Day 4: Ribe – Billund
Driving: 1 hour
Attractions: Ribe Cathedral, Ribe Viking Museum, LEGO House, LEGO Hotel
aero4400 17 Bags Elder
Posted on 2024-08-25 02:38 | Floor 32
4.1: Ribe Morning Stroll
We got up very early – even before the breakfast shops had opened – and took a stroll around the old town. Although the sky was overcast in the morning, the aged architecture of the town still held its own quiet charm.
Riberhus Slotsbanke
Address: Erik Menveds Vej, 6760 Ribe
Rating: 4 stars
We wandered to a small park at the edge of the old town, situated on slightly elevated ground. This park, which occupies the site of a former medieval castle, is open year‐round. At its center stands a bronze statue erected in 1913 in honor of the Bohemian Princess Dagmar. From here, you can enjoy a pleasant view over Ribe’s old town.
Storm Tide Column
Address: Skibbroen 25, 6760 Ribe
This ancient wooden column by the river once served as a water-level gauge, silently witnessing the long history of Ribe.
4.2: Ribe Breakfast
Café Sallys
Address: Hundegade 2, 6760 Ribe
Hours: 08:30–20:30
Average cost: 170 DKK per person
Rating: 4.5 stars
Located beside the cathedral, we discovered this charming breakfast spot with an eye-catching ambiance – ideal for those who love portrait photography. The breakfast offers various combinations (choosing 3, 4, or 5 items), each dish served in a small portion and priced at 135, 145, or 155 DKK respectively. Although a small mix-up by the waiter resulted in one item being omitted, it did not affect the overall meal. Particularly noteworthy was the chia pudding, a local specialty that we had also tried at our hotel the previous day, and a traditional Danish red fruit porridge known as Rødgrød (Frugtgrød).
4.3: Ribe Old Town
The highlight of Ribe’s old town is its cathedral. Unfortunately, since the cathedral only opened at 12:00 on Sunday – and we were eager to visit LEGO House in Billund – we had to forgo an interior tour.
Address: Ribe Domkirke, Torvet 19, 6760 Ribe
Hours: Mon–Thu 10:00–17:30; Fri 15:15–17:00; Sun 12:00–17:00; Closed on Saturdays
After breakfast, the sun emerged and we spent a long time photographing the magnificent cathedral. Built during the Viking Age by a monk from Hamburg, Ribe Cathedral is recognized as Denmark’s first church and today stands as the best-preserved example of Romanesque architecture in the country.
Afterwards, we followed a winding path along the old town and crossed a wooden bridge leading to the Viking Museum – all the while admiring the quaint buildings and churches. Ribe boasts at least 50 medieval brick structures, and its pervasive old-world charm left a deep impression. Near the wooden bridge, amidst flourishing trees and flowers, the area is peaceful and uncrowded – even if you’re not visiting the museum, a leisurely walk here is well worth your time.
4.4: Ribe Viking Museum
Address: Odins Pl. 1, 6760 Ribe
Ticket Price: 110 DKK
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Rating: 4.5 stars
This museum tells the story of the region during the Viking Age – a must-see for history enthusiasts. Initially, Ribe was an important trading post which evolved into a key commercial center and port linking Europe with Scandinavia. Exhibits detail this evolution with displays on the transformation of silver coins, everyday tools, and various archaeological finds. You can also see Viking ships, which were vital for trade and travel, alongside exhibits on the development of medieval religion, including displays of the Holy Grail and sacred icons.
4.5: LEGO House
Address: Ole Kirks Plads 1, 7190 Billund
Hours: Thu–Sat 09:00–20:00; Other days 10:00–19:00
Ticket Price: 330 DKK (advance reservation required for entry time; on-site checks are lenient). For Mini Chef dining, reservations are mandatory – Mini Chef is 219 DKK for adults and 130 DKK for children.
Duration: We entered at 1:00 PM and enjoyed Mini Chef dinner at 6:00 PM, managing to experience nearly everything. If you wish to spend more time building with LEGO, you can certainly extend your visit.
