Background

Railroad Museum Maribo–Bandholm

Step into a living slice of Danish railway history at Bandholm’s preserved station, where vintage trains, period details and coastal scenery meet on Lolland.

4.6

Housed at the atmospheric Bandholm Station on the island of Lolland, the Railroad Museum Maribo–Bandholm brings Denmark’s earliest railway era vividly to life. Here, historic locomotives, old carriages and a beautifully preserved station building tell the story of the 1869 line between Maribo and Bandholm. On selected days, the heritage railway operates vintage trains along the short but scenic route to Maribo, turning a museum visit into a living journey through Danish rail history.

A brief summary to Railroad Museum Maribo-Bandholm

  • Stationsvej 10, Bandholm, 4941, DK
  • +4554788545
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1 to 3 hours
  • Budget
  • Environment icon Mixed
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Local tips

  • Check heritage train operating days in advance; services are typically limited to Easter, summer and autumn holiday periods.
  • Bring a light jacket, as platform waits and open windows on vintage carriages can feel cool even in summer.
  • Combine your visit with a stroll to Bandholm Harbour for coastal views and a sense of how the railway once linked land and sea.
  • If you enjoy photography, arrive a little early to capture locomotives at the platform and the historic station building in softer light.
  • Families with younger children may want to bring a snack and water, as options near the station can be limited outside peak holiday periods.
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Getting There

  • Regional train and local walk

    From Copenhagen, take an intercity or regional train to Maribo with a change at Nykøbing Falster; the total travel time is typically around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. A standard adult single fare usually falls in the range of 180–260 DKK in second class, depending on time and ticket type. From Maribo Station you can connect on to Bandholm by local bus or taxi, then walk the short distance through the village to the museum at the station. Services run year-round but are less frequent late evenings and on some weekends, so check departure times in advance.

  • Car from Lolland-Falster region

    Driving from Maribo to Bandholm generally takes about 10–15 minutes along local roads through open countryside. There is usually free parking available in Bandholm close to the station area, but spaces can be more limited on heritage train operating days and during school holidays. No special vehicle is required, and the route is straightforward in all seasons, though winter conditions can occasionally slow travel.

  • Local bus within Lolland

    Local buses link Maribo with Bandholm in around 20–30 minutes, providing an inexpensive way to reach the museum without a car. A single ticket within the local zone system typically costs about 25–40 DKK per adult. Services are more regular on weekdays and may be reduced in the evenings and on Sundays, so plan for possible waiting times and check the timetable for the latest schedule.

Railroad Museum Maribo-Bandholm location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
  • Weather icon Clear Skies
  • Weather icon Any Weather

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A preserved gateway to Denmark’s first railway

Bandholm’s modest station building hides a remarkable story. Opened in 1869 as part of Denmark’s first railway between Maribo and Bandholm, it linked the market town and harbour at a time when rail was transforming the country. Today the carefully restored station functions as the Railroad Museum Maribo–Bandholm, with rooms staged much as they would have looked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Old ticket counters, wooden benches and time-worn noticeboards evoke a slower, more tactile era of travel. Outside, the short line that once carried goods and passengers towards the harbour is still in place. The track layout, sidings and small yard create a compact but authentic railway environment. Even when no trains are running, you can wander the platform, examine historic signals and take in the mellow brickwork of the station, which was listed as a protected building in the 1970s.

Steam, steel and the heritage train experience

On selected days around Easter, in summer and during autumn holidays, the museum truly comes alive when heritage trains operate between Maribo and Bandholm. Early 20th-century steam locomotives or vintage diesel engines haul wooden-bodied coaches along the roughly eight‑kilometre route through the flat landscapes of Lolland. The journey is short but rich in atmosphere, with the rhythmic beat of the engine, openable windows and a gentle sway that modern trains have lost. At Bandholm, the museum side of the operation is complemented by the working railway feel: locomotives shunting, staff in traditional uniforms, and the smell of coal or oil drifting across the platform. For dedicated railway enthusiasts, there are opportunities on some operating days to peek into engine sheds and workshops, where restoration work keeps these historic machines in service.

Inside the station: objects, stories and small details

Indoors, the museum focuses on everyday railway life. Exhibits may include original tools, uniforms, signal lamps, tickets and paperwork from the line’s active years. Rather than large, high‑tech displays, the charm lies in small, well-chosen objects that reveal how much human effort went into running a rural railway. Timetables show sparse but vital services connecting farms and villages; cast‑iron stoves and heavy safes speak to long shifts and great responsibility. Interpretive panels provide background on how the line supported trade through Bandholm Harbour and how changing transport patterns eventually reduced its importance. The story is as much social as technical, tracing how the railway influenced work, migration and leisure on Lolland.

Surroundings between harbour, sea and countryside

Step outside the station and you are only a short stroll from Bandholm’s waterfront. Historically, trains delivered goods and passengers almost to the quay, making this a true land–sea interface. The harbour area today is peaceful, with views across the shallow Smålandsfarvandet waters and, on clear days, distant islands on the horizon. The flat coastal light and low buildings preserve a village-like atmosphere that suits the vintage railway perfectly. The countryside glimpsed from the train or around the station is characteristic of Lolland: fertile fields, windbreaks of trees and gently curving lanes. This agricultural backdrop underlines why the line was built in the first place, moving crops, livestock and people more efficiently than horse-drawn wagons ever could.

Who will enjoy a visit and how long to stay

The Railroad Museum Maribo–Bandholm appeals to a broad audience. Railway aficionados will appreciate the authenticity of the infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as the chance to ride behind a steam locomotive on operating days. Families find the manageable scale ideal for children, with plenty to look at without becoming overwhelming and the excitement of real trains when services run. Casual visitors interested in history or architecture can combine a short museum visit with a walk to the harbour or a wider tour of Lolland–Falster’s attractions. Allow around one to two hours when trains are not running, and up to three hours if you include a full round trip on the heritage railway and time to explore both Bandholm Station and the surroundings at a relaxed pace.

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