Horsens

Horsens is a city in eastern Jutland with a population of around 61,000 (2021). Horsens is a port town at the end of a beautiful long shallow-water inlet. Such inlets are known as fjords in Denmark and there are several of them on the East Jutland coast. Horsens fjord is typical, with rolling hills and forests stretching all the way down to the water and making the city feel less like a coastal town. The larger city of Vejle south of Horsens also sits at the bottom of a Danish fjord.

Horsens has a pedestrianised centre with historic buildings, cafés, restaurants and opportunities for specialty shopping, and the inner city is dotted with art installations. The local tourist office is at Søndergade 28.

Horsens is an old town. Already during the Viking age it was a settlement called Horsens. The name probably referred to the breeding of a large numbers of horses in the area.

Get in
It takes 28 mins to reach Horsens from Aarhus by DSB Intercity trains, the main train service operating in Denmark. Horsens is two stops from Aarhus towards Copenhagen on the main line running from Frederikshavn in north to Copenhagen.

The nearest airport is Billund Airport, the country's second largest airport.

There is also a smaller airport in Tirstrup, north of Aarhus. Passengers arriving at that airport and are depending on public transportation will have to catch the airport coach into Aarhus station and then a train from Aarhus to Horsens.

From Copenhagen, Horsens can be reached with trains running from Copenhagen Airport Kastrup. The journey time is approx. 2½ to 3 hours (most often passengers will have to change trains at the main station in Copenhagen).

is west side of town centre.

Get around
The central train station unloads you in the city centre and most of the interesting parts of the inner city can be done in a day if you choose to walk on your own two feet. Walking is safe, easy and enjoyable in Horsens. Another great way to discover Horsens is by bike. You can rent bikes at different locations, ask at the tourist office. A bicycle also gives you quick and easy access to the immediate countryside around Horsens with some good nature experiences.

There is a local bus-network in Horsens and the central terminal is at the central station. A ticket purchased on a local bus is valid for one hour and costs 19 kr. A ten-trip card costs 115 kr; each trip is valid for an hour as well.





Do

 * Football: AC Horsens were relegated in 2023 so they now play soccer in 1st Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is CASA Arena (capacity 10,400) 500 m north of town centre.
 * Football: AC Horsens were relegated in 2023 so they now play soccer in 1st Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is CASA Arena (capacity 10,400) 500 m north of town centre.
 * Football: AC Horsens were relegated in 2023 so they now play soccer in 1st Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is CASA Arena (capacity 10,400) 500 m north of town centre.
 * Football: AC Horsens were relegated in 2023 so they now play soccer in 1st Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is CASA Arena (capacity 10,400) 500 m north of town centre.
 * Football: AC Horsens were relegated in 2023 so they now play soccer in 1st Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is CASA Arena (capacity 10,400) 500 m north of town centre.

Buy
Søndergade is the main highstreet in Horsens. This street and the surrounding pedestrianised areas are at the center of speciality shopping.

Eat
There are plenty of dining opportunities around the pedestrianized highstreet zone. Most cafés are here, and some of them serves both day and night, including evening dinners and late night partying.



Drink
There is a wide selection of cafées and bars in Horsens. Both young adults and grownups can have a good night on the town here.



Sleep
There are a few primitive, but free, camping grounds available.



Connect
Horsens has 4G from all Danish carriers. As of Sept 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Endelave. Take the bus to the small town of Snaptun and then the 1-hour ferry to the island of Endelave. A beautiful and varied nature experience with plenty of opportunity for leisurely beach activities. Bring a bike or rent one on the island and you can see Endelave in a day or two. Do this as a day trip or stay overnight for a mini-vacation. Bird tours and nature walks are regularly arranged. Several options for sleeping and dining.
 * Hjarnø. Another small and very flat island nearby, situated at Horsens fjord. Take the short seven-minute ferry trip there from Snaptun. Hjarnø has around 100 habitants and has a history of long-distance seafaring. Nowadays most people there either work regular jobs on the mainland or are active as farmers on the island. A small group of them are experimenting with wineproduction, a rare sight in Denmark. A haven for seabirds and with opportunities for a small nature hike experience, just follow the marked routes, and some leisurely beach activities as well. Several stone settings from The Viking Age. Do Hjarnø in a day or stay overnight at the camping grounds. You can eat at a café in the old smithy or bring your own food.
 * Alrø. Small flat island just north of Hjarnø, also in Horsens fjord. Twice as large and a bit higher than Hjarnø, Alrø rises a mere 15 metres above sea level on its highest spot. In the summer months there is a ferry connection from Snaptun, but Alrø can also be accessed from an artificial landbridge on the northern side. The landbridge can be reached in about a 30-minute drive from Horsens or Skanderborg; c. 40 minutes from Aarhus. This drive can be combined with a good nature experience in and around Sondrup Bakker, a beautiful area on the northern shores of Horsens fjord. Alrø is a bit similar to Hjarnø; it has a rich bird life and nearly all of it is cultivated land. Bird tours are regularly arranged, as are small canoe trips. Several options for dining and staying overnight.
 * The city of Aarhus can be reached by intercity trains within 30 mins while the town of Vejle is about 15 minutes away by train in the opposite direction, towards Copenhagen.
 * Vejle, The regional capital of south Jutland