Rating: 5 stars
Parking: There is a dedicated parking lot (LEGO House Parking Building, Address: Hovedgaden 24, 7190 Billund) which costs 75 DKK.
Upon arriving at LEGO House, checking in was remarkably smooth. Each visitor received a disposable wristband embedded with a sensor linked to their name, which could be used at various stations to record your LEGO creations. In the lobby, you’ll notice small LEGO minifigures and a café where I grabbed a salad – even the restaurant tables feature LEGO-made floral decorations.
The building is divided into several themed areas distinguished by red, yellow, green, and blue zones, each hosting 2–3 attractions. You can scan your wristband at interactive machines to track which attractions you’ve experienced. For instance, one machine issues you a card showing a random configuration of six LEGO bricks – these six pieces can combine into 915,103,765 unique shapes. There’s also an area demonstrating the brick manufacturing process. A striking feature along the staircase is a 15-meter tall tree assembled from 6,316,611 LEGO bricks, crafted with lifelike detail. Upstairs, giant dinosaur models further impress.
The red zone celebrates creativity, inviting you to construct any form you desire – I even attempted to spell out “China,” which proved quite challenging.
In the yellow zone, you can create a small fish and, after scanning your wristband, release it into a digital ocean where it swims around on the screen. Crafting the flower design, however, is not an easy task. My absolute favorite activity was designing a character on a board that could display various expressions and, once scanned, would dance on the screen – a delightful treat that I even shared on my WeChat video channel.
The green zone centers on film creation, where you can photograph successive scenes and compile them into a short movie. Several people can collaborate on this, although the session is limited to 40 minutes, so it’s best to keep it simple. Another quick activity involves creating a miniature figure for a magazine cover shot – not the most exciting option, so you might choose to skip it if pressed for time.
The blue zone offers a highly interactive experience: build a race car and compete on a track, or construct a sleek car to see if it can leap through a circular ring. There’s even an aviation-themed station where you can build a spaceship. Additionally, the museum area recounts the history of LEGO – from its humble beginnings as simple bricks to the evolution of themed sets with characters. By 6:00 PM, we had sampled nearly every attraction, though time was short. In my opinion, if you have just one day, focus on the yellow zone’s character creation and the green zone’s film-making, with the blue zone’s race car and the yellow fish ride as close seconds.
At 6:00 PM, we headed to the ground-floor restaurant to try the highly recommended Mini Chef dinner. Each guest received a bag of LEGO bricks along with a menu – the different colored bricks represented various dishes (meats, main courses, vegetables, etc.). The staff explained the ordering process courteously.
Once you place your order on a board and have it scanned at a nearby machine, an entertaining LEGO film performance commences (it’s highly recommended to record this). Water is also ordered at a machine, though it is delivered manually by staff. While waiting, you can observe a robot serving another table. After a short film on meal preparation, the robot brings your food. The LEGO food box, printed with your name, is delivered via a conveyor belt to the robot who then pushes it out. We carried our boxes back to our seats and eagerly opened them – the food tasted surprisingly good, making this fusion of dining and entertainment a top recommendation. After the meal, another short film plays during checkout before you settle the bill. The LEGO souvenir shop also offers fun keepsakes, and we even discovered a terrace with additional attractions – despite a sudden downpour, we braved the rain for a bit of extra fun.
4.6: LEGO Hotel Experience
Address: Åstvej 10, 7190 Billund
Rating: 5 stars
Price: 2491 DKK for one night’s stay plus two LEGO Park tickets (tickets are discounted when purchased with the accommodation)
LEGO hotels come in various styles. The business room we stayed in featured a standard hotel decor with no overt LEGO theme, making it more affordable. However, staying there granted us free access to other areas, which was more than sufficient. Other parts of the hotel include themed rooms such as the Princess Room, Ninja Room, and Movie Room, with themed decorations throughout the corridors – these are especially appealing to children. Inside, numerous LEGO-built figures provide playful photo opportunities, and the hotel offers a range of LEGO games and building activities, ensuring you’re never bored.
