Skagen between Grenen, Birdlife and Art History

In Skagen, a landscape near Grenen designated as a nature reserve, extensive trails, and art and local history come together. Nature observation at Grenen and the Grey Lighthouse can be combined with museums and historic houses in Skagen.

Nature and Trails at Grenen

The landscape around Grenen is designated as a nature reserve and is open to everyone. Shallow lagoon lakes often form on the outer beach area of Grenen, attracting large flocks of wading birds. Grenensporet comprises more than 20 kilometres of hiking trails through the hinterland of Grenen. Its shortest route is three kilometres long and has a gravel surface suitable for wheelchair users and families with prams. In Frederikshavn Municipality, the 132-kilometre Nordsøstien runs along the entire east coast, circles Skagens Gren and continues along the west coast to Skiveren. From the car park at Grenen, visitors can travel to the tip of Grenen on the Sandormen from Easter through calendar week 43 inclusive.

Lighthouse and Birdwatching

The old lighthouse keeper’s house at the Grey Lighthouse houses the “Wingbeat” exhibition about Skagen’s unique landscape and animal and birdlife. The Grey Lighthouse organises guided birdwatching tours in cooperation with the Skagen Bird Observatory. At the Skagen Bird Observatory, visitors can take part in bird-ringing tours and learn more about ringing migratory birds. Those who climb the Grey Lighthouse’s 210 steps to the top can enjoy views over the tip of Grenen and the town of Skagen.

Art in Skagen

Skagens Museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by the Skagen painters; its collection comprises 20,000 objects, including sculptures, interiors and handicrafts. Guided tours about the distinctive artists’ community that emerged in Skagen at the end of the 19th century complement this focus. Drachmanns Hus preserves Holger Drachmann’s original interior, his art collection and numerous objects he collected on his travels. A guided tour of Drachmanns Hus covers his life and work in Skagen. A guided outdoor tour follows in the footsteps of Anna, Michael and Helga Ancher in the area around Anchers Hus and Brøndums Hotel. Anchers Hus is a small listed house with difficult access conditions.

History between Church, Bunker and Fire

Kystmuseet Skagen is a combined open-air and exhibition museum with reconstructed houses from three periods in Skagen’s history: the black period up to around 1875, the yellow period from around 1875 to 1907, and the red period after 1907. Skagen Bunkermuseum is housed in a Regelbau 638 bunker, a medical bunker built during the occupation to treat wounded German soldiers. Near Grenen, it is located in an authentic German bunker from the Second World War. The Vippefyr standing at the same site today is a faithful reconstruction of the original lighthouse; the Vippefyr in Skagen, Denmark’s first rotating beacon, was built in 1627. Tilsandede Kirke is also known as Sankt Laurentius Kirke and was built at the end of the 14th century. Its surroundings are suitable for walking, photography and quiet reflection. Every year on Saint John’s Eve, 23 June, the fire basket of the Vippefyr is lit again.

When choosing your accommodation in Skagen, you can determine the focus of your trip: the trails, lagoon lakes and birdwatching provide a focus on nature, while museums, historic houses and buildings shape the cultural and historical side of the trip.

To compare with other destinations, open Bunken, Ålbæk, Sæby, Dybvad, Hulsig, Nordby and Napstjært.

For the higher-level travel overview: Frederikshavn Municipality.

More about the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Holiday in Skagen.