Villas in Fanø

About Fanø

Fanø is a Wadden Sea island 16 km long and 3 km wide, with about 3,300 residents. The whole west shore is one beach of fine white sand with no stones, opening up wide in the south at low tide. Kite flying, surfing and buggies are popular, and cars may drive on it between Sønderho and Fanø Vesterhavsbad. Nordby, where the ferry lands, is the main village, with a 1786 church full of ship models. Sønderho at the southern tip has around 300 mostly 19th-century buildings along narrow lanes, and many of its homes are now summer residences. Our houses are scattered along much of the island, mostly for around six people. Evenings mostly mean a fireplace, and some houses have a sauna.

Is Fanø right for you?

Best for

Couples and families after island quiet, thatched Sønderho and a huge beach

Not for you if

You dislike ferries, since Nordby has the only crossing to the mainland and every shopping run depends on it.

Near Fanø

• Sønderho

  Village at the southern tip with about 300 mostly 19th-century buildings, thatched houses and Sønderho Kro, which dates from 1722.

• Nordby

  The largest town, where the ferry lands; its 1786 church holds ship models and has no large tower.

• Esbjerg

  Mainland port across the 12-minute ferry; bus line 5 runs from Esbjerg's main station to the ferry port in about 10 minutes.

• Ribe

  Denmark's oldest town, with a cathedral begun in 1150 and the Wadden Sea Centre a few kilometres outside.

Getting to Fanø

Billund is the usual airport for UK visitors, with British Airways from Heathrow and Norwegian from Gatwick listed. You then reach Fanø on the 12-minute ferry from Esbjerg to Nordby. On the island a car or bicycle is the most convenient way round, and a bus runs from Nordby to Sønderho.

When to go to Fanø

Summer is when the island fills, with about 30,000 visitors, and the beach is busiest, though at about 15 km it is long enough to walk away from the crowd. Lifeguards cannot cover all of it. In spring and autumn the starling flocks called sort sol gather shortly after sunset over marshes near Tønder and Ribe, within reach of the mainland. Winter is for fireplaces and empty sand.

Fanø villa holidays: questions answered

Nearby towns to Fanø

• Rømø (419)
• Blåvand (241)
• Ringkøbing (195)
• Hvide Sande (169)
• Toftlund (155)
• Vejers Strand (117)
• All of Western Jutland