Things to do in Horsens – from the former prison to the fjord
Horsens lies at the head of Horsens Fjord on Jutland's east coast, where city life, history, art and nature are all close at hand. Here are our tips for things to do in and around Denmark's sixth-largest city: visit the former state prison, enjoy a good meal in the centre, take in the art and culture, or head out along the fjord.
Explore the city centre
Søndergade is a good starting point for getting to know Horsens on foot. Shops, cafés and historic buildings line this broad pedestrian street, reputedly the widest in the country. In the middle of it stands the Lichtenberg Palace (Det Lichtenbergske Palæ), built in 1744 and now home to Jørgensens Hotel. Trade brought prosperity to Horsens in the 18th century, and wealthy merchants left their mark on the city’s architecture. One of them was Gehrdt de Lichtenberg, who had the palace built. Look out for the richly decorated façade, which still speaks of the wealth of the age.
Continue into the Latin Quarter around Grønnegade, Thonbogade and Hestedamsgade. Specialist shops and restaurants nestle among the old houses, so you can seek out delicacies, craft beers and handmade products, or simply stop for a coffee at one of the cafés.
Look out for the Latin Quarter’s smallest residents: Isaac Cordal’s tiny human figures hide on walls and cornices. Follow the clues and keep your eyes up as you go. Art also appears on a larger scale, in the gable-end murals around the centre and in the sculptures along the Skulpturallé (Sculpture Avenue), a walk of roughly three kilometres from the railway station to the marina.
FÆNGSLET
Besides the broad pedestrian street, Horsens’ claim to fame is the old state prison, which closed in 2006. Today it is known as FÆNGSLET and provides the setting for a museum, concerts and festivals. At the Prison Museum, the cells, corridors and stories have been preserved for posterity, giving you an insight into prison life from the perspective of both inmates and officers. The stories bring you up close, and on a guided tour you can hear more about life behind the walls.
Set aside a morning or afternoon for the museum, and check the calendar so you don’t miss anything. Recurring events such as Krimimessen (the crime fiction festival), Horsens Medieval Festival and Jul på FÆNGSLET (Christmas at FÆNGSLET) are joined by concerts, new exhibitions and activities.
Photo: Destination Kystlandet, Jesper Rais
The Industrial Museum
How did industrialisation change life in Denmark? At the Industrial Museum (Industrimuseet) in Horsens, you can see the huge engines in the machine hall and explore a street of shops, a school and workers’ homes. The interiors, which run from the 1880s to 2000, show how housing, spending and family life changed in step with society.
Photo: Destination Kystlandet, Jesper Rais
Museums and music in Lunden
Encounters with art in Horsens aren’t confined to the streets and lanes. At Horsens Art Museum, you can see experimental Danish contemporary art by artists including Christian Lemmerz, Bjørn Nørgaard and Cathrine Raben Davidsen. The museum also holds the country’s largest collection of works by Michael Kvium, who was born and raised in the city.
The museum stands in the park of Caroline Amalie Lund, known locally as Lunden (“the grove”). Here, the art continues among the trees, and you will also find Horsens Museum, well worth a visit if you would like to learn more about the city you are walking around. If you are in Horsens in summer, check the programme for Rock i Lunden, which stages concerts on the park’s open-air stage.
Photo: Destination Kystlandet, Jesper Rais
Nature on the city’s doorstep and Horsens Fjord
There is more to explore in Horsens than the city centre. Along Horsens Fjord, the landscape shifts between woodland, open fields and small harbours, while Alrø and Hjarnø lie out in the water. Start close to the city and work your way further along the fjord to woods, islands and harbours.
Photo: Destination Kystlandet, Sarah Green
Close to the centre, Langelinie City Beach has a sandy beach, a bathing jetty and green spaces. From here you can continue along the fjord and follow the Planet Trail (Planetstien) towards Boller Nederskov. Along the way, models of the planets show the vast distances between them in the solar system, and at Boller Mole you can look back towards Horsens. The walk is roughly six kilometres there and back.
The Planet Trail forms part of the Fjordminoen (the Horsens Fjord trail), which winds for a full 59 kilometres around the fjord through woodland, villages and open countryside. You can, of course, choose to walk a shorter stage. Along the way you will reach Alrø, which is linked to the mainland by a causeway. From here, a cycle ferry carries on to Hjarnø, and from Hjarnø you can take the ferry to Snaptun on the south side of the fjord.
If you don’t plan to walk the whole of the Fjordminoen, Alrø and Hjarnø are also easy to enjoy on a day trip. The cycle ferry between the islands runs from Easter to the end of the October school holidays, but not every day throughout that period, so check the timetable before you plan your trip.
A taste of the city
Dining in Horsens
In Horsens, good meals go hand in hand with atmospheric surroundings, so it is well worth making room for food in your plans. The city’s charm, after all, extends right to the dinner table.
Restaurant Eydes
Make lunch or dinner something special at this atmospheric cellar restaurant, where carefully selected ingredients shape dishes with both Danish and French influences.
Dollys
This is the place to head for classic Danish food in a cosy setting. Combine lunch or dinner with a stroll by the harbour. Photo: Destination Kystlandet, Jesper Rais
Accommodation in Horsens
Where to stay
After a day among Horsens’ charming streets or out in the beautiful countryside by the fjord, it’s nice if the experience can carry on at your hotel. We recommend choosing somewhere that makes you want to stay in just as much as to head out and explore.
Stay in central Horsens: Jørgensens Hotel
Check in to a baroque palace from 1744, where ceiling paintings and preserved period details tell the story of Horsens as a merchant town – with Søndergade right outside your door.
Frequently asked questions
What is Horsens known for?
Horsens is best known for the former state prison, now called FÆNGSLET, which houses a museum and hosts concerts and festivals. The city also has a history as a trading and industrial town, which you can explore in its museums and among the historic buildings in the centre. Horsens also prides itself on having Denmark’s widest pedestrian street, Søndergade. Add to that the street art, the city’s museums and Horsens Fjord, with its walking, swimming and island-hopping.
What can you do in Horsens over a weekend?
A weekend gives you time to visit the Prison Museum, explore the centre around Søndergade and choose between art and industrial history at the city’s museums. Round it off with a trip to Langelinie City Beach or a walk along the fjord.
What can you do in Horsens for free?
You can see sculptures and street art in the centre, stroll among the trees and sculptures in Caroline Amalie Lund, or spend time at Langelinie City Beach. The Planet Trail (Planetstien) along Horsens Fjord is free too, and lets you combine a walk with a look at models of the planets in the solar system.
What can you do in Horsens with children?
- At the Industrial Museum, you can combine the exhibitions with a bit of play on the industry-inspired playground.
- To explore the city, the Horsens Treasure Hunt (Skattejagten Horsens Rundt) leads you through the centre, with tasks to complete along the way. The route is 5.5 kilometres, so allow time for breaks.
- At Aqua Forum, the children can splash about in the children’s pool and try out the waterslide.
Photo: Destination Kystlandet, Lasse Torp
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