castle
Egeskov Castle
Europe's best-preserved moated Renaissance castle on Funen, rising straight from its lake amid playful gardens.
25 km · about 30 min drive
South Denmark, Denmark · Europe
Odense is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Seden, 25km from Egeskov Castle.
Odense is a city located in South Denmark, Denmark. With a population of 180,863, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Odense sits in Denmark, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Copenhagen time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Odense to your route.
Odense ( OH-dən-sə, US also OH-thən-sə; Danish: [ˈoðˀn̩sə] ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2026, the city proper had a population of 187,558 while Odense Municipality had a population of 213,168, making it the fourthRead more
largest municipality in Denmark (behind Copenhagen, Aarhus and Aalborg municipalities). Eurostat and OECD have used a definition for the Metropolitan area of Odense (referred to as a Functional urban area), which includes all municipalities in the Province (Danish: landsdel) of Funen (Danish: Fyn), with a total population of 504,066 as of 1 July 2022.
By road, Odense is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Svendborg, 144 kilometres (89 mi) to the south of Aarhus and 167 kilometres (104 mi) to the southwest of the capital Copenhagen. The city was the seat of Odense County until 1970, and Funen County from 1970 until 1 January 2007, when Funen County became part of the Region of Southern Denmark. Odense has close associations with Hans Christian Andersen or HCA who is remembered above all for his fairy tales. He was born in the city in 1805 and spent his childhood years there.
There has been human settlement in the Odense area for over 4,000 years, although the name was not mentioned in writing until 988, and by 1070, it had already grown into a thriving city. Canute IV of Denmark, generally considered to be the last Viking king, was murdered by unruly peasants in Odense's St Alban's Priory on 10 July 1086. Although the city was burned in 1249 following a royal rivalry, it quickly recovered and flourished as a centre of commerce in the Middle Ages. After a period of decline, large-scale plans for development were made during the 18th century, which led to the rebuilding of Odense Palace and the building of a canal to the Port of Odense, facilitating trade. In 1865, one of the largest railway terminals in Denmark was built, further increasing the population and commerce, and by 1900, Odense had reached a population of 35,000. Odense's Odinstårnet was one of the tallest towers in Europe when built in 1935 but was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1966.
Today, Odense remains the commercial hub of Funen, and is recognized internationally as a leading robotics city due to a cluster of cobot companies. Several other major industries are located in the city including the Albani Brewery and GASA, Denmark's major dealer in vegetables, fruits and flowers. The city is home to Odense Palace, erected by King Frederik IV who died there in 1730, the Odense Theatre, the Odense Symphony Orchestra, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum or HCA museum. In 2021 the Hans Christian Andersen or HCAHouse designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma opened. It incorporates parts of the earlier museum like Andersen's birthplace and a domed memorial hall featuring frescos by Niels Larsen Stevns. In sports, Odense has a number of football clubs including OB, BM, B1909, and B1913, the Odense Bulldogs professional ice hockey team, and the city also hosts the H.C. Andersen Marathon. Odense is served by Hans Christian Andersen Airport and Odense station, which lies on the line between Copenhagen and the Jutland peninsula.
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Odense offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Odense is located in South Denmark, Denmark, Europe. The coordinates are 55.3959 latitude, 10.3883 longitude.
Odense has a population of approximately 180,863 people, making it a city in Denmark.
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Full driving guide for Denmark5 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Europe's best-preserved moated Renaissance castle on Funen, rising straight from its lake amid playful gardens.
25 km · about 30 min drive
bridge
A soaring suspension span and tunnel linking Zealand and Funen across the Great Belt strait.
41 km · about 50 min drive
bridge
The elegant 1935 steel truss bridge linking Jutland and Funen at Middelfart. Now a quiet scenic crossing beside its motorway successor, with bridge-walking tours on its upper girders.
45 km · about 50 min drive
bridge
Suspension bridge carrying the E20 motorway between Jutland and Funen, opened in 1970 alongside the older 1935 crossing.
45 km · about 50 min drive
photogenic
Perfectly preserved 17th–18th-century merchant town on the island of Ærø, all cobbles, hollyhocks and crooked pastel houses: a Europa Nostra prize-winner reached by car ferry from Svendborg or Fynshav.
56 km · about 65 min drive
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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