Danish Summer Traditions

The Summer Festivals

While summer houses offer peace and privacy, festivals bring people together through music, community, and celebration. Festival culture is a big part of summer in Denmark, and it reflects a national love of being outside, spending time with others, and having fun.

Every summer, festivals of all kinds pop up across the country - in cities, forests, fields, harbours, and even on small islands. Some are massive, others are tiny. But all share a strong sense of community and a celebration of summer.

Some of Denmark's most famous festivals include:

• Roskilde Festival – Northern Europe’s biggest music festival, known for its music, activism, and legendary orange stage.
• SmukFest in Skanderborg – “Denmark’s most beautiful festival,” set in a beech forest with a feel-good vibe.
• Copenhell – A heavy metal festival in Copenhagen with loyal fans and loud guitars.
• NorthSide, Tinderbox, and Heartland – newer festivals with international lineups and a mix of culture, food, and sustainability in focus.

But festivals aren’t just for the big cities – Lolland has its own local treasures, where the atmosphere is smaller, but the spirit is just as strong:

• Whitsun Festival – a one-day celebration of music, food, and togetherness in beautiful surroundings in Christianssæde, Maribo.
• Maribo Jazz Festival– a long-standing and beloved event that fills the town with live jazz and laid-back summer vibes.
• Femø Jazz Festival – live jazz on a peaceful island, with camping and community at its heart.
• Fejø Freedom Festival - Ø-Danmark's new festival for music, art, film and literature, set in nature with island vibes, local food, sea swims and a strong sense of togetherness.
• Lolland Opera Festival - intimate open-air performances and high-quality opera in unique rural settings.
• Sydhavsøernes Frugtfestival in Sakskøbing – a celebration of local food, and summer.

For many Danes, going to a festival is a summer tradition in itself. It’s about letting go of daily routines, meeting new people, dancing barefoot in the grass, and singing along as the sun sets. Whether you’re in a crowd of 50,000 or 50, it’s all about being together, and enjoying the season to its fullest.

Life Moves Outdoors

When the days grow long and the temperature rises, Danes move their lives outside. It’s as if the whole country collectively opens its windows, unrolls picnic blankets, and steps into the light.

Meals are eaten outdoors – on balconies, in backyards, in parks, or by the beach, wherever the sun is shining. People carry their coffee into the garden in the morning and grill dinner late into the evening. Children play in courtyards and on sidewalks. Even cities feel different: quieter, more relaxed, filled with the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. Parks, harbours, and small green pockets fill with life. Being outside isn’t an event – it’s simply how summer is lived.

Of course, Danish weather can be unpredictable - grey skies and chilly breezes are not uncommon, even in July. But that rarely stops anyone. Danes are known for embracing the outdoors no matter the forecast. You'll still see people swimming in the sea, barbecuing under umbrellas, or heading out for a hike in their raincoats. It's all part of the charm (and challenge) of a Danish summer.

Summer is also a time when many Danes reconnect with nature in more active ways. Across the country, families and friends go on bike tours, long hikes, or canoe trips along lakes and coastlines. Public shelters and fire pits are dotted throughout the landscape, and it’s common to sleep under the stars – even just for a night or two.

On Lolland, this tradition is especially accessible. The island’s flat terrain, quiet roads, and rich natural areas make it ideal for outdoor living. You’ll find well-marked cycling and hiking routes, sea kayak spots, and shelters nestled between forests and fields. Many locals also enjoy a slow summer rhythm – walking to the beach, picking berries along the way, or eating lunch in the shade of a tree.

Camping is a classic summer tradition, with families setting up tents or staying in simple cabins on one of the many organised campsites across the country. Travelling by campervan is also popular, offering the freedom to explore while enjoying the convenience of modern facilities. These campsites often become their own small communities during the summer, with playgrounds, campfires, and a relaxed holiday vibe.