Local produce in The Heart of Jutland
Inspiration to find hidden gems and local produce.
The Green Heart of Jutland
© VisitFredericia
Photo: Dannesboe Fotografi
What if a great holiday could also be good for the place you visit?
Here, we take care of Jutland’s green heart – the one we care deeply about – and we’d love to invite you to do the same.
Discover experiences that show consideration,
without compromising the memories that stay with you.
©VisitFredericiaPhoto:Dannesboe Fotografi
Explore unique nature in the Heart of Jutland
This region is home to some of Denmark’s most special natural areas. Many of them are protected under Natura 2000, which is a European network of habitats set aside to protect rare landscapes, plants and wildlife.
It’s about giving space to what’s rare and wild, and letting you experience nature as it is, with care.
The Natura 2000 areas in our region range from open heathlands and deep valleys to quiet forests and waters that wind their way through the landscape. These are places shaped by nature itself, and where you’re invited in, as long as you tread carefully.
A selection of our unique Natura 2000 sites
Whether you’re drawn to open heathlands, damp bogs or forests with views across the fjord, this is nature that’s been left to be itself. Nature you can feel.
Here’s a small selection of Natura 2000 sites where you can take a quiet break, and feel what happens when the landscape leads the way.
Help us care for the Green Heart of Jutland
When you visit Natura 2000 areas, small choices make a big difference: Stick to the paths when possible, take your waste with you, and give wildlife the space it needs. Not to limit your experience – but to make sure the nature stays special tomorrow. For you. And for those, big and small, who might follow your footprints into the wild.
©VisitFredericiaPhoto:Dannesboe Fotografi
Sleep well – and feel even better about it
More than 20 places to stay in the Heart of Jutland are Green Key certified.
That means they care about the environment and use resources responsibly – without compromising your experience.
You’ll still get good morning coffee, fresh sheets (when needed), and a view of what you came for. Just with a slightly clearer conscience.
Below, you’ll find a selection of our places to stay marked with A Green Experience – because they take special care of both their guests and their surroundings.
Travel in new ways that are gentler on the planet
When you travel through our cities and landscapes, experiences are never far apart. Many of them are easy to reach by train, bus or bike
– making it simple to choose greener ways of getting around.
Whether you're heading from city to city or just out to soak up the atmosphere, public transport connects urban life and open nature in every direction. In many places, children travel for free. Rent a bike in just a few clicks. Or lace up your shoes and follow the trails through forests, along the fjord, and into cosy town centres.
Did you know?
Taking the train instead of the car cuts your CO₂ emissions by around half per person.
And choosing the bike instead? That brings you pretty close to zero – with a clear conscience to match.
At www.rejseplanen.dk, you can always find the easiest way to travel between our four cities – whether by train or bus.
Photo:Dannesboe Fotografi
Hop on the bus in the Heart of Jutland
Buses run regularly between the cities in the Heart of Jutland – both locally and across the region. That makes it easy to visit places like LEGOLAND® in Billund, Koldinghus in the heart of Kolding’s old town, the Viking monuments at Kongernes Jelling near Vejle, and the historic fortress town of Fredericia.
Local buses connect town centres with museums, hotels, green spaces and attractions – and in Fredericia, you can even ride the city buses free of charge all day.
Wherever you begin, it’s simple to get around – and easy to travel a little more thoughtfully.
When more of us travel together, we reduce both congestion and CO₂ emissions. It’s a small choice that makes a real difference – for the city, for the climate, and for the next person getting on board.
Regional and local bus operators:
Sydtrafik (Kolding, Fredericia, Vejle, Billund)
Midttrafik (including routes to Billund)
Photo:Dannesboe Fotografi
Travel easily by train in the Heart of Jutland
The cities in the Heart of Jutland are close to each other – in distance as well as in experiences. The train journey between Kolding, Vejle and Fredericia takes less than 20 minutes per leg, making it easy to explore several cities in a short time.
All stations are within walking distance of the town centres, so you arrive right in the middle of it all – close to pedestrian streets, cafés, culture and attractions.
