Guide to Jelling
Jelling is one of the central towns in Vejle Municipality. The town is a historical hub where you can travel back to the Viking Age and experience some of Denmark's most important cultural heritage.
Photo: Kongernes Jelling
Experiences in and around Jelling
The area is known for the Jelling Monuments, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find the impressive rune stones, raised by Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth. You can dive into the fascinating history of the Vikings at the interactive experience center, Kongernes Jelling. Jelling also offers scenic surroundings at Lake Fårup, cultural history at Haughus Estate, and activities such as fishing and outdoor swimming. Read on and get inspired for a trip to Jelling and its surroundings.
Photo: Frame & Work© Kongernes Jelling
The Jelling Monuments (UNESCO)
In the tenth century, King Harald Bluetooth had Denmark's name engraved on a runestone in Jelling and erected two large mounds. The Jelling monuments have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1994.
Photo: Lasse Hyldager© Kongernes Jelling
Kongernes Jelling – home of the Viking kings
The runes tell us that it was in the Viking Age in Jelling that Denmark got its name. King Gorm wrote it on his runestone, and we have used it ever since. It was also here that King Harald Bluetooth, on his large runestone, proclaimed that he made the Danes Christian. With Gorm the Old, Queen Thyrvé, and Harald Bluetooth, the roots of the Danish monarchy are firmly planted between the runestones and mounds in Jelling. Experience the Viking Age at the experience center Kongernes Jelling.
Photo: Pia Enghild© Kongernes Jelling
Jelling Church
Jelling Church dates back to around 1100 and is the fourth church on the site. The first was a wooden church erected in the eighth century by Harald Bluetooth as a mausoleum to his father, Gorm the Old. Jelling Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Photo: VisitVejle© By Filip Møller
New runestone in Jelling
On the occasion of the Tour de France, a new rune stone was placed in Jelling. Explore the beautiful stone, which stands centrally in Jelling.
Photo: VisitVejle© Byens Café
Byens Café Jelling
Byens Café in Jelling offers a cosy environment with a relaxed atmosphere and flavoursome dishes at affordable prices. They use healthy and fresh seasonal ingredients, organic when possible and preferably sourced from local quality producers.
Photo: Louise Johansen© VisitVejle
SEJD Café & Boutique
SEJD Café & Boutique is a Viking-inspired café and boutique in the heart of Jelling that enjoys unique views of the monument area. Here you can enjoy the tranquillity as well as extraordinary drinks and food experiences prepared with passion and with an emphasis on fine ingredients. With its shelves brimming with private label goods and sustainable local products, the boutique offers a chance to discover the tales of the Viking Age and Norse mythology.
Photo: VisitVejle© Haughus Gods
The café at Haughus Manor
Haughus Manor was constructed in 1750 and is located in the scenic countryside between Vejle and Jelling. The café is located in the manor house itself with views to the park and front court.
Photo: Fårup Sø Camping
Fårup Sø Camping
Fårup Sø Camping enjoys a lakeside location by Fårup Sø and offers fine angling and boat rental opportunities. The site has its own beach, free heated swimming pool, a children’s pool with activities as well as an eight-person spa.
Photo: VisitVejle© Family Camping Jelling
Jelling Familie Camping
Jelling Familie Camping enjoys a scenic setting by the old Viking town of Jelling. The campsite offers excellent facilities for the whole family and is located close to attractions of the area.
Photo: Knapek Photography© VisitVejle
Haughus Manor, Antique and Flea Market
Haughus Manor, located in the beautiful countryside between Vejle and Jelling, was constructed in 1750. Today, the manor houses a cafe, farm shop selling furniture and handicrafts, an antique and flea market, arts and crafts store and a private residency.
Photo: Jelling Bryghus
Jelling Bryghus
Jelling Bryghus exclusively brews hand-crafted beer of the highest quality, both in regards to taste and appearance. Jelling's rich history and nature provide inspiration for the label names as well as the ingredients that give the beer its strong taste and visual character.
