Latest Update – 12th February 2026

WEATHER FOR 12th to 19th FEB - COLD!!! You’ll need thermals under your wedding outfits…we have snow, the sea has frozen over (but the ferries still run), and the temp will be around freezing most of the time. It’s the coldest winter for 15 years. The good news? Our beautiful town and island look even better in the snow.

This page has been put together in collaboration with our lovely colleagues over at Getting Married in Denmark to help everyone get the best “off-season” island experience!

Winter on Ærø is wonderful – but we sometimes have to use our extensive local knowledge and connections to make sure our couples have the best experience possible. Although it is a real all-year-round community with its own school, hospital and so on, many of the restaurants and hotels take advantage of the quiet season to have some well-earned holiday. We strongly recommend staying on the island rather than the mainland for the best experience.

There is some misinformation online, with booking platforms claiming that places are closed, when that is not correct. It is just that many local places do not advertise on the major booking websites.

We at DIW are right here, and in collaboration with the Ærø Turist board we will keep this page updated on a weekly basis so that you can know the latest winter developments. We will make sure you will be in the know about the delightful places to stay, eat and shop in and around Ærøskøbing. For general information about the island, check out Visit Ærø. And If you need to meet a human, you are welcome to pop by our office on the Town Square at the old Merchants House between 12:00 - 15:00.

Places to Stay in Ærøskøbing – these places to stay are all good, and are within walking distance of the ferry, the registry office, the Old Merchants House and the restaurants. These are open during January and we suggest you contact places directly, or email the tourist office. There’s an overview on the tourist office website at Visit Ærø.

KEFS– A cosy B&B with comfortable rooms and a nice café. Some rooms have shared bathrooms. €. Open all year.
Torvet 3 - Helle’s comfortable apartment suite. Right on the town square. Book through Airbnb €. Open In February.
Ellys house – A cute little self-catering historic house for two people. Right in the town centre and close to the bakeries. Book through info@danishislandweddings.com €. Available all year.
Kjøbing Manor – Self catering rooms in a beautiful old building right on the town square, Including a separate little house. Houses 14 - 16 adults comfortably. Very central. €€. Available all year.
Kjøbinghus – An incredible old house and a unique opportunity to stay in a piece of Ærø’s history. Great location close to the square. For 2 persons only. Self catering. But they are up for doing extra service for wedding couples. Contact direct on kjobinghus@outlook.dk. €€. Available all year.
Ærøhus Hotel – Traditional & cosy hotel & restaurant, centrally located. Great for larger groups. €€ Open for B&B but restaurant closed until 1st March.
På Torvet – Closed until 27th March.
The Monica – exceptionally stylish, and you can also rent the whole house. It is expensive but fabulous. €€€€. Available all year.
Pension Vestergade 44 - A magnificent large town house with 11 rooms. In winter it operates as a whole house rental only, self catering is possible. Fabulous for wedding parties €€€. Available all year.

There is also some cheaper accommodation out of town - but you need a car, or use our free buses

Marta’s Cottage - a really nice cottage in Tranderup in the middle of the island. Close to the bus route and a small convenience store.
Pedersminde - a magnificent country house in Stokkeby, about 6km form Ærøskøbing - you really need your own transport for this one. It’s on Airbnb. €
Gravendal - Run by the lovely Mette. Nordic style, beautiful old garden and set close to the sea in stunning surroundings. €

And in Marstal (12 km from Ærøskøbing) you could try

Ærø Hotel - modern hotel on the outskirts of Marstal with pool and restaurant - no children! Open in February & March

Places to Eat

Update for February & March in Ærøskøbing:

Arrebo - Ærøskøbing’s excellent pub, also serving good open sandwiches for lunch Tues-Sat 13:00-2000, closes midnight Fri & Sat. Open in February & March. €
KEFS café - charming atmosphere, good coffee and sandwiches, and the only place open before 10:00! Open Wed-Fri 9:00-15:00 Sat & Sun 9:00-14:00 €. Stays Open in February & March (closed 20-22 Feb)
Bangs Vinbar – Cosy restaurant run by Lars and his cat Storm. French-inspired cuisine. Cosy atmosphere. Mon-Sat 1700-2100. €€. Open in February, closes for March.
Den Gamle Købmandsgaard Café (in the old Merchants House). An authentic lunch café & shop with local products. A favourite with the locals, the focus is on regional produce and they serve the best organic cakes with lots of added love! Open Mon-Sat 10:00-17:30. Open Feb and March €€
Landbogaarden (and see our Blog on their Winter Wedding Dinners). Cool bar & family run restaurant. Open Friday and Saturday from 18:00. €. Open from 15th February.
Restaurant Bonsack – The restaurant in Hotel Ærøhus, good for larger groups. Open Mon-Sat from 18:00 ~ €€ Closed Feb, open in March.
På Torvet – closed until 27th March.
Mumm Perhaps most well-established restaurant in town, with a very good chef. International cuisine with excellent fish, teryaki beef and steak! Open Wed to Sat 18:00 (last orders at 20:00.) Open Feb and March. €€€
Kraut and Koala – Outstanding tiny restaurant, focusing on local products. 5 course meals and excellent wines. Situated by the harbour – closed in Feb, reopens 6th March. €€€€

And outside of Ærøskøbing

Cafe Vaffelhuset in the main street in Marstal - open every day, usually 09:30 to 22:00 € Open in February
Cafe Maris by the ferry in Marstal - newly opened - Tues-Thurs 11:00 -19:00 € Open in February
Keerth Pizza Mon - Sun 1600 to 2000 Open
Marstang, in Marstal – excellent restaurant with friendly service – café 10:00-17:00, restaurant 17:00-21:30. €€€. Open in Feb 6 March.
Café Arthur, Søby - Great location on Søby harbour – open every day 12:00- 20:00 for good value simple food and good beer. Closed - reopens 21st March. €
Hotel Marstal Mon-Saturday from 16:30 €€ (no updated info on opening plans)

There’s also an overview on the Ugeavis website (back page).

Places to Shop

· Most shops are open during January including the supermarket (Netto, by the ferry quay)

· For more information take a look at Ærø’s comprehensive tourist site VISIT AEROE, & for ore on opening hours the back page of our local weekly paper AEROE UGEAVIS

Visiting Aeroe in Winter