Holiday homes on Fanø: holidays on the Danish island in the Wadden Sea

Fanø is one of Denmark's most popular islands. If you are looking for a holiday home on Fanø, you have come to the right place. There are many reasons to holiday on Fanø: fresh air, salt water, and wide sandy beaches, for example. Fanø's beaches are among the best in Northern Europe. There are numerous holiday homes on Fanø in the dunes, promising you a wonderful holiday.

Fanø Island at a glance

Fanø is located just 50 kilometers north of the German border. It is the northernmost of Denmark's Wadden Sea islands. Covering an area of just under 60 square kilometers, Fanø stretches across the North Sea and is Denmark's second smallest municipality.

The island's population is growing steadily and now stands at around 3,500. Many of the island's residents commute to the mainland every day for work. In the opposite direction, around 300 people come to the island every day, mainly to work in holiday home tourism.

Rent a holiday home on Fanø

There are many holiday homes on Fanø with sea views and close to the beach. The dunes are also never far from your holiday home.

Many vacation homes are equipped with a whirlpool, sauna, and swimming pool, which is typical for Denmark. In a vacation home on Fanø with a fireplace, you can even spend the fall and winter on the island. The vacation homes on Fanø are privately rented, so you can sometimes even get a few tips for your vacation from the homeowners!

If you are planning a vacation with your dog on Fanø, you will want to choose a holiday home with a fenced-in terrace. There is a huge selection of holiday homes on Fanø for dog owners! Many vacation homes on this North Sea island welcome dogs, offer plenty of space, and allow both humans and their four-legged friends to enjoy a carefree vacation. Even outside the property, Fanø is very dog-friendly with its wide beaches, forests, and a dog forest.

The most popular locations for vacation homes on Fanø include Fanø Bad and Rindby Strand in the middle of the island, as well as Sonderho in the south of Fanø.

How do you get to the island?

As you now know, Fanø's history is closely linked to shipping. Although Fanø can no longer be reached by old wooden ship, it can be reached by ferry, which also transports cars. The crossing to this charming island starts in Esbjerg and takes you across the North Sea to the port of Nordby. You can book tickets for the Fanø ferry online or buy them directly at the ticket office at the ferry port in Esbjerg.

Advance booking is not necessary, as the ferry runs between the mainland and the island almost around the clock. Just come to the port at your desired departure time: during peak hours, the car ferry runs every 20 minutes.

The three ships Fenja, Menja, and Grotte, which are used on the route to Fanø, can accommodate up to 35 cars. On board the small Fanø ferry, you will soon see land ahead! As the crossing only takes about 12 minutes, you will reach the island very quickly. Your holiday home vacation with Esmark can therefore begin immediately.

Fanø's wildlife: Seal safari by ferry

Fanø is located in the middle of the Wadden Sea National Park. No wonder seals and sea lions feel particularly at home here and enjoy nature. With a little luck, you will be accompanied by these cute sea creatures on your crossing to Fanø.

If watching the seals on the short ferry trip isn't enough for you, depending on the season, you also have the opportunity to see the animals up close on a seal safari with the M/S Martha ship.

The tour with the M/S Martha is one of the most popular activities on Fanø. Nature lovers in particular will get their money's worth here when the seals and sea lions tumble around on the sandbanks. There is also the opportunity to discover the diverse world of wading birds.

The excursion boat departs from “Svenskerbroen” in Nordby on selected days. In addition to the seal safari, a two-hour harbor tour in Esbjerg is also offered. You can find the timetable on the M/S Martha website, where you can also buy tickets.

Seals on a sandbank off Esbjerg and Fanø (Seal safari North Sea)

Discover Fanø's nature

Another attraction for a vacation in a holiday home is the Klitplantage between Rindby and Sønderho. It covers around a quarter of the island. Here you will find colorful forests, green meadows, and dunes that are perfect for walking, hiking, and cycling. In the middle of the dune plantation is a popular forest playground with wooden climbing frames and swings set among dunes and green nature. The many hiking trails offer the perfect alternative to relaxing on the island's beautiful beaches, allowing you to discover new facets of this fascinating North Sea island.

Fanø is also home to Fanø Fuglekøjer, a bird colony that was established in the 19th century to catch wild ducks. At that time, ducks were caught here to enrich the island's meager diet. Today, two of the Fuglekøjer have been converted into an open-air museum that can be visited with the whole family. The Albuen Fuglekøje at the foot of Annesdalbjerg is particularly beautiful. The colony is also equipped with a fireplace and shelters.

Sights for young and old

In addition to authentic nature experiences, the island of Fanø offers many sights that are particularly fascinating for culture enthusiasts. The beautiful town of Nordby showcases the island's proud history over the last two centuries. Particularly worth seeing are the maritime and traditional costume collections in the Fanø Museum and the partly international exhibition in the municipality's art museum. The collection includes selected works by artists who worked on the island in the North Sea at various times.

The village of Sønderho also has an old windmill for visitors to see. It is believed that the first windmill was built on this site in 1700. The mill is open to visitors in summer.

In Nordby Kirke, the local church dating from 1786, you can admire nine small model ships. In Sønderho Church, 15 ships hang from the ceiling. Both churches are built of brick and therefore differ significantly from the small, white churches in the rest of Denmark. The blue wooden benches and pulpit paintings make the churches well worth seeing.

