A night behind bars becomes a reality at SleepIn FÆNGSLET. SleepIn is an unforgettable overnight stay with plenty of food for thought. The hostel is situated in the prison’s old sick ward.
Denmark: Sjælland – Ribe
Ribe is the oldest town in Denmark and one of the oldest in the Nordic countries and is more than 1000 years old. It was a seaport, and in the 13th century and during the Viking Age, it was one of the biggest and most important towns in Denmark. The cathedral was built from 1150 – 1175 and is the first Christian church in Denmark. It is built of a soft, porous rock called Tufa, and this material was brought up from Cologne in Germany. The most notable features of the church interior are the 16th-century frescoes, but also the modern mosaics by the famous Danish artist Carl-Henning Pedersen.
We pulled into Ribe late afternoon. It is a small town of less than 10,000 people so it didn’t take much time to get through. The centre of the town where we were staying is largely pedestrianised and while you can take your car in, parking is limited to 2 hours. So, we drove up the narrow street to where we were staying and threw our bags into our rooms and set off for the long-term parking. Luckily, it was not far away, and we didn’t really plan to use the car much for the next couple of days.
After settling in for a bit we decided to go out and explore. The sun was now getting lower in the sky and painted the old town in a warm glow. The cathedral looked amazing, although it was now closed for the day, and we’d need to come back to look inside. Around the cathedral is a large, cobbled square which by now was largely devoid of tourists, who had either left for the day or were settled into one of the many restaurants around town. A group of young buskers, who were playing jazz music, came up the main shopping street and began to set up in the square, hoping to get their rewards from the diners sitting at the restaurants surrounding the square. Even when it started to rain a few moments later they were not put off and just carried on. This is Denmark after all – if you stopped everything for a bit of rain nothing would ever get done. In true Danish spirit, we didn’t let the rain stop our exploration, so we carried on walking the narrow, cobbled streets admiring the beauty of this tiny, ancient town.
Planning your visit to Ribe
Ribe is located in West Jutland on the Danish North Sea coast. The town has just over 8,000 inhabitants and belongs to the municipality of Esbjerg, to the south of whose centre it is located. It is less than 40 kilometres from the Danish North Sea island of Rømø. The island of Mandø is even closer and is located about 20 kilometres west of Ribe in the North Sea.
From Central Europe, most holidaymakers travel to Ribe by car. The town can be reached from Hamburg in less than three hours by land, for example. Ribe can also be easily reached by public transport. As there are no direct flights from outside the region, the only option is to fly via Copenhagen.
Where to stay in Ribe
1. Hotel Dagmar
Hotel DagmarHotel Odeon is located in Odense, 656 feet from Odense train station. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a restaurant. The accommodations offer a business centre and free WiFi.
Guest rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV. The rooms come with a private bathroom with a hair dryer. The units at Hotel Odeon include climate control, a desk and a chair.
2. Hotel Ribe
Hotel Ribe is offering accommodations in Ribe. Each room at the 3-star inn has city views, and guests can enjoy access to a terrace and to a restaurant. The property is non-smoking throughout and is located a 2-minute walk from Ribe Cathedral.
All guest rooms at the inn are equipped with a seating area and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Free WiFi is available to all guests, while selected rooms here will provide you with a balcony. At Hotel Ribe all rooms come with bed linen and towels.
3. Budget – Danhostel Ribe
Located in Ribe, a 5-minute walk from Ribe Cathedral, Danhostel Ribe has accommodations with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a shared kitchen and an ATM, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can have a drink at the snack bar.
At the hostel, rooms contain a closet. Danhostel Ribe provides certain accommodations that have city views, and rooms come with a private bathroom with a shower. At the accommodation every room includes a seating area.
More to Explore
