Rømø
Rømø is an island in the Wadden Sea National Park at the west coast of South Jutland, Denmark. The attraction of Rømø is the spectacular nature: the heather, the enormous beaches, the Wadden Sea.
Understand
[edit]
Most visitors to Rømø rent a cottage for one or two weeks. But it is also possible to stay in hotels or Bed & Breakfasts for a day or two. And if you are in South Jutland it is worth it to go to Rømø for a day trip.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]- 1 Rømødæmningen. Travel the 9-km-long causeway from the mainland
By ferry
[edit]- 2 Syltfærge (departs from the Rømø port at Havneby), ☏ +45 73755303. between Rømø and Sylt island. Departs 9 times a day in each direction in the high season.
By bus
[edit]Bus No. 285 leaves from Skærbæk train station and stops at Lakolk, Nørre Tvismark (The Havnebyvej/Vesterhavsvej intersection), Kongsmark, and Havneby. It is also the school bus, so it runs 9 times a day on school days, and two or three times on weekends and school holidays. On school days the bus also stops in Toftum and Juvre.
Get around
[edit]
By car
[edit]It is possible to drive on to the huge beaches at Lakolk and Sønderstrand, but keep an eye on the car while parked; the tide can come quickly.
By bike
[edit]Rømø is a good size for bicycles and there are bicycle paths along the major roads (Havnebyvej and Vesterhavsvej).
- 1 Rømø Cykler, Nørre Frankel 1b, ☏ +45 88 93 50 40, info@romocykler.dk. Apr-Jun 10:00-17:00; Jul-Aug 10:00-18:00; Sep-Oct 10:00-17:00. Bicycle rental. 60-75 kr per day.
On horseback
[edit]Horseback riding is very popular on Rømø. You can ride on all public roads, the beaches, and marked bridleways.
See
[edit]
- 1 Kommandørgård Museum (Kommandørgården), Juvrevej 60, Toftum. May - October. Mansion house of the Thaden family, built in 1749 and remodelled later. Free WiFi. 50 kr.
- 2 Toftum School, Juvrevej 56 (Next to Kommandørgården). Tiny old straw-roof school building. free entrance.
- 3 Naturcenter Tønnisgård, Havnebyvej 30, ☏ +45 74 75 52 57, info@tonnisgaard.dk. Mar-Oct: M-F 10:00-16:00; Nov-Mar: M-W 10:00-15:00. Exhibitions on nature and the Wadden Sea. Tønnisgård arrange many organized tours and events in the region. It is a good place to start a vacation to get an idea about what is going on. 22 kr.
- 4 Rømø Mini Museum, Havnebyvej 30 (behind Tønnisgård). Tells the history of the Rømø’s formation, from a sandbank to its present size. Free entrance.
- 5 Rømø Church (Sankt Clemens Kirke), Havnebyvej 152, ☏ +45 74755231. Daily 08:00-16:00. Church from 1200. Notice the seven model ships and the hat hooks. Free entrance.
- 6 Whalebone fence (in Juvre). Fence made of whalebones. Made in 1722 when wood was a scarce resource on Rømø. free.
Do
[edit]
Go to the beach. it is the largest sand beach in Northern Europe. During low tide it can be 2.5 km wide and 8.5 km long.
- 1 Høstbjerg. Climb the highest point on Rømø (19 meters) to have a magnificient view over the surrounding heathlands. On a clear day you can see to Esbjerg in the north and south to the island of Sylt. free.
- 2 Rømø Labyrinth Park. 70 kr.
- 3 Rømø Golf Club, Vestergade 31. 300 kr.
- 4 Rømø Candles (Rømø Lys), Lakolk Butikscenter 18, ☏ +45 73755151, info@romolys.dk. Make your own candles. 5 kr per 100 grams of candles.
- 5 Rømø Fishing Lake (Rømø Fiskesø), Vestervej 46, ☏ +45 24253945. sunrise-sunset. Put and Take from €11.
- 6 Pick you own oysters. Sep-Apr. You can pick you own oysters north-east of Havneby. The oysters are there all year. But they are safe to eat in months with a name with an "R". Bring rubber boots. free.
