VisitOdense news

Building on Nonnebakken’s UNESCO designation, Odense will use its Viking history to strengthen the city’s cultural identity and make a central part of Danish history visible in the urban landscape.

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.

Odense will host ISARC 2027 – the world’s leading robotics and construction automation conference – marking its first appearance in the Nordics. With global experts, workshops and networking, the event cements Odense’s role as a hub for innovation, robotics, and green building.

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

Kunstmuseum Brandts has just achieved Green Attraction certification, which means that all classic museums and attractions in Odense Municipality are now environmentally certified.

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.

On Saturday, the Carl Nielsen Museum won the coveted Micheletti Award at the European Museum Academy’s award ceremony in Cyprus – the museum world’s equivalent of the Oscars in Hollywood.

Locals and visitors in Odense can look forward to a magical festive season in the city of fairy tales, where modern urban atmosphere and nostalgic Christmas cosiness come together in an enchanting Christmas universe for the whole family.

Through Odense’s idyllic streets, deep green forests, along gently flowing streams and past the thatched cottage where the world-famous composer grew up. On 1 September, a 120-kilometre audio walk from Odense to Faaborg will open, taking walkers along a beautiful route across Funen.

In July, Paris will be transformed into one big Olympic celebration, attracting athletes and visitors from all over the world. And in connection with the event, one of Odense’s biggest tourist attractions is also heading to the City of Love.

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.

2024 was a record year for tourism in Odense. With an impressive 6% increase in overnight stays compared with the previous year, Odense is cementing its position as one of Denmark’s most attractive destinations for both Danish and international visitors.

The American magazine Forbes is highlighting Scandinavia as an attractive travel destination in an article featuring five must-visit attractions in 2024.

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. 

On Saturday 30 September, Odense’s Viking fortress Nonnebakken will be illuminated by the installation What was and what is, putting the spotlight on Odense’s largest and most important historic monument.

Odense’s 1,000-year-old Viking fortress Nonnebakken is, with its central role in the formation of the Danish kingdom and its physical size, Odense’s largest and most important ancient monument. The fortress is well preserved and has become Funen’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.