People come to Bornholm to experience nature, and with good reason. This tidy little island has a remarkably varied landscape. Though it experiences cold winters, warm currents flowing into the Baltic Sea make the island’s climate mild enough to support tender plants such as figs and mulberries.

In the forest of Almindingen, at the island’s center, stands an unusual “rocking stone” – a huge boulder carried by a drifting glacier during the last ice age and perched in a position that lets it rock back and forth.

In Døndalen you’ll find one of the island’s magnificent waterfalls.

From Nexø in the east, around the south coast all the way to Hasle, the formidable rocky coastline gives way to pleasant, clean sandy beaches for bathing in the Baltic Sea. Dueodde, at the island’s southernmost point, is one of the most popular.

Here are some ways to enjoy the great outdoors on Bornholm:
- Rent a bike to explore the rocky west coast of the island.
- Try snorkeling, scuba diving or wind-surfing off the east coast.
- Hike around Hammer Lake at the northern tip of the island.
- Explore caves by boat in the west.
- Golf at the challenging 18-hole course at Rø.

Hasle Smokehouse is a wonderful stop for lunch. For dinner, find a cozy table at one of the many restaurants and cafés overlooking the Baltic.

Bornholm is known throughout Europe for its outstanding efforts at historic preservation. Spend a day on a hunt for Bornholm’s historic past.

You can trace its history back to the Stone Age through prehistoric dolmens, or stone arches, that still stand on the island. Naturally, the Vikings left their mark here too, in the form of runic stones and other artifacts found in Almindingen forest.

Perhaps the island’s most famous historic structure is the medieval castle of Hammershus, northern Europe’s largest castle ruin.

The beautiful market town of Svaneke, known for its wooden houses, was awarded the European Gold Medal for Historic Preservation in 1975. The old city center of Rønne, with its cobbled streets and historic theater, is one of the best-preserved places in all of Denmark. And in Gudhjem the ancient alleys and streets are so steep that cyclists must walk their bikes up and down the hills.

Among the more interesting structures on the island are four round churches that date from the 1100s. They’re all open to visitors; you might even be lucky enough to attend one of the renowned church concerts that take place throughout the year.

Painters became Bornholm’s earliest tourists, lured by the island’s stunning sunlight some 150 years ago. Today Bornholm is known as an artists’ colony, where visitors can see painters, sculptors and craftspeople at work in their studios or at their easels in the countryside.

Start your artistic tour at the mills and historic water tower in the charming east coast town of Svaneke. Sip a local brew at a café on the square, sample traditional smoked herring and smoked salmon at the Svaneke Smokehouse, then stroll to the seaside.

Head north along the coast, stopping to watch the glassblowers at Baltic Sea Glass. Then continue to the picturesque town of Gudhjem where you can board a boat to take you to the Art Museum of Bornholm. The museum features the work of Danish and Swedish painters from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

On most summer weekends you’re likely to find busy antique and craft markets in the bigger towns. Check the local calendars to find out which artists have opened their studios to visitors, or simply soak up artistic inspiration in the villages and countryside.