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How to Visit Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse: Travel Guide to the Famous Lighthouse in Northern Jutland

How to Visit Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse: Travel Guide to the Famous Lighthouse in Northern Jutland

Everything you need to know about Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, including where to stay, where to eat and our best tips
Alexander & VictoriaHi! 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.
On the coast of the North Sea

At the top of the cliff Lønstrup Klint among the shifting sands, you will find the old lighthouse Rubjerg Knude (Rubjerg Knude Fyr in Danish).

The lighthouse from 1900 isn’t necessarily the most beautiful lighthouse in the world…

But the combination of sand dunes, the North Sea and the lighthouse makes it especially picturesque!

The North Sea (Vesterhavet in Danish) is a wild place.

High waves crash on the beach and the west wind blows in from the sea taking sand with it, constantly reshaping the landscape.

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse is a unique place in Denmark – and if you visit around sunrise or sunset, we (can almost) promise that you will get the most amazing photos.

In this travel guide to Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, we’ll tell you how to visit, what to do, where to stay nearby and our best tips for experiencing the lighthouse.

Where to stay near Rubjerg Knude?

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Search for the best and cheapest hotels near Rubjerg Knude here.

The Lighthouse Rubjerg Knude Fyr in Denmark
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Moving the lighthouse

Because of severe coastal erosions and shifting sand dunes surrounding Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, it was projected that the lighthouse would fall into the sea in 2023 if not moved.

It was therefore decided to move the 23 metres (75 feet) tall Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse around 70 metres further inland (~ 230 feet).

The project took place between August and October in 2019 and it took around six hours. It has now extended the lifespan of the lighthouse by 20-40 years before it has to be moved again – or else it will fall into the sea.

You can watch a time-lapse video of the move here:

Our experience at Rubjerg Knude

As soon as we got out of the car at Rubjerg Knude, it was clear that we were dealing with the wild forces of nature.

The sand whooshed all around us and we felt compelled to cover our eyes and mouths while almost fighting our way to the lighthouse.

It’s not always that windy at Rubjerg Knude, but the wild winds certainly made the experience stronger.

The trail towards the lighthouse from the car park is pleasant and will take you to the large sand dunes in a few minutes.

We ran inside the lighthouse to seek shelter. From the top of it, the view of the whole area was fantastic.

We were lucky to arrive just before sunset making the light and colours in the sky look incredible.

If you have the chance to come by when the sun is setting (or rising, if you’re an early bird), we can definitely recommend doing so.

The trail from the car park towards Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
The trail from the car park towards Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.
Victoria at Rubjerg Knude
It was really windy when we visited Rubjerg Knude.
The view of the landscape from the sandy hills
The view of the landscape from the sandy hills.
The sun setting behind Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
It was extraordinarily beautiful to see the sun set behind Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse.
The entrance to Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
We sought refuge from the sandstorm inside the lighthouse.
The view from the top of the lighthouse
The view is phenomenal at the top of the lighthouse.
The sandy hills by the North Sea
The stairs up to the top of the Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
The stairs up to the top of the lighthouse.
Victoria at Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
The colours of the sky were constantly changing. The sand in the air made the colours even stronger.
Windblown sheep in Northern Jutland
Windblown sheep.
Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
The lighthouse towers beautifully over the sand dunes.
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Practical information about Rubjerg Knude

Opening hours and prices

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse is open 24 hours all year round and it’s free to visit.

Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse
Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse and the sand dunes at sunset.
The coastline by the North Sea
The coastline is truly dramatic.
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Parking

Along Rubjergvej, there are two car parks connected to Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse. They are both free to park at.

From the car parks, there is approximately a kilometre to the lighthouse on the walking path.

The circular car park at Rubjerg Knude
The circular car park at Rubjerg Knude.
Victoria was all smiles after we visited the lighthouse
Victoria was all smiles after we visited the lighthouse.

Map of Rubjerg Knude

Rubjerg Knude is located in the northern part of West Jutland in Denmark, close to the towns of Lønstrup, Løkken, Hjørring and Hirtshals.

Dunes by the North Sea in Northern Jutland
When the weather is agreeable, it’s possible to go down to the beach and admire the dunes – either from the north at Lønstrup or from the south at Nr. Lyngby.

Where to stay near Rubjerg Knude

While Rubjerg Knude is not exactly in the middle of a big city, there are still plenty of good accommodation options nearby if you want to spend the night in the area.

We have found five places to sleep, all of which are within reasonable distance of the lighthouse (from just 12 minutes to Løkken and up to 25 minutes to Hirtshals).

Since we had a caravan ourselves when we visited Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse (as we were going camping in Norway), we slept in Hirtshals at Hirtshals Camping (adlink).

Search for the best and cheapest hotels near Rubjerg Knude here (adlink).

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Luxury

Løkken Badehotel

Located just 12 minutes of driving away from Rubjerg Knude, Løkken Badehotel is one of the best hotels near the lighthouse if you want to stay close by.

The hotel has even been voted “Denmark’s best beach hotel” by Oplev Danmark’s readers.

The 125-year-old hotel offers both history, great holiday apartments, an indoor swimming pool and a restaurant that has both gluten-free and vegan food options.

Check prices and availability at Løkken Badehotel here (adlink).

