What to See & Do in Esbjerg
Sights
Overseeing the bustling central square, where most visitors to Esbjerg congregate, stands the equestrian statue of Christian IX, King of Denmark when Esbjerg was founded in 1868. On the corner of the square lies the former courthouse and jail, which now houses Esbjerg Tourist Office.
The Bogtryk Printing Museum contains working presses and a large collection of printed works that illustrate the development of the trade.
The cultural centre is at the impressive Musikhuset Esbjerg which is on Havnegade. The theatre houses regular performances of ballet and opera.
The Marbaek area to the north of the city is a national nature reserve; there are walking trails to enjoy there.
The Esbjerg Memorial commemorates the lives lost at sea here since 1900. Next to it stands a nine-metre tall sculpture, Man Meets the Sea.
On the West Coast road is the Light Mound interactive work, erected in 1997. This is a colossal mound of earth with tiny cupolas of light spread out over it which pulsate with the intensity of the traffic on the West Coast road. It is Denmark’s largest work of art.
The Fisheries and Maritime Museum was opened in 1968 in celebration of the harbour’s centennial. Here you can see an illustrated history of fishing and shipping in the region, whilst in the large outdoor exhibition you can experience a real harbour environment. The museum also contains a huge saltwater aquarium, a sealarium (the seals are fed at 11:00 am and 2:30 pm), and a live mink enclosure.
The Esbjerg Museum contains historic recreations of city shops and streets from the 19th century, and Iron and Viking Age exhibits. The museum also contains Denmark’s finest amber museum, illustrating the history of amber over the last millennium.
For more contemporary tastes, the Esbjerg Art Museum, adjacent to the Esbjerg Performing Arts Centre (Musikhuset), contains 800 works including Danish art from 1920 to the present.
The Harbour Sightseeing Tour is a 1½ hour guided excursion around the busy port and harbour (Jun-Sep).
Shopping
The Kongensgade shopping mall has over two hundred shops specialising in a huge variety of goods, whilst the best eating places and art galleries are in the Torvetgade.
Leisure
Theatre, dance and live music can be found most nights in the city venues, clubs, bars, and wide selection of cosmopolitan restaurants. The natives of Esbjerg have a reputation as being the most “Hygge” (cosy and hospitable) in Denmark.
Transport
The Maersk Airline runs flights into Esbjerg from Copenhagen several times a day. Ferries ply between the ports of Harwich, on England’s east coast, and Esbjerg with three services per week. If using a hire car access the city via the road designated 11 from the German border. From the town of Funen, to the east, the E20 road crosses Jutland to Esbjerg.
