Camping tips: Campsites for surfers – from bed to board in Denmark
The small kingdom of Denmark boasts 5,000 (!) kilometres of sandy beaches. Thanks to the countless islands and fjords in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the total coastline is actually over 7,000 kilometres long. It goes without saying that there are plenty of opportunities to camp right by the water. We’ve put together a list of the best spots in Denmark for you, where you can draw back the curtains in your campervan and look straight out onto the beach. The list includes some familiar favourites, such as Klitmøller and Ringkøbing Fjord, but also places like Flyvesandet and Sanddobberne, which probably aren’t on every Denmark fan’s radar. Given the sheer number of spots and campsites, however, it’s safe to assume that there are other destinations that would also have been worth mentioning. So if you’d like to share your favourite spot with the surfing community, send an email to redaktion@surf-magazin.de.
Ebeltoft
Around 40 minutes from the Danish city of Aarhus lies Ebeltoft, one of Denmark’s best and most popular shallow-water spots. The large bay is particularly recommended when the wind is from the west; south-south-westerly to north-westerly winds are ideal. Perfectly situated at the spot is the Ebeltoft Beach Campsite. This 4-star site is open all year round and well-equipped, including a heated swimming pool. Here, you can park your campervan right by the spot under old pine trees; you can also hire cabins. The only drawback is that the nearby main road can be a bit of a nuisance during the peak season. A narrow sandy beach separates the campsite from the Baltic Sea, and access to the water is easy here. For the first 50 metres, there is a predominantly sandy standing area, which makes it easier even for less experienced windsurfers to get started. Even in strong winds, the swell remains moderate; only when there’s a strong south-westerly wind do some wind-driven waves reach the shore, breaking gently on the offshore sandbank. During the season, you’re never alone on the water in Ebeltoft either; you’ll come across plenty of windsurfers and kitesurfers from the region. With Blue Spirit There’s also a surf school right nearby where you can book lessons and hire equipment. The region also offers some great alternative spots for all wind directions – you can find a detailed spot guide here: The best spots in Djursland – from flat water to waves
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Ringkøbing Fjord
The fjord on the west coast of Jutland, which is around 30 kilometres long, is separated from the roaring North Sea by nothing more than a narrow strip of land – Holmsland Klit. This means the spots along the fjord get plenty of wind, whilst being sheltered from the North Sea waves. There are plenty of campsites and motorhome pitches around the fjord. However, only a few have direct access to the water. We’ll introduce them to you here. You can find a comprehensive spot guide to the fjord here: Spot Guide: Ringkøbing Fjord – The best spots around Hvide Sande and Bork Havn
Hvide Sande Pier
The only wave spot suitable for windsurfing on the North Sea side is located at the south pier. North to north-westerly winds are needed for good windsurfing conditions. The spot is shared with kitesurfers, surfers and, more recently, wingfoilers too. There is a campervan pitch directly behind the dune at the Westwind Surf School and the Surf Café.
Hvide Sande South
At the Winde Sande South fjord spot, only the Holmsland Klitvej – the main road along the fjord – separates the campsite Hvide Sande Campsite from the Westwind Syd Surf Centre. The fjord remains shallow right out to sea here; there’s a good surf school and hire centre with Duotone equipment, as well as a shop with a snack bar. If you’re staying at the campsite and don’t want to carry your kit across the road every day, you can hire a storage shed for 14 euros a day (minimum hire period of three days). It can hold three boards and up to five rigged sails. As well as standard pitches, the campsite also offers permanent cabins in various sizes.
Bjerregaard
At the very southern end of the fjord, there is Bjerregaard Campsite A spot with exclusive access to the fjord for surfers. The spot itself is quite small and is only open from Whitsun until 31 August. Like almost all spots on the fjord, it is shallow and bordered by a nature reserve. The spot works best with a direct westerly or easterly wind. Anyone from outside the area who wishes to surf here must purchase a day pass for 100 kroner. There are also permanent cabins available to rent at this spot.
