Stunning island next to the UK – with seal safaris and ‘world-class’ beaches where precious gemstones wash up on shore
EUROPE is home to hundreds of stunning little islands that you may not have heard of – but are great for avoiding the crowds.
Located in the North Sea, just off the coast of southwestern Denmark lies a lesser-known Danish island.
Fanø is the very northernmost of the Danish Wadden Sea Islands, and it’s the only island on Jutland’s west coast with a direct ferry connection to the mainland.
The ferry crossing from the mainland takes just 12 minutes, with three services operating every hour.
Only around 3,500 people reside on the island, with the number increasing during the summer months when tourists flock to Fanø to visit its “world-class beaches”.
Part of the Wadden Sea National Park, it’ll come as no surprise to find that one of the island’s main draws is its wildlife.
It is estimated that there are roughly 3,000 spotted seals in the Wadden Sea around Fanø, with seal safaris being a popular activity on the island.
Holidaymakers should head to Galgerev, a large seal bank, located on the southern tip of the island, just south of Sønderho.
At Galgerev visitors will be able to see as many as 400 seals bathing in the sun on the seal bank.
Guided tours operate on foot to Galgerev, with two-hour tours costing £17 for a full-paying adult.
For those holidaymakers who want to go for a swim or build a sandcastle, the best stretch of beach to visit is from Fanø Bad to Rindby Strand – a wide strip of sand where new dunes appear every year.
The best spot for swimming is to the west of the sand dunes, with other activities like volleyball, football and kite-flying also taking place at the beach.
Buggy Beach is a good spot for surfers and kite surfers.
There are several on-land activities too, including beach cruising with blokarts, kite-buggies and landboards.
Another popular seaside pastime on Fanø is hunting for amber along the shore.
The best time to search for pieces of amber is in the winter when the amber is swept towards the shore – although visitors can still search for fossilised resin in the summer.
There are two maritime villages on Fanø called Nordby and Sønderho, both of which are home to old houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.
As the capital of the island, Nordby is where the ferry will dock from the mainland.
The village is characterised by the one-storey buildings with thatched roofs and a quaint promenade.
Fanø Museum, which delves into the island’s maritime history, is one of the main tourist attractions in Nordby.
There’s also Sønderho, which has been named Denmark‘s most beautiful village thanks to the traditional Fanø cottages that have been well-preserved.
Other attractions in the town include the Art Museum, Nana’s Stue – a café with a collection of old Fanø tiles – Sønderho Mill and Sønderho Church.
Direct flights operate between Aberdeen and Esbjerg, with return flights costing £300 per person.
There are also direct routes between the UK and Billund, with return fares starting from just £22 per person.
In Fanø, the local language is Danish, but you can expect English to be spoken at some hotels and restaurants.
There is a one-hour time difference, with the UK one hour behind.
The currency is Danish Krone with £10 currently worth around 87.27 Danish Krone.
Explore the Danish Riviera
Denmark is home to plenty of other lesser-known stretches of sand, including Hornbæk, which is located within the Danish Riviera in North Sealand.
The seaside town of Hornbæk is just under an hour away from Copenhagen (Denmark’s capital city), and it is also home to the largest beach on the Danish Riviera.
Hornbæk Beach is a Blue Flag beach with stretches of soft sand.
What are the passport rules?
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained exactly what Brits need to know.
“Travellers used to be able to roll over up to nine unused months from their old passport onto a new one.
“But post-Brexit, anyone wanting to travel to the EU can no longer rely on those extra months.
“In order to travel to the EU, all passports must be no more than 10 years old on the day you arrive in your European destination.
“And you’ll need at least three months on your passport on the day you head back to the UK.
“Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than 10 years old.
“The 10-year rule only applies to countries in the European Union but every country may have different rules on what is accepted – some countries like South Africa, for example, insist you have at least six months left on your passport when you travel and a full clear page.”
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