What to experience – craftsmanship, live music, coastal landscapes, local food experiences, small galleries and places where nature and culture come together.
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The Travel Edit is a summer article series in The Journal, where inspiring profiles share their personal guide to the places in Denmark they have a special connection to.
Birgit Lyngbye Pedersen is a design historian and cultural curator with a lifelong passion for art, design, architecture and craftsmanship. Through her work – from Brodie Sessions, live concerts often held in her own living room, to Galleri Sonja in Allinge, designed by Norm Architects, and the Villa Sonja holiday apartments, curated with art and an aesthetic sensibility – she creates encounters between people, art and stories.
For many years, Bornholm has been Birgit's constant anchor. A love affair,
Here, the island's distinctive nature, strong craft tradition and slow pace become a source of both inspiration and reflection.
In this Travel Edit, she shares her personal favourites on Bornholm – places she returns to for nature, gastronomy, craftsmanship and music.
Birgit Lyngbye Pedersen is a design historian and cultural curator with a lifelong passion for art, design, architecture and craftsmanship. Through her work – from Brodie Sessions, live concerts often held in her own living room, to Galleri Sonja in Allinge, designed by Norm Architects, and the Villa Sonja holiday apartments, curated with art and an aesthetic sensibility – she creates encounters between people, art and stories.
For many years, Bornholm has been Birgit's constant anchor. A love affair,
Here, the island's distinctive nature, strong craft tradition and slow pace become a source of both inspiration and reflection.
In this Travel Edit, she shares her personal favourites on Bornholm – places she returns to for nature, gastronomy, craftsmanship and music.
I first came to Bornholm as an adult in 2019. I was working on an art project on the island with the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who designed an exhibition pavilion for the sculptures of Danish artist Sonja Ferlov Mancoba. During that time, I travelled around the island with Tadao Ando's right-hand man and saw Bornholm through his eyes.
That same year, I paddled around the island with some friends, and then I was sold – completely blown away by the nature and the light.
When I met my husband later that year, and the pandemic soon afterwards stopped us from travelling, Denmark – and especially Bornholm – became an obvious place for us to visit and holiday.
Bornholm is beautiful all year round. It's so varied and the perfect place to hike, cycle, swim, eat well and experience nature and culture.
The walk from Allinge to Sandkås, Højlyngsstien, Næs Beach and Olsker Church. The drives across the island and along the coast all year round. The small harbours, the quarries, Hammershus and Hammer Lighthouse, the streets of Rønne, the chimneys of the smokehouses, the music at Gæsten and winter swimming in Sandvig, and much more.
The walk from Allinge to Sandkås, Højlyngsstien, Næs Beach and Olsker Church. The drives across the island and along the coast all year round. The small harbours, the quarries, Hammershus and Hammer Lighthouse, the streets of Rønne, the chimneys of the smokehouses, the music at Gæsten and winter swimming in Sandvig, and much more.
Kadeau, Hjørnet in Svaneke (soon to become Siemsens Gård), Pension Langebjerg in Sandvig, Nordlandet and Christianshøjkroen in Almindingen.
Kadeau Bornholm: Baunevej 18, 3720 Aakirkeby
Hjørnet (moving to Siemsens Gaard): Havnebryggen 9, 3740 Svaneke
Pension Langebjerg: Langebjergvej 7, 3770 Allinge-Sandvig
Hotel Nordlandet: Strandvejen 68, 3770 Allinge
Christianshøjkroen: Segenvej 48, 3720 Aakirkeby
Photo credit: Hjørnet.dk
Kadeau, Hjørnet in Svaneke (soon to become Siemsens Gård), Pension Langebjerg in Sandvig, Nordlandet and Christianshøjkroen in Almindingen.
Kadeau Bornholm: Baunevej 18, 3720 Aakirkeby
Hjørnet (moving to Siemsens Gaard): Havnebryggen 9, 3740 Svaneke
Pension Langebjerg: Langebjergvej 7, 3770 Allinge-Sandvig
Hotel Nordlandet: Strandvejen 68, 3770 Allinge
Christianshøjkroen: Segenvej 48, 3720 Aakirkeby
Photo credit: Hjørnet.dk
It has to be our own breakfast whenever we stay somewhere on the island in our California camper van. We both love the outdoors and are nerds about great coffee from BeanBuddy in Svaneke and breakfast on our Trangia stove – always with a beautiful view. Otherwise, breakfast at Hotel Nordlandet is also a wonderful experience – once again with a beautiful view.
BeanBuddy: Storegade 13, 3740 Svaneke
Hotel Nordlandet: Strandvejen 68, 3770 Allinge-Sandvig
Photo credit: Hotel Nordlandet
It has to be our own breakfast whenever we stay somewhere on the island in our California camper van. We both love the outdoors and are nerds about great coffee from BeanBuddy in Svaneke and breakfast on our Trangia stove – always with a beautiful view. Otherwise, breakfast at Hotel Nordlandet is also a wonderful experience – once again with a beautiful view.
