Find accommodation in Søby Ærø

Søby on Ærø opens up travel planning between ferry connections, coastal paths, natural areas and maritime history. Ferry connections link Søby with Faaborg and with Fynshav on Als.

Coastal paths and nature around Vitsø

The Archipelago Trail covers 36 km on Ærø and passes through Vitsø there. The Coastal Trail on Ærø runs from Marstal to Vitsø near Søby and follows the coast for most of the route. Some of the paths around Vitsø are part of the interconnected Archipelago Trail network and are marked with blue signs on wooden posts. For shorter and longer days of hiking, there are 3 km at Vitsø Strand and 36 km of the Archipelago Trail on Ærø. This means the coastline and paths through Vitsø can serve as different reference points for your planning.

Vitsø itself is a 150-hectare natural area with a large lake, salt marshes and freshwater meadows. Vitsø Nor is a protected fjord inlet covering approximately 150 hectares. Greylag geese, ducks and wading birds breed at Vitsø. On the outskirts of Søby lies Vitsø Strand, a natural pebble beach with a bathing jetty and old fishermen’s houses. Locals call the path along Vitsø Strand „Jørbæk Rundt“; from one end to the other, it is 3 km long. When observing nature, Vitsø’s lake, salt marshes and freshwater meadows stand alongside one another as distinct landscape elements.

Søbygaard and Søby’s culture

Søbygaard brings together several cultural themes connected with Ærø’s history. The site is an old ducal residence and bears witness to Ærø’s past as part of the Duchy of Schleswig until 1867. Søbygaard hosts changing exhibitions, including art exhibitions and an exhibition for children. At the Geopark visitor centre at Søbygaard, visitors can learn how Ærø and the Geopark Det Sydfynske Øhav were formed. Those interested in culture will find various historical themes at Søbygaard, Søby Church and Søby Harbour.

Søby Church also makes a distinct artistic statement: the altarpiece was painted in 1870 by Professor Jørgen Roed and depicts Christ on the cross and the kneeling Virgin Mary. At Søby Harbour, the guided tour „I Arthurs Fodspor“ conveys the maritime history of Søby and Ærø. It leads through Søby Værft, between the shipyard’s buildings, ships and docks.

Cycling through the landscape

The cycling route „Rundt om Søbygaard“ is approximately 30 km long and runs mainly on paved roads, as well as on individual sections with a firm gravel surface. It follows the signposted cycle network through open landscapes, along Vitsø Nor and past Søbygaard. When planning the day, in addition to the approximate route length, the individual sections with a firm gravel surface should also be taken into account. At approximately 30 km, the cycling route is shorter than the 36-km Archipelago Trail on Ærø.

Other places on Ærø: Dunkær, Skovby, Kragnæs, Marstal, Ærøskøbing, Bro

To the main travel overview: Ærø Municipality.