Ebeltoft is one of the tourist centres of Denmark, due to the natural beauty of the area, its old town center with cobble-stoned streets and centuries-old half-timbered houses, and - not least - many beaches. Also, Ebeltoft is home to one of the world's first glass museums and to the Fregatten Jylland, the longest wooden warship in the world. The town is popular with artisans, such as: glass workers, potters, painters, and jewelry designers Ebeltoft is also the home of the European Film College, which offers short and long courses in film making, especially for young people.

This beautifully preserved old German town (sometimes called a 'Cradle of Saxony') once grew out of a Slavic settlement on a small river, which is nowadays called Meisabach. A market town by 1000, it grew into an important trade centre and home to production of two famous products - Saxonian wine and fine pottery. Meissen porcelain is considered a first high quality china to be produced in the West. Both wine and pottery festivals take place every year. Town's cathedral is built on a very small plot of land, so it is one of the smallest cathedrals in Europe, but also one of the purest examples of Gothic architecture. There are also many Renaissance buildings in town.