Villas in Bornholm

Dueodde near Nexø has Bornholm's family sand, Allinge and Gudhjem suit walkers and Svaneke the food, but you need a ferry or flight. The island is only about 40 kilometres across, so no house is far from the rest of it. Houses range from thatched cottages to timber summer houses in the pine woods behind the southern beaches.

Where

Villas: 483
From, per week: £250
Cheapest month: November
Nearest airports: Fly to Copenhagen, around one hour 50 minutes from London, then take the DAT flight to Rønne, about 40 minutes. The alternative is to travel via Malmö to Ystad in Sweden by train or car and take the fast ferry to Rønne, about one hour 20 minutes. An overnight ferry also runs from Køge, south of Copenhagen.

Where to stay in Bornholm

Nexø, Snogebæk and Dueodde (south-east)

Most of our Bornholm houses carry a Nexø address, and many sit in the pine woods behind Dueodde and Balka rather than in the town. Dueodde's sand is fine and pale, and the water stays shallow a long way out. Snogebæk is a small fishing village with a smokehouse and a handful of cafés, while Nexø itself is a working harbour with the supermarkets. Rønne's airport and ferry port are about 35 to 40 minutes away.

Best for: Families with young children who want soft sand and shallow water

Not for you if: You want cliffs and rocky coves: the south-east is flat, sandy and wooded.

Allinge, Sandvig and Hammeren (north)

The north end is granite. Allinge and Sandvig are two harbour villages that have grown together, with a small sandy beach at Sandvig and ladders into the sea off the rocks elsewhere. A coastal path circles the Hammeren headland and its lighthouse, and the medieval ruins of Hammershus stand on the cliffs just south. Olsker round church is a few minutes inland. Rønne is around half an hour by car.

Best for: Walkers and couples who want granite cliffs and castle ruins

Not for you if: You need a long sandy beach on the doorstep, as the north coast is mostly rock.

Aakirkeby, Almindingen and the south coast

Aakirkeby is a small inland town with a bakery, a supermarket and the Natur Bornholm visitor centre. Some houses under its name are down on the south coast at Boderne and Sømarken, where sandy beaches run east towards Dueodde. North of town is Almindingen, one of Denmark's largest forests, with the Ekkodalen rift valley and signed cycle and walking trails. Rønne is about 20 minutes away.

Best for: Families who want a sandy beach and forest cycling from one base

Not for you if: You want cafés within walking distance: Aakirkeby is a quiet inland town.

Gudhjem, Svaneke and Østermarie (east coast)

Gudhjem climbs a steep hillside above its harbour, and boats leave here for the fortress island of Christiansø, about an hour out. Østerlars, the largest of the island's round churches, is a short drive inland. Svaneke, further south, has red-tiled merchants' houses, a brewery and a smokehouse on the rocks. Østermarie sits between the two among farmland. Rønne is 30 to 40 minutes away.

Best for: Food lovers and couples who like small harbour towns

Not for you if: You want quiet lanes in July, when Gudhjem's harbour fills with day-trippers.

Hasle, Rønne and Klemensker (west coast)

Hasle is a small harbour town known for its herring smokehouses, with sandy stretches to the south and the sea cliffs of Jons Kapel to the north. Rønne is the island's main town and where the ferry docks and planes land, which helps if you arrive late in the evening. Klemensker lies inland among farms. This coast faces west, so evenings end with the sun going down over the Baltic.

Best for: Short stays and anyone arriving on a late ferry

Not for you if: You want the island's best beaches close by; the softest sand is on the south coast.

When to go to Bornholm

June to August is the main season. Danish school holidays fill the ferries from late June to early August, so book car space early for those weeks. Late May, June and September are quieter, and the cycle routes are easier to enjoy without the traffic. The Baltic stays cool even in August. From October to April many smokehouses, cafés and craft studios close or shorten their hours, though Rønne and Nexø keep supermarkets and some restaurants open all year.