Skanderborg

Travel Guide

Skanderborg
Photo by William Keller

Book a weekend break in Skanderborg, known for its stunning Søhøjland, green beech forests, cosy pedestrian streets and vibrant cultural life.

The market town of Skanderborg is known for its picturesque scenery and popular music festival, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. With its pretty lakes and green beech forests, Skanderborg’s hilly landscape is wonderful for recreational nature trips. You can also look forward to some relaxing shopping, and interesting church and museum visits.

Skanderborg developed around the fortress of Skanderborg Castle, which was an obvious defence position in the Middle Ages due to its proximity to Aarhus. The area is known as Søhøjlandet, thanks to its vast lakes and tall hills that were formed in the last ice age.

Start your journey through Skanderborg at Adelgade, home to most of the town’s shops, cafés and restaurants. This is also where you will find the Adelgade Museum, which gives an insight into Skanderborg, the city’s castle and the Middle Ages, when the area comprised several villages and abbeys. Continue to Skanderborg castle chapel, which is beautifully situated between Lillesø and Skanderborg Sø. The castle chapel is the last remaining part of Skanderborg castle, which dates right back to Valdemar I's rule, and is known for its fine renaissance detail.

When you visit Skanderborg, don’t miss taking a trip to the stunning countryside. There are plenty of activities on land and at sea, including relaxing boat trips with Dagmar M/S and fishing trips on the peaceful and scenic lakes. The area also offers many hiking and cycle paths, some of which lead to the Fårbjerg look-out point and burial mound, which has a beautiful view of the East Jutlandic scenery.

Party lovers should visit Skanderborg at the start of August, when the beech forests’ green areas form the setting for the music festival SmukFest, which attracts over 30,000 people and 150 artists annually.

Skanderborg is around 15 miles southwest of Aarhus, and has train links to Copenhagen, Odense, Aalborg and Aarhus. The city’s attractions are all within walking distance of one another.

Take a holiday in Skanderborg, where smooth lakes and green beech forests are the perfect setting for a relaxing stay with exciting cultural features!

Sophiendal Slotshotel

Sophiendal Slotshotel

4 out of 5
Låsbyvej 82 Skanderborg
Fully refundable
The price is S$161 per night from 7 Jan to 8 Jan
S$161
7 Jan - 8 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this historic hotel in Skanderborg. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Veng Klosterkirke and Sophiendal Gods ...
7.8/10 Good! (709 reviews)
Really nice hotel right in the middle of Odense

Reviewed on 29 Jun, 2025

Sophiendal Slotshotel
Skanderborg Park

Skanderborg Park

4.5 out of 5
Skovsvinget 10 Skanderborg
Stay at this luxury hotel in Skanderborg. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Kulturhuset Skanderborg and Linien are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (506 reviews)
The hotel reception was close when we arrived and then there is no telephone in the room to call reception for any help. The light kept going off in the room. Was not worth the price

Reviewed on 24 Feb, 2025

Skanderborg Park
Danhostel Skanderborg

Danhostel Skanderborg

4 out of 5
Kindlersvej 9 Skanderborg
The price is S$118 per night from 7 Jan to 8 Jan
S$118
7 Jan - 8 Jan
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hostel in Skanderborg. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a private beach. Popular attractions Skanderborg Bunker and Dyrehaven are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (172 reviews)
It’s nature all around

Reviewed on 5 Jul, 2024

Danhostel Skanderborg
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Spacious Holiday Home in Storvorde With Sea Nearby

Spacious Holiday Home in Storvorde With Sea Nearby

2 out of 5
Skanderborg Midtjylland
Stay at this holiday home in Skanderborg. Enjoy free parking, a sauna and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Dyrehaven and Offermosen I Illerup ...
Spacious Holiday Home in Storvorde With Sea Nearby
Daniel & Jacob's urban studios and boutique apartments

Daniel & Jacob's urban studios and boutique apartments

3 out of 5
77 Katrinebjergvej Aarhus
Stay at this aparthotel in Aarhus. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and a garden. Popular attractions Christianskirken and Aarhus Natural History Museum ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (213 reviews)
Lovely clean apartment, easy to get to most things we wanted to in Aarhus

Reviewed on 25 Aug, 2025

Daniel & Jacob's urban studios and boutique apartments
Amaliegade 10 B

Amaliegade 10 B

3.5 out of 5
10 Amaliegade 1.tv Aarhus
Stay at this aparthotel in Aarhus. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Sankt Clemens Bro and Kunsthal Aarhus ...
10/10 Exceptional! (36 reviews)
Perfekt lokation og søde værter.

Reviewed on 21 Nov, 2025

Amaliegade 10 B
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Explore a world of travel with Expedia