Travel Guide to Grenen in Skagen: Denmark’s Northernmost Point
Everything you need to know about the long sandbar at Skagen Odde including what to do, where to stay and our best tips | Hi! We're Alex & Victoria - a digital nomad couple from Copenhagen escaping 9-5 to chase adventures in our beautiful world. Learn more about us here. |
Where two seas meet
At the northernmost point in Denmark, two seas meet each other: Skagerak and Kattegat.
This point called Grenen (meaning “The Branch”) is a beach reaching out from the mainland and you can walk to the tip of the spit and stand with a foot in each sea.
Pretty cool, right?
Don’t tell anyone, but in fact, the real northmost point in Denmark is 2.5 kilometres to the northwest of Grenen at Nordstrand at Skagen Odde.
Nevertheless, standing at the top of Denmark at Grenen to see (and feel!) the two seas meet is a very special feeling.
The beach itself is also lovely but unfortunately, it’s strongly discouraged to bathe at Grenen as the currents can be dangerous.
Going for a walk is always a great idea, though! Especially if you can visit at sunrise or sunset.
We visited the most popular attraction in Skagen at sunrise and it was definitely worth the early wake up time.
In this travel guide to Grenen at Skagen Odde, we’ll tell you how to visit, what to do, where to stay and our best tips for experiencing the unique sandbar at the top of Denmark.
Where to stay at Grenen?
- Budget: Hotel Marie – Keep the price down with shared bathrooms.
- Value for money: Skagen Strand and Holiday Center – The perfect place for families.
- Luxury: Skagen Hotel – Great location and stylish rooms.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels near Grenen here.
Table of contents
The forces of nature at Grenen
Nature rules up here, there’s no doubt about that.
Nowhere else in Denmark can you see that many different species of birds and Grenen is also a great place to look for marine mammals.
Grey seals live at the beach all year and if you are extra lucky, you can glimpse porpoises, harbour seals and even some dolphins.
Binoculars help tremendously if you want to spot the animals.
The sand dunes are still being shaped and Grenen “grows” around 10 metres per year in the eastern direction due to the sand movements up along the west coast of Jutland.
If you visit Grenen, you’ll be sure to get wind in your hair and sand in your clothes!
The 5 best things to do and see at Grenen
1. Stand with a foot in each sea
Everyone who visits Grenen must try to stand at the tip of the sandbar – even if it will cost you cold feet or wet socks.
Skagerak and Kattegat meet here at the top of Denmark and standing with a foot in each of the two seas is a unique experience. Of course, it’s the best thing to do at Grenen!
Just remember that it is not recommended to swim here; no matter how hot it is or how good you are at swimming.
2. Ride Sandormen
Getting to Grenen, you can ride with Sandormen (meaning the sandworm) which transports visitors to the tip of Skagen Odde while providing information on the local wildlife, nature and changes in the coastline.
Sandormen leaves from the parking lot at Fyrvej 39 and the service is usually up and running from the beginning of April to the end of October.
A round trip is 35 DKK per adult (~ 4.7 EUR / 5.1 USD) and 15 DKK for children under 12 years (~ 2 EUR / 2.2 USD).*
*Prices are from the summer of 2023.
Tip: You can only pay with cash in the wagons. For payment by credit card, you can find a ticket machine at the information building near the entrance to the men’s toilet.
Read more about Sandormen here.
3. Explore a real German bunker
At the small war museum Skagen Bunker Museum, you can explore a real bunker that was used by the Germans as an infirmary for treating wounded soldiers during the Second World War.
Inside the bunker, there are different artefacts like weapons and uniforms as well as an operations room and a film room.
The museum is usually open from April to October (like Sandormen) as well as during the winter holidays in week 7.
The entrance for adults is 60 DKK (~ 8 EUR / 8.8 USD) and 25 DKK for children (~ 3.3 EUR / 3.4 USD).*
*Prices are from the summer of 2023.
Read more on their website here.
4. Visit Skagen’s Grey Lighthouse
If you would like to learn more about the birdlife at Grenen, you should consider stopping by Skagen’s Grey Lighthouse (Det Grå Fyr in Danish) on your way towards the car park from the city of Skagen.
The 46 metres high Grey Lighthouse has existed since 1858 and it’s still a working lighthouse that can be seen far out at sea.
You can explore the inside of the building which has been renovated and the old rooms have been preserved.
It’s also a centre for migratory birds with an interactive exhibition and a bird observatory.
Read more about Skagen’s Grey Lighthouse here.
5. Look for wildlife in the sea, on land and in the air
Grenen is full of life and it’s the place in Denmark where you can spot the most bird species.
Bring your binoculars and look for both birds and marine mammals at sea and on land.
Grey seals are known to sunbathe in the sand close to Grenen and they can be seen all year round. However, you still have to be lucky to find the cute animals.
Porpoises and harbour seals are also very common here and there have been quite a few whale and dolphin sightings.
Our experience at Grenen in Skagen
As we visited Grenen on our way back from our South Norway Caravan Road Trip Adventure, we had spent the night in our caravan at the campsite CampOne.
From there, we quickly walked the 2-3 kilometres towards Grenen.
Having dreamt about watching the sun rise over the top of Denmark, we were up early to catch the first glimpses of light.
And we were lucky!
