Hammershus Castle Ruins

An incredible ruin and must visit if you love history. Compared to the entire castle in its glory times, there is actually much of the stone base preserved. The strategic position of the castle makes for beautiful panoramic views all around (it's high up a cliff) and there are several hiking routes that go past and through the castle as well. Although the shop next to the castle closes, the castle never does and so it could be an amazing place to visit in early morning or late night too. I could not stop taking foto's of this place.

What a magical place to visit. Plus, it was free! Best site on the island. It wasn’t too crowded despite it being a weekend and perfect weather.

No entry fee, great for the kids to rummage around. Interesting history and a great destination for a day trip overall. Fair parking at 35 DKK

We've visited this place and we like it! The view is wonderful. We had a long walk inside the ruins also around it. The history was rich, each are has its own story to tell. After this, they have a cafeteria, where you can have lunch or snacks while enjoying the view. I'm not sure about the ticket, we just park and pay it online. But entrance fee don't think so.

An easy walk leads you to the ruins. Guides in traditional dress bring the Middle Ages to life in the ruins of a once mighty castle.

For history and building lovers. Amazing view! Not for lazy people - you have to walk a bit 🙃

Jaw dropping experience...bigger than you imagine... Cafe and entrance was lovely

It was a long and partly uphill bike ride from Rønne but it was totally worth it. These ruins are nearly breathtaking from far away. Inside the ruins looking out to the sea, makes one think of what it might have been like when it was a functioning fortress. Museum and cafe are excellent as well. It is of course possible to drive there but the biking, while hard, was beautiful mostly following the coast. No tickets needed. It is free.

Our visit to Hammershus was perhaps the highlight of Gayle's and my short 1-day visit (off a Viking Cruise Ship) to Bornholm. Bornholm was on of Viking's consolation ports, after their Baltic Cruise dropped Helsinki, Tallin, and St. Petersburg off the itinerary thanks to Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. Actually, Bornholm is a cool little island, that is full of great scenery, and with a reputation of good food, accomplished artists, and popular cultural events. However, Viking forgot to mention in their post-Putin literature that except for a few restaurants and sights (like Hammershus), Bornholm is basically closed on Sunday. Our experience involved a long but scenic (in spots) bus ride to Hammershus and the trip back. We saw places we'd love to stop, but unfortunately we were on the express bus. The Hammershus stop was a welcome one for a break from the bus, the tour guide's monotone, the chance for a comfort break, and the opportunity to walk around and enjoy the castle ruins. Hammershus is the oldest castle ruin in Northern Europe and dates back to many battles among the Danes, Swedes, Kings, and even the Church. I didn't dig too deep into the history as it's hard to focus after seeing so many churches, castle ruins, etc. within a European trip. Yet, itt was fun to see, walk around, and enjoy the ocean view. The Visitor's center is also nice, which includes a gift shop and a Cafe.

Visiting Hammarshus Castle was like spending a day on the great ice wall in Westeros. It was an incredible experience. This is the oldest castle ruin in Northern Europe, overlooking the plunging cliffs of the northern coast of the Danish island of Bornholm. It dates back to at least the year 1200, occupied at various times by Danish Vikings, Kings, and Swedish invaders. Having visited many castles, I can say this is a unique one. It lacks the ornate design of many German castles, but makes up for this by being a truly functional medieval fortress, complete with drawbridge and a partial moat. It is also a botanical gem, with a unique flora built up by centuries of collecting plants from abroad. The signs are in Danish with English summaries, so you can understand what each structure was used for. The new visitor center was under construction when I visited, though the architectural drawings on display indicate that it will be incredible. The site is easily accessible by bus once you arrive in Rønne, and the bus drivers on Bornholm were all very helpful. Totally worth the trip, I highly recommend it!