A Walking Tour in Odense, Denmark
Stroll Through Central Odense Offers Variety of Attractions
Jul 14, 2009
Many sights in the heart of Odense are within walking distance of each other, and a stroll will take visitors past gardens and along the river. A walk that includes stops at five of the city’s attractions takes about two hours to complete. Obviously, participants should wear comfortable shoes, and bring a map and some cash, as a few attractions charge an admission fee.
The Railway Museum in Odense
The railway station in Odense marks a good starting point for a walking tour, with Jernbanemuseet (the Railway Museum) being the first site to explore. The museum, where there is an admission charge, covers the history of Danish railways, complete with real locomotives and carriages that are 150 years old.
Upon leaving the museum, a walk south on Jernbanegade and left turn on Vestergade takes walkers to Flakhaven, the heart of the historic city centre. Here, a statue of Frederik VII stands, but it’s Radhuset that dominates the square with its 57-metre long façade. Visitors may venture inside, for a fee, and study paintings by Danish artists or pop by the tourist office.
St. Canute's Cathedral in Odense
To the south of the square lies Sank Knuds Domkirke (St. Canute’s Cathedral), or Odense Cathedral, reportedly one of Denmark’s finest cathedrals that is, however, often empty of visitors. The brick Gothic building has a crypt, which is popular with visitors. Worn stone stairs lead to the tombs of Saints Canute and Alban in the crypt.
A path from St. Canute’s Cathedral leads to the grassy bank of the River Odense. A wooden footbridge leads walkers to the HC Andersen Haven (gardens), named after the author of famous fairytales who was born in Odense. The gardens are on their own island, populated with metal sculptures of characters from Andersen’s fairytales.
Hans Christian Andersen's House in Odense
The path around the island will bring walkers to another footbridge, which leads into Klosterbakken. The first right turn for Munkemollestraede leads to a tiny house at Nos. 3-5. This is the HC Andersen’s Barndomshjem (house), where Andersen lived from age 2 until he left for Copenhagen at 14.
There is an admission fee to enter the house, which contains two rooms. Andersen and his family lived in one room, and another family occupied the other room. After visiting the house, walkers may walk back from where they came for a few steps and turn right, cutting through to Klaregade, which leads over the river. A right turn onto a footpath goes through Munkemose (Gardens), where visitors can finish their walk.
A two-hour walking tour in central Odense will provide visitors with a good mix of attractions to explore, some charging an admission fee: A railway museum takes visitors back in time, a cathedral offers a spooky atmospheres in its crypt, a square and the childhood home of writer Hans Christian Andersen provides culture, and gardens burst with nature.
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