Photo: Jelling Bryggeri
Jelling Bryggeri A/S
Jelling Bryggeri is one of the country's smallest breweries with a capacity of approx. 25,000 liters per year. The beer is brewed in Byens Cafe, which you will find in Byens Hus.
Photo: VisitVejle
Fårup Lake Kiosk and Boat Rental
Fårup Lake Kiosk and Boat Rental (Fårup Sø Kiosk og Bådudlejning) offers rowing boat and pedalo hire. Experience one of the deepest lakes in the area with numerous fresh water springs. Along your boating trip, you will experience an inspiring landscape of great natural beauty, including wide woodlands, open meadows and pristine wild bush.
Photo: VisitVejle© Jelling Put & Take
Jelling Put & Take
Jelling Put & Take is beautifully situated by Fårup Lake and is surrounded by woodlands and meadows. The lake is open all year from sunrise to sunset.
Photo: Stephanie Sommer© Vejle Kommune Idrætssekretariatet
Jelling Open-Air Pool
Jelling Open-Air Pool (Jelling Friluftsbad) comprises a 25-metre pool with 1, 3 and 5-metre diving boards, a children’s pool and a paddling pool with a small waterslide. The temperature in the Jelling Open-Air Pool is always 25C. Here you’ll also find beach volleyball, a bouncy castle and trampolines.
Photo: Knapek Photography© VisitVejle
Hærvejen - the ancient road
Photo: Jakob Vingtoft© VisitVejle
Grejsdalstien – hiking route between Vejle and Jelling
Grejsdalstien is a 16-kilometre hiking route between Vejle, Grejs and Jelling that passes through some of Denmark’s most spectacular natural scenery. You can start the tour in Vejle along the road St. Grundet Skovvej located behind Vejle Hospital, and in Jelling you can start at the experience centre Kongens Jelling.
Photo: Stjernegaard Fotografi
Grejsdalstien – touring track
Take a leisurely ride on a mountain bike 16 km through the valley of Grejsdalen, which offers magnificent glacial landscapes, steep hillsides and watershed gorges that cut deep into the rolling landscape. On the tour, you will also pass through old beech forests and beautiful open countryside.
Photo: Brandbjerg Højskole
Mountain bike track Dragehalen by Brandbjerg Højskole
There are challenges for all – for the young and old, beginners and pros – on the 1,200-metre long mountain bike technical track by Brandbjerg Højskole. The track, which is called Dragehalen (The Dragon Tail) due to its twisted pump tracks, offers black, red and blue colour-coded levels.
Photo: VisitVejle
The Medieval Route - Regional Bicycle Route No. 35
On the cycle route The Medieval Route - Regional Route 35, you will come through Jelling and past ancient barrows, Ravningbroen in Vejle Ådal and Jutland meadows. Starting with the Ancient Road (Hærvejen) the medieval route is a journey through Danish history.
Photo: Elliott Hope Studio
Jellings King Stage - 55 km
The town of Jelling is included in many of Vejle’s super routes. "Jellings Kongeetape" (Jelling’s queen stage) takes you further west and through the scenic ice age landscape at Åst Bjerge. The route is 55 km with 550 metres of total ascent.
Jelling's history
The two mighty burial mounds and two rune stones erected by the kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth in the 900's and Jelling Church mark the transition from paganism to Christianity and can also be seen as Denmark’s ‘birth certificate’, since one of the rune stones carries the oldest inscription with mention of Denmark as a nation and the Danes as a people.
Jelling Church was erected around 1100. The Romanesque stone church was constructed on the site of Harald Bluetooth’s wooden church from the 900's. In 2000, King Gorm the Old was reburied in the chamber tomb in the church.
Today, Jelling is a station town with approx. 3,600 inhabitants, located approx. 10 kilometers northwest of Vejle. Jelling is a quaint little town visited by more than 150,000 tourists annually, and not without reason.
More about Jelling
Learn more about the Vikings in Jelling, get answers to practical questions and find Bike Friends members in Jelling.
Last updated April 2026.