What to do and see in South Denmark, South Denmark: The Best History Museums

Experience the history of Denmark’s railways in the authentic roundhouse from 1954. We have 21 tracks featuring iconic engines and carriages. Look inside the royal carriages, experience travelling first class and see Denmark’s oldest preserved steam engine from 1868. You can enter many of the museum’s engines and carriages. You can sit on the old wooden seats or stand in the driver’s cab of a steam locomotive. We provide a rewarding outing for the whole family, and visitors of all ages are welcome. Visit the child-sized Children’s Railway Station, brimming with trains and rails for you to play with. Go for a ride on the popular mini-train which runs every day. It is possible to enter many of the carriages and engines. All activities are free once you have paid the entrance fee.

The Welfare Museum is housed in Svendborg's old Poorhouse, a unique set of buildings showcasing an important period in Denmark's welfare history. Doors open into a world that up to now has been hidden from most of us. Here, we learn some of the stories surrounding the many people who lived on the dark side of society: the poor, the sick and the homeless who lived here, whether briefly or long-term, during the 102 years when the Poorhouse operated. Traces of the hardness of their lives are everywhere. The Welfare Museum conveys to the visitor a feeling of the past that creeps under the skin.

Koldinghus was built in the middle of the 13th century, and in the centuries that followed it was one of Denmark's most important royal castles. In 1808 there was a fire that left the castle in ruins – a romantic relic. Today the castle has been restored and houses a museum which is a centre for cultural activities and special exhibitions of international standing.

Follow us behind bars Why not enjoy a captivating stay inside our Town Jail and learn about justice and punishment. Behind closed doors, you will get a taste of prison life as it was in the good old days and in recent times. Just the sensation of being behind bars gives rise to reflection among young and old alike. Challenge your opinion on the legal system, when you make your way around. Why do we lock up people? How are the conditions in a Danish jail? And what does justice mean? Such questions are likely to occur when you walk into the prison yard, the cells and the court of justice. Jail for all ages Families with kids are more than welcome. We have customized information for kids and a selection of worksheets to choose from. Younger kids may find this authentic museum a bit scary. Therefore, please consider if they will be comfortable with the activities.

The Museum of Nursing History in Kolding is the only professional museum on nursing in Denmark. The museum conveys the history of nursing and health care from the Middle Ages until today. The museum is housed in an old tuberculosis sanatorium with a beautiful view over Kolding Fjord. Here you can see how a hospital ward was arranged and how nursing was done.