Explore Allinge-Sandvig

Two towns with their own atmosphere

Allinge has the harbour, the shops, the restaurants and the summer town life that many people know. Here you’ll find smokehouses, cafés and small places where you can take a break with views of both harbour and rocks.

Sandvig has a quieter tone. Here, the beach lies close to the old seaside hotels, the promenade and the special nature found on the northern tip of the island. It is a good place to begin the day with a swim or end it with a slow walk along the water.

Between the two towns, you sense how short distances on Bornholm often are, while the experiences change quickly. A corner, a staircase, a path or a new view can change the whole atmosphere.

Hammerhavn and the coast from the water

A little south of Sandvig lies Hammerhavn, where the rocks, the sea and Hammershus meet in one of North Bornholm’s most distinctive coastal landscapes.

From here, you can experience the coast from the water on boat trips along the rocks. From the boat, you see the landscape in a different way, with steep rock walls, caves, seabirds and views up towards Hammershus.

Hammerhavn is also a lovely stop in itself. Here you can walk along the water, look out over the coast and sense how closely nature and history lie around the harbour.

Sandvig Beach, Hammerknuden and open views

Sandvig Beach lies at the foot of Hammerknuden and is a natural meeting place on warm days. Here you’ll find sand, low rocks, ice cream and coffee nearby, and easy access to walks further out into nature.

From the beach, you can walk towards Hammerknuden and Opalsøen, where the landscape becomes more rugged. Rocks, paths, views and open sea follow you through the terrain. It is one of the places on Bornholm where you clearly sense the northern tip of the island.

You do not have to walk far to feel that you are out in nature. In Allinge-Sandvig, nature begins almost where the town ends.

Madsebakke and the traces in the rock

Close to Allinge lies Madsebakke, one of the largest areas of rock carvings in the Nordic region. Here you can see traces from the Bronze Age directly in the rock.

The motifs are not always easy to spot. And perhaps that is exactly part of the experience. You have to stop, look closely and let your eyes adjust to the surface of the rock. Ships, sun symbols and cup marks lie like small signs from people who stood here long before the town life of today.

Madsebakke is a quiet contrast to the busy summer days in Allinge. A place where history does not shout, but lies just beneath the surface.

Town life and food experiences in Allinge-Sandvig

Allinge-Sandvig has a lively town life, closely woven together with the rocks and the harbour. In the winding streets, you will not find large chain stores, but small, cosy shops with wool yarn, local art, crafts and Bornholm specialities. Here, it is about exploring and finding the small things you were not necessarily looking for on the way between beach and town.

The twin towns have a generally high culinary standard. Dining ranges from simple luxury to ambitious gourmet cuisine. You can eat warm herring at the classic harbour smokehouses, but you will also find intimate cafés with good coffee and creamy local ice cream. When darkness falls, the town’s exciting restaurants open their doors for dinners centred on the island’s best ingredients.

The high culinary standard makes Allinge-Sandvig a place where you want to linger and let the meals shape the day.

Closer to history, art and landscape

The area around Allinge-Sandvig is home to several museums where you can learn more about life by the coast, the importance of granite and the people who have left their mark on the area.

Also explore galleries, crafts and local workshops, where North Bornholm’s light, rocks and coast often find their way into the work.

You also encounter history out in the landscape. There are old lighthouses, ruins, chapels and traces of seafaring, faith and work with granite. At Salomons Kapel, the remains of a small medieval chapel lie in the open landscape, close to rocks, sea and views.

Excursions and walks from Allinge-Sandvig

Allinge-Sandvig is a good place to begin if you want to experience North Bornholm on foot or by bike.

You can walk towards Hammerknuden, Opalsøen, Madsebakke and Hammershus. You can follow the coast, take small roads through the landscape or choose a shorter route between beach, harbour and rocks.

Hammerknuden Rundt is one of the classic walks in the area. It takes you through hilly rocky terrain with views of the sea and Bornholm’s northern tip. Wear good walking shoes and take your time, because here both the terrain and the views are part of the experience.