Things to do in Herning, Denmark - our top 10 tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | What to see and do in Herning, Denmark? We came here to visit a trade fair, but soon discovered that Herning has much more to offer. There is exciting art and museums, a wide range of events and several different attractions. Here we have collected our 10 best tips for things to see and do in Herning.

Herning

Herning is a small town with a nice atmosphere. The first thing they told us at the tourist office is that the city is relatively young, and therefore does not have many old buildings.

Herning is an 'event city'. At the large exhibition centre just outside the city, and at the congress centre in the city centre, there are lots of fairs, festivals and concerts. Herning oscillates between being full of people during the events - and going into quiet periods in between.

Herning is located in the middle of Jutland in Denmark, about 90 kilometres west of Aarhus. From Copenhagen it is almost 300 kilometres.

What to do in Herning?

So what can you see and do in Herning? There is a lot to discover in addition to the events, we can say. We have collected our best tips here in a list.

1. strolling in the centre of Herning

Herning city centre is quiet and pleasant. The shops are densely packed, and there are plenty of restaurants in particular. For a city of this size, there are an unexpected number of restaurants, but when there are events going on, it can even be difficult to find a free table.

2. see Herning church

Herning's church was designed by the architect Wiinholt and was inaugurated in 1889. Inside the church there is, among other things, an organ from 1949. The church is centrally located in town and when we were here, a meeting for mothers with small children was taking place.

3. visit the Textile Museum

The Textile Museum in Herning is located near the city centre, housed in a former factory building. The museum tells the story of the textile industry, which was once the most important industry in this part of Jutland. You can see old machinery, and there is also a café and engaging activities for children.

4. Enjoy the atmosphere at Napoli restaurant

We visited the Napoli restaurant one evening, and we didn't regret it. The best thing here was the cosy atmosphere and the personal service. Even though every table was full and the staff was obviously busy, they never kept us waiting and were happy to offer an extra smile.

The food is Italian and we each ordered a pizza. Then we went big and also took a dessert and a small whiskey each. Really good and nice!

5. Take a trip to Birch - the white city

For an extraordinary art experience, don't miss a trip to Birk Centerpark, located just outside the centre of Herning. By car or local bus it takes less than ten minutes to get here.

An aerial view of the area clearly shows a long line of white buildings scattered across a green landscape. There is a university, two art museums and a wide range of outdoor attractions, such as a sculpture park and various works of art.

6. Check out art at HEART Herning Museum of Contemporary Art

One of the two art museums at Birk is HEART Herning Museum of Contemporary Art. The large white building houses various exhibitions of contemporary art. When we visited the museum in 2022, we saw, among other things, the photo exhibition "West Coast" by Henrik Saxgren, with fantastic images from the Danish west coast.

The museum also has a café, where we took the opportunity to take a lunch break with a panini.

7. Fascinated by the Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelt Museum

At Birk you will also find the Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum, an art museum built around the couple's work. The museum was established in 1976, after Carl-Henning donated a large collection, and originally consisted of a round building.

In 1993, a pyramid was added to the museum, and in 2015 the two geometric buildings were connected to the former shirt factory Angligården. You can now walk underground between the different buildings, which offer fantastic and bright exhibition spaces.

The museum has around 6000 works by both artists, and the exhibitions change a few times a year. When we were here, there was an exhibition focusing on ceramics.

We also saw an amazing and fascinating art and sound exhibition outside the museum, which can be visited even by those who do not enter the museum. As we approached the circle, we didn't hear anything, but then when we stepped into the centre, music poured in from all directions. Really cool! Despite dark clouds and rain, we stayed here for quite a while.

8. Walk in the Sculpture Park and the Geometric Garden

There is a lot of art to discover in Birk Centerpark, even outside the museums. For example, you can stroll through the Sculpture Park or check out the geometric garden.

We were here at the wrong time of year (and on a day that was far too rainy!) to do the garden justice in pictures. If you come here at a better time of year, take a look for yourself!

9. Photograph the statue of Elijah

One of the most striking works of art in Birk Centerpark is undoubtedly the giant sculpture Elia, which is 11 metres high and has a diameter of 60 metres. At first glance, one might wonder if this is a stranded spaceship from an alien galaxy.

But no, Ingvar Cronhammar's enormous work of art marks the turn of the millennium. The sculpture contains a gas burner and once every 18 days it sends up an 8.4 metre high fireball. The timing of this is randomly selected by a computer.

10. Attend a trade show or event

The chances of visiting Herning in connection with a trade fair, concert or other major event are relatively high. MCH has several large venues in the city:

• MCH Messecenter Herning is one of Scandinavia's largest exhibition centres, with 15 exhibition halls.
• MCH Herning Congress Centre is a cultural centre for theatre, concerts and musicals.
• MCH Arena is the home of the local league FC Midtjylland.
• Jyske Bank Boxen is a venue used for sports, concerts, shows and events.

We were in Herning because we took part in the travel and camping fair "Ferie for alle", which is Scandinavia's largest travel fair. This was a really inspiring fair with a focus on travelling both abroad and in Denmark, as well as on outdoor, golf and camping.

READ MORE: Holiday for all - Scandinavia's largest travel fair

READ MORE: Motorhomes and camping news at "Holidays for all" 2022

More to see and do in Herning

• Deep Forest Art Land combines art and nature in a forest south of Herning. There are a large number of artworks along a hiking route of approximately five kilometers.
• Herning library is located right in the city center and is more than just a library, with various activities and events.
• Herningsholm Museum is located in an old mansion and tells the story of life and history in the area.
• Søby Lignite Museum tells the story of the mining of brown coal, which was of great importance in the area, especially during the 20th century.
• Herning Centre is an option for those who want to shop and has around 80 stores.
• The Leafy Hills is a natural area for walks and outdoor activities, including a nature playground.
• Baboon City is a large indoor entertainment center with activities for children and families.
• Jyllands Park Zoo is located just outside Herning and is a popular excursion destination for families with children.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

Herning has a variety of accommodation options, which are linked to the major events that are usually organised in the city. If you come by motorhome, there is a car park/parking space at the Market Square. If you are going to the "Ferie for alle" fair, there is a fair campsite, and there are also several campsites outside Herning.

We stayed at Hotel Eyde Best Western Plus, which we were very pleased with. The room was fresh and good, there was coffee available all around the clock and the service was excellent. We also liked the location, right in the centre of Herning.

We were also very pleased with the breakfast at the hotel. They served fresh and tasty juice, good bread, nice liver paste, crispy granola and a lot of other goodies.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

If you go west from Herning you can visit the adventure park WOW Park Skjern, and if you go south you can visit Legoland. Here you will find more tips:

• Legoland
• Legoland Castle Hotel