Ærø Island, in Denmark’s Baltic Sea, spans about 34 square miles, stretching roughly 12 miles northwest to southeast, with narrow widths of 2½–5 miles. Its gently rolling countryside features beaches, dramatic cliffs reaching 108 ft at Voderup Klint, and sunny weather slightly warmer than mainland Denmark.

Historically, Ærø was a maritime powerhouse. In the early 1900s, towns like Marstal and Ærøskøbing registered over 150 vessels, ranking second only to Copenhagen. In 1808, the British Royal Navy bombarded Marstal to restrict French access—an indication of the island’s naval importance. Marstal’s rich seafaring legacy is chronicled in Carsten Jensen’s *We, the Drowned*, and today it still trains mariners and builds coasters, with a maritime school upheld by local protest.

A charming local legend surrounds Ærø’s porcelain “watchdog” figurines from the early 1900s. Their gaze—either toward a window when a man was home or away when at sea—served as a silent romantic signal for jealous suitors.

In the past decade, Ærø has become famous as a “Wedding Island.” Family-run planners organize intimate ceremonies on its beaches, in seaside huts built in 1918, historic lighthouses, or in cobbled‑street venues—hosting couples from over 170 nations.

Today, Ærø balances its maritime traditions with tourism, renewable energy innovation, and artisan crafts. It stands as a scenic, storied island where history and modern romance meet.