The Hamptons of Denmark are the perfect spot to end the season. The Danish Riviera lies on the north coast of Zealand, the country’s largest island. It overlooks the Kattegat, which connects to the larger Baltic Sea. It’s home to three royal castles, large lakes, and protected forests. It also has miles and miles of sandy beaches.
Tisvildeleje is the heart of this coastal region. The former fishing village lies 40 miles—or just 1.25 hours on the train—north of Copenhagen. Helene Spring, one of Denmark’s most popular springs, offers hope to people whose illnesses haven’t been cured by traditional means. Music festivals and a flea market attract a hip crowd. Colorful fishermen’s houses have been turned into charming summer homes. While Tisvildeleje Beach, a one-kilometer stretch of white sand, is one of the best beaches in the country.
A day trip just won’t cut it, though. You need a weekend or, better yet, a long weekend, in Tisvildeleje. You need a waterfront hotel and a light-filled room, terrace cocktails and seafood meals. Plus you need beach time. Lots and lots of beach time.
Helenekilde Badehotel checks all of these boxes—and more. The whitewashed house was built at the end of the 19th century, became a hotel a few years later, and eventually expanded into the house next door. Its most recent renovation, about a decade ago, turned it into the boutique hotel it is today.
The hotel has a low-key elegance. Wide, wood-planked floors, rattan furniture, and vintage photographs fill the lobby. It overlooks the raised lawn and the path that leads through the dunes to the beach. The minimal rooms are individually decorated. Neutral tones, jute carpets, and light linens are standard, though. There’s a pavilion for massages and yoga classes. Breakfast and drinks are taken on the terrace. Then you’ll move inside for three-course dinners and French wines in the evenings. If summer has to end, at least you’re sending it off with a celebration.