Bork Harbour
Another very popular spot on Ringkköbing Fjord is Bork Havn. Here, too, there is a huge area of shallow water, which offers a great sense of security, even for beginners and those just starting out. It is therefore no surprise that Westerly wind also runs a school and a hire centre here. The campsite Bork Havn Campsite It isn’t right next to the surf spot, but it does offer a total of twelve motorhome pitches with direct access to the surfing beach. The pitches are situated right next to a Ticket machine book.
Nissum Fjord
A flat-water spot that is particularly popular with kitesurfers is located in Thorsminde on the Nissum Fjord. Thorsminde Campsite has direct access to the large standing area. Almost all wind directions work well here. There is a separate kite and windsurf zone.
Kegnæs
On the northern shore of the Flensburg Fjord lies KegnæIt’s one of the best spots on the Baltic Sea. Right by the causeway linking Kegnæs to the mainland, beginners will be in their element. There’s a large lagoon here, parts of which are shallow enough to stand in and very sheltered – ideal for practising water starts and manoeuvres, or for freestyling. Right next to the spot is Drejby Beach Campsite. This well-equipped 4-star campsite is also very family-friendly, with playgrounds and a swimming pool. It even has a well-equipped Surfer’s Paradise Surf School are available here, so water sports enthusiasts can find everything they need.
On the Baltic Sea side, Kegnæs also offers excellent conditions for surfing, particularly when the wind is blowing from the east to the south-east. In such conditions, the wind has plenty of headwind and drives lovely waves onto the coast. The ideal spot then is the—albeit simply equipped— Sønderkobbel Strand Campsite. Anyone who manages to snag a front-row spot in the off-season can draw back the curtains in the morning and look out over the blue Baltic Sea – marvellous! At Sønderkobbel Strand Camping, all wind directions are suitable, from east through south to west-north-west. With westerly winds, the conditions remain moderate with choppy water; when strong winds blow from the east to the south-east, the wave-surfing scene from Denmark and northern Germany gathers here. The seabed, however, is quite rocky.
Blåvand
The surf spot at Blåvandshuk is one of the most popular in Denmark. This is primarily down to the excellent surfing conditions, as Blåvand is one of the few places where the frequent westerly wind blows almost sideshore. Conditions here are usually moderate; even during a westerly storm, the waves rarely exceed 1.5 metres. The entry point is sandy and straightforward, with the waves breaking gently over an offshore sandbank – ideal for practising jumps and riding the waves with the wind coming from the right. Although it may seem surprising when looking at the map, Blåvand offers its best waves with a south-east to south-south-east wind. This blows side-onshore from the left and pushes solid swells onto the sandbanks, especially at high tide. Right by the spot is Hvidbjerg Strand – probably Denmark’s only 6-star campsite. You’ll find everything here, from campervan pitches to luxurious beach villas – at prices to match, of course. But in return, you won’t have to miss out on the wellness programme, the water park or the trampoline park, and thanks to the short walk to the water, you’re sure not to miss a single minute of the breeze.
Kjul Beach
In the wild north of Denmark, not far from the port town of Hirtshals, lies Kjul, with its endless dunes and kilometres of beaches. Unlike surfing hotspots such as Klitmøller or Hvide Sande, things are much quieter here. Nevertheless, you can still enjoy great surf spots and accommodation right by the beach. (You can find a complete guide to the region’s spots HERE). The sandy beach slopes very gently into the sea and is somewhat reminiscent of the Danish island of Rømø, especially as parts of it are even accessible by car. Good surfing conditions are found here mainly when the wind is from the west; this creates a moderate swell that is well suited even to less experienced wave surfers. It is only during storms that conditions can sometimes get rough. Winds from the east to north-east are also good for surfing; in such conditions, the chop usually remains moderate. Around 500 metres from the water’s edge lies Kjul Strand Campsite, where you can hire pitches as well as small cabins. The site is situated directly behind the dunes, is partly wooded and, with a mini-golf course, barbecue areas and a playground, also offers a range of activities away from the water.
