Billund, Denmark: Our Coolcation in the Capital of Play

LEGO House–home of the brick

LEGO House is what you’d get if a science museum, tech lab, art school, and playground had a (very Danish) baby. The kids made digital avatars, coded robots, and built their own race cars—then tested them on ramps and tweaked the designs. We had lunch at MINI CHEF, where your order is placed by snapping LEGO bricks into a code and delivered by robot. I had an arugula salad and a macaron. They had nuggets. Everyone was happy.

LEGOLAND Billund

This is the original LEGOLAND, and it still holds up—especially for kids 5 to 12. Favorites included the Ninjago dark ride (surprisingly fun for adults too), the Unikitty rainbow drop tower, and the mini cities built entirely from bricks. Bonus points for short lines and Scandinavian efficiency. Pro tip: Book a two-day pass. We were glad to go back and catch what we missed.

LEGOLAND Castle Hotel

We stayed in a knight-themed room at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, and our kids lived for it. Bunk beds were tucked into a LEGO mural alcove with a sign that read “ADULTS KEEP OUT.” There was a treasure hunt built into the room (ending in an actual treasure chest), and the beds were comfy enough that even the grownups slept well. It’s immersive, fun, and way more upscale than its US cousins.

Lalandia Billund

We weren’t sure what to expect from this giant indoor waterpark-meets-Nordic resort, but it turned out to be a great change of pace. Slides for the big kids, a lazy river for our tired selves, and even a kids’ climbing zone and ski slope simulator. We spent a solid half-day here and could easily have stayed longer.

LEGO Factory Experience

Inside LEGO House, this little corner totally stole the show. You watch machines mold, print, and package a one-of-a-kind LEGO kit—with your kids’ names on the box. It felt like visiting Willy Wonka’s factory, but for future engineers.

Sculpture Park Trail

After all the indoor excitement, we wandered through the Billund Sculpture Park—a quiet path lined with modern art and full of little details for kids to notice (ours found a “snail family” sculpture that led to a 10-minute game). It’s free, peaceful, and a great spot to catch your breath.

Airport plane spotting

We watched planes land from our hotel room windows, which was a bigger hit than expected. Billund Airport is small, so you get great views—especially in the golden hour. A fun little bonus if your kids are into aviation.

WOW PARK Billund

We saved WOW PARK for the end of our stay, and wow—it’s an outdoor adventure zone like no other. Think massive treetop nets, underground tunnels, freefall slides, goats, slingshots, ziplines… all hidden in a pine forest just outside town. Our kids called it “LEGO’s wild cousin.” It was the perfect way to close out our stay: barefoot, muddy, free, and grinning.

• MINI CHEF (LEGO House)
  Dining meets gameplay. You build your meal code from LEGO bricks and send it in via a robot cart. The food is kid-friendly but still fresh and adult-worthy (especially the gluten-free dessert bar).
  

• Ristorante il Bambino (Lalandia)
  Shockingly solid pizza and pasta for being inside a waterpark complex. Aperol spritzes helped, too. Feels more like a ski lodge than a kiddie zone.
  

• LEGOLAND Hotel buffet
  We did dinner here one night and were pleasantly surprised: allergy-friendly, lots of options, and a massive LEGO play pit in the middle of the restaurant.
  

• Billund Gastropub
  If you’re craving Danish comfort food and a grown-up atmosphere, this is your spot. Local beer, smørrebrød, and cozy corners. We went on our LEGO-free evening and lingered.
  

• La Rosa Pizzeria
  A fast, no-fuss place near the center of Billund—perfect for a post-park pizza run if you’re too tired to sit down for long.