Things To Do in Gudhjem

Especially charming are Gudhjem's 18th-century half-timbered houses and the 19th-century smokehouses, known for their distinctive techniques of preserving herring with alder-wood smoke. Its harbor, blasted out of the rocky shoreline in the 1850s, is the focal point for the town's 1,200 permanent residents.

For some of the best glass objects in the area, head for Gallerie Baltic See Glass, Melstedvej 47 (tel. 56-48-56-41), lying 3km (1 3/4 miles) south of Gudhjem along the coastal road. Although much of this glass has practical value, some works are so stunningly beautiful that they should be treated like objects of art. One of the best art galleries in the area is Gallerie Kaffslottet, Duebakken 2 (tel. 56-48-56-18), which displays the finest works from local artists, some of whom are expats from Copenhagen who have escaped from the urban jungle.

Consider a drink at the Café Klint, Egn Mikkelsensvej (tel. 56-48-56-26), where a cozy ambience that might remind you of a Danish version of an English pub welcomes you with pints of ale in an old-fashioned setting. And for something a bit more electronic, with more emphasis on rock-'n'-roll music, have a drink or two at the Café Gustav, St. Torv 8 (tel. 56-91-00-47), where at least one or two of the many artists living on the island's east coast are likely to congregate.