Løkken Badehotel
Løkken Badehotel seen from the outside. ©Løkken Badehotel (adlink)

Montra Skaga Hotel

Montra Skaga Hotel is found in Hirtshals, approximately 25 kilometres from Rubjerg Knude (which takes about 25-30 minutes to drive).

We have included the hotel here because many choose to visit Rubjerg Knude as part of a more extensive tour of North Jutland, where most people also make a stop in Hirtshals.

We arrived by ferry from Norway to Hirsthals ourselves before visiting the famous lighthouse.

The Montra Skaga Hotel itself looks like a really nice hotel in North Jutland.

The rooms are big and there is both wifi, room service, a private bathroom and space for two adults and two children.

The hotel furthermore has an indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre.

Check prices and availability at Montra Skaga Hotel here (adlink).

Montra Skaga Hotel
The four-star Montra Skaga Hotel is probably one of the best hotels for a stay in North Jutland which also includes a visit to Rubjerg Knude. ©Montra Skaga Hotel (adlink)

Value for money

Hotel Phønix Hjørring

In Hjørring, with only a 15-minute drive to Rubjerg Knude, you can find Hotel Phoenix.

Vendsyssel Kunstmuseum (Vendsyssel Art Museum) is right next to the hotel and the rooms all have wifi, tea/coffee-making facilities and a private bathroom.

Both cots and extra beds are offered to families travelling with children.

Check prices and availability at Hotel Phønix Hjørring here (adlink).

Hotel Phønix in Hjørring
One of the beautiful superior rooms at Hotel Phønix in Hjørring. ©Hotel Phønix Hjørring (adlink)

Budget

Tornby Guesthouse bed and breakfast

One of the cheaper places to stay near Rubjerg Knude is Tornby Guesthouse bed and breakfast.

There is a train line nearby so you might not want to sleep with the window open if you are sensitive to sounds… But having said that, you’ll, after all, be in the small town of Tornby in the countryside in North-West Jutland, so it is generally fairly quiet!

According to Google Maps, the drive to Rubjerg Knude from the hotel (which is located between Hirtshals and Hjørring) takes about 16 minutes.

The rooms are not huge but they look cosy.

Check prices and availability at Tornby Guesthouse bed and breakfast here (adlink).

Tornby Guesthouse
A small but nice room at Tornby Guesthouse. ©Tornby Guesthouse (adlink)

Dana Cup SportsCenter (Park Vendia)

Dana Cup SportsCenter (Park Vendia) is not a hotel in the traditional sense. It’s closer to the hostel vibe and it is only staffed on weekdays from 08.00-16.00. You can still enter at other times via a key box.

There is a shared kitchen and the possibility of a discount to Hjørrings Vandhus (Hjørring’s Water House) which is right next door with a 50-metre swimming pool, water slide, baby pool and water park.

The price is especially good if you are more than two people and sleep in it bunk beds. The rooms are private.

Check prices and availability at Dana Cup SportsCenter here (adlink).

Dana Cup SportsCenter in Hjørring
If you are several people travelling together to Rubjerg Knude and want to save on accommodation, it is worth checking out Dana Cup SportsCenter in Hjørring. ©Dana Cup SportsCenter (adlink)
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Restaurants and cafés close to Rubjerg Knude

If you want to eat environmentally and animal-friendly, we recommend that you eat plant-based as much as possible.

There are few green restaurants around Rubjerg Knude so you might want to drive to Hjørring or Hirtshals to eat.

  • Løkken Badehotel. The restaurant at Løkken Badehotel (adlink) serves dishes that can be lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan. See their menu here.
  • Yummi Running Sushi & Wok. This restaurant in Hjørring offers, among other things, vegan sushi – including tempura-fried asparagus! Yum.
Dense shrubbery at Rubjerg Knude
Dense shrubbery at Rubjerg Knude.
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Our best tips for visiting Rubjerg Knude

  • If you are thinking of coming by Rubjerg Knude in 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 tourists.
  • If you wait and visit Rubjerg Knude around sunset, you can enjoy the last light of the day over the North Sea from the top of the lighthouse. It’s a breathtaking sight that we can truly recommend when you are by the North Sea.
Vennebjerg Church near Rubjerg Knude
The landscape around Rubjerg Knude is charmingly hilly. Here you can see Vennebjerg Church.
The lighthouse Rubjerg Knude Fyr
We loved visiting the lighthouse at sunset.

What to bring to Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse

  • Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
  • A good camerahere’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 the sand if it’s windy.
  • Water and snacks if you plan to stay for long.
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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, including straws.
  • 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.
  • show respect towards other visitors.
  • 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.
Dunes at Rubjerg Knude
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Thanks for reading along

Thank you for reading our travel guide to Rubjerg Knude. We hope it has been helpful!

What do you think of the lighthouse by the North Sea?

If you’ve already been there, it would be great to hear your best tips and tricks.

Don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments if you haven’t been to North Jutland yet. We are happy to help.

How to Visit Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse: Travel Guide to the Famous Lighthouse in Northern Jutland
How to Visit Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse: Travel Guide to the Famous Lighthouse in Northern Jutland
How to Visit Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse: Travel Guide to the Famous Lighthouse in Northern Jutland

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