Botanical gardens, a restored 750-year-old castle and art museums are among the attractions in friendly Kolding, at the mouth of the Kolding Fjord. The town grew to prominence in the 13th century with the building of a royal castle, Koldinghus. Visit the castle to watch reenactments of medieval events and see displays of antique armory, ceramics, furniture and silverware.
Find many attractions within a short walk from the castle. Enjoy a stroll around Slotsø lake and look for a small boat reserved solely for Denmark’s queen. Relax on the grassy lawns of Slotshaven and Sct. Jørgens Have or go boating on the lake at Legeparken.
Kolding’s town center is a meandering collection of pedestrian-only streets and cobblestone alleys lined with bars, cafés, handicraft shops and retail outlets. Admire the half-timbered houses on Helligkorsgade, which date to the 16th and 17th centuries. Visit notable landmarks such as the Rådhus (City Hall) and Sankt Nikolai Kirke. Learn about local history at Kolding Stadsarkiv and see exhibits of historic toys at the Legetøjsmuseet.
Catch a bus or walk along the northern shores of Kolding Fjord to the Trapholt Museum to see Danish furniture design, sculptures, textiles and visual arts. Nearby is the Dansk Sygeplejehistorisk Museum, which chronicles Denmark’s nursing history.
Make use of the excellent local bus network to reach other attractions away from the town center. Spot exotic plants at Geografisk Have botanical garden and explore a miniature version of Kolding as it looked around the 1860s at Kolding Miniby.
Play a round of golf at Birkemose Golf Club or Kolding Golf Club. Try kayaking and rowing on Kolding Fjord. Bike or hike along the forest trails of Marielundskoven.
Kolding is on the eastern shores of the Jutland peninsula. Billund Airport is just a 40-minute drive away and receives regular flights from major European cities. It’s also easy to get to Kolding via train from Aarhus, Copenhagen and Flensburg, Germany. Extend your stay to visit other towns in Jutland’s Vejle region, including the architecturally impressive Christiansfeld.
