Situated on the bank of the river Odense, the city of Odense is the capital of the island of Funen, and the third-largest city in Denmark. Revered by the Vikings as the sanctuary of the war god Odin after whom, it is named, the site became an important pilgrimage centre during the Christian era, and by the start of the 19th century, had also acquired considerable importance as a commercial and industrial centre.  

Today a major port of Denmark, Odense houses some of the best-known attractions in the country. Most famous perhaps, and a must for lovers of fairy tales, are the two museums dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen, a native of Odense. Apart from these, there is a museum dedicated to the composer Carl Nielsen, and the Montegården museum, spreading across four buildings and home to a fine collection of tableaux, dioramas, coins and antiques. Odense’s other museums include the Photographic Art and Graphic Museum; some distance from the city is a delightful open-air museum, consisting of some 20 restored farm buildings. Known as Den Fynske Landsby (Funen Village) the site lies along the Odense River. Within the city, other major attractions include the Gothic St Canute’s Cathedral, Odense Castle, St Hans’ Church, and two monasteries- one Franciscan and the other Benedictine.

In close proximity to Odense are the historic Viking burial ground of Ladbyskibet and the majestic castle of Egeskov Slot, erected on a foundation of oak trunks, for which an entire forest was hacked down- a conservationist’s nightmare.

Odense has train and road links to the rest of Denmark, with fast InterCity trains connecting it to most other important cities; in addition, there are trains and buses to other destinations in Europe. Besides this, there are ferry and ship connections, both to other Danish cities and to other ports in Europe.