The European Riviera unknown by Brits where locals spend their summer – with ‘best beach’ in the country & £16 flights
IF YOU want a sandy beach holiday in Europe away from the crowds, then we’ve found the perfect destination.
While most Brits flock to the French or Italian Riviera, a town in Northern Europe offers a relaxed alternative.
Set within the Danish Riviera in North Sealand, the resort town of Hornbæk is a popular holiday spot among Danish locals.
Australian travel bloggers, Ky and Tess, made this observation in an article on their website, 2 Cups of Travel.
They wrote: “We both observed very early on that Hornbæk felt like a Danish version of Somers on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia.
“It was full of locals and other Danish families and friends. This removed the ‘tourist feel’ some beach towns get, especially in central and southern Europe.”
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.
The sand forms large dunes, which protect holidaymakers from any seaside winds.
There aren’t any places to rent parasols or sunloungers, so beachgoers will need to bring their own supplies.
However, there are places to rent water sports equipment like paddleboards.
Other facilities include public toilets and lifeguards during the summer months.
At Hornbæk Beach, there are several places to grab a bite to eat including Cafe Sunspot, which serves sandwiches, beers, ice creams, and other snacks.
There’s also a supermarket at the entrance of the beach.
The beach has been praised by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor too.
One person wrote: “It’s a great beach with amazing waters in a lovely area. It’s definitely Denmark’s best beach.”
A second wrote: “Wonderful sand and clear waters, it’s the best beach that’s close to Copenhagen.”
Other nearby activities include a stroll around Hornbæk Harbour, Hornbæk Church, and Til Tops – a zipline and aerial adventure park.
The easiest way to reach Hornbæk is to fly to Copenhagen Airport.
Ryanair operates direct flights from a range of UK Airports including London Stansted, Edinburgh, and Manchester, with one-way tickets starting from £16.
From Copenhagen, Hornbæk is a one-hour drive away.
The resort town can also be reached via train, but passengers will need to change trains at Helsingor Station.
For holidaymakers who want to stay overnight, there are a range of accommodation options including hotels and holiday rentals.
The Hotel Villa Strand, which sits right on the beach, costs £183 per night based on two people sharing.
In Hornbæk, 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.
Brits can stay in Denmark for up to 90 days without a visa.
And this isn’t the only overlooked Riviera in Europe either, the Polish seaside town of Sopot is another option for Brit holidaymakers who are looking to escape the crowds.