BeanBuddy: Storegade 13, 3740 Svaneke
Hotel Nordlandet: Strandvejen 68, 3770 Allinge-Sandvig
Photo credit: Hotel Nordlandet
Trotting at the world's smallest trotting track in Almindingen is a must. I own a small share in the racehorse Leroy, so it's always a special experience. In summer, I also return to the concerts at Gæsten, which has an outstanding programme of Danish artists in intimate surroundings. Folkemødet and Sol over Gudhjem are two events that really show Bornholm at its very best, and the island's many museums – not least the Hjorths Fabrik museum – are always worth a visit. And if you're interested in craft and design, don't miss Bornholm Craft Weeks.
Gæsten: Havnegade 1, 3770 Allinge
Bornholms Brand Park (the trotting track in Almindingen): Travbanevej 1, 3720 Aakirkeby
Hjorths Fabrik: Krystalgade 5, 3700 Rønne
Photo credit: Hjorths Fabrik
Trotting at the world's smallest trotting track in Almindingen is a must. I own a small share in the racehorse Leroy, so it's always a special experience. In summer, I also return to the concerts at Gæsten, which has an outstanding programme of Danish artists in intimate surroundings. Folkemødet and Sol over Gudhjem are two events that really show Bornholm at its very best, and the island's many museums – not least the Hjorths Fabrik museum – are always worth a visit. And if you're interested in craft and design, don't miss Bornholm Craft Weeks.
Gæsten: Havnegade 1, 3770 Allinge
Bornholms Brand Park (the trotting track in Almindingen): Travbanevej 1, 3720 Aakirkeby
Hjorths Fabrik: Krystalgade 5, 3700 Rønne
Photo credit: Hjorths Fabrik
Our own café, shop and gallery, Galleri Sonja, has to come first. Otherwise, Maude, Flor and Norresan are also good cafés. The many roadside stalls are lovely. Pilegård Cideri. Flødeboller – chocolate-coated marshmallow treats – from Beck in Gudhjem. Matter is a good place to buy ceramics and glass.
Galleri Sonja: Havnegade 26, 3770 Allinge
Maude's Saloner & Café: Storegade 27, 3770 Allinge
Flor: Kirkegade 2, 3770 Allinge
NØRRESAN Café: Nørresan 30, 3770 Allinge
Pilegård Cideri: Pilegårdsvejen 4, Nyker, 3700 Rønne
Becks Chokolade (Gudhjem): Ejnar Mikkelsensvej 28, 3760 Gudhjem
Matter – House of Craft: Snellemark 39, 3700 Rønne
Our own café, shop and gallery, Galleri Sonja, has to come first. Otherwise, Maude, Flor and Norresan are also good cafés. The many roadside stalls are lovely. Pilegård Cideri. Flødeboller – chocolate-coated marshmallow treats – from Beck in Gudhjem. Matter is a good place to buy ceramics and glass.
Galleri Sonja: Havnegade 26, 3770 Allinge
Maude's Saloner & Café: Storegade 27, 3770 Allinge
Flor: Kirkegade 2, 3770 Allinge
NØRRESAN Café: Nørresan 30, 3770 Allinge
Pilegård Cideri: Pilegårdsvejen 4, Nyker, 3700 Rønne
Becks Chokolade (Gudhjem): Ejnar Mikkelsensvej 28, 3760 Gudhjem
Matter – House of Craft: Snellemark 39, 3700 Rønne
Næs Beach and Sandkås Beach, Hammer Harbour, Rø Plantation, the west coast north of Hasle, Almindingen, Slotslyngen in Northern Bornholm, and then there's a wealth of different sights highlighted by the Danish Nature Agency, including Pissebækken in the southern part of Slotslyngen. Hammerknuden is also beautiful. I've spent most of my time in the north, but there are also wonderful places in the south – I just don't know them as well.
Næs Beach and Sandkås Beach, Hammer Harbour, Rø Plantation, the west coast north of Hasle, Almindingen, Slotslyngen in Northern Bornholm, and then there's a wealth of different sights highlighted by the Danish Nature Agency, including Pissebækken in the southern part of Slotslyngen. Hammerknuden is also beautiful. I've spent most of my time in the north, but there are also wonderful places in the south – I just don't know them as well.
That has to be Sandvig Is Kalas.
Sandvig Is Kalas: Strandpromenaden 14, 3770 Allinge-Sandvig
I'm going to quite a few festivals: Heartland, Roskilde Festival and Syd for Solen, and to Gæsten, where I'm going to see Ulige Numre, School of X and Aphaca. Roskilde in particular has a really good music programme this year, so besides David Byrne I'm going to see A Good Year, Elias Rønnenfelt, Smerz, Nourished by Time, Yung Lean and lots more.
At the moment, I'm mostly reading cookbooks, knitting patterns and books about growing your own kitchen garden, but next I'm going to read Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass.
– Gæsten
– Trotting at Almindingen
– Galleri Sonja
– Næs and Sandkås Beach
– Sandvig Is Kalas
Follow Birgit Lyngbye here and at Galleri Sonja, Villa Sonja and Brodie Sessions
Even if you don’t use aromatherapeutic skincare or products for the home, nature still ensures that aromatherapy is all around us. Trees and plants release invisible plant compounds, phytoncides, which research links to lower stress levels and increased activity in the body’s natural defence cells. This is a beautiful account of forest bathing, nature’s aromatherapy and the scientific evidence behind it.
