10 reasons to visit Zealand after the Gedser ferry

Distances from Gedser at a glance

Gedser is on Falster, the island south of Zealand. The E55 and E47 take you over the Farø bridges onto Zealand in under an hour. All distances below are approximate road distances from the ferry terminal.

Stop	From Gedser	Driving time	Good for
Møns Klint	about 100 km	1.5 hours	chalk cliffs, walking
Copenhagen	about 160 km	2 hours	city break
Roskilde	about 150 km	1 hour 45	Vikings, cathedral
Hillerød (Frederiksborg)	about 195 km	2 hours 20	castle and gardens
Helsingør (Kronborg)	about 205 km	2.5 hours	castle, ferry to Sweden
North coast beaches	about 220 km	2 hours 40	summer, families

Ten stops worth the drive

1. Copenhagen

The obvious one. Nyhavn, Tivoli, Amalienborg and the food halls at Torvehallerne are all within walking distance of each other, and the city is easier by bike or metro than by car. Park outside the centre and take the train in. Practical detail on getting there is on our Rostock to Copenhagen page, city information at VisitCopenhagen.

2. Møns Klint

Strictly speaking Møn is its own island, connected by bridge, but it is the best detour on the way north: white chalk cliffs dropping 120 metres into a turquoise Baltic, a long wooden staircase down to the beach and a good geology centre at the top. Leave the E47 at Vordingborg.

3. Roskilde

The Viking Ship Museum shows five original ships lifted from the fjord, and you can sail a reconstruction in summer. The cathedral next door is a UNESCO site and the burial church of the Danish monarchs. Details at VisitRoskilde.

4. Kronborg Castle, Helsingør

Hamlet’s Elsinore, on the narrowest point of the Øresund with Sweden 4 km across the water. The casemates under the castle are the highlight. The Helsingør Helsingborg ferry leaves from next door, so this stop combines well with a combination ticket to Sweden.

5. Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød

A Renaissance castle on three islets in a lake, with baroque gardens and the Museum of National History inside. Less crowded than anything in Copenhagen.

6. The north coast beaches

Hornbæk, Gilleleje, Tisvildeleje and Liseleje: wide sandy beaches and fishing harbours along the Kattegat, an hour north of Copenhagen. This is where the capital goes in July. See VisitNorthSealand.

7. Forests and lakes

Gribskov, one of Denmark’s largest forests, and the lakes Esrum and Arresø offer easy walking and cycling between Hillerød and the coast.

8. Danish food beyond the capital

Smørrebrød at a harbour kro, smoked fish in Gilleleje, farm shops on the way through south Zealand. You do not need a Michelin booking to eat well here.

9. Cycling

Zealand is flat, signposted and used to bikes. The Berlin Copenhagen cycle route starts at the ferry in Gedser and runs 300 km to the capital, mostly on quiet roads and paths.

10. Festivals and royal pageantry

Roskilde Festival at the start of July is one of Europe’s biggest. In Copenhagen the Royal Guard changes at Amalienborg every day at noon. VisitDenmark keeps the event calendar.