Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea
Andersen’s Odense, a castle in a lake and a string of bridged islands with thatched villages and sailing harbours.
- Distance
- 105 km (65 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 27 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Denmark
- Updated
- July 19, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 105 km (65 mi) with 7 stops, from Odense to Rudkøbing. About 1 h 27 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Denmark
Route description
Start in Odense, Denmark’s third city and the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, whose museum sits in the old quarter. Then head south on route 9 through a gentle landscape of fields and manor houses to Egeskov, the most famous of Funen’s castles.
Detour west to Faaborg, a small harbour town with cobbled streets and a good art museum, and follow the coast road through the hills of the Svanninge Bakker to Svendborg. Svendborg is the sailing capital of the South Funen archipelago and the port for ferries to Ærø.
Route 9 continues over the Svendborgsund Bridge to Tåsinge, where Valdemars Slot and the village of Troense look across the water, and then over the Langeland Bridge to Rudkøbing. Langeland is long and quiet, with beaches, wild ponies in the south and easy cycling.
All the islands on this route are linked by bridges, so no ferry is needed unless you add Ærø. Distances are short, which leaves time for a swim, farm stalls selling strawberries and new potatoes in early summer, and a sunset at the water.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Odense
Denmark - 21 km
H.C. Andersen’s House
HistoryOdense, DenmarkA museum built around the house where Hans Christian Andersen was born, with a garden and an underground world of fairy tales for children.
- 332 km
Egeskov Castle
HistoryKværndrup, DenmarkA Renaissance castle from 1554 standing in its own lake, with gardens, mazes, a treetop walk and a large collection of vintage cars and motorcycles.
- 423 km
Faaborg
Denmark - 529 km
Svendborg
Denmark - 65 km
Valdemars Slot
HistoryTroense, DenmarkA 17th-century manor on Tåsinge built by Christian IV for his son, facing the Svendborg Sound. The nearby village of Troense has some of Denmark’s prettiest thatched houses.
- 715 km
Rudkøbing
Denmark
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Odense → Egeskov Castle · 33 km · 0 h 27 minOn the way: H.C. Andersen’s House.Overnight nearby, for example: Midtfyns Camping (7 km); Nab Strand Camping (17 km).
- Day 2: Egeskov Castle → Faaborg · 23 km · 0 h 19 minOvernight nearby, for example: Faaborg Havn Autocamperplads (< 1 km); Nab Strand Camping (6 km).
- Day 3: Faaborg → Rudkøbing · 49 km · 0 h 41 minOn the way: Svendborg, Valdemars Slot.Overnight nearby, for example: Rudkøbing Camping (< 1 km); Ristinge SommerCamp (14 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Denmark: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Tolls on the Great Belt and Øresund bridges. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea?
3-day road trip of about 105 km (65 mi) with 7 stops, from Odense to Rudkøbing. About 1 h 27 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 27 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea start and end?
It starts in Odense and ends in Rudkøbing.
Which countries does Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea pass through?
Denmark.
Where can you camp along Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea?
OpenStreetMap lists 96 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Autocamperplads Kerteminde Marina, Midtfyns Camping and Nab Strand Camping.
When is the best time for Funen and the islands of the South Funen Sea?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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