How to plan a multi-day hike in Denmark and southern Sweden

Denmark and southern Sweden are made for your first multi-day hike: gentle terrain, a dense network of free shelters, and trains or buses to most trailheads. Here is how to plan one.

1. Pick a route that fits

Start with 2–3 days and a route you can leave early if you need to. Coastal paths and forest trails with regular towns are forgiving; long stretches without resupply are not. Browse routes in Denmark and routes in Sweden.

2. Plan your daily distance

On flat Danish terrain 15–20 km a day is comfortable with a full pack; hillier Swedish ridges like Söderåsen are slower. Plan the first day short, and never plan every day at your maximum.

3. Decide where you'll sleep — each night

Work backwards from your overnight spots: shelters, primitive tent sites, or free-camping forests in Denmark; a night or two anywhere allemansrätten allows in Sweden. Have a backup for each night, in case a shelter is full. See sleeping outdoors in Denmark and allemansrätten.

4. Water and food

Note where you can refill water — taps at shelter sites, cemeteries (in Denmark), cafés and shops — and where you can buy food. Carry enough water for the longest dry stretch plus a margin, and treat water from lakes and streams.

5. Getting there and back

Check public transport to the start and from the finish; a linear route is easier with a train at each end. Weekend and off-season timetables are thinner.

6. Weather and season

Check the forecast the day before and pack for rain and wind whatever it says. In summer, check fire bans before relying on a campfire.

FAQ

How far should I walk per day on a multi-day hike?

15–20 km a day is comfortable on flat terrain with a full pack. Start shorter on day one and leave a buffer.

Do I need to book shelters?

Usually not — many are first come, first served — but always have a backup plan for each night.

What's the best first multi-day hike in Denmark?

A 2–3 day coastal or forest route with shelters and towns along the way — and a train at each end.