Crime and Pub Crawl in Svendborg

An alternative town walk featuring dark tales

Authentic true crime stories, beer, and a quiz

This guided tour combines local history, crime stories, and visits to Svendborg’s traditional pubs.

We get up close to the town’s darker side and hear stories that rarely make it onto traditional town walks.

It’s an atmospheric and entertaining tour where the stories unfold in the authentic settings where they actually took place.

Mystery novels, cold beers, and Svendborg’s dark secrets

Join us on a guided tour where thrilling crime stories are interspersed with cozy stops at the city’s authentic pubs. Here, you’ll get an up-close look at Svendborg’s darker side—with stories you won’t hear on ordinary city walks.

Crime Stories from Svendborg around 1900

Stories from the city's dark side

Cozy pubs, lively storytelling sessions, and quizzes

Drinks at two bars included

Book your trip

Life in Svendborg's pubs

Many of the incidents revolved around life in the taverns, which the bourgeoisie referred to as the town’s “dives.”

Among other things, the story tells of loose women, exhibitionists, and the uncontrolled spread of sexually transmitted diseases—an old saying goes: “A good party calls for gloves from Randers, music from Odense, and ladies from Svendborg.”

The guide describes the reports and interrogations the police recorded. It also mentions a few instances where the police themselves ended up on the wrong side of the law.

Raw stories from another era

We’ll wander through the city streets and delve into dramatic, scandalous, and fascinating events from around 1900. You’ll hear about violent tavern owners, colorful characters, and a tavern life where boundaries were often crossed. Stories are told of loose women, exhibitionists, and the uncontrolled spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Police reports from the city's "snoops"

The stories are based on real police reports and interrogations—and offer a vivid glimpse into a world marked by stark contrasts, harsh living conditions, and tumultuous lives in the taverns, which the middle class referred to as the city’s “dive bars.” It is entertaining, thought-provoking, and at times pushes the envelope.

Atmosphere, beer, and lively storytelling

The harsh, degrading, and often shameful events that have taken place in Svendborg throughout history offer a rare glimpse into the living conditions of the lower classes and reveal the stark social contrasts that characterized the town.

Stray bullets and traces of the past

These are raw, entertaining, and at times harrowing stories that offer both insight and goosebumps. There are also stray bullets here, and traces of encounters between foreign sailors and the local residents of Svendborg.

Atmosphere, beer, and lively storytelling

Along the way, we’ll visit select pubs where the stories come to life in their authentic settings. Here, you’ll meet today’s regulars and get a sense of the atmosphere from a bygone era.

Svendborg was once known as the town with the most pubs per capita—and the tradition lives on with classic traditional pubs, craft beers, and locally brewed beer.

Vibrant city life, beer, and a quiz

Along the way, we’ll wash down these stories at some of the town’s authentic pubs, greet the owners and regulars, and hear about the lively atmosphere in Svendborg, both past and present. There’s also an exciting quiz.

Svendborg was once the city in the country with the most pubs per capita. That record has been lost, but today the city offers both traditional pubs, a beer bar with over 250 specialty beers, and a brand-new microbrewery.

That's what our guests say

On a trip to Svendborg.
A group of 10—a bunch of mature couples.
A family member living here had recommended an event: “Kælderkold krimi” with Karen.
We went, and what an experience.
In the best Sherlock Holmes style, Karen had scoured old sources and records about life in the city a good 100 years ago—primarily on the seedy side and in the tavern scene.
What fates.
With gripping enthusiasm, Karen led us into dramas, crime plots, and social challenges.
After each story, we were allowed to share our ideas in groups about how the described drama actually ended.
It turned into a competition between women and men—that’s how we split up. The women won—they had a better understanding of the circumstances of, for example, the vulnerable women in the stories.
Along the way, we visited some of the taverns where the dramas took place. This provided a very vivid
experience of them. The town came to life in a new way.
After a good two hours, a few pub visits, some poignant stories about past dramas in
Svendborg, and a challenging competition, we said goodbye to Karen, feeling uplifted and wiser about
Svendborg from about 100 years ago.
A big thank you to Karen for a lovely Saturday afternoon.

Jens Erik Henriksen

I’ve lived in Svendborg for more than 30 years, and even though I thought I knew the town, this tour has taught me that places in town I’ve visited many times hold surprisingly fascinating stories. It was my first—but certainly not my last—time joining one of your city walks.

Michael Laudrup

I’ve lived in Svendborg for more than 30 years, and even though I thought I knew the town, this tour has taught me that places in town I’ve visited many times hold surprisingly fascinating stories. It was my first—but certainly not my last—time joining one of your city walks.

Poul Nyrup

I’ve lived in Svendborg for more than 30 years, and even though I thought I knew the town, this tour has taught me that places in town I’ve visited many times hold surprisingly fascinating stories. It was my first—but certainly not my last—time joining one of your city walks.

B.S. Christiansen

I’ve lived in Svendborg for more than 30 years, and even though I thought I knew the town, this tour has taught me that places in town I’ve visited many times hold surprisingly fascinating stories. It was my first—but certainly not my last—time joining one of your city walks.

Karen Blixen

I’ve lived in Svendborg for more than 30 years, and even though I thought I knew the town, this tour has taught me that places in town I’ve visited many times hold surprisingly fascinating stories. It was my first—but certainly not my last—time joining one of your city walks.

Anton Berg

After a good two hours, a few stops at local pubs, some gripping tales of Svendborg’s past dramas, and a challenging contest, we said our goodbyes—feeling uplifted and wiser—
, Svendborg, about 100 years ago. A big thank you to the guide for a wonderful Saturday afternoon.
Jens Henriksen, Sønderborg

Book your trip

The language selector in the upper-right corner of the field below shows the guide language for different dates.
Click "Private event" for group events.
Book experiences with Understory

Practical information

Meeting place: The tour starts and ends at Wessel's Stairs, Torvet, 5700 Svendborg
  • The tour is a guided walking tour of the city at a moderate pace
  • Visits to two traditional pubs. There may be a smell of smoke.
  • Drinks at your own expense
  • Includes a quiz
  • We delve into criminal cases from the past—complete with juicy details,
    , and language that some might find politically incorrect
  • Not suitable for children
Tourguidefyn.dk

5700 Svendborg
CVR-44898640
Links
Contact Persons
Allan Mariager
Tel. 6120 8110
allan@tourguidefyn.dk

Karen Elberg
Tel. 6160 1103
karen@tourguidefyn.dk