VisitOdense news

Odense Municipality has launched a new digital application system that makes it easier for organisers to apply for permission to host outdoor public events.

VisitOdense blends culture, innovation and fairytale charm in appointing Indian superstar Taapsee Pannu as the city’s new global tourism ambassador.

Odense looks back on a particularly positive peak season. In summer 2025, Odense recorded 215,996 overnight stays — an increase of 6.9% compared with last year. This makes Odense the Danish city with the highest tourism growth during the summer.

A new project supported by the Danish Board of Business Development aims to boost overnight stays and revenue from international visitors outside the high season, driven by the strong potential of cultural tourism in Denmark’s four major cities.

The Women’s Final4 handball tournament will be held in Odense for the next three years. Tophåndbold has signed its first multi-year hosting deal and, together with Destination Fyn, Odense Municipality and Odense Sport & Event, aims to create the perfect event setting.

In the first half of 2025, Odense saw a 43% increase in American tourists compared to the same period in 2024. Compared to 2019, the increase is an impressive 353%. This makes Odense one of the fastest-growing destinations for American travelers in Denmark – at a time when tourism to the U.S. is on the decline.

On Friday, August 22nd, an Odense light rail train was transformed into both a silent disco and a high-energy DJ party on rails, when Let the Beat Ride, featuring top DJ Rune Rask, launched several weeks of welcome activities for the city's new students.

Odense Municipality has launched an ambitious new plan where public art and murals will help open up the city’s courtyards and passages — ultimately strengthening Odense’s appeal as a vibrant cultural destination.

In August 2026, some of the world’s top golfers will descend on Kerteminde, as Funen hosts the prestigious Danish Golf Championship on the DP World Tour for the first time. The event will take place on the exclusive Great Northern course.

ANDERSEN FOREVER - a grand celebration of the 150th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen's death.

Today, the full program for ANDERSEN FOREVER in Odense is announced – an ambitious marking of the 150th anniversary of H.C. Andersen’s death, featuring over 50 unique events and 38 contributo

Odense is setting new standards for collaboration between the city’s cultural, tourism, and experience sectors. For the first time in Denmark, a destination management organization, the municipality, and cultural institutions have come together to establish a shared Cultural Tourism Manifesto.

Hans Christian Andersen passed away 150 years ago, but his stories live on. They are part of our shared narrative, our cultural heritage, our identity. They still touch us – from Nr. Nebel to New Delhi.

As part of the application to gain UNESCO World Heritage status for Nonnebakken—alongside the four other Danish ring fortresses—plans were presented on how to make Odense’s Viking history more accessible and engaging for both tourists and locals.

Ny TV-julekalenderudstilling er på vej på Møntergården i Odense. Udstillingen er en fortsættelse af sidste års succesfulde udstilling, der havde knap 12.000 gæster. I år er udstillingen baseret på en ny TV-julekalender fra TV 2. 

This week, Restaurant ARO in Odense received its first Michelin star. This means that Odense – and Fyn in particular – is now home to its first Michelin-starred restaurant. It is a gastronomic seal of approval that highlights the cultural revival the city has undergone in recent years.

The project aims to create internationally competitive cultural destinations that contribute to sustainable development and provide clear value for the local community.

Influential international media such as The New York Times and Vogue have truly discovered Odense as a cultural hub. That recognition is now backed by record-high visitor numbers at the city’s largest attractions and hotels in 2022.

The New York Times has just published its prestigious list of 50 cities to visit in 2023, and Odense has earned a prominent spot at number 28 – the only Danish city to make the list. 

Today, Odense’s new cultural landmark, H.C. Andersen’s House, was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen. After the opening ceremony, Her Majesty toured the museum’s captivating exhibitions and immersed herself in the poetic universe and timeless stories of the world-famous author.

When H.C. Andersen’s House opens to the public following its official inauguration on 30 June, visitors won’t experience the full museum right away. Instead, the museum will gradually open more and more in what’s known as a soft opening throughout the summer.