Discover the Capital of Children: Fun-Filled Activities in Billund, Denmark

Denmark is so child-friendly that it boasts a ‘Capital of Children.’ This delightful destination is centered in Billund, the heart of Lego, and offers an abundance of attractions. Families can enjoy a Viking town, Scandinavia’s premier waterpark, and the fantastic Givskud Zoo nearby.

Being the home of Lego ranks high among Billund’s many claims to fame. The first ‘Leg Godt‘ was developed here by 19th-century toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen, which means ‘play well’ in Danish. The Lego creators continue to honor this principle today.

In Billund, which aligns with Denmark’s reputation as a nation of creative thinkers, the ‘Capital of Children’ is more than just a marketing phrase. Here, children are consulted on town planning decisions, promoting play for everyone from babies to seniors.

Getting Creative at the Lego House

Opened in 2017, the incredible Lego House allows Lego enthusiasts—both kids and Adult Fans of Lego (AFLs)—to unleash their creativity like never before. Visitors can engage in various activities including:

• Creating Lego art in the studio
• Constructing inventive vehicles for racing
• Producing stop-motion movies
• Building imaginative figures like dancing monsters, fish, or flowers

A full day, or even more, can be joyfully spent at this engaging venue. Several restaurants and cafes enhance the experience, with Mini Chef offering a unique option where you construct a balanced menu using four Lego blocks, and meals are then delivered by adorable Lego Robots.

Whooping for Joy at Legoland

Legoland Billund stands as the largest and most captivating of all Legoland parks. Visitors can opt to stay at the Hotel Legoland, featuring themed rooms and numerous play areas filled with Lego creations. The adjoining theme park promises a day of excitement for all ages, featuring themed zones like Ninjago, Wild West, Duplo (for younger kids), and the Arctic, alongside thrilling rides from safari tours to looping rollercoasters. A miniature village also recreates iconic world landmarks with meticulous detail. Tickets grant unlimited rides, and even in peak times, the queues remain manageable without needing to book ahead.

Swooshing Down Flumes at Lalandia

Just a short walk from Legoland lies Lalandia, Scandinavia’s largest water park, where fun can be had for days. Despite its age, the aquadome continues to offer unabated enjoyment with numerous attractions, including:

• Whirlpool-whizzing and flume-racing slides
• An indoor-outdoor hot tub
• Saunas
• A wave machine
• A lazy river

Other indoor activities include a ski slope, a skating rink, and coin-operated amusements that kids adore. Onsite accommodations comprise stylish yet whimsical bungalows equipped with Jacuzzi baths and even saunas.

Meeting Dinosaurs and Lions at Givskud Zoo

Only a 20-minute drive from Billund (or 40 minutes by bus), the remarkable 120-hectare Givskud Zoo and wildlife park makes for another exciting day out. Alongside lavish playgrounds and a vast dinosaur park, the zoo features large enclosures for animals and offers the thrill of a drive-through safari—either in your vehicle or a ‘safari bus’—getting an up-close view of giraffes, zebras, lions, and more within expansive animal habitats. Enjoy additional activities like fossil hunting and geological treasure sifting.

Learning to Fight Like a Viking

The Ribe VikingeCenter invites visitors to step back in time at this outdoor museum, which spans the countryside and features replica Viking houses, farms, and a church. Interactions with passionate staff dressed as Vikings enhance the experience. Here, visitors can participate in:

• Historical re-enactments
• Coin creation, wood carving, warrior skills, and archery
• Baking Viking bread

Children especially adore searching for hidden runes across the site, while a Viking-themed playground adds to the fun. This experience can easily fill an entire day, or visitors may also explore Ribe, Denmark’s oldest town, located just 2 km to the north. Ribe features charming, colorful houses and hosts a unique free tour by a Night Watchman in the summer months, recounting tales from its history.

Jumping Like a Prawn at Wadden Sea Centre

The Wadden Sea, a vast wetland recognized by UNESCO for its rich biodiversity, features the stunning Wadden Sea Centre (VadehavsCentret), which opened in 2017. The structure beautifully integrates with the marshland, and inside, engaging, hands-on exhibitions captivate both children and adults. Explore topics such as:

• Bird migration
• The tides
• Flight

Outside, visitors can playfully jump like a prawn or stretch as far as a razor clam. This attraction pairs well with a trip to Ribe, located just 20 minutes away.

Going Underground at the Extraordinary Tirpitz Bunker Museum

Approximately an hour’s drive from Billund is the Tirpitz Bunker Museum, which opened in 2018 alongside the remnants of a former Nazi bunker. This subterranean museum, with its covert entrance, exemplifies remarkable architecture harmonizing with the surrounding landscape. Inside, engaging exhibits, projections about coastal life, reconstructed bunker rooms, and fascinating archival materials recount the area’s wartime history. Visitors can also explore the eerily untouched Nazi bunker, including a massive searchlight illuminating the darkness.

Making It Happen

While Denmark can be expensive, the attractions in the ‘Capital of Children’ consistently offer great value, making for memorable experiences. Opting for self-catering can help manage expenses effectively.

One notable advantage for families traveling to Denmark is the misalignment of school holidays; Danish children generally return to school by mid-August and only have a brief week off at Easter.

Travel without a car by taking a train from Copenhagen or flying directly to Billund, which is convenient via airlines like British Airways, SAS, and KLM. Many prominent attractions like Legoland, the Lego House, and Lalandia are within walking distance of one another, with Givskud easily accessible by bus. However, independent transport is recommended to visit some other sights.