea creatures, and where children can "tickle a crab" and pet a shark.

Make a short stop at the Snail House before continuing your journey. It is quick to experience, but it adds a quirky, visual, and very Thyborøn-like touch to the route. The house is adorned with snail shells and conch shells and works well as a little bonus stop, especially if you want something different and photogenic for the day.

Drive from Thyborøn towards the Lemvig area, where the landscape changes character once again. After the harbour, sea creatures, and coastal town life, you enter a more open West Jutland landscape with small towns, fields, and viewpoints on the way to Bovbjerg.

If you want an extra craft stop, Hornvarefabrikken in Bøvlingbjerg can be a nice short visit along the way – especially if the route could use a bit of local craftsmanship and shopping. Hornvarefabrikken itself describes the visit as an opportunity to experience authentic craftsmanship, shop, and workshop.

End the afternoon at Bovbjerg Lighthouse, where the red lighthouse, the cliffs, and the North Sea provide a strong finale to the trip. Here you can take a walk, enjoy the view, and – if the opening hours align – have coffee, cake, or a little break in the café. Bovbjerg Lighthouse is located close to the edge of the 41-meter-high Bovbjerg Cliff and has both a café, a shop, art exhibitions, and cultural activities.

Drive on to Lemvig and end the day with dinner by the fjord. Restaurant Luna is an excellent choice if you want a view and a peaceful end to the day with the harbour, fjord, and city life nearby. Here, the day can come to a softer end after a route with art, ferry rides, sea creatures, coastal nature, and cliffs. Restaurant Luna is located at the harbour in Lemvig and highlights the view, food, and surroundings as part of the experience.

End the day with a short walk by Lemvig Harbour. It provides a nice and calm ending after a day that has moved from fjord art and ferry rides to Thyborøn's sea creatures and Bovbjerg's dramatic coast. Here you can end the day with fjord air, harbour atmosphere, and a final break before heading home.

Start the day in Thorsminde at the Strandingsmuseum St. George, where the forces of the sea and the dramatic history of the West Coast set the tone. Here, you can explore stories of shipwrecks, strandings, and life along the rugged coast.

It's a strong start to the day because the museum gives both children and adults something to talk about before the journey continues into the landscape between sea and fjord.

After the museum visit, it's natural to stay a bit longer in Thorsminde. Take a walk by the harbour, look towards the sluice, feel the wind from the North Sea, or pop down to the nearby beach. Here you get a good break after the museum's stories – with fresh air, open spaces, and the special atmosphere that arises where the North Sea and Nissum Fjord almost meet.

Stay in Thorsminde for lunch, and hold on to the maritime atmosphere. Nørgaard Fish & Smokehouse is an obvious choice if you want fish and a meal break close to the harbour and coastal life. If you prefer a more café-like break, Café Havglimt can also be a good option.

Both places fit well into a day where the sea, fishing, and local stories take center stage.

Drive on from Thorsminde towards Fjand, and make a peaceful stop at Fjand Gårdbutik – Café & Galleri. Here you can take a break with coffee, cake, farm shop, and local products before the journey continues further into the landscape. It works well as the day's sweet stop and provides the route with a smoother transition from the drama of the North Sea to the fjord landscape and manor house tranquillity.

Continue towards Nørre Vosborg, where the pace naturally slows down. Take a walk around the historic buildings, feel the manor house atmosphere, and let the day settle in the beautiful, tranquil surroundings. After Thorsminde's sea tales and Fjand's local break, Nørre Vosborg offers a fine contrast with cultural history, tranquillity, and West Jutland's landscape.

After Nørre Vosborg, you can head towards Holstebro, so the day doesn't end too quietly. Here, the route changes character again – from manor and countryside to market town, art, cafés, and urban life. Take a walk through the pedestrian streets, peek into the shops, grab a coffee, or just enjoy the transition from coast and fjord to city atmosphere.

If you want to include a bit of culture, you can also consider Holstebro Kunstmuseum or Holstebro Museum, if the opening hours fit. Holstebro Art Museum and Holstebro Museum can be visited with the same ticket, and children and young people under 26 years old have free admission.

End the day with dinner in Holstebro, where there are several good options depending on the mood. Go for a cosy café, an informal restaurant, or a place where the day can wind down easily after many experiences.

Concrete suggestions could be Restaurant JA, Ristorante Italia, Hotel & Restaurant Phønix or Café Utopia, depending on whether you want gastronomy, Italian, classic Danish, or a more relaxed café atmosphere.