East Jutland

East Jutland comprise the eastern part of central Jutland. In Danish it is known as Østjylland and administratively, it is part of the much larger Central Denmark Region that also includes West Jutland.

Most of this region forms the majority of what is officially known as the 'East Jutland metropolitan area'; a geographically huge area on the Jutland east coast, stretching well into South Jutland as well. The metropolitan area comprise several well-connected towns and cities, and is home to around 1.5 million people, more than 60% of Jutland's entire population.

Cities

• 1 Aarhus – Denmark's second largest city, and often referred to as the 'Capital of Jutland', Aarhus is a University town and a powerhouse for trade and commerce. Founded as a coastal settlement in the early Viking Age, Aarhus grew considerable during the industrialisation in the late 1800s, and is now a transport hub with the biggest industrial port in the country. The many students here makes for a very low median age, and the cultural scene is thriving, with several top tier attractions.

Trekantsområdet

Formed by the three towns of Vejle, Fredericia, and Kolding, this subregion is an important center for production, trade, and transport.

• 2 Vejle - as the biggest of the three cities, Vejle has plenty of cultural attractions for visitors.
• 3 Fredericia - Founded as a Royal fortress in 1650, Fredericia wears its history as an important military bastion with pride. Nowadays, it is a peaceful center for trade.

The historic town of Kolding is found in the South Jutland region here on Wikivoyage.

Other towns

• 4 Viborg – Old religious center with a beautiful medieval cathedral and city core. Today, Viborg is the administrative headquarters for the large Central Jutland Region, that includes the majority of both East and West Jutland, and the city forms an urban gateway between the two.
• 5 Randers – Old market town with a harbour at the Gudenå river, the biggest river in Denmark. Charming city center and easy access to good nature experiences.
• 6 Grenå – coastal town on the tip of rural Djursland. Cosy town center and amazing beaches nearby. Ferry services to the island of Anholt and Halmstad in Sweden.
• 7 Horsens – Cosy provincial town at the bottom of typical Jutlandic fjord. Ferry access to the island of Endelave.
• 8 Silkeborg – Unofficially known as 'Denmark's Outdoor Capital', Silkeborg is located in the midsts of lush forests dotted with lakes. Beautiful town, with many worthwhile attractions.

Smaller towns of interest

• 9 Billund – Transport gateway, with the biggest airport in Jutland. Also home to world famous toy manufacturer Lego.
• 10 Skanderborg – Small cosy historic town on the outskirts of the beautiful lake high-land region.
• 11 Ebeltoft – charming old market town in Djursland (Jutland's "nose") and a tourist magnet in the summer. Harbour with terminal for car ferries to and from Zealand.
• 12 Jelling – Center for a huge Viking site, important to the history of Denmark as a nation and the Royal line.

Other destinations

• 1 Mols Bjerge National Park – unique nature on Djursland

Interesting Danish islands associated with East Jutland:

• 2 Anholt - remote island popular with holidaymakers in the summer. Perfect wide sandy beaches, shallow waters, and beautiful nature.
• 3 Samsø – large beautiful rural island, popular with holidaymakers in the summer. The island is famous for it's energy self-sufficiency, all made from local renewable sources.
• 4 Endelave - rural island with ferry access from Horsens. The beautiful and varied nature, and good beaches, makes this island a popular choice with vacationers in the summer.

Understand

Typical East Jutland landscape. The fertile soils of this region has been intensely cultivated for centuries. In spite of this, there are still pockets of beautiful nature dotted around the countryside.

More than 60% of Denmark is cultivated land, making it the most intensely cultivated country in the world, and the East Jutland region is the largest agricultural producing area in the country. Apart from the obvious agricultural activities and legacy nearly everywhere in this region, including many large historic manors and estates, East Jutland surprisingly also presents sizable natural sites of both national and international importance.

Søhøjlandet (the lake-highlands) around Silkeborg is home to the largest single forest in Denmark (Silkeborgskovene) as well as the largest woodland area, the highest density of lakes and the highest hills in the country. With the maximum natural height above sealevel being just 176 metres, this doesn't say much really, but when the rest of the land is so flat, the hills do tend to present some magnificent vistas. The source of the two largest river systems in Denmark, Gudenå and Skjern Å is located in the heart of this region and the lakes associated with the Gudenå, dominates the landscape.

Djursland is the "nose" of the Jutland peninsula in the north-east. This is a rural area where the scarce population has made a living as farmers and fishermen for centuries, if not millenia. The region is rich with pre-historic tumuli, including many round barrows and several passage graves from the earliest Stone Age. Djursland has a large diversity of habitats, with many rare or endangered species and most of the southern part has been designated as a national park since 2006, known as Mols Bjerge National Park.

See

Natural scenery

Lush deciduous forest scene from the Silkeborg Forests, the largest single woodland in Denmark.