Billund unfortunately has no train connection, but several regional bus routes run to and from Billund, and connections are easy to find from the train stations.
You can travel with DSB or GoCollective and easily plan routes, timetables and tickets online. Plan your entire journey and buy tickets quickly via Rejseplanen.
Travelling with special requirements?
DSB offers assistance and information about accessible travel here.
Grab a bike and get a little closer…
… to the landscape, the sounds, and the small details you might otherwise have passed by. On two wheels, you set the pace – and leave behind almost nothing but tyre tracks. In the Heart of Jutland, routes wind through forests, along fjords and into lively town centres. Some are flat and family-friendly.
Others take you all the way up to the view.
Cycling is a green choice that feels easy. No CO₂. No noise. Just fresh air and a sense of freedom. Many places to stay make it simple to get started. Munkebjerg Hotel and Kolding Hotel Apartments, for example, offer bike rental – and several locations provide e-bikes for longer rides.
Photo:Destination Trekantomraadet
Rent a bike with ease
You don’t need to own a bike to explore the Heart of Jutland at your own pace. You can simply rent one. Easy access, reasonable prices and several providers make it straightforward to get started – whether you’re dreaming of a gentle ride along the fjord or feeling your legs warm up for one of Vejle’s Tour de France climbs.
Some rental companies also offer helmets, child seats and e-bikes. And in many cases, you can return the bike somewhere different from where you picked it up.
Photo:Dannesboe Fotografi
Bring your bike on the train
In the Heart of Jutland, your bike gets a ticket too. That means you can combine cycling with train travel – and enjoy the longer stretches with a good view from the window.
DSB and several local train operators offer bike spaces on selected departures. During peak season, it’s worth booking ahead – both your ticket and a space for your bike. Otherwise, simply roll on board and look forward to the next stretch of the journey. Read more here.
Photo:VisitKolding
Prefer an e-bike?
E-bikes open up even more possibilities – and in our part of Jutland, we do what we can to keep the door wide open. In both Kolding and Vejle, you’ll find charging stations for e-bikes right in the city centre, close to attractions. Several bike rental companies also offer e-bikes for hire.
So take a break. Recharge both yourself and your bike – and continue from where the view last took your breath away.
Photo:Visit Vejle
Looking for cycling route inspiration?
Whether you prefer smooth asphalt, forest trails or hills that really make your legs work, you’ll find routes for every kind of cyclist in the Heart of Jutland.
Did you know that the Tour de France peloton in 2022 battled its way up some of Denmark’s steepest climbs right here in the Heart of Jutland? Stage 3 passed through Vejle – known as the hilliest cycling area in the country – with iconic climbs that still attract riders from near and far.
©VisitVejlePhoto:Mads Hansen
Vejle & Fredericia – hills, fjords and echoes of history
In Vejle, you’ll find some of Denmark’s most varied cycling terrain. You can cruise gently along the fjord – or test yourself on the steep climbs tackled by the Tour de France peloton during Stage 3 in 2022. The area offers 19 signposted routes combining nature and elevation, and several are almost entirely free of car traffic.
Not far away, Fredericia opens up with gentle coastlines, green forest stretches and history at handlebar height. Follow the paths along the Little Belt, take a detour through Hannerup Forest, or cycle through the old ramparts in the heart of the city. Perfect for families – and for those who want to experience more with a little less pulse.
©Destination LillebæltPhoto:Kenneth Stjernegaard
Kolding & Billund – forest, fjord and world-famous attractions
In Kolding, you can cycle from forest trails to Koldinghus Castle without taking your hands off the handlebars for long.
A little further south lies the UNESCO town of Christiansfeld. By bike, it feels like riding straight into history – and the pace is perfect for a well-timed break with the town’s world-famous honey cakes.
Billund offers something entirely different: open landscapes, heathlands and globally known attractions. Bring your mountain bike to Gyttegård Plantation or cycle to Engsøen near Grindsted for a quiet pause. And when your legs need a rest, LEGOLAND® and several other attractions are just around the corner – ready to turn your ride into a family day out.