Sønderborg

Sønderborg is a town on the island of Als at the eastern coast of South Jutland, Denmark near the Danish-German border.

Understand

Sønderborg

Sønderborg is a centre for trade, tourism, industry, and education and the seat of the Sønderborg Municipality. The population is 28,000 in 2023.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Sønderborg Airport (SGD  ^IATA) (7 km from Sønderborg). Alsie Express is the only airline serving the airport. As of 2023 there are several flights a day from Copenhagen Airport. There is no public transit to or from the airport. You'd have to take a taxi or arrange pickup. Rental cars are available at the airport.  (updated Sep 2023)

By train

• 2 Sønderborg station (Next to Alsion on the west side of the sound). The station is served by Intercity and regional trains, mostly operated by DSB  

By car

If driving north on the E45 highway coming from Germany, route 8 is the fastest way to get to Sønderborg. If driving south on E45, route 41 is the fastest.

By boat

• 3 Fynshav. The ferry port on the east side of Als has ferries from Fyn and Ærø (updated Jan 2016)

Get around

Sønderborg is not very far from the Danish-German border. Just south of the border is the German town of Flensburg, which is popular among Danes going to Germany on a one-day trip, often to shop and to buy alcohol and chocolate, which is cheaper in Germany than in Denmark.

By public transport

From the central bus station (rutebilstation) there are buses run to Dybbøl, Kær, Stenbjergparken, Kløvermarken, Skovparken, Sønderborg Sygehus (Hospital) twice at every hour. One way ticket is 17 kr and payable onboard, only cash. There is also 10 clip card for 120 kr, if you plan to travel more frequent. Because it is a small town, buses take off twice an hour (mostly).

• 4 Sønderborg bus station. (updated Jul 2024)

By bike

Sønderborg is a very bike friendly city. Almost all roads have separated bike lanes. Hop up on your bike or buy a second hand one and do not suffer in the buses.

See

the castle

• 1 Sønderborg Castle (Sønderborg Slot) (At the southern end of the harbour), ☏ +45 74422539. Jun-Sep: 10:00-17:00; Apr May Oct: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00; Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00; week 7, 8, 42: 10:00-16:00. Public holidays also on Mondays. Historical castle at the waterfront. (updated Sep 2015)
• 2 St. Mary's Church (Sankt Marie Kirke). Old church at the waterfront overlooking the old bridge. (updated Jul 2024)
• 3 Christianskirken. 1957 church just outside the old town. (updated Jul 2024)
• 4 Kong Christian den X's Bro. 1930 iron bascule bridge across the sound named after the late king. (updated Jul 2024)
• 5 Dybbøl Mølle (near Sønderborg). Mar 28-Oct 18: 11:00-16:00; week 42: 10:00-17:00; also 10:00-17:00 in school holidays, easter, Pentecost, great Preyer day, and Ascension day. Historically significant windmill, now museum. 25 kr. (updated Sep 2015)
• 6 Dybbøl Banke (immediately southwest of Sønderborg). The most important battle site in Denmark from the defining 1864 war with Germany. Experience the military conflict as it unfolded for the soldiers themselves. History centre and landscape.  
• 7 Alsion, ☏ +45 65508080. Culture, education, and science park at the waterfront. (updated Sep 2015)
• 8 Multikulturhuset. Public building at the waterfront with a library, cafe and very nice view over the sound. (updated Jul 2024)
• 9 Historiecenter Dybbøl Banke, info@1864.dk. Military museum centered on the nationally significant 1864 battle against Prussian troops which took place on the hills on the Jutland side of the sound. (updated Jul 2024)
• 10 Augustenborg (northeast of Sønderborg). Royal castle and town. The beautiful castle, built in the Baroque style, can not be visited, only appreciated from a distance, but you can stroll around the castle park and the picturesque old town.  
• 11 Gråsten Castle (west of Sønderborg). Historic white Royal castle in the village of Gråsten on the Flensborg Fjord. The Danish Royal family will be here in the summer, but guided tours of the castle church and associated garden park in the English style can be booked.  

Do

• 1 Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester (South Denmark Philharmonic). Symphonic orchestra based at Alsion. (updated Mar 2018)
• Gendarmstien. Embark on a beautiful and varied coastal trail along the Flensborg Fjord in south-east Jutland. At 84 km, and certified as a Leading Quality Trail (Best of Europe), this hike is designed for a five-day journey all-in-all, and includes shelters and other amenities. It leads you through historic sites from the Stone Age to present times; the trail itself is named after the Danish Gendarmerie controlling the waters for smugglers from Germany in the 1800s. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

• Curry Leaves, Nørrebro 2, ☏ +45 74 44 29 29. An Indian restaurant. 140 kr buffet. (updated Apr 2018)
• Bella Italia, Lille Rådhusgade 33, ☏ +45 74 42 54 00. An Italian restaurant. (updated Apr 2018)
• Fox and Hounds, Store Rådhusgade 1, ☏ +45 30 21 48 98. A British pub and restaurant. (updated Apr 2018)
• Restaurant Colosseum, ​Sønder Havnegade 24, ☏ +45 74 42 23 06. Offer Danish cuisine. (updated Apr 2018)

Drink

• 1 Penny Lane, Store Rådhusgade 12, ☏ +45 25 21 66 65. 
• Brøggeriet, Rådhustorvet 6, ☏ +45 74 43 10 12. M-W 11:00-00:00, Th 11:00-02:00, F 11:00-03:00, Sa 10:00-03:00, Su 10:00-17:00. (updated Apr 2018)

Sleep

Hotels

• 1 Alsik Hotel. 4-star, 19 floors high-rise right at the waterfront  
• Quality Hotel Sønderborg. 
• Comwell Sønderborg, Strandvej 1, ☏ +45 7442 1900, hotel.sonderborg@comwell.dk. (updated Apr 2018)
• Hotel Nørherredhus, Mads Clausens Vej 101, ☏ +45 7445 0111, nhhus@nhhus.dk. (updated Apr 2018)
• 2 Benniksgaard Hotel & Konference, Sejrsvej 101, Rinkenæs, ☏ +45 74 65 09 49, info@benniksgaardhotel.dk. (updated Apr 2018)
• 3 Scandic Hotel Sønderborg, Ellegårdvej 27, ☏ +45 74422600, sonderborg@scandichotels.com. (updated Apr 2018)

Hostels

• Danhostel Sønderborg, Kærvej 70, ☏ +45 7442 3112, sonderborg@danhostel.dk. (updated Apr 2018)
• Danhostel Vollerup, Mommarkvej 22, ☏ +45 7442 3990, vollerup@c.dk. (updated Apr 2018)

Camping

• 4 Sønderborg camping, Ringgade 7, ☏ +45 74 42 41 89. 
• Drejby Strand Camping, Kegnæsvej 85, ☏ +45 7440 4305, info@drejby.dk. Season from the beginning of April until the end of September. (updated Apr 2018)
• Gammelmark Strand Camping, Gammelmark 20, ☏ +45 74 44 17 42, info@gammelmark.dk. (updated Apr 2018)
• Hertugbyens Camping, Ny Stavensbøl 1, ☏ +45 7447 1639, hertugbyenscamping@mail.dk. (updated Apr 2018)
• Lærkelunden Camping, Nederbyvej 25, ☏ +45 74 65 02 50, info@laerkelunden.dk. (updated Apr 2018)

Go next

• Flensburg is just across the German border.