Klitmøller
Klitmøller is the heart of the Cold Hawaii region and has been internationally renowned ever since the world’s best windsurfers began competing here at the Soulwave and the PWA World Cup. Stretching from Agger via Nørre Vorupør and Klitmøller all the way to Hanstholm, the region offers some of the best wave spots in the North Sea within just a few kilometres. Klitmøller has always been the hub of the scene, where there are excellent wave conditions at the mussel reef and in Klitrosen, particularly when the wind is from the south-south-west to west-south-west. A few hundred metres to the south, near the surfing spots Bunkers Beach, is Nystrup Campsite. Even though the spot isn’t right by the water, you can walk down to the beach from here with your surfboard or SUP under your arm and ride the clean North Sea waves. It’s just under a kilometre to the windsurfing spot at Muschelriff, but if you’ve got some surf experience, you can also set off from Bunkers Beach when there’s a south-westerly wind and moderate waves, and ride down to Muschelriff. Alternatively, you can simply wheel your gear along on a surf trolley through the village – that way, you don’t need to start the car either.
The well-equipped campsite offers a surfers’ area where you can park your campervan, as well as fixed pitches and even cabins. There are large cabins with cooking facilities or ‘sleeping barrels’ as simple shelters. Hardly any other site offers such perfect facilities for surfers, from a wetsuit drying room to areas for rinsing off and board racks.
Hanstholm
You can now also stay overnight at the Hanstholm top spot – for 170 kroner (approx. 26 euros), you’re allowed to park right by the spot. Important to note: officially, you’re only allowed to ‘spend the night’ here. So if you get your camping chairs out and spread out, you risk a fine. It’s therefore more relaxed to camp at Hanstholm Campsite, which is situated about a kilometre east of the actual spot. Anyone staying there is sure not to miss a windy day, as you can see the whole bay from there. Open even in winter, there are even special offers for surfers here, such as small huts known as ‘Surfer Cabins’. The walk to the water is a few hundred metres long; alternatively, you can wheel your surfboard along the road to the Hamborg spot. The conditions here are similar to those in Hanstholm, except that it’s usually quieter. If you prefer to surf in company, head a few strokes up towards the harbour. Winds from west to north-west are surfable; depending on the strength, clean waves ranging from hip-high to mast-high roll in here. However, east-south-east to north-east winds are also surfable here, though the conditions are considerably more moderate in those cases.
Flyvesandet
The sat-nav isn’t wrong – it really does take that long to get to this gem: right at the northern tip of Fyn, on a headland, lies the Flyvesandet Campsite, in the heart of an idyllic nature reserve. Thanks to the shape of the coastline, all northerly wind directions from south-west to east-south-east work well here; a little further out, you can even ride in winds a few degrees further south. The spot is divided into two parts: a large sandbank runs diagonally from the spot towards the north-west, offering a huge standing area on one side and significantly deeper water on the other. The edge has the potential to produce good waves when there’s a north-easterly wind.
The campsite features both a large open area and smaller sections where the pitches are nestled amongst the woods and bushes. There are also several very well-equipped and sheltered play areas, and during the peak season there are sometimes small concerts and celebrations. In the woods further inland, you can find berries or wild garlic depending on the season; there is also a wooden tower offering views over the neighbouring bird sanctuary and the offshore island of Æbelø. There is a small shop selling essentials, but you should make sure you’ve stocked up beforehand – the nearest supermarket is quite a distance away.
Møn Camping and Mønbroen
Møn is a diverse holiday destination; as well as its impressive cliffs and many small, idyllic towns, the island can also offer some proper wave conditions. If you can do without the absolute best waves and prefer slightly easier spots, you should check out Møn Camping Stop off on the south coast. A lovely, unspoilt site with no fixed pitches and rustic but always clean toilet facilities offers everything you need.
Set back from a small belt of dunes lies the beach, which isn’t entirely free of stones. To the east lies the open Baltic Sea; to the west, the strait known as Grønsund between Møn and Falster. The spot offers a large area where you can stand; offshore, a sandbank breaks the waves when the wind is from the south-east and can actually produce some big days. If the wind blows directly from the west or east, the water gets a bit choppy and a current runs through the sound.