- Seal Safari (Starts at the ferry in Havneby). 4-hour guided boat tour watching seals, harbour porpoises, and birds. 235 kr.
- 7 Thomsens Ridecenter, Vråbyvej 9, Havneby, ☏ +45 74756880, info@Sigurd-Thomsen.com. Horse riding in the woods or on the beach From €22.
- Bunker tours (starts at Tønnisgård). Visit the World War II bunkers on Rømø. Guided tours in German and Danish. It starts by a presentation in Tønnisgård when you drive or cycle in your own vehicle to the first bunker. You visit four bunkers. The two last ones are a bit challenging. You have to climb ladders and move in narrow shafts. Bring a good flashlight (they have a few extra for people who did not bring a flashlight) and shoes that can take some water. 75 kr.
- Nationalpark Bussen (starts at Rømø havn). Wednesdays from July to October. 5-hour bus tour visiting sights in the Wadden Sea (departs from Tønder on Tuesdays). 245 kr.
- 8 Kirkeby Plantage Hundeskov. At Kirkeby Dog Park, your dog can roam without a leash. Oct-Mar dog can also run free on the beaches. There are also dog parks at Lakolk and Vråby. free.
- 9 Lakolk Beach (at the western end of Vesterhavsvej). Kitesurfing and windsurfing at the north end (go right then you get on to the beach).
- 10 Sønderstrand (South Beach). The south beach is the place for beach sailing (blokarts and kitebuggies). But also interesting to explore on foot.
- 11 Military area at Juvre Sand. This 20 km² area is used for training air to ground attacks. You are allowed to watch the activities from the observation platform. Watch out for the laser lights. free.
- 12 Havsand Lå. at high tide. Swim in this natural swimming pool which is filled at every high tide. The water is warmer than at the beach.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Rømø Købmanden (Kwik Spar), Havnebyvej 25.
- 2 Rømø Bakery (Rømø Bageriet), Havnebyvej 214.
- 3 Rømø Butcher (Rømø Slagteren), Prilen 2, ☏ +45 29907516, post@slagteroesta.dk. Butcher and delicatessen. Very helpful. Try the local lamb.
- 4 Produce Stand. Fresh potatoes, tomatoes, eggs, onions, strawberries, etc., depending on the season..
- 5 Dagli Brugsen (in Havneby). 7:00-21:00 in the summer, less in the winter. The largest grocery shop on Rømø.
Eat
[edit]Local specialties include the Wadden Sea lamb, which you can see grazing along the causeway to Rømø, and seafood, for example the small brown shrimps and the Wadden Sea oysters.
If you have access to a kitchen or a barbecue you can make a great local fresh meal with vegetables and eggs from one of the honor box produce stands, fish from the shop in Havneby or lamb from the butcher.
- 1 Kommandørgården, Havnebyvej 201 (In Hotel Kommandørgården), ☏ +45 74755122. Steaks and fish. Has a huge buffet. 200 kr.
- 2 Havneby Kro, SKansen 3, Havneby, ☏ +45 74757535, info@havneby-kro.dk. Solid Danish food. Good seafood. 200 kr, in the summer all-you-can-eat buffet for 178 kr.
- 3 Holms, Nordre Havnevej 1 (at the harbour in Havneby), ☏ +45 74755066, holms@holmsrogeri.dk. Popular seafood restaurant. 200 kr for a typical main course.
- 4 Otto & Ani's Fisk, Havnepladsen 6, ☏ +45 74755306. Very informal place with excellent fresh fish. The luxury seafood platter is a bargain.
- 5 Ristorante Europa, Vestergade 2, Havneby, ☏ +45 74757460. to 22:00. Pizzas and pasta. Eat at tables inside and outside. DKK 80.
- 6 Cafe Hattesgaard, Hattesvej 17, Tvismark (Off Havnebyvej, at Rømø Købmanden), ☏ +45 72752111. 10:00-19:00. Very cosy cafe and antique shop. Big selection of cakes. Free Wifi. 40 kr cakes.
