Its idyllic charm is accentuated by narrow cobblestone lanes and picturesque houses dating back from the 17th century. Historical establishments speak about its commercial and maritime progress in the past.  

Finding Ærøskøbing was like discovering a light tower in the middle of the night at sea.  We were in the midst our constant search. Then, we found Denmark and felt right away. Ærøskøbing is the perfect place for us to get married.  I got swooned right away upon knowing that this hidden island is dubbed as Denmark’s fairy tale town.

Indeed, Ærøskøbing is one hidden beauty in the Danish Baltic Sea.

We are very pleased that we found Ærøskøbing.  It is a precious island far away we can call our own. It is where my husband and I made our vows to go on a life journey together as one. Surely, Ærøskøbing is a magical place that is forever special in our hearts.

Let me share with you this special journey of ours to this mesmerizing Danish island. I will include some practical tips. These tips and advice will make your stay in Ærøskøbing more memorable.

The Trip to Ærøskøbing

After our sightseeing tour around Copenhagen, we packed our bags again. We picked up the car we rented. Then, we traveled on the road to our next destination.  We were heading to one of over 400 islands in Denmark, and that excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland.  As a matter of fact, only about 70 of them are populated.  Even more, their numbers change over time, as new islands form while a few also permanently disappear.

Zealand is the largest and most populated island in Denmark with a population of 2.5 million, representing 45% of the country’s total population. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is partly shared with another island of Amager.

Located in the South Funen archipelago, Ærø is unique. It is the only Danish Baltic Sea island that is not connected with a bridge.

Hence, the easiest way to get to this island is by taking a ferry boat.  That’s just what we exactly did.

We drove through the midway of Zealand to reach the other side for over an hour. By the time we passed by Kørsør, we found ourselves facing a suspension bridge. It was the longest and largest I’ve ever seen in my entire life!

Apparently, the Great Belt Bridge is indeed the longest in Europe, and third in the world.

From Zealand, we were able to reach Funen island in just 10 minutes. It was a beautiful road trip on this island actually, since Funen is called Denmark’s garden island.  Odense, the largest city in Funen, is actually the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen.

One more hour to go, we drove further until we reached Funen’s second-largest city, Svendbørg. From here, we took our ferry that would take us to Ærøskøbing.

There are actually three ways to reach Danish Ærø island.

One is taking it from Svendbørg to arrive in Ærøskøbing.  And the other two are arriving in Søby by taking the ferry either at Faabørg or Fynshav.  We actually thought of taking Fynshav – Søby route at first, so we can also visit German cities like Hamburg.  But I’ve never been to Copenhagen. Taking the ferry via Svendbørg can already send us to Ærøskøbing right away, so we chose the latter.   After a 2-hour boat ride, we finally arrived at our destination.

Located at the western part of Ærø island, Aeroskobing is used to be an independent municipality in Funen county.  Not until 2006, together with Marstal in the east, Aeroskobing is now a commune belonging to Ærø municipality.  Ærøskøbing has narrow lanes and picturesque 18th-century houses. It was historically Ærø’s main town. It still remains the primary port for ferry connections.

Ærø comes from Danish words aer (maple) and ø (island).

Marstal is known as the “skipper village” because it is the home of many sailors and captains. On the other hand, it is the largest town on the island today. It is also its principal commercial and shopping center.

We were fortunate to bring the car along to the island. We decided against leaving it at the other port where we had left for the boat ride. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have the chance to visit other towns outside of Ærøskøbing.

Our visits to Voderup Klint cliffs and the iconic beach huts at Eriks Hale were amongst my favorites.

A beach hut is not just a typical one on this Danish island.  It’s a gathering place for families, traditions, and good times.

Do you know that the oldest hut here is nearly a hundred years old?

Our visit to the Maritime museum in Marstal was likewise very interesting.  Given that this museum is relatively a miniature, I’m surprised to see ourselves apparently spending longer here than I expected.

About Marstal Maritime Museum

After the wedding, we decided to visit Marstal in the afternoon.

Marstal was founded in the 16th century. It is a shipping town with a long maritime history. The town has a strong international reputation for shipbuilding.

Its vessels have sailed continents over centuries. Even now, it is still the home port for a considerable number of coasters.  Its dockyards, shipping companies, and maritime schools definitely show that shipping is the town’s economic focus and way of life.

We chose to visit the Marstal Sofartsmuseum (Maritime museum) so we can fully understand the island’s shipping history and more.  I find this visit more personal as well.

It was a moment to reminisce. I thought about how I grew up in a family like families in Marstal in the olden times. Sailors and captains sacrificed their time and moments with their wives and children. They left their homeland to navigate the seas.

It was a deeper look into the lives of these early seafarers in the sea. It also explored the lives of their families left behind. Additionally, it involved this humble town of Marstal. The well-known Danish maritime industry has been evolving for hundreds of years.

I look ahead to visiting this Danish island again. I want to explore more of it. By that time, we will have more stories to tell our little ones!

Practical Info & FAQs