Villas in Funen & islands

Otterup and Bogense have north Funen's family beaches, Langeland is quieter, and Faaborg suits island-hopping; expect calm bays, not surf. Funen sits between Jutland and Sealand, so Billund and Copenhagen both work as airports, and Odense is rarely more than an hour's drive. Most houses are timber summer homes close to shallow water and small harbours.

Where

Villas: 399
From, per week: £353
Cheapest month: November
Nearest airports: Billund is about an hour from Middelfart and an hour and a half from Odense, with British Airways flights from Heathrow. Copenhagen, around one hour 50 minutes from London, is about one and a half to two hours away over the Great Belt bridge. Aarhus, served by Ryanair from Stansted, is roughly an hour and a half from Middelfart.

Where to stay in Funen & islands

Otterup and Bogense (north Funen)

More of our Funen houses are around Otterup than anywhere else, mostly in the summer-house areas at Hasmark Strand, where a long sandy beach shelves very gently. The Enebærodde spit nearby is a good walk. Bogense, further west, is a small market town with a marina and its own beach. Odense is about 25 minutes from Otterup, and Billund around an hour and a half.

Best for: Families with small children who want shallow, sheltered beaches

Not for you if: You want hills or dramatic coast: north Funen is flat farmland down to the shore.

Langeland (Tranekær, Rudkøbing, Humble, Bagenkop)

Langeland is a long, thin island joined by bridges to Tåsinge and Svendborg. Tranekær in the north has a red castle and an outdoor art trail in its woods. Rudkøbing is the main town. Houses under Humble are close to Ristinge's dune beach, and Bagenkop at the southern tip is a fishing harbour beside the Cold War fort museum. A ferry from Spodsbjerg crosses to Lolland in about 45 minutes.

Best for: Couples and families who want a quiet island with a long coastline

Not for you if: You mind a long drive back to the mainland for days out.

Faaborg, Svendborg and the south Funen archipelago

South Funen is hillier, with views across a scatter of islands. Faaborg has a well-kept old centre and ferries to Lyø, Avernakø and Ærø; Millinge sits on the coast road just north. Svendborg is a bigger harbour town with boats to Ærøskøbing. Hesselager and Skårup Fyn are close to the east-coast harbour of Lundeborg. Egeskov castle is about half an hour from Faaborg.

Best for: Sailors and anyone who wants ferry days to small islands

Not for you if: You want a wide sandy beach; much of this coast is narrow and stony.

Middelfart and the Little Belt (Brenderup Fyn, Asperup, Assens, Ebberup, Haarby)

Middelfart sits on the Little Belt between two bridges to Jutland, and you can book a guided walk over the arch of the old one. Brenderup Fyn and Asperup are close to the beaches north of town. Assens, down the west coast, is a harbour town, and Ebberup and Haarby are near the Helnæs peninsula. Billund is about an hour from Middelfart.

Best for: Families who want the quickest drive from Billund

Not for you if: You want somewhere lively; outside Middelfart and Assens this is quiet farm country.

Kerteminde and Hindsholm (Martofte, Mesinge, Munkebo)

Hindsholm is the peninsula north of Kerteminde, ending at the cliffs of Fyns Hoved, with Martofte as its village. Kerteminde has a fishing harbour and Fjord and Bælt, an aquarium where you can watch harbour porpoises. The Ladby Viking ship burial is just outside town. Mesinge and Munkebo are inland towards Odense, which is about 25 minutes away.

Best for: Walkers and families who like harbours and coastal paths

Not for you if: You want lots of houses to choose from; stock here is limited.

Nyborg and the Great Belt (Frørup, Oure, Ullerslev)

Nyborg sits at the Funen end of the Great Belt bridge, with a royal castle in the old centre. Houses under Frørup and Oure are along the coast road south towards Svendborg, near small beaches and woods. Ullerslev is inland. Copenhagen airport is around an hour and a half from Nyborg, and the bridge carries a toll each way.

Best for: Visitors driving from Copenhagen who want a short final leg

Not for you if: You mind seeing the bridge and passing ships from the beach.

When to go to Funen & islands

The season runs from June to August, with Danish school holidays from late June to early August. The bays and belts around Funen are sheltered and shallow, and late July and August are the best weeks for swimming. June and early September are quieter and suit cycling and island ferries. From October many beach kiosks and some smaller ferry timetables scale back, but Odense, Svendborg and Faaborg stay open all year.