Where to Stay on Denmark's West Coast: Ribe, Ringkøbing, Hvide Sande or Klitmøller
This one-way route up Denmark's North Sea coast sleeps three times: in Ribe after Rømø, in Ringkøbing after Blåvand and Hvide Sande, and in Hanstholm after the Thyborøn ferry. Each night has a coastal alternative. These are the places to choose from, in the order you meet them.
| Town | Billund Airport | Blåvandshuk | Thyborøn ferry | Rubjerg Knude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rømø | 98 km | 104 km | 209 km | 355 km |
| Ribe | 64 km | 70 km | 174 km | 325 km |
| Hvide Sande | 93 km | 61 km | 89 km | 250 km |
| Ringkøbing | 80 km | 81 km | 75 km | 236 km |
| Klitmøller | 185 km | 209 km | 53 km | 122 km |
| Hanstholm | 184 km | 218 km | 65 km | 111 km |
Rømø
Night 1 — on the Wadden Sea island, if you want to wake up by the beach
Why stay here
- Lakolk beach, more than 700 m wide, is on the island; you reach it over a 9 km causeway
- The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Keep in mind
- 34 km further from Blåvandshuk than Ribe, so day 2 starts with a longer drive
Ribe
Night 1 — the route's choice, often called Denmark's oldest town
Why stay here
- The cathedral and old streets, and from May to mid-October the free night watchman's walk at 20:00
- The shortest drive from Billund Airport of any first night
Keep in mind
- Not on the coast: the beach is back on Rømø
Hvide Sande
Night 2 — the fishing town on the dune strip between the North Sea and Ringkøbing Fjord
Why stay here
- The North Sea on one side and the fjord on the other, with the harbour and the lock in town
- 61 km from Blåvandshuk, the closest second night to it
Keep in mind
- 14 km further from the Thyborøn ferry than Ringkøbing on day 3
Ringkøbing
Night 2 — the route's choice, an old market town at the head of the fjord
Why stay here
- Old houses grouped around the square and the church
- 75 km from the Thyborøn ferry, the shortest start for day 3
Keep in mind
- On the fjord, not the sea: the North Sea beaches are back across Holmsland Klit
Klitmøller
Night 3 — the old fishing village known to surfers as Cold Hawaii
Why stay here
- On the beach inside Thy National Park, Denmark's first national park
- 53 km from the Thyborøn ferry, so day 3 ends earlier than in Hanstholm
Keep in mind
- A small village with few places to stay: in July and August book early
Hanstholm
Night 3 — the route's choice, by the old coastal fortress
Why stay here
- Bunkermuseum Hanstholm, open from February to November, is in town
- 111 km from Rubjerg Knude, the shortest start for day 4
Keep in mind
- The museum is closed in December and January
Before you book
- Summer. The beach towns on this coast fill up in July and August, so book all three nights early for those weeks.
- Holiday houses. Much of the accommodation on the west coast is in holiday houses rather than hotels, often let by the week in summer. For single nights, look at hotels, B&Bs and inns in the towns.
- The ferry and night 3. The last Thyborøn–Agger ferry leaves at 18:00 from September to May and at 21:00 from June to August, and it cannot be booked ahead. If you sleep in Hanstholm or Klitmøller, plan day 3 so you reach Thyborøn in time.
- One-way rental. The route starts at Billund and ends at Aalborg airport. Returning the car in Aalborg may cost a one-way fee.
Distances are by road, from OpenStreetMap routing, from each town to the places in the table.
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