Sprogø Island

A wind-swept, protected island in the Great Belt where rare wildlife, medieval fortifications, social history and the Great Belt Bridge converge on one dramatic stage.

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Sitting in the middle of Denmark’s Great Belt, Sprogø is a protected, windswept island where wild nature, powerful engineering and complex history meet. Once a medieval fortress, later a controversial women’s institution, and today the hinge of the Great Belt Fixed Link, the island is home to rare plants, birds and amphibians. Access is limited to pre-booked guided tours, which explore its lighthouse hill, former institutional buildings and open coastal landscapes.

A brief summary to Sprogø

Slagelse Municipality, DK
Duration: 3.5 to 5 hours
Budget
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Local tips

Book a guided tour well in advance; access to Sprogø is only possible on organised visits with limited capacity and fixed departure dates.
Wear sturdy, closed footwear and windproof layers; much of the visit takes place outdoors on uneven ground, with strong sea breezes common even in summer.
Bring water and snacks; there are no shops or cafés on the island, and facilities are basic and only available during the tour stopovers.
If you are sensitive to difficult historical themes, be prepared for frank discussion of Sprogø’s role as an institution for confined women in the 20th century.
Carry binoculars or a camera with zoom to enjoy views of seabirds, the lighthouse hill and the Great Belt Fixed Link from different vantage points.

Getting There

Guided bus tour from Nyborg

Join an organised bus tour from Nyborg on Funen, typically lasting around 5 hours including transport and guided stops on Sprogø and in Nyborg. Buses use the Great Belt road link and access the island via the service road, which is closed to private traffic. Tours generally operate on selected dates from spring to autumn and must be booked in advance. Expect to pay roughly 400–600 DKK per adult, including guiding but excluding meals.
Guided bus tour from Korsør

From Korsør on Zealand, pre-arranged coach excursions take visitors across the Great Belt Bridge to Sprogø with a guide onboard. Travel time to the island is usually 30–45 minutes each way, depending on traffic, with several stops on the island for short walks and talks. Tours are limited by conservation rules and security on the fixed link, so departures are infrequent and sell out quickly. Prices are typically in the 400–600 DKK range per person.
Private group tour via regional operator

Larger groups can arrange a private guided visit through local tourist offices or regional tour companies based around Nyborg or Korsør. A chartered coach uses the fixed link to reach Sprogø, with the total experience lasting 4–6 hours depending on the agreed programme. Access, guiding and permits are included in a package price that often starts around 8,000–12,000 DKK for a full bus, making it cost-effective for associations or corporate groups. Availability is subject to strict environmental and safety limitations.

Sprogø location weather suitability

Clear Skies
Mild Temperatures
Windy Conditions
Any Weather
Cold Weather

Discover more about Sprogø

An island anchored in the middle of Denmark

Sprogø rises from the Great Belt like a self-contained world between Zealand and Funen, framed today by the sweeping lines of the Great Belt Bridge and rail link. Once a small moraine hill shaped by the last Ice Age, it was dramatically enlarged when the fixed link was built, creating the present division between Old Sprogø and New Sprogø. Despite the traffic streaming past, the island itself remains closed, quiet and carefully controlled, accessible only on organised tours. At its core, Sprogø is both a geographical pivot and a symbolic one. For more than a thousand years it has been the midway stepping-stone across Denmark, a place rulers, merchants, soldiers and later engineers have used to knit the kingdom together. Standing here, you feel how crucial this low, windswept island has been to movement, power and communication.

Layers of history from Valdemar to modern Denmark

Sprogø’s story reaches back to the 12th century, when King Valdemar the Great had a fortress built on the island as part of a wider defensive chain. The high slopes and isolated position made it an ideal lookout and refuge, and it served as a prison, treasury and safe overnight stop for royal journeys. Later, the island became a station on an early semaphore telegraph line that linked Nyborg and Korsør in the age before electricity. In the 20th century, Sprogø took on a darker role. From the 1920s to the early 1960s, its main buildings housed an institution for women and girls placed here because they were deemed socially or sexually transgressive. The combination of isolation and control has since become a powerful symbol in debates about social policy and human rights. Walking around the former institution, the handsome facades and open views contrast starkly with the history they contain.