Note that the hotel’s external parking lot may fill up; an alternative lot across the street (not part of LEGO Park) is available – it’s best to consult the staff, who will provide a map. Parking is free, and you can simply walk to LEGO Park the next day via an internal passage from the hotel lobby. The accommodation also includes a hearty buffet breakfast.
The LEGO Hotel also features a separate Castle Hotel building. We took a stroll through it the next morning – while the accommodations there are pricier and the decor more playful, a brief visit is sufficient.
Day 5: Billund – Skagen
Driving: 3.5 hours
Attraction: LEGO Park
5.1: LEGO Park
Address: Nordmarksvej 9, 7190 Billund
Duration: 6 hours or a full day
Rating: 4.5 stars
Hours: 10:00–19:00
When I experienced LEGO Park in San Diego, it reminded me of its LEGO displays and interactive attractions, but here the park is larger with more attractions – including thrilling roller coasters that cater to adults. If you had to choose between LEGO House and LEGO Park, I would recommend LEGO House. However, if you have two days, it’s worth experiencing both, as this is the birthplace of LEGO.
We arrived right at 10:00 when the park opened, and there were already quite a few people at the entrance. Friends staying at the LEGO Hotel can enter through an internal passage, but we opted to walk outside to capture photos of the main entrance, which wasn’t too far away. Employing a bit of reverse strategy, we headed straight into the innermost area to tackle some popular roller coaster attractions while the crowds were still light – although we soon discovered that some rides didn’t start until 11:00.
The Polar Explorer roller coaster in Polar Land was incredibly fun – super fast, more thrilling than the Crazy Mouse, and with surprises hidden in its tunnel. Other roller coasters each offered their own unique appeal; I recommend riding the larger ones, such as Flying Eagle and X-treme Racers in Adventure Land. In Adventure Land, The Temple is a shooting game where accurate hits earn points – quite entertaining. The LEGO Movie World boasts cute, colorful displays that are perfect for styled photo ops, while Pirate Land features a pirate ship ride that I personally found unremarkable and skipped. Viking Splash looked promising but was closed when we visited. (For that ride, visitors can even spray each other with water guns.) I also tried a simple Pirate Boats ride, which offered a leisurely tour around the Golden Castle to admire various LEGO figures.
There were two white-water attractions in Knights’ Kingdom and Legorodeo Town that felt similar to previous rides – I opted out to avoid getting wet. However, a relaxed boat tour to view the LEGO island’s miniature architecture is worth considering. LEGO NINJAGO® The Ride, the ninja-themed attraction, is quite simple and somewhat ambiguous in its gameplay – just random gestures with little effect – so if you’re short on time, feel free to skip it. In Minja World, there’s also a Lloyd’s Laser Maze which we didn’t get to try.
I highly recommend Apocalypseburg Sky Battle – in this ride, you control the airplane’s wings; from certain angles, the plane can execute a 360-degree spin or even fly upside down, delivering a thrilling experience. Ask the staff for detailed instructions. In Miniland, Lego Safari lets you admire wild animals crafted from LEGO bricks – a simple, relaxing attraction ideal for a break, complemented by a gentle little train ride. Legotop is another highlight, taking you to the park’s highest point to overlook an entire city built of LEGO – simply fantastic. Finally, Emmet’s Flying Adventure – Masters of Flight offers a 4D cinematic experience, with a chair encircled by a spherical screen that creates the illusion of true flight (though it may induce dizziness for the motion-sensitive).
In Miniland, most structures represent Nordic cities and countries – complete with moving trains, airplanes, and ships, as well as scenes depicting rockets launching. The World Theme area features landmarks such as the Taj Mahal and the Statue of Liberty, making it the most distinctive section of LEGO Park and not to be missed.
Atlantis by Sea Life is rather average – essentially an aquarium featuring some LEGO brick creations – and there’s also the Lego Studio 4D Cinema. Beyond these, the park is filled with various LEGO building attractions, including dining areas adorned with LEGO figures and signage. With attractions suited for all age groups, the park offers a rich experience. While one day isn’t enough to cover every attraction, focusing on a few highlights will suffice. We grabbed a meat sandwich for dinner inside the park before heading off to Denmark’s northernmost tip.
