Fejø

Fejo is a gentle, orchard-covered island in the Smaalandsfarvandet, the sheltered belt of water between Lolland, Zealand and Falster. Reached by a short subsidised ferry from Kragenaes on Lolland - a fifteen-minute crossing that runs roughly twenty times a day - it is one of the easiest of Denmark's small islands to visit, yet it feels a world away from the mainland. Barely sixteen square kilometres in size and home to around six hundred people, Fejo rewards a slow pace: this is a place for bicycles, farm shops and long lunches rather than a checklist of sights.

The island's defining feature is its fruit. Fejo sits in a pocket of unusually mild microclimate, with few late frosts and one of the longest growing seasons in the country, and for generations its orchards have supplied apples, pears and plums to the rest of Denmark. In spring the whole island turns to blossom; in late summer and autumn the roadside stalls overflow with fruit, cider and juice, and the community celebrates its harvest with the popular Day of the Apple (AEblets Dag). Several growers sell directly from the farm, and tasting local varieties you will not find in any supermarket is one of the real pleasures of a visit.

Fejo has two small villages, Vesterby and Osterby, linked by a single main road and surrounded by hedgerows, meadows and quiet lanes. The whitewashed church, a restored windmill that began grinding corn again in 2013 after decades of silence, and two working harbours - Vesterbyhavn and Dybvighavn - give the island its modest landmarks. Dybvighavn in particular is a pretty spot, with wooden jetties, bathing steps and a summer cafe. Cycling is the natural way to explore, and a bicycle-sharing scheme at both harbours makes it easy for foot passengers to pick up a bike for the day.

Beyond the orchards, Fejo's appeal is its calm. The coastline is low and green, ideal for swimming from the small beaches and jetties, and the flat terrain and light traffic make it genuinely relaxing for families and older visitors. Birdwatchers come for the surrounding shallow waters, which are rich in wading and migratory birds. There is a village shop, a church and a resident doctor, but no crowds and no rush - the island's charm lies precisely in what it lacks.

A day trip is enough to get the feel of Fejo, but many visitors stay a night at one of the small guesthouses or the campsite to catch the evening light over the water. Whether you come for the fruit, the cycling or simply the quiet, Fejo offers an unhurried, distinctly Danish island experience within easy reach of Zealand and Lolland.