Unique nature in a protected seascape

Although altered by land reclamation, Sprogø has become a showcase for restoration and careful nature management. The old island’s beach meadows and slopes are protected, and the new land has been planted and grazed so that Old and New Sprogø form one continuous landscape. Low rainfall and plenty of sunshine favour an unusual flora; several hundred plant species have been recorded here, including species with roots in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. The island is equally important for wildlife. Large numbers of migratory birds rest here, and around fifty species are known to breed, with eiders particularly prominent. Rare amphibians, including the European green toad, find refuge in ponds and damp hollows. Sheep and cattle graze many of the grasslands, keeping the vegetation open and benefiting ground-nesting birds. Despite the constant rumble of the bridge, the interior of the island can feel surprisingly wild.

Lighthouse hill and the marks of engineering

The visual focal point of Sprogø is its lighthouse, perched on the 24‑metre hill that once held Valdemar’s fortress. The current tower dates from the 19th century and stands on the old foundations, tying together medieval defence and modern navigation. From this height you overlook the Great Belt, the vast concrete of the fixed link and the curving shoreline of the island itself. The creation of New Sprogø for the bridge project reshaped the coastline with granite revetments and new embankments, forming the landfall for both road and rail. Conservation plans required that habitats lost on Old Sprogø were compensated on the new land, so soil and seed-rich turf were transplanted. Within a short time, many of the original plant species had recolonised, turning a raw construction site into a functioning coastal ecosystem.

Today’s strictly guided experience

Sprogø has no permanent residents; it is managed primarily by the company that operates the Great Belt link, together with local authorities and conservation bodies. A small team, including army veterans, maintains the historic buildings and oversees the gradual rewilding of the open spaces. Their work keeps the island’s dual character intact: both a piece of critical infrastructure and a nature reserve. Visitors experience Sprogø on tightly controlled guided tours, usually combining bus transport, short walks and talks at key points such as the lighthouse, the old institution and selected nature spots. There are no public services, cafés or casual facilities; the focus is on stories, scenery and reflection. For many, the most striking impression is the juxtaposition of roaring traffic just beyond the shoreline and the quiet, wind-whipped grasslands under soaring seabirds.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Nyborg St.

11.0 km

A historic rail gateway on Funen’s east coast, Nyborg Station links castle town charm with fast, modern connections across Denmark via the Great Belt.

Nyborg Vold

11.4 km

Stroll the grassy ramparts and mirror-still moats that once guarded Denmark’s medieval power center, now a peaceful green belt wrapping historic Nyborg.

Erik Ballings Plads

11.6 km

Where Danish cinema's greatest visionary is celebrated through iconic characters and cultural memory.

Mindesmærke for kaptajn Peter Bredal

11.7 km

A solemn memorial to a 17th-century Danish captain whose frozen fleet became legend.

Nyborg Fortress

12.0 km

Medieval parliament seat where Danish kings shaped a nation's destiny and founded a Nordic empire.

Den Hvide Jomfru

12.1 km

A modest white monument on Nyborg’s old fortress embankment, Den Hvide Jomfru blends legend, landscape and history into a quiet, atmospheric pause.

Befrielsessten i Vindinge

15.4 km

A modest village liberation stone in front of Vindinge Church, quietly commemorating Denmark’s 1945 freedom amid the calm of rural eastern Funen.

Befrielsessten i Skalkendrup

15.8 km

A quiet memorial to Denmark's liberation from Nazi occupation in 1945

RAF Memorial Stone

18.9 km

Small rural monument, big wartime story: a quiet Danish field where seven RAF airmen are remembered with a single steadfast stone.

Breddysse Stones

19.7 km

A modest Neolithic dolmen in the fields near Slagelse, where ancient burial stones, open skies, and quiet farmland meet in a quietly powerful landscape.

Damestenen

21.5 km

Denmark's colossal 1,200-tonne ice-age boulder, transported from Sweden 18,000 years ago.

Rytterstatue af Christian IX

25.3 km

Bronze king on horseback surveys Slagelse from Schweizerpladsen—a citizen-honored tribute to Christian IX's enduring reign, sculpted with poised majesty.

Vandtrappen

25.4 km

A small yet compelling ceramic water sculpture in Slagelse’s Rosengården, where stepped cascades and quiet sound turn an everyday square into a contemplative urban pause.

Gammeltorv

25.4 km

Copenhagen's 12th-century heart: Renaissance fountain, Neoclassical facades, and Strøget buzz in one timeless square.

Mindesten for Hans Tausen

25.6 km

A modest granite stone in a quiet Slagelse green, marking the birthplace of Denmark’s Lutheran Reformation story at the former Antvorskov monastery.

Unmissable attractions to see

Knudshoved Fyr

9.0 km

Historic lighthouse, rare “knaldfyr” signal beacon and protected coastal landscape combine at Knudshoved Fyr, where big skies and maritime heritage meet the Great Belt.

Østerø sø, Knudshoved

9.5 km

A sheltered coastal lake on the Knudshoved peninsula, where salt meadows, open skies and rich birdlife create a quietly beautiful nature escape just outside Nyborg.

Nyborg Badestrand

9.7 km

Broad sandy shore, Blue Flag waters and sweeping views of the Great Belt Bridge make Nyborg Badestrand a quietly spectacular slice of Danish coastline.

Nyborg Tennis Klub

10.2 km

Local seaside tennis club with clay courts, an all-year court and a friendly community feel in the coastal town of Nyborg.

Pavillonen Hesselhuset

10.4 km

Waterfront pavilion where Funen's forest meets the Great Belt, offering scenic views, family amenities, and coastal tranquility.

Korsør Fortress

10.4 km

Harbor‑side stronghold where a medieval tower, star‑style ramparts and historic warehouses tell the story of Denmark’s Great Belt crossing in one compact ensemble.

Kløverstien Strand Nyborg

10.6 km

A gentle coastal stretch of Nyborg’s Clover Paths, where quiet shoreline, easy walking and big sea views meet just beyond the town streets.

Slipshavn light

10.7 km

A modest working lighthouse on Nyborg Fjord, Slipshavn Light weaves quiet coastal scenery with centuries of naval, customs and harbour history on Funen’s east coast.

Åbent skovareal ved Nyborg

10.7 km

An unpretentious open woodland on Nyborg’s edge, ideal for relaxed walks, quiet runs and everyday nature breaks among trees, clearings and birdsong.

Kløverstien I Nyborg

11.0 km

Four coloured clover-shaped paths from Nyborg’s harbour, linking medieval streets, waterfront and countryside into easy, free and flexible walking and cycling loops.

Historiske Vandringer - Slaget ved Nyborg 1659

11.0 km

Follow a quiet countryside trail across the fields where, in 1659, Denmark’s fate was fought for in the bloody and decisive Battle of Nyborg.

Historiske Vandringer - Slaget ved Nyborg 1659

Strandvænget Park og naturlegeplads

11.0 km

Sensory-rich nature playground with farm animals, accessible pathways, and beach access on Denmark's Great Belt.

Tour de France-monument

11.3 km

Oversized yellow bike, big cycling memories: Nyborg’s open-air Tour de France Monument celebrates the 2022 stage finish on Funen’s windswept waterfront.

Børge Jensens Plads

11.3 km

Experience the Befrielsessten in Sulkendrup: A serene memorial park honoring Denmark's World War II liberation amidst lush countryside.

Chr. Hansens Have

11.4 km

A former pharmacist’s private refuge turned public pocket park, Christian Hansen’s Garden offers calm greenery, local history and a gentle pause on Nyborg’s Blue Clover Path.

Essential places to dine

Monarch Nyborg

9.1 km

Busy roadside restaurant by the Great Belt corridor, serving straightforward comfort food and practical facilities for drivers taking a well-earned break.

Nyborg Grill

9.7 km

No‑nonsense Danish grill bar on Nyborg’s edge, serving hearty burgers, hot dogs and fries for a quick, wallet‑friendly bite between coast and town.

Storebælt Sinatur Hotel & Konference

10.1 km

Light-filled seaside hotel and restaurant on the Great Belt, blending Nordic design, organic dining and conference facilities with sweeping views of bridge and sea.

Bistroen

10.3 km

Relaxed seaside bistro inside Nyborg Strand, combining coastal views, classic comfort cooking and flexible all‑day dining just steps from the Great Belt shore.

Restaurant Lieffroy

10.3 km

Precise French-Nordic cuisine with Great Belt views in a historic Nyborg setting.

Restaurant Stranden

10.3 km

Relaxed Nordic-inspired dining by the sea, set within Nyborg Strand’s beachfront hotel with wide Great Belt views and a calm, grown-up evening atmosphere.

Burger King

10.5 km

Highway-side Burger King by Nyborg offering classic flame-grilled fast food, a drive-thru and family-friendly seating for quick, convenient road-trip meals.

Sunset Boulevard

10.5 km

Danish fast-food favourite by the E20, serving spiced fries, burgers and quick, casual meals for road-trippers, locals and families in Nyborg.

Carl's Jr. Danmark

10.8 km

Flame‑grilled Californian‑style burgers, thick shakes and easygoing roadside convenience on the outskirts of Nyborg.

McDonald's Nyborg

10.9 km

Roadside McDonald’s by the Great Belt route, offering familiar fast food, long hours and easy access for drivers, families and travellers crossing Denmark.

Circle K Nyborg Mango

10.9 km

Energetic roadside hub by Storebæltsvej in Nyborg, combining fuel, fast EV charging, hot food and coffee for drivers crossing Denmark east–west at all hours.

Mulles madglæde

11.0 km

Fresh sandwiches and build-your-own salads in a friendly, no-fuss café on Møllervej, offering a reliable, good-value lunch stop in everyday Nyborg.

Rosso pizzaria

11.2 km

Crispy-based Italian pizzas with balanced toppings in casual Nyborg setting.

Restaurant Remisen

11.4 km

Contemporary Danish brasserie flavors, seasonal menus and local spirits meet waterfront light and coastal atmosphere at Nyborg’s Restaurant Remisen.

Nurs Burger & Steakhouse Restaurant

11.4 km

Harbour‑side burgers and steaks in the centre of Nyborg, pairing hearty plates with relaxed, modern interiors and views towards the boats and waterfront.

Contemporary women's fashion in the heart of historic Nyborg's charming medieval center.

Essential bars & hidden hideouts

Ophav

11.6 km

Nyborg's refined casual dining hub blending bar, restaurant, and café culture with seasonal local cuisine.

Laboratoriet Nyborg

11.7 km

Atmospheric wine bar and bottle shop in a historic 1824 apothecary laboratory, tucked in a Nyborg courtyard and serving carefully chosen wines, snacks and coffee.

Phønix I/S

11.7 km

Cozy, no-frills bar and burger spot in central Nyborg, serving cold beers, simple comfort food, and relaxed local nightlife just off the town’s historic streets.

Chr. II's Pub

11.7 km

Casual Danish pub in Nyborg's historic centre, where locals gather for authentic neighbourhood hospitality.

Øksendrup Cider

11.8 km

Cosy Nyborg cider bar showcasing organic East Funen apples, slow‑fermented bottles and intimate tastings in the historic heart of Denmark’s former royal city.

Corner Bar

12.1 km

Unpretentious neighborhood bar on Nyborg’s Strandvejen corner, serving cold drinks, easy conversation and a playful weekend wheel of fortune from late morning.

Den Gyldne Hund

22.3 km

Smoky, harbourfront pub in Lohals where locals, sailors and visitors share simple drinks, sea air and classic Danish værtshus atmosphere.

Marina's Sportslounge

22.5 km

Laid-back village sports bar in Tranekær, mixing live matches, simple small plates and a friendly Langeland local-pub feel.

Teater Cafe'en

25.0 km

Cosy neighbourhood bar in central Slagelse, blending café calm by day with a sociable, theatre-tinged bar atmosphere late into the weekend nights.

The Red Rubin

25.1 km

Cozy, no‑nonsense neighborhood bar in central Slagelse, serving straightforward drinks and a relaxed local vibe from daytime until the early hours.

Cafe 23

25.2 km

Low‑key, old‑school brown bar in central Slagelse, serving inexpensive drinks and a slice of everyday Danish nightlife in a worn but welcoming setting.

Cafe Viking.

25.3 km

Unpretentious local bar in central Slagelse, serving inexpensive drinks and everyday Danish pub atmosphere from midday into the late evening.

Rosen Bodega

25.3 km

Unpretentious neighborhood bodega in central Slagelse, pouring inexpensive drinks and local character in a relaxed, lived-in bar setting.

Gecco Bar & Natklub

25.3 km

Slagelse's premier late-night cocktail bar and nightclub, serving craft drinks until dawn.

The Old Pub

25.4 km

Lively Irish-style pub on Slagelse’s Fisketorvet, mixing late-night live music, casual drinks and dance-floor energy from Thursday to Saturday.

Nightclubs & after hour spots

KJ's bodel

11.8 km

Laid‑back local nightspot on Nyborg’s main square, mixing simple drinks, sociable bar chatter and a compact dance floor in an unpretentious setting.

Muzirkus

12.9 km

Nyborg's independent music sanctuary where local bands rehearse, collaborate, and perform since 1974.

Swingergaarden

33.1 km

Discreet countryside swingers club near Slagelse, offering themed adult nights, intimate play spaces and a rules-based, consent-focused environment for open-minded guests.

