Silkeborg between lakes, trails and culture

Silkeborg combines tranquil lake landscapes, varied trails and an unusually diverse range of cultural attractions. Those looking for an apartment or holiday home for their trip can choose between walks by the water, nature experiences, active routes and museums, depending on their preferred daily rhythm. The different possibilities make Silkeborg a destination where families can shape their trip in entirely different ways.

Lakes and trails for different daily plans

The lakes around Silkeborg, including Silkeborg Langsø, Almind Sø and Julsø, invite you to enjoy peaceful walks by the water. At Silkeborg Langsø, a 7-kilometre walking trail runs around the eastern part of the lake. The route is easy to follow, although it is not signposted. Maps and brochures for walking trails in and around Silkeborg are available for download and can be helpful when planning your own outings.

For a shorter route, the Ørnsøstien is a good option: this family-friendly walking trail is approximately 3.5 kilometres long and leads through varied nature by Ørnsø in Silkeborg. Visitors can observe geese, coots and ducks there; kingfishers and herons are also often seen along the lake shores. The trail around Almindsø is designated as a certified family trail and recognised by the Danish Hiking Association as a quality trail.

Those who would prefer to plan their walk more precisely according to the desired distance can include the Trækstien. This walking trail follows the Gudenå through a green landscape and can be divided into sections. The Silkeruten also has three official starting points with parking facilities and information boards about the route. This provides a choice of different starting points and route formats, so not every day of the holiday has to follow the same plan.

Nature experiences and active excursions

In Nordskoven, there is a mountain biking training area of approximately 10 hectares near Korsdalshus. Riding is permitted there throughout the forest floor; at the same time, the usual rules for cycling in forests apply. For visitors looking for a more sporting activity in addition to walks, this specific location offers another way to spend time in Silkeborg.

AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark is a large, family-friendly experience centre dedicated to Danish nature. The experiences described there include otter feeding: together with an animal keeper, visitors prepare the food and then feed the otters. The Silkeborg Østerskov route begins at the AQUA car park on Vejlsøvej. Those travelling without their own car should note that bus route 4 runs from Silkeborg Trafikterminal to AQUA.

Art, paper and history

Silkeborg also has notable cultural attractions. Asger Jorn gave Silkeborg almost 5,500 works by around 150 different artists between 1953 and 1973. The Papirmuseet is Denmark’s specialist museum for paper and papermaking. It is a living museum, a production site for handmade paper and a knowledge centre. It is housed in the former production rooms of the old Silkeborg Papirfabrik.

KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad comprises around 4,000 works by more than 200 Danish and individual foreign artists from the 1830s to the 1990s. Another special attraction is the Tollund Man, which has been located at Hovedgården in Silkeborg since 1952. These places give a stay a cultural focus that can be combined well with a walk or a nature route, without the holiday having to be shaped exclusively by a single activity.

Silkeborg Slot has medieval roots and was alternately owned by nobles, bishops and kings. The castle stood on a projecting peninsula where the Remstrup Å – as this part of the Gudenå is called – flows into Silkeborg Langsø. The area’s history also includes the official inaugural voyage of the Hjejlen, which travelled from Himmelbjerget to Silkeborg on 24 June.

The right accommodation for your travel style

When looking for accommodation in Silkeborg, it is worth deciding on your personal focus: if peaceful lakeside trails are the main attraction, the routes at Silkeborg Langsø, Ørnsø or Almindsø are natural themes for planning your days. Those who prefer longer walks can explore the Trækstien in sections or choose one of the three starting points of the Silkeruten. For families, AQUA, the Ørnsøstien and the certified trail at Almindsø offer concrete ideas for shared experiences. Culture enthusiasts will find several distinct focal points in the Papirmuseet, KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad, Asger Jorn’s works and the Tollund Man.

An apartment or holiday home should therefore above all suit the desired mix of nature, activity and culture. When choosing, check the location in relation to your planned activities and put together a holiday that allows for both eventful excursions and quieter days by the water.

Discover more places

If you would like to compare pages for other places in addition to Silkeborg, you can find Them Kommune, Ans, Virklund, Vrads, Kongensbro, Svostrup, Bryrup and Store Bredlund here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Silkeborg Kommune.