All of Aero Island is considered one municipality. Ærøskøbing is regarded as Old Town with its cobblestone streets and restored historic buildings dating back to 1645. We stayed in Ærøskøbing, which became a commercial hub in 1250. The square was the perfect place to start our biking adventure.
Ærøskøbing is a magical place for history and culture, but riding bicycles on cobblestones is a jittery business that requires all riders’ full attention. It will definitely shake your shimmy!
Once off the cobblestones, the bike paths around the island are not paved, but they are smooth, well-marked, mostly flat, and picturesque.
Island residents keep up tiny houses on Vesterstrand Beach that first appeared in the 1920s. The huts have become cultural heritage sites and may not have extensions, electricity, or water installations.
After lunch, we toured Aero Island by bus and did some hiking. The island is 12.5 miles long from northwest to southeast and varies from 2.5 to 5 miles wide for a total of 34 square miles. Ærø is the only Danish island of larger size in the Baltic Sea with no connecting bridge.
Aero Island’s 104-mile coastline varies from sandy beaches to rocky shores, coastal dunes, cliffs, alluring coves, and scenic harbors.
Aero Island’s countryside is gently rolling with scattered farms. We drove up to Olde Molle, which is the highest point near the center of the island. A “peace bench” was placed here for people to contemplate world peace while taking in the panoramic views surrounded by the stunning Baltic Sea.
Aero Island is peaceful and beautiful. It’s no wonder that evidence of settlements dates back to 8000 BC. Research indicates that humans have been active here for over 10,000 years.
After our bus tour of the countryside, we rode our bikes back to the marina to do our laundry. Helpful locals showed us how to use the machines and warned that the dryers take “forever.” At the local pub, we ate dinner and met more nice folks. It’s obvious why more than 250,000 tourists visit each year. I’m glad we got to experience the off-season.