Næstved

Visit the commercial city of Næstved and enjoy the beautiful scenery along Karrebæk Fjord and Susåen

Go on a self-drive holiday to Næstved, a cosy town in the south of Zealand with a unique history that still shines through today's cityscape. Since the Middle Ages, Næstved has been one of the most important towns on Zealand, and today it is the island's fifth largest town with more than 60,000 inhabitants. Visit its tranquil harbour, which flows into Karrebæk Fjord, or enjoy the historic town centre at your own pace, where you'll find cosy shops, wonderful restaurants and other attractions. The town's attractions include Denmark's craziest theme park, BonBon-land, which is a 10 km drive from the centre, Næstved Zoo and Næstved Museum.

If you happened to pass by Næstved in the Middle Ages, you would discover a city filled with monastic orders like the Franciscans, Dominicans and Benedictines, who built monasteries and erected churches in the area, making the city a religious centre. In the 13th century, St Morten's Church was built and still adorns the centre of Næstved with its beautiful medieval architecture. You would also experience a rich business life with merchants from the Hanseatic cities of northern Europe. The town was given the status of a market town as early as 1140, and for much of the Middle Ages it was Zealand's second largest town after Roskilde. The town is described in Saxo's Chronicle of Denmark, together with the Susa River, which passes idyllically through the town.

The town experienced a period of decline in the 1600s during the Swedish wars and the Little Ice Age, but rose again as one of Zealand's most important towns during industrialisation, with companies such as Holmegaard Glass, Denmark's oldest glassworks, as the locomotive for the town's growth.

Today it is a lively trading town, especially in summer, with several rousing music festivals. Green Concert is held every July with Denmark's biggest music names on the bill, and the local music festival Susåfestivalen features small, unique orchestras and theatre groups from all over the country.

Næstved Museum, located in the old Helligåndshus, houses exhibitions all year round focusing on Næstved's historical period divided into antiquity, Viking times and the Middle Ages, seasoned with exciting contemporary cultural exhibitions.

You'll also find great family favourites. Pack your bag and head to BonBon-land. Here you can let loose on the wild and crazy slides like the Doggy Slide, the Wild Pig and the Rooster Cat. Rides that have given the theme park an international reputation as one of the world's most special theme parks. There are also quiet activities like candy boiling, playgrounds and the chance to eat lots of colourful sweets.

In the hilly landscapes surrounding Næstved, you will find ZOOPARK, Næstved's zoo. The garden covers almost 9 hectares and you can see, among other things, the garden's landmark, the rare white Bengal tiger. The park also features exotic birds and small monkeys, as well as an exciting population of snakes and reptiles. There are also friendly animals such as camels, kangaroos and traditional farm animals familiar from the Danish countryside.

After an active tour of Næstved's hinterland, you can head back to Næstved's city life. Here you can shop in Næstved Storcenter with more than 50 shops and along the winding pedestrian streets in the city centre. In summer, there are also canal cruises along Næstved Harbour with trips that go all the way to Gavnø Castle, whose history can be traced back to the 13th century. The town's gastronomic scene offers both traditional eateries like Raadhuskroen and the youthful Restaurant Ronni, which focuses on Thai cuisine.

Fill the trunk and visit South Zealand's historic market town with a hillside setting of pleasure forest and the magnificent Suså River, as well as several fun, kid-friendly favourites.