From Wikitravel

Odense [1] is the capital of and the largest city on the island of Funen in Denmark. It is the third largest city in Denmark, and the birthplace of author Hans Christian Andersen.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By bus 2.5 By boat 2.6 By yacht 3 Get around 4 By foot 5 By bus 6 By train 7 See 8 Do 9 Learn 10 Work 11 Buy 12 Eat 12.1 Budget 12.2 Mid-range 12.3 Splurge 13 Drink 14 Sleep 14.1 Budget 14.2 Mid-range 14.3 Splurge 15 Contact 16 Stay safe 17 Cope 18 Get out

Understand

Odense is located at the Funen island. The first reference to the city dates back in 988 in a letter of the German kaiser Otto III, although some archeological finds indicate the settlement has been around since the Viking time. At that time, Odense is just a centre of the Odin cult. In 1100, the first monastery, St. Knud's Monastery, after the name of the king Knud IV, was established by some English Benedictine monks.

Until mid 17th century, Odense enjoyed as a trading centre for the surrounding areas. Local merchandise, such as live cattles, was exported and gave a huge fortunes. The Swedish war in the mid 1600s has given the city, a bad fate. Economy was at a stagnancy, until a canal was open in 1803. Soon, Odense swiftly changed into a port city. Odense becomes a modern, industrialized city with the opening of railways in 1865. The population grows into currently 185,871, the third largest city of Denmark.

Odense is the birthplace of fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen, whose 200th birthday was celeberated in 2005. Andersen was born on 2 April 1805, in the narrow street of Munkemøllestræde, close to the cathedral. During his life, Andersen, the son of washerwoman and a shoemaker, has made many famous fairy tales world-wide, including ugly duckling, the snow queen, etc.

Get in

By plane

Odense Airport no longer has any domestic or international airline activity; instead you can arrive at:

• Billund Airport, take the local bus to Vejle, and then the train from there. The total trip is 90-120 minutes.
• Copenhagen Airport/Kastrup and take the train from there. The trip is between 105 and 120 minutes.

By train

• About 90 minutes from Copenhagen, 2 hours from the Copenhagen airport. Trains leave hourly.
• About 105 minutes from Aarhus.
• Between 80 and 110 minutes from Esbjerg in southern Jutland, connecting with ferries from Harwich in England.
• About 45 minutes from Svendborg on southern Funen.
• Between 4 and 5 hours from Hamburg in Germany.

By car

Odense - situated in the middle of the island Funen - is easily accessible by car by the highway connecting Jutland, Funen and Zealand. Beware that the fee for crossing the Great Belt Bridge between Zealand and Funen (if you arrive from Zealand) is 200 DKK one way.

By bus

The cream coloured buses from FynBus arrive from all over Funen, Fredericia in Jutland, and Nykøbing on the island Falster, at the regional bus hub next to the central railroad station - not to be confused with the local bus hub directly beneath the station.

By boat

There are no ferry lines to Odense.

By yacht

Odense city is accessible via a 7 km long canal from Odense Fjord to the old harbour. There are several marinas, but make sure they have visitor berths before you arrive. You can also arrive at a marina in e.g. Svendborg, Faaborg, or Kerteminde, and go by bus/train from there.

Get around

By foot

The sights of Odense are easily seen on foot. Much of the downtown shopping district is pedestrian only roads.

By bus

The red and white buses from Odense Bytrafik (page in Danish) are available all over Odense. The main local bus hub is directly beneath (ground level) the central railroad station - not to be confused with the regional bus hub.

Smaller hubs are located at:

• Klingenberg next to City Hall (regional busses also stop here)
• The hospital, connected to the railroad from Ringe / Svendborg (regional busses also stop here)
• The shopping mall "Rosengårdcentret" (regional busses do not stop here)

The buses may be crowded during rush hour (around 7-8, 12-14, 17-19 o'clock). Some regional buses do not stop at the main hub, but use some of the smaller ones, but all local buses do.

By train

The railroad to Svendborg has a few stops in Odense; the stop at picturesque Fruens Bøge is near the open-air museum The Funen Village. Some trains don't stop at Fruens Bøge - the stops are listed on the information screens on the platforms.

See

• The Hans Christian Andersen Museum, http://www.odmus.dk/db2/main.asp?kap=616. Part of the museum is located in the house where Andersen was supposedly born (though he would never confirm it). The collection is mainly documents from his life and times as well as period furniture. 55 DKK for entrance.

• Brandts Klædefabrik, http://brandts.dk/. An art and culture center, which also has art cinema and cafe.

• Odense Zoo, ☎ +45-6611-1360 (odensezoo@odensezoo.dk), http://www.odensezoo.dk/site/engelsk/planlaeg/aabningstider. Children: 55 DKK, Adults: 110 DKK, Family: (2 adults, and 2 children) 300 DKK.

• The Carl Nielsen Museum, http://www.odmus.dk/db2/main.asp?kap=618. museum honouring the classical composer who was born outside Odense.

