On 23 June each year, Danes across the country gather on beaches and in parks to light towering bonfires, sing traditional songs, and – in a rather peculiar nod to ancient folklore – burn witch effigies to ward off bad spirits. But far from an Ari Aster plotline, Midsommer in Denmark (known locally as Sankt Hans Aften) marks a joyful seasonal shift: schools break up for the summer, city-dwellers flock to the coast, and a nation’s worth of SAD lamps get packed away as the days get longer, brighter and warmer. The coast of Northern Zealand is a particular favourite of the Copenhagen crowd, but venture a tad further west to the Odsherred region and you’ll find equally beautiful beaches with a fraction of the crowds. Though July may be the most popular time to visit, I find mid-August is the sweet spot. With seasonal bars and restaurants still open, but the kids back in school, you’ll find it’s just you, the locals, and miles of untapped Scandi scenery.
Stephanie Gavan checked into this Airbnb for a Scandi Summer escape
Clean design features at this home in Denmark
Odsherred itself is an easy hour’s drive from Copenhagen, but, as in most of Denmark, the area is best explored on two wheels. Serious cyclists might tackle the whole distance from the capital, but for us mere mortals, the regional train is a lifesaver – even local services are well-equipped for cyclists with dedicated bike carriages and wall hooks. We caught a train from Copenhagen Central Station to the sleepy town of Højby. Ninety minutes later, we rolled off the platform, mounted our saddles, and freewheeled downhill, the breeze in our hair as we glided past postcard-pretty lakes and forest-flanked country roads.
Our GPS led us to the end of a secluded, tree-lined path where soft sunbeams cut through the canopy while birds tweeted overhead like something out of an Enid Blyton book. And then came the reveal: a low-slung modernist marvel nestled in a garden the size of a small park. Built in the 1960s, the house was bought by current owners Emma and Jakob in 2021 from its very first occupants. Left largely untouched for six decades, what drew them to the property was its timeless mid-century architecture – the clean lines, expansive windows, and the way it blends so naturally into the surrounding landscape. Their goal when decorating was simple: to preserve its mid-century character while crafting a calm, contemporary space where guests can slow down and feel connected to nature.