• Mols Bjerge National Park - Amazing natural scenery on Jutland's "nose". Great for many hikes. One of Denmark's five national parks.
• Silkeborgskovene - Large and beautiful woodlands in the Silkeborg region.
• Himmelbjerget. Scenic view in a beautiful region of lakes and forested hills. Get there from Silkeborg or Ry.
• Fussingø og Læsten Bakker - Beautiful hilly landscape of heathland, forests and a lake west of Randers.
• Vejle Ådal - Beautiful valley system west of Vejle.
• Randbøl Hede - Large and beautiful sandy heathland between Vejle and Billund. Start off at the visitor centre Kirstinelyst south of Billund. The protected heathland can be experienced on foot, on horseback or - in the summer - by horse-drawn carriages.
• Hald Sø - Lake south of Viborg surrounded by woodlands and on the westward side; heather-covered hills known as Dollerup Bakker.

Culture and history

Gammel Estrup. The old manor near Randers, serves as Denmark's manorial museum with plenty of activities year round.

Mønsted Kalkgruber

• Gammel Estrup - One of many old manorhouses in East Jutland, this particular house serves as Denmark's manorial museum.
• Jelling national monument - Historic runestones and site from Denmark's Viking Age.
• Kalø Slotsruin - Ancient castle ruin dating back to 1313.
• Moesgaard Museum - Museum of archaeology and ethnography.
• Daubjerg Kalkgruber and Mønsted Kalkgruber - Old abandoned historic limestone mines near Viborg. Explore twisted tunnels with a guide and visit on-site museums to learn about their interesting history; the latter is the largest limestone mine in the world.

Do

Entertainment

There are many opportunities for various entertainment in the towns and cities of East Jutland, but a few places stands out.

• Djurs Sommerland. Large amusement park for the whole family. The largest roller coaster in Denmark. (updated Jul 2024)

• Legoland. Famous amusement park, and one of country's most popular attractions. (updated Jul 2024)

• Lalandia Billund. Large family-oriented tropical water world in Billund. Stay for several days, or make it a one-day experience. (updated Jul 2024)

Nature

Canoeing on the Gudenå river.

• Gudenå river. Experience the longest river in Denmark from a canoe. The Gudenå have its spring near the small town of Tørring, about 30 km west of Horsens, and winds through central Jutland for 150 km until it reach Randers Fjord and the sea in the northeast. There are many places where you can rent a boat and embark on your expedition, but Silkeborg is a popular choice.

Hiking

Hiking trail through the Silkeborg Forests.

Long inter-regional hiking routes pass through East Jutland, but the lush nature of this part of Jutland facilitates some good local hiking as well. The selection below are from the most appreciated:

• Nordsøstien - The Danish part of the huge international North Sea Trail, passes through East Jutland. Join in on the huge trail in Ebeltoft, or walk shorter individual parts.
• Hærvejen - Also known as 'The Ox Road', this long route follows ancient trails used in olden times to transport cattle and soldiers to Germany, traversing the entire Danish part of the Jutland peninsula for a total of 500 km. The trail starts off in Hirtshals (and Frederikshavn) in North Jutland, and ends in Padborg at the German border, but you can choose to join in along the way at several points in East Jutland, including Viborg, Silkeborg or Vejle.
• Molsruten - 80-km trail through larger parts of the Mols Bjerge National Park, designed for a four day hike. Leading Quality Trail (Best of Europe) equipped with shelters and campingsites. Start off from the 700-year old Kalø Castle Ruin north of Aarhus, or from the old rural town of Ebeltoft. Extend your hike to Grenå or Aarhus if you like.
• Hald Sø - One-day hilly roundtrips at Hald Sø lake south of Viborg. About 20 km for the entire lake, but options for shorter routes on the west side, with more well-established trails. It is possible to take a dip in the lake at two spots, and the historic inn Niels Bugges Kro rents out rowboats. Amazing landscape vistas across the lake, including deciduous woodlands, heath and meadows.
• Kyst til Kyst Stien - Walk coast to coast, from Vejle to Blåvand, across the base of Jutland in a varied landscape, including river valleys, meadows, heathland, and historic sites. Top quality trail of more than 130 km all together, equipped with shelter and camping sites, running water and toilets. Fit for families, with easy access to shopping opportunities along the route.
• Grejsdalstien - 16 km marked trail near Vejle through the beautiful valley of Grejsdalen. Part of the much larger Vejle Ådal valley system.
• Randbøl Hede - Several hiking trails in and around this heathland, including detours through an adjacent woodland. Start off at the visitor centre Kristinelyst where you can park your car. The longest route is only 10 km. Free shelters available.
• Fussingø & Læsten Bakker - Beautiful marked hike in a naturepark of decideous woodlands embracing Fussingø lake and Castle, and the hilly heathland of Læsten Bakker west of Randers. Other natural attractions nearby to be experienced.
• Trækstien - Marked 75 km trail along the Gudenå river from Randers to Silkeborg. Beware of floodings from the river when the water levels are high. The trail have five individual sections.

Eat

Apart from restaurants and regular eateries, East Jutland presents a number of local specialities. They are not widely available, but local traditions nonetheless.

• Æbleflæsk (Apple-pork). Thick slices of fried pork belly with stewed apples.

Drink

Denmark has around 125 micro-breweries and the region of East Jutland is home to several:

• Aarhus Bryghus
• Wintercoat, near Aarhus.
• Bryghuset Kragelund, in Silkeborg.
• Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri