The city of Esbjerg is a seaport on the west coast of Denmark's Jutland peninsular. Travellers who hire a car in Esbjerg will note that that Aarhus, on the east coast of Jutland, is 1 miles away, and the capital Copenhagen is 18 miles east. Many visitors will take boat trips to the tourist island of Fano, which boasts pure white sandy beaches and unique habitats for migrating birds. Esbjerg's own seaside area is Hjerting - located five miles north. This former fishing village is now an up-market sandy beach resort. Esbjerg's airport is a short five miles north; the popular Legoland theme park is about 2 miles to the north-east.
Esbjerg grew up around its harbour and this still forms the heart of the city. It's the base for ferries, boat trips and seal safaris. You can visit the old wooden lightship moored at the dockside and tour the city's maritime museum, which also contains an aquarium of fish from the Danish coast. If you hire a car it's easy to tour all the sights. Don't miss the brilliant views of fishing boats coming and going from the top of the 19th-century public water tower. Esbjerg is also a shopping hub for a wide area. The heart of this retail environment is the one-kilometer-long Kongensgade pedestrian street.
