Esbjerg to Copenhagen via the Southern Islands
Island Hopping in Denmark by bike. Off-road bikepacking across the southern islands of Denmark.
Introduction
I’ve previously said that there are three reasonable routes for gravel biking across Denmark. In 2021 we did the Northern route (Esbjerg to Aarhus to Odsherred to Copenhagen), and in 2022 we did the Southern route (Across the smaller islands in the south of Denmark). I've never really done the full "middle route" via Funen.
We only had 3-4 days and so, after speaking with some friends that had done the full route, we skipped the majority of Jutland (would have added perhaps 3 days).
Esbjerg is the natural place to start for these journeys and there’s great off-roading from there down to Ribe, but beyond that short stretch, I’ve been told that cycling across Southern Jutland is mainly on the road and rather lacking in cultural magnetism. That said, the Tour De France did visit Southern Jutland just a week after we cycled there, but they took a more “cultural” and less “agricultural” route down from Vejle to Sønderborg, sticking to the east of Jutland.
The Islands. Rødekro to Vordingborg.
This route takes in 8 islands of varying character from the industry mixed with forests of Als, through the hills and the charming towns of Ærø to the flat expanses of agriculture on Lolland and Flaster. We took 5 ferries and two bridges to visit the islands in the following order: Als, Funen, Ærø, Langeland, Lolland, Falster, Masnedø, and Zealand (Sjælland).