← HCA Marathon·3 nights

Svendborg and South Funen: Three Slow Nights

One base on Funen's southern coast, with a water castle, an island ferry and no need to change hotels.

Duration3 nights
TransitTrain and bus from Odense; check the journey time for your date
DepartsOdense central station

After the HCA Marathon: Svendborg and South Funen

The Route: Odense → Svendborg → Odense or Copenhagen Logistics: One base for three nights, with short bus rides to Egeskov and boats to the islands. Keep the days short. Marathon Month: September Duration: 3 nights

Odense ──(train or bus)──> Svendborg (3 nights) ──> Egeskov Castle (bus or train) / island ferry ──> back to Svendborg

Funen is the island that Odense sits on, and its southern coast is where the harbour towns and islands are. Svendborg is the main town on that coast, with a working harbour and ferries to the islands in the archipelago. It is a place to stay put, with day trips that do not ask for a long walk. The marathon is on a Sunday, so travel on Monday.

September in south Funen. The tourist season thins out in September. Museums and gardens may move to autumn hours, and some ferries run reduced timetables. Check each timetable before you plan a day around it.

Getting there

From Odense, trains and buses run to Svendborg. Check the journey time and the Monday timetable on the Danish journey planner, Rejseplanen. Book a seat if the train requires it. If you have a car, the road follows Route 9 towards Svendborg.

Night one: the harbour

Stay in the harbour area, within a short walk of the station and the quay. Compare cancellable rates, and ask about breakfast times and luggage storage. The first evening is for a meal and a slow walk along the waterfront, which is flat.

Day two: Egeskov

Egeskov Castle is near Kværndrup, which lies between Odense and Svendborg. The castle's own website lists bus route 920, which stops at the entrance, and the railway station at Kværndrup is 2.5 kilometres away. Check the best connection from Svendborg on Rejseplanen. The castle describes a seasonal summer operation with hours of 10:00 to 17:00 daily. Check whether the castle and gardens are open in late September. Wheelchairs are free to borrow at the castle. Online tickets are cheaper than at the gate.

Day three: the islands

Svendborg is a ferry port for the islands of the south Funen archipelago, including Ærø. Check the ferry timetable and the crossing time with the operator, because they vary by season and by route. A day on an island is flat and slow, which suits a runner who does not want to climb anything. If the ferries run on a reduced autumn schedule, a walk along the Svendborg waterfront is an easy alternative.

Night three and onward

Keep the last evening simple. Eat early and check the Tuesday train.

Getting home

Return by train to Odense and continue to Copenhagen Airport (CPH) on the rail line the tourist board confirms. Check the journey time, buy tickets in advance and leave a generous margin before an international departure.