Dueodde Beach

Dueodde can hold its own against the best beaches in the world — Denmark's answer to the Caribbean or the South Seas. Except here it's gnarled pines rather than palm trees behind the sand, and instead of hotel towers you look towards a treeline hiding holiday homes, campsites and one small hotel complex. From the water, no large building is visible anywhere — apart from the 47-metre Dueodde Lighthouse, which also offers the best overview of the whole area.

The beach stretches nearly eight kilometres around the island's southern tip. Near the lighthouse, the beach and dunes reach their greatest width: around 600 metres from the shoreline inland, of which about 100 metres is flat beach. Heading east and west, the beach and dune belt quickly narrow.

Sand fit for a king's writing desk

The sand at Dueodde is legendary — so white and so fine that it was once used in egg timers, and Danish kings kept it on their writing desks as blotting sand. With every barefoot step it even makes a faint squeaking sound. The Baltic Sea in front is shallow and child-friendly, rarely rough. Small tidal channels often form for paddling, and in many spots you can wade a long way out before the water reaches chest height.

Dueodde regularly holds Blue Flag status, an international quality mark for water cleanliness and beach management. Toilets and a kiosk are available at the car park in season; don't automatically count on lifeguards or changing facilities, as these aren't consistently provided on site.

Getting there and parking

Dueodde is signposted all over Bornholm. Following the signs takes you to the car park on Fyrvejen. Scheduled buses serving Dueodde from all parts of the island stop here too, and a kiosk sells ice cream, hot dogs and souvenirs.

From the car park, two well-maintained wooden ramps over 500 metres long lead through the dunes to the beach — step-free for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles. They do end a good 100 metres short of the water, though. A second car park can be reached via Skrokkegårdsvej, a parallel road further east, where a campsite kiosk sits right on the way.

• From Fyrvejen it's around 600 metres through the dunes to the water.
• From Skrokkegårdsvej the beach is reached a little more quickly.
• Parking charges aren't officially posted — check the signage on site.

Dueodde Lighthouse

The white-and-blue Dueodde Fyr came into service in 1962 and, at 47 metres, is Denmark's tallest lighthouse. Anyone who tackles the 196 steps to the top is rewarded with sweeping views: south over the dune and heath landscape, and north, on a clear day, as far as Rytterknægten, Bornholm's highest point. Right beside it stands its predecessor, the old Dueodde Süd lighthouse from 1880.

The tower can only be climbed seasonally and at changeable times — a reliable opening schedule for 2026 wasn't available at the time of writing. Don't build the climb firmly into your plans, and check locally before you go. For an overview of all the climbable towers on the island, see our guide to lighthouses on Bornholm.

Traces of war

The pine forest at Dueodde hides remnants from the Second World War. The German occupying forces began building a coastal battery in 1940 — four emplacements for 38 cm naval guns meant to seal off the Baltic Sea. The installation was never finished, but the bunker remains still lie freely accessible in the woods today.

Visible from far away is the more than 70-metre Bornholmertårnet, a former NATO listening post from the Cold War. Open to the public since 2015, the former military site now houses exhibitions on that era. From the tower — reached via more than 400 steps or by lift — the view stretches far across southern Bornholm.

What's worth seeing nearby

Dueodde marks the southern end point of a long sweep of sand. To the west, Sømarken Beach connects seamlessly, with its boulders and the fishing village of Østre Sømarken giving it a quite different character. Heading north towards Nexø, Balka Beach offers a sheltered, especially family-friendly bay.

The nearest town is Nexø, with a harbour, shops and restaurants. If you want to range further afield, a day trip to the fortress island of Christiansø is well worth planning in. For an overview of all the island's swimming spots, see our hub on beaches on Bornholm.