Bornholm is an island off the coast of Sweden that forms the eastern-most part of Denmark. In Danish, the island is sometimes referred to as solskinsøen, or “Sunshine Island”, because of its great weather and reputation as a summer vacation destination.
Around 40,000 people call Bornholm home. The island is slightly over 200 square miles large, and sits much closer to Sweden, to the north, than to the rest of Denmark, which is further west. As part of the Danish Capital Region, Bornholm has strong ties to the city of Copenhagen, as the primary city where people go when they need to go to the mainland. Ferries operate taking people to Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Germany from Bornholm, along with a small airport with daily flights to Copenhagen. The island was historically a strategic military location, all the way up to the German occupation of Bornholm during the Second World War. Since the end of the war, it has been a favorite tourist destination for people to escape from crowded cities and enjoy a bit of peaceful nature.
Bornholm is known for its summer season and is a hub for various watersports on the Baltic Sea. Sailing, kayaking, and motorized watersports are all very popular in the summer months when the island is abundant with the sort of sunshine that it’s known for. If the idea of Scandinavia in your mind is always of cold winters, think about a summertime trip up north to experience what they are famous for in Bornholm.