28/08/2026
Bornholm - Denmark
Chamber music at the Bornholms Musikfestival and a jazz summer in Nexø
Bornholm is small and musically diverse. In summer, international ensembles and soloists perform on the island at the Bornholms Musikfestival; one of the concert venues is the medieval Aa Kirke in Aakirkeby.
Nexø hosts a second festival, ØstersøJazz, which strikes a quite different musical note.
Bornholms Musikfestival
The Bornholms Musikfestival has run since 1969. For decades it has been part of the island's musical summer and is devoted chiefly to chamber music. One of its central concert venues is the Aa Kirke in Aakirkeby, a Romanesque church dating from the Middle Ages.
A glimpse of rehearsals
The Bornholms Musikfestival holds public rehearsals by young ensembles, in recent years including some at the Bornholm Art Museum. This lets you see the musicians before the concert itself and gives you a direct sense of how the programme comes together.
ØstersøJazz in Nexø
Nexø turns to jazz. ØstersøJazz has run since 1996, with performances at various venues around the harbour town, including around the market square.
Experiencing Bornholm
The island changes remarkably over just a few kilometres. In the north, the coastline turns rocky and rugged; high above the Baltic Sea stands Hammershus, the island's great medieval castle ruin. From here, the coast continues to Allinge and to Gudhjem, whose houses and narrow streets climb the hillside. The old smokehouse chimneys are still part of the town's character today.
In the south, Bornholm looks quite different. At Dueodde, broad sandy beaches stretch out; the sand there is so fine and pale that the landscape has almost nothing in common with the rocky north coast. In between lie forests, small villages and paths leading down to the Baltic time and again.
Bornholm is also home to the medieval round churches. Four of Denmark's seven surviving round churches stand on the island.
The best known is Østerlars, the largest of them. The churches once served not only as places of worship but also as shelter for the local population.
Craftsmanship is also very much present on Bornholm. Ceramics and glass have a long tradition on the island, and many artists still work today in their own studios and workshops, some of which can be visited. For this trip, we therefore also look for places that pair well with the musical programme.
It's exactly this mix that we love about Bornholm. Distances are short, yet every part of the island looks different again.
Between two concert evenings there's plenty to experience, and there's always enough time left to rest.
Your Bornholm trip
Getting there
We arrange your journey to Bornholm to suit your starting point, whether by air or by ferry to Rønne.
Bornholms Musikfestival
If the Bornholms Musikfestival is the reason for your trip, we select the right concerts from the current programme.
ØstersøJazz in Nexø
If the festival dates line up well, the trip can be combined with a visit to ØstersøJazz. As soon as the 2027 programme is published,
we'll let you know straightaway which combination works best.
Hideaways
For Bornholm we choose accommodation with character, and many of the places we know personally.
On request, we can also arrange a hire car or individual outings. Hammershus, the round churches, studios and workshops, or a detour to the beaches in the south can all become part of your trip.
Bornholm, your way
Every Bornholm trip looks different with us, depending on what matters to you. Some guests travel to the island mainly for the Bornholms Musikfestival and spend a few days getting to know Bornholm around the concerts. Others combine the chamber music with a jazz evening in Nexø. Others still stay longer and, alongside the music, explore the coast, small towns and the island's craftsmanship above all. We put together your trip accordingly.
Talk to us about your Bornholm trip. We'll advise you personally and plan your trip with you.
Telephone: +49 30 21964804
Email: info@musictravelhideaways.com
