Learn about Denmark’s history, hike along the cliffs and taste the island’s cuisine.
Allinge is one of the few places in Denmark with cliffs, and if you love history, a visit to the ruins of the Medieval Hammershus Slotsruin is simply a must. Neither should you miss out on the biggest collection of Bronze Age rock carvings in the country.
Allinge is the northern tip of Bornholm and close to the outstanding beauty of Hammerknuden. Over the years, the town has merged with Sandvig and is now often referred to as Allinge-Sandvig. The surrounding area used to be used for granite quarrying, evidence of which includes the stunning Opal Lake.
Take a weekend holiday in Allinge to enjoy the outdoor pursuits on offer here. Go hiking around Hammerknuden and see its jagged cliffs and windblown heaths, where you can also pick juniper berries or heather. If you’d like to go climbing, you’ll need to go a little further south towards Opal Lake. Don’t forget to bathe in the crystal clear water here in the summer, ride the zip line or even dive off the cliff tops – if you’re brave enough that is.
A trip to Allinge is not complete without a visit to the biggest Medieval castle in Northern Europe – Hammershus. Even though the castle was just ruins before it was preserved, you can clearly see the many extensions and modifications made over the years. Peer over the cliff edge and delight at the sight of the sea crashing against the rocks and try to spot the famous rock formations known as the lion heads and camel heads.
Head further back in time and explore the rocks at Madsebakke, where you’ll find Denmark’s biggest area of rock carvings, including ships and chariots from the early Bronze Age. You can get to Bornholm by ferry from Copenhagen or Sweden. There is also an airport at Rønne if you prefer to fly in.
Allinge is also an excellent base to explore the rest of Bornholm, including the herring smokehouses, the round churches and a number of natural wonders such as Ekkodalen and Rokkestenen.