• The Danish Railway Museum, Dannebrogsgade 24, ☎ +45 66 13 66 30 (jbmuseum@dsb.dk, fax: +45 66 19 02 20), http://www.jernbanemuseum.dk. Daily 10-16 (Closed 1 January, 24, 25 and 31 December.). Admission: Children 5-13 DKK 20, Adults DKK 48, Families DKK 120 (2 adults and 3 children).

• Medieval buildings, Montergarden (just off Overgade and Nedergade). Restored buildings from 1500-1600 free.

Do

• Odense Golfklub, Hestehaven 200, ☎ +45-6595-9000, http://www.odensegolfklub.dk/wm1608. 9 pm -5:30 pm. Green fees: Weekdays Dkr. 275 (38 Euro), Weekends and holidays Dkr. 325 (45 Euro). Odense Golfklub does not accept Euros and only permits credit card payments on weekdays between 8:30 - 16:30.

• Odense Go-Kart-Hal, Cikorievej 32, ☎ +45-70 25 0210 (info@gokart-hal.dk, fax: +45-70 250 220), http://www.gokart-hal.dk/.

• Odense Symphony Orchestra (Odense Symfoniokester), Cikorievej 32, ☎ +45 66 12 44 80 (orchestra@odensesymfoni.dk, fax: +45 65 91 00 47), http://www.odensesymfoni.dk.

• Odense Aafart, http://www.aafart.dk/uk/ukstart.htm. Odense Aafart has tour boats from the recreational area Munke Mose in the city centre on Odense River with stops at Odense Zoo and in Fruens Bøge near The Funen Village.

Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 May to 29 September 2005 there are six daily Hans Christian Andersen Sightseeing Bus Tours (PDF file).

Learn

• University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, ☎ +45-6550-1000 (sdu@sdu.dk, fax: +45-6550-1090), http://www.sdu.dk/E/Odense.html.

Work

Work is difficult find in Denmark unless you already have a gook knowledge of Danish. However those interested in gaining work in Odense who cannot speak English might be able to avail of positions delivering newspapers or cleaning.

Buy

Eat

Budget

Mid-range

• Den Gamle Kro (The Old Inn) Overgade 23, 5000 Odense C, ph:+45 6612 1433 (dengamlekro@city-hotel-odense.dk, fax: +45 6617 8858) [2] An historical inn built in 1863. French inspired and serves traditional Danish food.
• KooKoo's Corner Vestergade 73, +45 65915787. Stylish but relaxed cafe-bar in the front, with a courtyard restaurant in the back. Nacos, burgers, salads, fish, and tapas platters. Main dishes 70-200 DKK.

Splurge

Drink

Bars are open until midnight. After that your options are limited to the Odense Casino and/or your minibar.

• Albani, Tværgade 2, ☎ +45 65 48 75 00 (contact@royalunibrew.com), http://www.albani.dk. A local beer, primarily Odense Pilsner and Odense Classic. The brewery was founded in 1859.

• Odense Casino, Claus Berbs Gade 7 (Inside the Radisson Hotel), ☎ +45 6614 7800 (info@casinoodense.dk), http://www.casinoodense.dk/. 7pm-4am. American Roulette, Black Jack,Texas Hold Em Poker, TouchBet Roulette Terminals, Slot Machines, Viking Stud Poker 60 DKK entrance fee.

Sleep

Budget

• Dan Hostel Odense City, Østre Stationsvej 31 (Adjacent to the central railroad station, located in the city center.), ☎ +45-6311-0425 (info@cityhostel.dk, fax: +45-6311-3520), http://www.cityhostel.dk/Engelsk/index.htm.

• Odense Danhostel Kragsbjerggaard, Kragsbjergvej 121, ☎ +45-6613-0425 (odense@danhostel.dk, fax: +45-6591-2863), http://www.cityhostel.dk/Engelsk/grupper.htm. Denmark's only manor hostel, 2 km from the city center.

Mid-range

• Hotel Windsor, Vindegade 45, ☎ +45-6612-0652 (co.­windsor@choice.­dk, fax: +45-6591-0023), http://www.choicehotels.dk/.

• First Grand Hotel, Jernbanegade18 (Just to the right as you leave the train station), ☎ +45-66 11 71 71 (odense@firsthotels.dk, fax: +45-66 14 11 71), http://www.firsthotels.dk/.

Splurge

• Hotel Ansgar, Østre Stationsvej 32 (About 2 blocks to your right as you leave the station), ☎ +45-6611 9693 (ansgar@email.dk, fax: +45-6611 9675), http://www.hotel-ansgar.dk. 600Dkk-900DKK.

• City Hotel, Hans Mules Gade 5, ☎ +45-6612-1258 (reception@city-hotel-odense.dk, fax: +45-6612-9364), http://www.city-hotel-odense.dk. 570 DKK and above.

• Radisson SAS H.C. Andersen Hotel, Claus Bergs Gade 7, ☎ +45-6614-7800 (hcandersen@radissonsas.com, fax: +45-6614-7890), http://www.radissonsas.com. 850 DKK and above.

Contact

Stay safe

Cope

Get out

• Bogense
• Assens
• Fåborg
• Svendborg
• Kerteminde
• Ringe
• Middelfart

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!