- 7 Frankel 5, Frankel 5, ☏ +45 74755136. M-Th 12:00-20:00; F 12:00-21:00; Sa Su 11:00-21:00. Very traditional Danish food. 150 kr.
- 8 Cafe Retro, Lakolk Butikscenter 4, ☏ +45 61336078. F Sa 11:00-20:00, Su 11:00-19:30. Friendly place with burgers, spareribs, etc. Dogs welcomed DKK 100.
Drink
[edit]You can have a drink at most restaurants and cafes. Havneby Kro has a good bar. On a nice day Hattesgaard is the place to enjoy a drink outside at one of the outside terraces.
- 1 Cafe Midtpunkt, Lakolk Butikscenter 6, ☏ +45 7475 5368. Every day, 10:00-20:00. A cafe on the west of the island which claims to have the best ice creams on Rømø.
- 2 Marskdestilleriet, Havnebyvej 25, ☏ +45 42 17 92 17, info@marskdestilleriet.dk. Tu-F 11:00-17:00, Sa Su holidays 11:00-16:00. Microdistillery with a focus on specialty gin and rum. Tastings by reservation F 15:00-16:00, Sa 11:00-12:00 150 kr for tour and 3 tastings; at other times min. 10 people.
Sleep
[edit]Most visitors to Rømø rent a cottage for a week or two. But there are also good options for staying a few days.
- 1 Rømø Hostel, Lyngvejen 7, ☏ +45 74755188. from 195 kr.
- 2 Hotel Lakolk, Lakolk 150, ☏ +45 74755145, mail@hotel-lakolk.dk. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Great location, you can walk right through the dunes to the wide beach. Also have 4-person family apartments with a small kitchen. 800 kr.
- 3 Kommandørgården, Havnebyvej 201, ☏ +45 74 755 122.
- 4 Kommandørgården Camping, Havnebyvej 201. 82 kr per person per day.
- 5 Hotel Vadehavet, Havnebyvej 119, ☏ +45 7199 4333. Bed and Breakfast. Free WiFi. 685 kr.
- 6 Genz Apartments, Småfolksvej 10, ☏ +45 74755401, info@genz-app.dk. Motel-style apartments in a half-circle, with a lake completing the circle. 585 kr for 2 people for 2-6 nights.
- 7 FeriePartner, Nr. Frankel 1 - DK-6792 - Rømø, ☏ +45 7475 5130, romo@feriepartner.dk. Experience Rømø by renting one of the many popular summer houses.
Connect
[edit]- 2 Tourist Information (At Vesterhavnsvej/Juvrevej intersection). Free Wifi and helpful information
- Hattesgaard is a great place to connect to the free WiFi while having a coffee or a beer.
- Tønnisgård. Has free Wi-Fi.
Stay safe
[edit]Rømø is generally safe, just watch out for the tide.
Open fire is not allowed anywhere on the island because of the fire hazard. Barbecuing is OK.
On the north end Juvre Sand is used for military exercises. When in use a signal ball is raised.
The closest pharmacy is in Skærbæk.
Go next
[edit]- 3 Ribe. It is a charming town 30 km north of the Rømø causeway.
- 4 Sylt. Take the ferry to Sylt. A daypass is cheaper than a return ticket. If you go by car you can take the ferry to Sylt, then use the car-train from Sylt to Niebüll on mainland Germany and drive back to Rømø.
- 5 Højer. See the dike, the windmill, and buy some of the famous Højer sausages.
- 6 Tønder. Towards the German border. Old charming city with narrow streets.
- 7 Skærbæk. The nearest town in mainland Jutland. It has several supermarkets, a pharmacy. Skærbæk Holiday Centre (bowling, fitness, laundry, restaurants) is located there.
- 8 Rudbøl Border crossing. Rudbøl is the closest border crossing. It it a beautiful tour if you go by the small road through Ballum and Højer. The actual border crossing is tiny and picturesque. And you can stock up on cheap drinks and snacks at one of the shops just south of the border.