A tip: If you prefer a more active leisure time, swap a museum tour for a visit to the golf course. This is the oldest golf course still in existence in Denmark and offers not only a real nature experience but also plenty of challenges for players!

Wool and craftsmanship from Fanø

There are a number of islanders on Fanø who have dedicated themselves to craftsmanship. In Sønderho, a small handicraft shop offers wool and accessories in natural colors. Near Rindby, there is an art shop where you can also buy candles, embroidery, and other home accessories.

Bunkers on Fanø

During World War II, around 300 bunkers were built on Fanø by the German occupying forces. During this period, the population doubled temporarily as more than 4,000 Danish and German workers arrived on the island. The largest bunkers were located in the north of Fanø, some of which can be seen when entering Esbjerg. Many of them are now partially or completely buried under the dunes, but others can still be visited. Among the most fascinating bunkers are those in Pælebjerg and Fanø Nord.

Other activities: Colorful kite festival

In summer, the beach is naturally the center of attention on Fanø. But there is also plenty to discover elsewhere. In the holiday resorts of Fanø Bad and Rindby Strand, you can relax with a game of mini golf, soccer golf, or tennis.

Every year in June, the famous Fanø Kite Festival takes place. This colorful festival is also known as the “International Kite Fliers Meeting” and stretches across the entire Fanø beach. Between Thursday and Sunday, thousands of enthusiastic visitors, spectators, and kite fans from Denmark and Europe come to visit. During this time, so many colorful kites float above the island that you can hardly see the sky. As part of a humorous campaign, some of the kites are auctioned off for a good cause at the end of the kite festival.

The history of the island

The island of Fanø was formed over 8,000 years ago. The name Fanø (Danish Fanø) translates as “the marshy, muddy island,” as it was formed on large sandbanks. These gradually developed into an island in the Wadden Sea. At that time, holiday homes were of course unthinkable! It is believed that the first people settled on Fanø around 1231, at least according to the first written records from that time.

The first inhabitants of the island were mainly sailors. Around 1500, there was a small fishing village in Nordby, which was then called Odden. From here, the men signed on to large fishing boats and merchant ships.

From 1760 onwards, Fanø also began building its own ships. However, as there was no wood anywhere on the island, it first had to be brought in from Esbjerg across the sea, which was a laborious process. The ships were built in Nordby and Sønderho on the wide beaches, which are now among the most beautiful beaches in Denmark.

By 1896, over 1,000 ships had been built on Fanø. At some point, however, the fleet became too large for the island, so the shipyards were simply unable to accept any more new orders. In addition, the port of Esbjerg grew in importance and many shipping companies only wanted to build ships made of iron and steel. This sealed the fate of the shipyards on Fanø. In 1919, the very last Fanø ship was sold.

Vacation homes on Fanø – not far from the beach

The beach is Fanø's largest natural playground. There is space here for all kinds of activities. Colorful kites fly in the air, families with children play soccer and volleyball, and of course, everyone goes swimming. Fanø is a paradise for your vacation home holiday if you love sea views and sandy beaches. There are beaches for sunbathers, beaches for sports enthusiasts, and beaches for those interested in the island's beautiful nature. With Esmark's vacation rentals, you are just a stone's throw away! Rent the perfect vacation rental in Rindby or Sönderho, right on the beach or in the dunes of Fanø, to enjoy your Denmark vacation to the fullest.

Fanø Beach

The most beautiful bathing beach is located on the west side of Fanø. The best place for swimming is the long and wide stretch of beach between Fanø Bad and Rindby Beach. The beach is 15 kilometers long and approximately 1 kilometer wide. There is an ice cream kiosk, public toilets, and in summer there is always a lifeguard watching over the beach and the sea.

Buggy Beach

Buggy Beach is located south of Rindby. All kinds of beach and water sports activities are possible here. The conditions are ideal for surfers and especially kite surfers. A little further south, the beach becomes narrower, at least at high tide. Here, you have a good chance of finding amber.

Sønderho Beach

Sønderho Beach is in a quiet location and is not intended for swimming. However, it is ideal for long walks. While walking, you can observe the many wading birds flying overhead. With a vacation home on Fanø in Sønderho, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the sea and the beaches as soon as you wake up.

Søren Jessens Sand

Søren Jessens Sand is no ordinary beach, but more like a sandy desert. Many visitors come here to experience Denmark's unique natural surroundings. If you look towards the water, you can see the ships on the horizon. It is located north of Fanø Strand and is about 1 kilometer wide.

Tip: Driving is permitted on some parts of Fanø's wide beaches. Fanø Strand is easy to drive on.

Vacation with Esmark Holiday Home Rental on Fanø

Since January 3, 2022, you can find our Esmark holiday home office on Fanø in the village of Rindby. Here, we are available to assist you personally during your vacation if you have any questions or need help.

On the day of arrival, you will receive your key and information documents for your vacation home on Fanø at our office. You can also find out more about the island, activities, and current events on Fanø. Feel free to drop by, we speak English.

The Fanø ferry runs daily between Esbjerg and the island Fanø.