9 Best Road Trips from Denmark to Germany and Sweden

Make sure your trip to Sweden goes through Copenhagen and Malmø, which are connected by the approx. 10-mile-long Øresund Bridge. On both sides of the water, you can park your car and indulge in culture, history and gastronomy, before driving further into Sweden.

Copenhagen is the ideal stop on your road trip since Denmark's capital offers both modern city life and historic architecture. Malmø is Sweden's third-largest town, but the cosy city centre, Gamla Staden, is a charming contrast to its big brother on the other side of Øresund. Here, you can find lots of shopping options, consisting of chains as well as specialty shops. If you're hungry, you can enjoy a traditional Swedish 'fika' (coffee and cake) as well as food from all over the world.

The trip to Sweden can also be made by taking a ferry from Elsinore to Helsingborg, across the narrowest end of Øresund, so you can explore the two towns from where ferries have crossed since the Middle Ages. This way you can sense the historic connection between Skåne and Denmark.

Elsinore is a beautiful old market town, with a maritime cultural history that has been very important to its development. Park your car and take a walk in the cosy, historic streets before passing by Kronborg or the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark. After 20 minutes on the car ferry, you are ready to drive out into Helsingborg. At the cosy waterfront Norra Hamnen, you will find outdoor restaurants with a view of the water, and you can visit the Kärnan tower, from where the Danish kings controlled traffic through Øresund.

If your road trip begins in Jutland, take the ferry to Sweden from Frederikshavn. Then you can avoid the drive and numerous miles through the whole country. After just four hours of sailing, you will be called down to your car to drive out to Gothenburg.

Frederikshavn is also a good stop along the way. There is lots of history here, including the charming cobblestoned old district of Fiskerklyngen, the town's landmark of Krudttårnet or the bunker museum at Bangsbo Fort, from where you can see the whole town. If the weather permits, you can even take a dip at Palm Beach (Palmestranden), which as the name implies, is the only beach with palm trees in Denmark.

The trip to Sweden via Grenå is the right choice if you start your road trip in the middle of Jutland. This will save you the trip through Denmark, and you'll be able to take the ferry to Halmstad in Halland, which is a 4.5-hour trip.

Take the opportunity to look around Grenå, which is a historic commercial town and Djursland's largest town. Explore the captivating medieval square, with Grenaa Church and the yellow merchant's house. The half-timbered structure is now home to a museum. Down by the water, by the ferry terminal, you can find the large aquarium Kattegatcentret, where you can also dive with sharks – if you dare!

On a road trip to Germany, a stay in Aarhus is a good idea if you are coming from the northern part of Jutland. Then you can divide up the drive south down the E45 and get a chance to stretch your legs along the way.

Aarhus is particularly well known for its rich cultural life and the numerous museums. Find a parking place near ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, visit the open-air museum The Old Town (Den Gamle By) or check out the archaeological exhibitions at Moesgaard Museum. You can also drive by the new harbour area Aarhus Ø and get a closer look at the modern architecture in this district, before heading on towards the border.

Another detour on your drive to Germany could be Silkeborg, which is also in the middle of Jutland and offers a number of outdoor activities thanks to its beautiful nature.

Silkeborg is in Søhøjlandet, surrounded by beautiful lakes connected by the Gudenåen river. During summer it is possible to sail by paddle steamer to the 485-foot-tall hill Himmelbjerget, which is probably one of Denmark's most famous landmarks. If the weather is unsuited for outdoor activities, the art museum Museum Jorn and the fresh water aquarium AQUA Akvarium og Dyrepark are also located in Silkeborg.

On a road trip to Germany, you can also drop by Esbjerg and experience a bit of West Jutland and the Wadden Sea coast on your way.

Esbjerg is one of Denmark's youngest towns. It formed around the harbour, which was founded in 1864. The impressive 30-foot-tall sculpture Mennesket ved Havet (Man by the Sea) is located by the beach just north of the harbour. Across from it, you will find the Fisheries and Maritime Museum, where you can learn about Denmark's maritime history. The Wadden Sea also starts by Esbjerg – a beautiful natural area that you can explore alone or learn more about at Wadden Sea Centre.

Flensborg is an interesting place to stop on your way as you drive to Germany, regardless of whether you are coming from Zealand or Jutland. The town is right on the other side of the border in the state of Slesvig-Holsten, which is home to a significant Danish minority.

Flensborg was part of Denmark for many centuries, and it is therefore fun to visit this charming harbour town, where they speak both German and Danish. At Flensborg Shipping Museum (Flensborg Søfartsmuseum) and at Historischer Hafen, you can learn about the town's maritime history, which includes rum production from cane sugar originating from the Danish West Indies. In the traditional walking street Rote Strasse, you can visit some of the remaining rum houses.

A stop in Hamburg is a must during your road trip to Germany. From Jutland and Funen, you will be on the highway the whole way, while if you come from eastern Denmark, the trip includes a 45-minute ferry ride from Rødby to Puttgarden.

Hamburg is Germany's second-largest town, and it is full of streams and canals. You can experience this in the old harbour area in the packing district, Speicherstadt, which is built of characteristic red bricks. Another option is to go on a tour on foot under the river Elbe, through the tunnel Alter Elbtunnel. The descent can be found in the district of St. Pauli, which is famous for its left-wing football team and infamous for the wild city life at Reeperbahn.