Store og Lille Sandkås

Between the fishing village of Tejn and Allinge, two small sandy coves sit close together on Bornholm's north coast (address Tejnvej 100, 3770 Allinge). From the car park, one side leads to the small, rock-framed Store Sandkås, the other to the longer Lille Sandkås beach with its bathing jetty. The name "Kås" roughly means landing place, a reminder of when fishermen hauled their boats ashore here.

The two coves

Store Sandkås is the smaller of the two, a sheltered bathing cove with rocky edges. Coarse sand covers both the beach and the seabed. The cliff path to Allinge also begins right at the car park above the cove.

Lille Sandkås is the long beach with the bathing jetty, from which ladders lead down into the water. Large boulders placed in the sea form a barrier that breaks the incoming waves, creating a calm, child-friendly pool – ideal for families with young children.

• Store Sandkås: small rock-framed cove, start of the cliff path.
• Lille Sandkås: long beach with a bathing jetty and sheltered pool.
• Both coves lie just a few steps apart.

Swimming and water quality

The rock-enclosed pool at Lille Sandkås takes the force out of the Baltic swell, making it safe for children to swim too. If you prefer it deeper, the bathing jetty's ladders let you step straight into the water. The Baltic is warmest here in high summer; for current water temperatures and the bathing water profile, it's worth checking badevandet.dk before you go in, where Bornholms Regionskommune regularly tests the island's beaches for bacterial levels.

Walking the cliff path

The Klippesti, a coastal path over the rocks along the sea, starts right at Store Sandkås. Heading north, it runs to Allinge, with Næs beach in the opposite direction. This stretch forms part of stage 3 (Sandvig–Gudhjem) of Bornholm's Kyststi, which circles the island in seven stages over around 120 kilometres. Official sources describe it as a short, roughly one-hour walk to Allinge, with wide Baltic views along the whole route. For more route ideas, see our cycling guide.

Getting there and practicalities

There's a car park behind the coves; no official source gives fees or the number of spaces, so check the signage on site if in doubt. Public toilets are available, and a kiosk opens in summer.

At the car park above Store Sandkås is the Sandkås Strandbar (Gilbertstræde 10, 3770 Allinge). It's only open in the summer months – closed in bad weather – and serves salads, sandwiches, smoothies and ice cream. The nearest larger town with a harbour, shops and restaurants is Allinge. For an overview of all the island's swimming spots, see our hub page on Bornholm's beaches.