Esbjerg

Esbjerg is a city in Southwestern Jutland. The town was once Denmark's biggest fishing harbour, and the harbour is still an economic driving force in the town. Esbjerg has grown into an important centre for education with campuses belonging to the University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University. The town holds an annual music festival spanning two weekends (nine days) in mid-August.

Understand
The city of Esbjerg is Denmark's fifth largest city with a population of 71.500 (2024). It was established around the harbour, which the state had built here in 1868 as a replacement for the harbour in Altona (now Hamburg), lost in the 1864 war with Germany, that had been Denmark's most important North Sea harbour. In 1874, Esbjerg became connected by rail to Fredericia and Varde.

Esbjerg is also today an important harbour for all of Denmark, as off-shore industry, transport, energy, and commercial fishing forms the backbone of the city. However, there are also cultural attractions here as well to experience.


 * Tourist information website

Get in
Esbjerg no longer has passenger ferries.

By train
The train station is in the town centre and this connects you to pretty much all of Denmark and beyond.

From here, DSB operates InterCity trains to Copenhagen via Kolding and Odense and Regional trains to Aarhus via Fredericia. Arriva operates trains on the smaller lines south to Ribe, Tønder and Niebüll and north to Varde, Nørre Nebel and Skjern.



By plane

 * Billund Airport is western Denmark's biggest and better connected. It is about an hour's drive from Esbjerg and there's a bus connection.
 * Billund Airport is western Denmark's biggest and better connected. It is about an hour's drive from Esbjerg and there's a bus connection.

By bus
Express buses connect Esbjerg to Aalborg, Aarhus and Sønderborg as well as other towns in Denmark.

Get around
The town is centered around the harbour and shopping area (Skolegade, Kongensgade). As the town area is rather small, it is possible to get most places by walking. However, you might consider using the public bus operated by Sydtrafik for the more far sights as Fisheries- and Maritime Museum in Hjerting.

Do

 * Football: Esbjerg fB play soccer in First Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is Blue Water Arena (capacity 18,000) one km north of city centre.
 * Football: Esbjerg fB play soccer in First Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is Blue Water Arena (capacity 18,000) one km north of city centre.

Buy
Esbjerg City has some great options for shopping centred around the two main shopping streets. Kongensgade is a pedestrianised shopping street and has some 150 specialty shops and eateries. Torvegade, partly pedestrianised, is also worth a visit. The two converge right around the main square in town. Shopping hours are on weekdays from 09:00-10:00, to 17:30-18:00. On Saturday, most shops close down at 14:00. while Sunday nearly all shops remain closed.

In the northern part of Esbjerg, the malls and  offer even more shopping opportunities.

Eat
Esbjerg has some good options for eating out.



Drink


Skolegade is the street where most bars and clubs are located. It is in the center of the city.


 * Industrien - also serves a really good reasonably priced meal. The burgers are recommended. Occasionally live music
 * Dronning Louise - Good looking place right on the town square. Has got “English pub” style live music and a good selection of beer
 * Paddy Go Easy - Irish Pub

Go next

 * Legoland — the original Legoland is in the town of Billund, about an hour's drive from Esbjerg where Lego originates and the world heaquarters are located.
 * Ribe — Denmark's oldest city with a beautiful old town.
 * Rømø — an island in the North Sea connected to the mainland by a causeway. Known for its sand beaches, it's a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
 * Sylt — a German island likewise known for its beaches; accessible by train from the German mainland or by ferry from Rømø.
 * Wadden Sea National Park — the North Sea coast has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continuing south into Germany and the Netherlands.