5.2: Skagen Accommodation
Hotel Marie
Address: 6 Havneplads, 9990 Skagen
Price: 1310 RMB per night
Rating: 5 stars
The accommodation features a double bed and a sofa bed. Since we arrived rather late, they provided us in advance with parking information and the access code for the building – everything was clear and easy to navigate. The following morning’s buffet breakfast was generous and satisfying.
Day 6: Skagen – Aarhus
Driving: 2.5 hours
Attractions: Skagen Old Town, Denmark’s Northernmost Point (Grenen Park), the Sand-Buried Church (Den Tilsandede Kirke), Aalborg
6.1: Skagen Old Town
Duration: 15 minutes
Rating: 3.5 stars
In the soft light of early morning, we took a brief stroll around Skagen Old Town. The area is very small – the waterfront did not offer the resort-like scenery one might expect, as most of it is industrial with only an occasional sculpture. The town is quiet, with only a few schoolchildren passing by, and its buildings exude a fresh, understated charm. The exterior of Skagen Kirke (Lutheran Church) at Ved Kirken 2, 9990 Skagen is particularly photogenic – perfect for portraits. That pretty much sums up the old town; a little further out, there are two museums (Skagens Museum and Anchers Hus) which you may wish to visit, but we opted to skip them.
6.2: Denmark’s Northernmost Point
The mainland’s northernmost tip, Skagen Nordstrand (Coordinates: 57.7547829084062, 10.604613855812822; Rating: 3 stars), is technically the very top – though the road there is average, and at its end lies a stretch of beach with few attractions. Many people visit the high point for bird-watching; we even spotted a pillar marking the northernmost point, but it was too far to walk, so we passed it by.
In contrast, Grenen Park (Coordinates: 57.7395675681339, 10.633842579030155; Rating: 5 stars) is the popular tourist spot. With well-equipped facilities and clear signage, you must hike about 30 minutes along a sandy path from the parking lot to reach the most captivating spot – where the Atlantic Ocean and the northern sea (a part of the Baltic) meet in a unique confluence of currents. On the way, you pass several World War II-era bunkers built by the Germans. There is also a rather monotonous stretch of walking – for those who dislike the hike, a paid shuttle is available. Here, many visitors remove their shoes to stand with one foot in each sea – a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Occasionally, a seal will appear to join in the fun, adding to the charm.
6.3: Lunch in Skagen
Skagen Fiskerestaurant
Address: Fiskehuskajen 13, 9990 Skagen
Rating: 5 stars
Average cost: 150 DKK per person
At this bustling port lined with restaurants and accompanied by a large free parking area, we chose this seafood restaurant. Remarkably, the floor was covered in sand, which enhanced the seaside atmosphere – though you must tread carefully to avoid getting sand in your shoes. The dish “A Taste of Skagen,” a seafood platter featuring assorted fresh seafood, stood out. I particularly enjoyed the small crackers topped with cream cheese, chopped onions, and fish roe; the Arctic shrimp were fresh, and even a hint of ham was pleasant. The fried monkfish and lobster meat were also excellent, and the complimentary small bread was delicious. Adjacent to the parking lot, another seafood outlet – Aavangs Fiskehus – offers seafood and pickled fish for a light meal. The local Skagen beer was especially enticing, though we had just finished our meal.
6.4: The Sand-Buried Church
Den Tilsandede Kirke
Address: Gamle Landevej 63, 9990 Skagen
Rating: 4 stars
Duration: 1 hour
A short drive south from Skagen town leads to this historic little church. Built in the late 14th century to honor Saint Laurence of Rome, it is one of Skagen’s oldest churches. In the mid-to-late 18th century, part of the church was buried by encroaching sand dunes; prior to each service, worshippers had to excavate the entrance. Today, visiting the church requires a short walk. This brick Gothic structure features a long vaulted nave with an external buttress and a tower with a corbelled parapet. Its opening hours differ from what online sources suggest – when we visited, there was no staff supervision and hardly any visitors. We climbed a steep set of stairs to reach the top floor, from which the surrounding landscape could be admired.
