Funen–Langeland, Denmark

The island of Funen lies at the heart of the Danish archipelago, between the Jutland peninsula to the west and the island of Zealand to the east. South of Funen lies the popular watersports area known as the “Danish South Sea.” Funen is Denmark’s third-largest island, after Zealand and the northern part of Jutland. Its largest city is Odense, with around 187,000 residents, making it Denmark’s third-largest city. Odense is the birthplace of the poet Hans Christian Andersen. He is greatly revered throughout Denmark, and especially in his hometown of Odense.
Thanks to its central location, Funen is an important link in domestic Danish transport. The island is connected to its neighboring islands of Langeland and Zealand by some spectacular bridges. The bridge over the Little Belt between Middelfart and Fredericia, Europe’s oldest suspension bridge, leads to the Jutland peninsula, while smaller bridges cross the island of Tåsinge to Langeland. Since 1998, a bridge has also spanned the Great Belt strait between Funen and Zealand.

The “Danish South Sea” is one of Denmark’s most popular holiday destinations. The city of Svendborg, at the crossing to the island of Tåsinge, is a starting point for many activities. This unique watersports area, with its many small islands and southerly position largely sheltered from the open sea, encompasses the entire region of the Little Belt and the islands of Funen, Ærø, Als and Langeland, all the way to the German Baltic coast between Flensburg and Kiel. Numerous attractions add to the appeal of a holiday on Funen. Many well-preserved manor houses bear witness to Denmark’s historic cultural landscape. Today, holidaymakers are also captivated by the area’s Mediterranean feel, and can naturally indulge in their favorite activities—swimming and fishing in the Baltic Sea—to their heart’s content.

Funen is linked by bridges to the neighboring island of Langeland to the east, via the small islands of Tåsinge and Siø. Langeland is 52 kilometers long but only up to 11 kilometers wide. The south of the island is particularly appealing to tourists. From Rudkøbing, the island’s main town, a ferry runs to Ærø, a particularly scenic island south of Funen. Its main town, Ærøskøbing, is considered the most beautiful town in Denmark.