Ærø Municipality between Cliffs, Seafaring and Hiking Trails

The landslide cliffs at Voderup Klint form three large, staircase-like terraces. An approximately 2 km-long section has slipped towards the coast. As a natural attraction on Ærø, Voderup Klint is about 3 km long and 25 to 33 m high. Voderup Klint is ideal for visits by those interested in geology, viewpoints, sunsets and experiences in nature.

Nature and Geopark

Together with Svendborg, Faaborg and Langeland, Ærø forms the Geopark of the South Funen Archipelago. The Geopark of the South Funen Archipelago was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in April 2024. The Søbygaard Geopark Visitor Centre provides information about Ærø’s distinctive nature and culture and is free to access.

History and Museums

Hammerichs Hus was built in 1803 and became one of Ærøskøbing’s first holiday homes. More than 2,500 objects are still located there in the places designated by Gunnar Hammerich. Hammerichs Hus has been part of the Ærø Museum since 1990.

The Ærø Museum is located in a former bailiff’s farm in Ærøskøbing dating from 1775. It presents the island’s history from its time in the Duchy of Schleswig before the defeat at Dybbøl in 1864 through to today’s wedding tourism. For children aged 4 to 8 and their adult companions, the museum offers a free cat treasure hunt with the house cat Storm.

The first private beach houses on Ærø were built in the early 1920s at Vesterstrand near Ærøskøbing and at Eriks Hale near Marstal.

Lighthouse and Maritime Collections

Skjoldnæs Lighthouse was built in 1881 from Bornholm granite. The lighthouse is 22 metres high and stands 32 metres above sea level. It is accessible around the clock for a small admission fee.

Marstal Maritime Museum displays ship models, ships in bottles, maritime paintings and objects that sailors brought home from distant regions. The museum tells the story of Marstal’s maritime development from the golden age of sailing ships to the era of steamships and motor ships. Children can take part in tasks and challenges and play on the ship Martha.

Since 1943, the Bottle Ship Museum has displayed a collection of ships in bottles and ship models in Ærøskøbing’s former poorhouse.

Søbygaard between History and the Present

Søbygaard is a historic ducal estate associated with Ærø’s former affiliation with the Duchy of Schleswig until 1867. Next to Søbygaard are a medieval castle rampart site and a bird area.

Søbygaard is a seasonally open visitor centre with exhibitions, children’s activities at the castle moat, classical concerts and guided tours. It is open from May until the autumn holidays.

Hiking Trails on and around Ærø

The section of the 220 km-long Øhavsstien hiking trail that runs across Ærø is 36 km long. The Ærø section is a footpath reserved exclusively for hikers, marked with posts and blue pictograms.

The Kyststien coastal trail on Ærø runs from Marstal to Vitsø near Søby and follows the coast for most of the route. The Ø-CAMINO Ærø is a 64 km-long circular hiking trail around Ærø.

Places and Getting There

Ærø Municipality includes Bro, Marstal, Dunkær, Søby Ærø, Skovby, Ærøskøbing and Kragnæs.

The bus on Ærø is free around the clock and on approximately 365 days a year. Ærø can be reached by ferry from Svendborg, Faaborg, Rudkøbing or Fynshav.

To the overarching travel overview: Funen.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Kerteminde.