Guide Service in Odense

Go on a guided boattrip on Odense Å from Munkemose to Hunderup Skov and continue on foot across Fruens Bøge to Den fynske Landsby.

This guided tour starts at Munkemose, we go by boat past the mansions in the Hunderup District and Odense Zoo, arriving at Hunderup Skov. On out way there, I explain about the sights we pass.

When we arrive at the Terminal for Åfarten, we continue on foot across the beautiful area Fruens Bøge (The beeches of Our Lady), which has been a recreational park area for the locals for more than a century.

The tour finishes at Den Fynske Landsby, an open air museum showing village life as it was some 200 years ago. It is even possible to book an additional tour of Den Fynske Landsby

In the Middle Ages there were four churches in Odense: Sct. Albany Church, Church of Our Lady, Sct. Hans Church – with the outside brick pulpit and Sct. Knuds Church (Odense Cathedral). The last three of these still exist today.

In 1086, king Canute the Holy was killed in front of the high altar in Sct. Albany Church. Only 15 years later, this brutal ruler was canonized because of the scene of his murder and Odense got a new cathedral named after Sct. Canute.

The cathedral is the finest gothic building in Denmark and absolutely worth visiting. It is also known for its altarpiece made by Claus Berg.

My guests prefer usually to see the inside of the Cathedral and the outside of both the Cathedral and Sct. Hans Church and a broader tour into the renaissance in Odense.

Few cities have undergone such drastic changes as Odense has since the beginning of the 00’s. A brand new city centre, new bridges, a transformed harbour and lots of new neighbourhoods and a tram system to tie it all together.

It has all been based on a long-term strategy with the aim of transforming the city from a sad provincial hick town into a modern city. 

On this guided tour all the major urban development projects will be tied together – and along the way we will both walk and ride the tram.

We can enjoy lunch or dinner along the way at one of Odense's most classic restaurants if we add an hour. This must be mentioned when making the booking.

A walking tour through Asetro (Norse paganism), regicide, and Christianity.

How did Odense become the city we know today?

On this city walking tour, we travel back to the Viking Age and the early Middle Ages – a time when Asetro (Norse paganism) and Christianity collided, and Odense emerged as a center of power.

Along the way, we will encounter Denmark's last Viking king, Canute the Holy (Knud den Hellige), who was murdered in St. Alban's Church in 1086 and later canonized as a saint. We will follow the tracks of the first churches and monasteries, and hear the story of the city that was then known in latin as Othensesuuig or in danish as Odins Vi.

Among other sites, we will visit the area around Harald Bluetooth’s ring fortress, Nonnebakken, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and discuss where Odins Vi might potentially have been located.

The tour ends at the Assistens Cemetery, home to Denmark's only burial ground for followers of the Norse faith – a place where the beliefs of the vikings still leave their mark.

A walking tour through Norse paganism, regicide, and Christianity

Meeting point is in front of Odense Koncerthus and the tour starts with the story of a changing Odense and its cultural life

Odense Koncerthus is the home of Odense Symphony Orchestra and is, despite its 40 years still the centre of classical music in Odense

The neighbouring building Odeon is a completely different story: Odeon was opened in 2017 and is a modern music- and cultural house, built for big shows and concerts. We step into the lobby and get an impression of the architecture and possibilities of the house.

From Odeon there are only a few steps to the centre of the exciting new part of Odense, the area around and on the now closed road Thomas B. Thrigesgade. The road carved its way straight through central Odense and after it was closed some years ago, possibilities arose for a change of the city. New neighbourhoods, new urban areas and shopping arcades. The transformation has been long and hard but now Odense has almost reached its goal "New Odense".

There is so much to see and many questions to answer, so join the tour and learn about the big town that wanted to be a city!

We'll take a boat down along Odense River. A child-friendly and informative guided experience.

I'll tell you about the beautiful villas in Hunderup, the local sports teams and the University Hospital.

I'll also tell you about the surrounding nature and the story about why there are too many male ducks in the river. If you see a camel upon passing by Odense Zoo, I can tell you exactly how it got its characteristic hump.

At Fruens Bøge we can walk through the forest, find a secret cave, jump over stepping stones to ford a stream, and kids can play around in the natural playground. We can even organise role-playing games that take interest and age-group into consideration.

Refreshments can either be brought along from home or bought in Munke Mose park, Skovsøens ice cream shop or restaurant Carlslund. Guideservice Danmark will gladly assist with placing orders.

Since the beginning of the 00s, the Port of Odense has undergone a monumental change. Get the whole story told by a guide who has seen it all while it has all been going on.

On the tour you get the big overview and get behind scenes and hear some of the hidden anecdotes – and it's all put into context of the greater story about the wild journey that Odense as a city has been through since the turn of the millennium.

With this extended city walk on and around the harbor over the course of 2.5 hours, the story unfolds completely – we also experience a walk along a part of the canal and cross the Odin’s Bridge, which is Northern Europe's largest swing bridge. Good walking skills are required.