Dance Odense, Funen Square Dance Club

33.2 km

Community-driven square dancing in a cozy Odense neighborhood hall, where callers, patterns and shared rhythm turn an ordinary evening into a friendly social event.

BUTCHERS Odense

37.3 km

High-energy nightclub on Odense’s Overgade, mixing pounding bass, lights and late-night drinks in a central old-town setting steps from major sights.

Boogie Dance Café

37.6 km

Odense's oldest disco where retro charm meets genuine community dancing.

Dansebar Odense

37.7 km

Lively central Odense nightclub with mainstream hits, colorful lights and a sociable dance floor vibe from late evening into the early hours.

Crazy Daisy Svendborg

38.0 km

Compact, high-energy weekend nightclub in central Svendborg, serving mainstream beats, drinks and a sociable dance floor until the early hours.

The slaughterhouse Nightclub & Eventhus

38.4 km

Experience industrial-cool nights, live music, and eclectic parties at The Slaughterhouse Nightclub & Eventhus, Odense’s dynamic hub for nightlife and contemporary culture.

Juviklubben

39.2 km

Intimate Kalundborg live music hub and youth club, where generations meet for close-up concerts, casual bar nights and a laid-back, community-driven vibe.

Shooters

39.3 km

Late-night disco and bar on Kalundborg’s main street, bringing DJs, dancing and drinks together for weekend nights that run deep into the early hours.

Postgaarden Kalundborg Event og Musikhus

39.3 km

Experience live music and cultural events at Postgaarden Kalundborg Event og Musikhus, the heart of Kalundborg's entertainment scene.

SKØL Brygkompagni

39.3 km

Discover craft beer excellence and Danish hospitality at SKØL Brygkompagni—Kalundborg’s lively brewpub blending Scandinavian tradition, local flavor, and community spirit.

Kalundborg Jazzclub

39.4 km

Experience the soulful rhythms of jazz in the heart of Kalundborg at this intimate and vibrant venue.

Kasket karl

47.1 km

Discover authentic Danish hospitality and local color at Kasket Karl, Rudkøbing’s beloved bodega on Langeland—a lively gathering spot offering drinks, history, and community.

Your Ultimate Free Travel Guide

Discover Sprogø with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide. Explore attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more with ease and convenience.

Sprogø Island

A brief summary to Sprogø

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Guided bus tour from Nyborg

Guided bus tour from Korsør

Private group tour via regional operator

Sprogø location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Sprogø

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Sprogø

An island anchored in the middle of Denmark

Layers of history from Valdemar to modern Denmark

Unique nature in a protected seascape

Lighthouse hill and the marks of engineering

Today’s strictly guided experience

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Nyborg St.

Nyborg Vold

Erik Ballings Plads

Mindesmærke for kaptajn Peter Bredal

Nyborg Fortress

Den Hvide Jomfru

Befrielsessten i Vindinge

Befrielsessten i Skalkendrup

RAF Memorial Stone

Breddysse Stones

Damestenen

Rytterstatue af Christian IX

Vandtrappen

Gammeltorv

Mindesten for Hans Tausen

Unmissable attractions to see

Knudshoved Fyr

Østerø sø, Knudshoved

Nyborg Badestrand

Nyborg Tennis Klub

Pavillonen Hesselhuset

Korsør Fortress

Kløverstien Strand Nyborg

Slipshavn light

Åbent skovareal ved Nyborg

Kløverstien I Nyborg

Historiske Vandringer - Slaget ved Nyborg 1659

Strandvænget Park og naturlegeplads

Tour de France-monument

Børge Jensens Plads

Chr. Hansens Have

Essential places to dine

Monarch Nyborg

Nyborg Grill

Storebælt Sinatur Hotel & Konference

Bistroen

Restaurant Lieffroy

Restaurant Stranden

Burger King

Sunset Boulevard

Carl's Jr. Danmark

McDonald's Nyborg

Circle K Nyborg Mango

Mulles madglæde

Rosso pizzaria

Restaurant Remisen

Nurs Burger & Steakhouse Restaurant

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

DesignKnap

Dives Industries

Lidl

Havneloppen

Gen&Brug Nyborg

Kors Genbrug

Nyborg Paletten v/Jan Andersen

Genbrugsbutikker

Imerco

Intersport Nyborg

Linn V/Tina Rasmussen

Vinspecialisten Nyborg