Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Sweden
Switzerland
Nature · Skagen, Jutlândia do Norte
Grenen
The sand spit at the northern extreme of Dinamarca, where the Skagerrak meets the Kattegat and the waves of the two seas cross. The tractor-bus Sandormen takes you to the tip; nearby is the Farol Cinza, from 1858.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Grenen
Grenen is the sandspit that ends the Skagen peninsula, the northernmost point of continental Dinamarca. There the two seas meet: the Skagerrak, an arm of the North Sea, to the west, and the Kattegat, connected to the Baltic, to the east. On windy days the waves from both sides clash head-on, forming a visible line of foam, and you can stand with one foot in each sea. Strong currents make swimming around the tip prohibited.
From the car park to the tip it is about a 30-minute walk along the beach. The tractor-bus Sandormen, pulled by a tractor, covers the stretch over the sand in season. Seals often rest on the sandbanks on the beach. In the dunes near the car park is the grave of the writer and painter Holger Drachmann, one of the Skagen artists.
Near the tip is the Grå Fyr, the Farol Cinza, inaugurated in 1858, with a viewing platform at the top and the Skagen bird centre, which monitors spring migrations, when thousands of birds of prey usually pass the tip, especially between April and May.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1h30 to 2 hours, including the walk to the tip and the lighthouse.
Best time
In any season, but best from May to September, with long days. In the late afternoon the sunset is over the Skagerrak. On windy days the line where the waves meet is more distinct. The Sandormen runs in season; check in advance.
How to get there
About 4 km northeast of Skagen centre, along the road to Grenen. There is a local bus in season, a cycle path and parking near the beach. From the car park you can walk or take the Sandormen to the tip.
Tip
Walk along the sand and return by Sandormen, or vice versa. Bring a warm layer and a windbreaker even in summer. Do not enter the water at the tip: swimming is prohibited because of the currents.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Grenen
Can you stand with one foot in each sea?
Yes, at the tip of Grenen, where the Skagerrak and the Kattegat meet.
Can you swim at Grenen?
No, swimming is prohibited around the tip because of the currents. There are bathing beaches elsewhere in Skagen.
What is the Sandormen?
A tractor-pulled bus that takes visitors across the sand from the car park to the tip during the season.
How long does the walk take?
About 30 minutes from the car park to the tip along the beach.