It's possible once again to jet off for a long weekend of cutting-edge culture, New Nordic food and interesting nature, travelling with British Airways on their reopened direct flight from London Heathrow to the Danish town of Billund.

Located in the heart of the Jutland peninsula, Billund Airport is a global gateway to western Denmark.

BA's service, which resumes on 27 March, departs from Heathrow once daily and touches down in Billund just 1h 45min later — making it the perfect launchpad for a Scandinavian mini-break.

Travellers will find every major rental car company at Billund Airport, along with numerous public transport options right outside the terminal, meaning it's possible for jet-setting mini-breakers to start exploring the region's attractions in no time at all. And from nature to cycling, culture to cuisine, there truly is something for everyone in western Denmark.

Food 

• With its friendly vibe and compact size, Aarhus is perfect for mini-breaks. But Denmark's second city also boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants, a thriving street-food scene, and one of Scandinavia's best coffee roasters and bakeries, La Cabra, in the city's colourful Latin Quarter.
• Billund is the gateway to Denmark's wild, west coast, whose attractions include the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO world heritage site. Visitors can go on an “oyster safari” — wading into the water at low-tide to catch and eat fresh oysters — while every autumn, the island of Rømø hosts an oyster festival that draws foodies from far and wide.
• The west coast is also home to Henne Kirkeby Kro, a cosy 200-year-old inn whose restaurant is run by English chef Paul Cunningham and has two Michelin stars.
• Another local highlight is the gourmet restaurant Lyst, which offers New Nordic cuisine in a stunning setting — Fjordenhus, an architectural wonder designed by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and the jewel in the crown of Vejle's revamped waterfront. In September 2021, Lyst received its first Michelin star. 

Culture

• East of the Jutland peninsula, the island of Funen is home to a major new attraction. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the playfully artistic Hans Christian Andersen museum is dedicated to the life and work of Denmark's famous fairytale author, who was born in the city of Odense.
• With its cobblestoned streets and half-timbered houses, the old port city of Ebeltoft, on Jutland's northeastern coast, oozes charm. It's also home to Maltfabrikken, an old malt factory that's now a trendy cultural hub featuring a concert venue, museum, bistro and microbrewery.
• Architecture aficionados will love the seaport cities of Kolding and Vejle. Kolding is home to the Trapholt Museum, which currently has a major exhibition about Verner Panton. Vejle boasts an Instagram-friendly waterfront that includes the Olafur Eliasson-designed building Fjordenhus and the equally spectacular wave-shaped residential building Bølgen.
• History buffs should make a beeline for Ribe, which was established in the early eighth century, making it the oldest existing town in Denmark. Once a major Viking trading centre, Ribe is home today to the Ribe Viking Centre. It was also at the heart of the Danish witch trials in the 15th and 17th centuries, making it the perfect location for the HEX! — a new museum about witch hunts.
• Located in the laidback city of Aarhus, ARoS is one of the largest and best art museums in northern Europe. As well as “Your Rainbow Panorama” — Olafur Eliasson's multicoloured rooftop panorama, which gives visitors spectacularly colourful views of the city — ARoS is promising a “kaleidoscopic” series of exhibitions this year, ranging from African art to works by Turner and the Danish 19th-century.

Nature and the great outdoors

• Travellers looking to reconnect with nature should join mindfulness instructor Frank Bornakke on a journey along the rivers and forest lakes around Silkeborg, Viborg and Ry. The journey can be made using either a kayak or stand-up paddle board — and the aim throughout is to be present, feel calm, and focus on the senses, making it a unique way to unwind and enjoy what the Danes call friluftsliv — or “living in the free air”.
• Southern Jutland is home to the new Marsh Tower. Designed by superstar architect Bjarke Ingels, the 25-metre-high spiral tower offers fantastic views of the surrounding marshlands — making it a special treat for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
• Spring and autumn offer a chance to witness one of Denmark's great natural phenomena — the Black Sun, or Sort Sol, when millions of migrating starlings fill the sky above the marshlands of the Wadden Sea National Park in Southwestern Jutland.
• Cycling fans will love the peloton-friendly roads in and around Vejle, which boasts some of Denmark's steepest climbs (a relative concept, we admit, in a pancake-flat country). The waterside city is also the starting point of stage three of this year's Tour de France, offering visitors a pedal-powered preview of the world's toughest race.

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For more information or images, please contact PR & Press Manager Maria Thuesen Bleeg: marble@visitdenmark.com