It was a beautiful sunrise and even though it was a bit cold, we thoroughly enjoyed the quiet morning.
Of course, we had to go out to the tip of Grenen to experience Skagerrak and Kattegat collide.
We walked back and forth on the beach, but unfortunately, we found no seals on land. Next time, hopefully.
Practical information about Grenen
Opening hours and prices
Grenen is open 24 hours all year round and it’s free to visit.
Parking
There is a large parking lot at Grenen from where there’s a 15-minute walk to Grenen. You can also take Sandormen.
During some hours in the summer period, you have to pay for parking while it’s free in other periods so make sure to check the parking information on the signs when you are there.
Map of Grenen
Grenen is located in the northern part of Jutland in Denmark, close to the town of Skagen.
From Skagen, you can either walk along the road or follow the beach all the way to Grenen.
If you don’t want to walk, and you don’t have a car or bicycle yourself, you can go with the city buses from Skagen to Grenen.
Where to stay near Grenen
There are several lovely places to stay near Grenen in Skagen.
As we were travelling with a caravan on our way back from Norway, we spent the night at a campsite at CampOne.
If you don’t have a caravan, auto camper or tent, we would recommend that you find a hotel in the city of Skagen.
Search for the best and cheapest hotels near Grenen here (adlink).
Skagen Hotel
Skagen Hotel is right by Skagen Station and it’s perfect for exploring the city.
The hotel is clean and neat and the rooms are stylishly designed. And the yellow house is really pretty, too!
Check prices and availability at Skagen Hotel here (adlink).
Skagen Strand Holiday Center
Take a look at Skagen Strand Holiday Center if you would prefer to have your own holiday apartment with a kitchen in Skagen.
There is room for either 5 or 7 people and there is a free water park and playgrounds for the children as well as a fitness centre, minigolf, tennis and badminton courts.
A great choice if you’re staying in Skagen for longer than a few days.
Check prices and availability at Skagen Strand Holiday Center here (adlink).
Hotel Marie
If you are looking for a budget stay in Skagen, Hotel Marie has the option of double rooms or rooms for three singles with shared bathrooms which lower the price.
There are also double rooms with private bathrooms but they, of course, cost a little more.
The hotel is located right by the harbour in Skagen so you will be close to the city’s restaurants and cultural offerings.
Check prices and availability at Hotel Marie here (adlink).
Where to eat near Grenen
Skagen City is without a doubt where you will find the best places to eat close to Grenen.
Luckily, it only takes around 10 minutes to drive to Skagen from the parking lot at Denmark’s northernmost point.
If you want to eat environmentally and animal-friendly, we recommend eating as plant-based as possible.
There are no completely vegan restaurants in Skagen (yet) but there are a few restaurants that offer vegetarian and vegan dishes:
- Juicy Skagen. Delicious juices, smoothies, salads, wraps and sandwiches. They use many organic ingredients, try to shop locally and follow the seasons as much as possible.
- Jakobs. Vegan salads with mock meat, soups and a burger.
- Bodilles Kro. Danish cuisine with a few vegetarian and vegan options.
- Cafe Knuth’s. Limited vegan options but there’s a vegan falafel salad and vegetarian burger.
Check out HappyCow for an updated list of places serving vegetarian and vegan food in Skagen.
Our best tips for visiting Grenen
- If you are thinking of visiting Grenen during the high season in summer (July-August), it may be a good idea to plan your visit outside the hot and popular hours from lunchtime to the afternoon. That way, you minimize the risk of sunstroke and there will be fewer people on the beach.
- If you wait to visit Grenen until sunset, you can enjoy the last light of the day completely undisturbed.
- When we visited Grenen very early in the morning, the light was incredible. We weren’t the only people, though – already around eight o’clock, there were quite a few people but the area is big and didn’t feel crowded at all.
- Don’t swim in the water at Grenen. The currents are strong and bathing in the sea can be life-threatening.
What to bring to Grenen
- Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
- A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
- Sunscreen (adlink) if you visit in the summer.
- Hiking shoes, sandals or shoes you can walk in the sand in. You can also just take off your shoes – much easier!
- Sunglasses, a hat or a head cover/protection of some kind for sunny days or for the sand if it’s windy.
- A warm sweater or jacket if you are at the beach before sunrise or after sunset.
- Water and snacks if you plan to stay for long.
Minimise your impact
To travel as sustainably as possible, we recommend the following:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
- Avoid disposable plastic.
- Sort your trash correctly and do not throw it on the ground.
- Take only photos and leave only footprints. Avoid taking things from nature with you.
- Respect the local wildlife.
- Use an environmentally friendly sunscreen. The sun can be reflected in the sand, so it is a good idea to protect your skin – especially from the dangerous rays in the middle of the day – even in Denmark.
Thanks for reading along
Thank you for reading our travel guide to Grenen in Skagen. We hope it has been helpful!
What do you think of the unique beach at the top of Denmark?
If you have already been to Grenen or Skagen, let us know your best tips and tricks.
If you haven’t been to the northern tip of Jutland yet, don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments. We are happy to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for cheap hotels.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller. All three compared here.
Our camera gear:
- Panasonic GH5. Used for all of our photos and videos.
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Best drone out there!
- Sirui Tripod. Lightweight and strong.
- See all of our camera gear here.
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