There’s another great campsite right by the water in Møn Bridge on the north coast. From the spot, you can look out over the large bay of Stege and walk down to the beach with your gear. Eastern to northerly winds are ideal here; they blow in freely and consistently. There’s also a shallow area near the shore here, so nobody gets lost when there’s an onshore north-easterly wind. The conditions themselves are gentle, with just small wind-generated waves that allow for small jumps but don’t pose any major problems even for those learning to jibe. A degree of caution is only required in strong easterly winds; a distinctly noticeable current then flows through Ulvsund towards the large Møn Bridge downwind, and conditions in the channel become increasingly choppy.
Albuen Beach Campsite
One campsite and two spots: From the Albuen Beach Campsite On Lolland, you can go surfing both in the sheltered lagoon and on the open Baltic Sea. The starting point is always the small car park about 50 metres from the campsite. The lagoon is no deeper than hip-height, but depending on the water level, you may have to walk a few hundred metres before your fin stops getting stuck in the muddy seabed. If you want to get onto your board more quickly, you should walk a few hundred metres further along the dyke – a surf trolley comes in handy here.
On the other side of the narrow headland, small waves can also form in the Baltic Sea. As a general rule, you should only enter the water at this spot north of the car park, as there are some rocks just below (!) the water’s surface south of the posts and south of the car park.
The campsite is ideal for families and nature lovers. You can either stay in your own motorhome or caravan, or simply rent one of the small, rustic, red wooden cabins. You can buy food at the campsite, but the selection is very limited. The village of Langø, five kilometres away, offers a few places to stay and a lovely harbour. The town of Nakskov, with a population of 30,000, is about 15 kilometres away. There are a few hotels, restaurants and supermarkets there.
Sanddobberne
A hidden gem lies in the north-west of the island of Zealand, between Kalundborg and the Odsherred peninsula. The Sanddobberne Campsite is situated on a long, sandy bay with an offshore island. Throughout the area, sand is washed ashore with every storm, forming a chain of sandbanks and strips of dunes off the coast. A small lagoon has formed in front of the campsite, which you have to cross via a short jetty before reaching the open water. A strong north-westerly wind can occasionally push a decent Baltic Sea wave past the islands of Sejerø and Nekelsø; otherwise, you’ll generally find ‘bump and jump’ conditions. Almost all westerly directions work well, whilst an easterly wind is hardly rideable due to the relatively hilly hinterland. The campsite itself is spread out across a small wood and a meadow in front of it. Here, you can pitch your tent right in the front row and look out over the water. With small animals, a large playground and lovely handmade crafts, the kids will be delighted too!
Gammelbro Campsite
Just under half an hour from the border lies Gammelbro Campsite on the Baltic Sea near Haderslev. In peak season, the place is absolutely buzzing, with an indoor swimming pool, a huge playground, a padel court, a skate pump track and much more – there’s something for every family. During our visit in spring, however, it was still quiet and a bit sleepy – so there’s something for everyone. The conditions are typical ‘bump and jump’ Baltic Sea style; the stretch of water between Funen and Jutland is too small for proper waves. Conditions are best when the wind is blowing from the east. To the north of the campsite lies the small island of Årø; with just a few strokes you can either surf across to it or cruise past it against the backdrop of the little lighthouse. The islet also makes for a lovely destination for a day out by bike or SUP. Tip: When the wind’s dead calm, or to keep the kids entertained, why not try the “Gammelbro Krea” craft workshop right at the campsite!
Gammelmark
It sounds similar, but the risk of confusion lies solely in the name: Gammelmark Campsite Near Sønderborg is a cosy family campsite on the east-facing bay of Vemmingebund. Here, too, there are Baltic Sea freeride conditions; the spot works in all wind directions from west through north to east, though southerly winds are blocked by the hilly hinterland. An offshore sandbank creates a relatively large standing area, though if you’re using long fins or foils, you should slow down beforehand, depending on the water level. The sandy seabed makes up for the slightly stony entry over the first three or four metres; otherwise, there are no obstacles in the water to worry about. The campsite is laid out in terraces, so that from almost every pitch you have a wonderful view across the bay and the Düppeler Schanzen on the opposite shore. On site there’s a huge, lovingly designed playground, as well as a very good food van right on the site serving chips and burgers after your session.
Do you have any other tips for places where you can go ‘straight from bed to board’? Drop us a line redaktion@surf-magazin.de!
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Andreas Erbe
Chief editor surf