Car & Van Hire - Silkeborg

Silkeborg has a long history dating from the medieval period when the city was the site of a castle, monastery and farmstead. While little remains from this period, you can visit the ruins of Silkeborg Castle at Lake Silkeborg Langsø. Here, you can walk through the layout of the building's courtyards, distinguished by embankments. When exploring the city and its vibrant history, one of the best starting points is the Old Town Hall. This beautiful building from 1857 now houses the city's tourist office with maps and souvenirs.

There are plenty of cultural attractions to explore in Silkeborg. One of the best is Museum Silkeborg, a delightful 18th-century complex that provides a detailed history of the region. Included is the Tollund Man, a world-famous mummified corpse from the pre-Roman period. Its sister museum, Papirmuseet, details the town's rich history of papermaking from the industrial era.

Discover the pretty Indelukket riverside park as you make your way from the city centre to Museum Jorn. Museum Jorn is home to the works of local artist Asger Jorn and included additional works by Max Ernst, among others. More art can be discovered at the stunning KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad, a historic spa hotel that has been transformed into a modern art space.

Silkeborg offers a variety of shopping options, with local boutiques and international brands around Borgergade and Center North. Shopping streets and pedestrianised areas include Vestergade, Søndergade, Nygade and Tværgade. Dining is also concentrated in these central zones, with local specialities including frikadeller (meatballs) and medisterpølse (fried sausage).

For those travelling with children, Silkegard and the surrounding forested region offer excellent days out. One of the highlights is Aqua, a zoo and aquarium centre built over natural lakes. When the weather is nice, there are paddle steamers and other boats across the lakes. SS Hjejlen is the name of the company's main paddle streamer, the oldest such vessel in the world.

A car or van hire in Silkeborg is a fine way to discover Central Jutland, one of Denmark's most stunning and varied landscapes. Forests, hills, lakes and coasts are all within easy reach of the city's centre. The surrounding region is also known as the Lake District, with sailing and hiking options via the Barge Puller Path and Gudenåen. Be sure to stop for a picture of Stærke Storm, a wooden troll overlooking Ørnsø, or hike in Kongestolen, Birkehøj and Trækstien.

Silkeborg is a well-placed city with access to Denmark's motorway system and national roads. The Primærrute 15, a national road with motorway sections, connects Silkeborg with Aarhus in the east and Ringkobing in the west. This largely operates as a two-lane dual-carriageway. Primærrute 52 further connects the city with Viborg and Horsens.

As with the rest of Denmark, Silkeborg's roads are among the best-maintained in the world. Motorways like the 15 see speed limits of between 110 to 130 km/h. Once you're in the city proper, expect limits of 50 km/h or below. The very centre of Silkeborg sees lower speeds of 30 km/h, particularly within residential areas. When driving in the countryside on rural open roads, limits are between 80 to 90 km/h.

Silkeborg is a very compact town with a well-designated centre that is pedestrianised. Do not drive within these central limits and instead park in one of the ample car parks nearby. These can be found in all corners of the town. Two of the most central car parks include Parkering i Bios gård and Torvecenterets P-hus, which are pay-and-display car parks within easy reach of the centre. Shopping centres and supermarkets, like Føtex Parkeringshus, also provide ample parking.

Silkeborg is generally quieter than other parts of Denmark, like Copenhagen, but rush hour traffic still builds. Try to avoid driving on main central roads from 07:00 to 08:30 and between 15:00 and 17:30. Other than this, speed limits are enforced, and parking is strictly monitored. Always ensure you are adhering to sign-posted limits and restrictions.

In Denmark, vehicles are driven on the right-hand side of the road. As a result, overtaking is done on the left. Bicycles are particularly popular in Danish towns and cities. While cycle traffic usually has its own lane, ensure you give a safe distance between any bicycles, particularly when they manoeuvre, as they have the right of way.

There are some legal demands that must be followed when driving a car hire in Silkeborg. Headlights must be kept on at all times, both day and night. This should be automatic with your rental car. Failure to use headlights properly will result in an on-the-spot fine. It is also illegal to use a phone or any other mobile, handheld device when driving, except via Bluetooth.