Denmark - May flying into Billund iteriny suggestions

[upthehill]

Need a holiday for 1 week in May and thinking about Denmark. Getting a good price on Billund flights.

My mum was an au pair in Denmark and we returned to visit family a few times when I was little - I always remember it as being really nice. Planning to hire a car and tour about for a week - or maybe we should just decamp to a Somerland! Not sure what is achievable though as there were no bridges when I was last there.

DS are just 3 and just 5 so still a bit little for Legoland (I remember being very upset and not getting on lots of the rides when I was little) but we might consider it.

Yes and I can't spell very well!

itinerary

Are you aware how expensive it is to hire a car in Denmark? When we went a couple of years ago it was cheaper to take our car over on the ferry from Harwich, than pay 20 quid for Ryanair flights and car hire.

But in a week I think you could do a really nice tour up the west coast. Lots of great beaches, up to Skagen to see where the seas collide and back down via Silkeborg (Danish Lake District).

My partners family live on the west coast so I don't really know much about Sjælland but I think it's probably too far for just a week with kids in tow.

Hi, I did a few comparisons and it is ~ £220 for a car for a week. We are in Scotland, so driving to and from Harwich would ruin the holiday for me!!

Ah, that is quite reasonable, I know I've been quoted 150 pounds for less than 48 hours before. Luckily when we normally go the inlaws pick us up from the airport :-)

I went with DH and DD by car/ferry (aged 7 months at the time) in late May last year. It is really easy to get about by car and also worth hiring bikes in a lot of the areas.

I'd give Legoland a go - it is much bigger than the one in the UK and it has lots to do for even a 3 and 5 year old including plenty of indoor attractions (in case of rain) like 3d cinema and an indoor aquarium so I'm sure they would still love it.

Otherwise I'd second the west coast - lots of lovely beaches and walks especially if the weather holds out.

Other places that you can visit are Roskilde where there is a big Viking museum which is quite child friendly and Odense where there is a castle, a zoo and the Hans Christian Anderson Museum (didn't go inside it though so not sure how child friendly it is...)

We had a great holiday in Denmark with an 18m old (but living in the south did ferry via Harwich). He loved legoland then, so would probably be popular with your DC. We stayed in Silkeborg and had days out to AArhus (which has a museum of Danish life which is a reconstructed town with re-enactment etc), Jutland, various other things I've now forgotten... oh yes and Himmelbjerget, the highest mountain (hahaha) in Denmark (nice walk though), Randers rainforest (v good on a wet day), Djursland dyrepark (polar bears, and some very playful young brown bears were a hit with DS1)

It's v kid friendly here, so a great place for a family holiday. Weather can be a bit hit or miss though...

Can also vouch for Legoland, good fun for little ones too. Also Lalandia water park is right there too.

Copenhagen is about a 3hr drive from Billund and worth a trip. Nice, walkable city and worth it for a trip to Tivoli alone. Dyrehavsbakken is a great place for spotting deer (can't miss them!) and walks as well as another fab amusement park (free entry, just pay for rides). Really great fun for all the family. Louisiana in Humlebaek is great and has an amazing 3 story kids art studio where they can paint, do pottery, cut/stick, colour etc for free. Fab grounds to have a picnic by the sea and a Picasso exhibition on at the moment. Helsingor just a little bit north has Hamlet's castle and you can take a quick trip across to Sweden too.

Have fun! Btw, it is really expensive here so you find that it's really common (and completely acceptable) to bring a packed lunch/picnic with you to any of these places mentioned. Eating out really is London prices plus about half again but generally of a really good standard even at the tourist attractions. Mind you, there's always a Polsevogn (hot dog stand) for a cheap, cheerful option!

[Hijack] Where did you find car hire for £220 for a week? I've just been looking for 4 days and they want £360!

Travelsupermarket were showing good prices with Budget - £220 for a family car. Holiday autos were £320. We are thinking of going mid May so not school hols.