Denmark has a long tradition of badehotels, cosy seaside retreats where well-to-do urbanites have flocked since the 19th-century. But after falling out of fashion in the mid-20th century, it’s safe to say they’re en vogue once more, and you’ve Helenekilde Badehotel to thank for leading the comeback. In 2009, this cliff-cresting villa in North Zealand was restored to its former glory by ballet-dancer-turned-hotelier Alexander Kølpin (of Copenhagen’s Hotel Sanders) and it’s not seen a dull day since. Linen-clad locals walk their dogs along the beach then pop in for a coffee on the porch as robe-wrapped guests shuffle, post-sauna, across the garden. That’s all to say, there’s no trace of stuffiness here: just understated, regional food, summerhouse-style bedrooms and heart-fluttering Kattegat views. Often likened to the Hamptons — though closer in spirit to a 1960s Cape Cod — the hotel’s hometown of Tisvilde may attract a prosperous bunch, but Helenekilde keeps things grounded with buckets-and-spades of Scandinavian simplicity.
Address: Strandvejen 25, 3220 Tisvildeleje, Denmark
Villa Provence, Aarhus
Anyone who’s spent a significant amount of time in Denmark will tell you about the Danes’ penchant for all things French. Perhaps it’s the two nations’ shared love of baked goods, or their equally effortless sense of style. Whatever it is, Villa Provence is a fine example of this intercontinental admiration — a 39-room boutique hotel bringing joie de vivre to the heart of Aarhus. Part of the family-owned Bühlmann group, the hotel trades Nordic minimalism for Gallic-inspired whimsy, taking its cue from the romance of mid-century Provençal estates. Each room is singular in size and layout: while all feature framed vintage posters, hand-sourced antiques, and a hearty helping of florals, higher categories add freestanding bathtubs and four-poster beds. Mornings begin in the light-drenched café with warm, flaky croissants and café au lait. By afternoon, guests move into the cobblestone courtyard, where trickling fountains and towering lime trees set the scene for a glass of pastis or chilled rosé, later returning to the self-serve honesty bar for a post-dinner nightcap. A slice of Côte d’Azur in the middle of Jutland, you ask? Ma Oui!
Address: Fredens Torv 12, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark