The Wadden Sea Coast by bike

Whether you are cycling along the dykes in the Wadden Sea, exploring the Marbæk Plantation north of Esbjerg or experiencing idyllic Fanø with its huge beach, you will be surrounded by unique landscapes and aware of the forces of nature.

National Route 1 (The West Coast Route)

The first 3 stages of National Cycle Route N1 The West Coast Route follow the Wadden Sea Coast. Most of the time the route follows the dykes along the coast but it also passes through Ribe and Esbjerg. The stretch as a whole really gives one a sense of how water and wind have shaped the landscape.

Fanø

Fanø is a small island that is very easy to get around. It is only 12 km from Nordby in the north to Sønderho in the south. There are cycle paths between all the inhabited areas, and the North Sea beach,smooth, hard and perfect for cycling is a unique experience in itself.

5 different cycling routes have been made on Fanø, including the 26-kilometre panoramic "Air under the Wings" route around the island.

Esbjerg
Here it is possible to combine cycling in both urban areas and natural landscapes. The city itself has a healthy provision of cycle paths, so getting around Esbjerg is safe and easy.

The 17.5 km “Cycle by the Water’s Edge” route takes in the 2 northern suburbs, Sædding and Hjerting. Hjerting was the original settlement; Esbjerg itself did not develop until the middle of the 19th century.

The “Ho Bay route”, 27 km long, takes you around the northernmost, more peaceful part of the Wadden Sea. It follows the bay and offers excellent views out to Fanø, Skallingen and Langli, then dives into the beautiful Marbæk Plantation. The return route swings through the two small villages, Kokspang and Guldager.

The free “ta på cykeltur” cycling map of the local areas is available from visitor centres. This website also has a couple of good “print-out” options.

Ribe

Denmark's oldest town, Ribe, full of traces from the Viking Age, is the no. 1 starting point for trips around the flat landscapes of the Wadden Sea.

The 56 km “Stormflodsruten" or “Storm Surge Route” takes you around the rugged low marsh landscape and out behind the sea dyke – which today protects us all against the violent forces of the sea that previously cost so many lives.

“Vikings and the Wadden Sea” is a 28 km route around the Ribe area, calling at sites including the Wadden Sea Centre and the Ribe Viking Centre.

The free “ta på cykeltur” cycling map of the local areas is available from the visitor centres. This website also has a couple of good “print-out” options.

Mountain-biking on the Wadden Sea Coast

With such extensive sweeps of beautiful natural landscape, there is a host of possibilities for mountain-bikers. To date, there are 8 marked trails in the area.

These include 2 close-to-the-city trails in Esbjerg and a wonderful trail through the Marbæk Plantation to the north of the city.

A further 4 trails are to be found a little further from the coast around the villages of Bramming and Gørding.

Last but not least is the 7 km mountain bike trail in the dune plantation on Fanø.

If you need a route planner for your next bike ride, then Denmark By Bike is the page for you. Here you can start and end point, after which you get several different bike routes to choose from. You can download the cycle route to the accompanying app, where you as a user can save all your routes.

On the website you can find many beautiful cycling routes all over Denmark.

Read more about taking care of nature here: “Outdoor Activities Guide. Be the perfect guest”