Funen (Danish: Fyn, ), with an area of 2,984 km² (1152 sq. miles), is the fourth-largest island of Denmark, after Greenland, Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy. It is the 163rd largest island in the world. It is in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 (2010). The main city is Odense, connected to the sea by a seldom-used canal. The city's shipyard Odense Steel Shipyard has been relocated outside of Odense proper.
Funen belongs administratively to Region of Southern Denmark. From 1970 to 2006 the island formed the biggest part of Funen County, which also included the islands of Langeland, Ærø and Tåsinge, and a number of smaller islands.
Funen is linked to Zealand, Denmark's largest island, by the Great Belt Bridge carrying both trains and cars. The bridge is in reality three bridges; low road and rail bridges connecting Funen to the small island of Sprogø in the middle of the Great Belt and a long road suspension bridge (the second longest in the world at the time of opening) the rest of the way to Zealand, paralleled by a rail tunnel.
Two bridges connect Funen to the Danish mainland, Jutland. The Old Little Belt Bridge was constructed in the 1930s shortly before World War II for both cars and trains. The New Little Belt Bridge, a suspension bridge, was constructed in the 1970s and is used for cars only.
Apart from the main city, Odense, all major towns are located in coastal areas. Beginning in the north-east of the island and moving clockwise, they are Kerteminde (NE), Nyborg (E), Svendborg (S), Fåborg (SW), Assens (W), Middelfart (NW) and Bogense (N).
The populations of the major cities and towns are:
- Odense: 167,615 (2011)
- Svendborg: 27,318 (2008)
- Nyborg: 16,043
- Middelfart: 14,494 (2009)
- Faaborg: 7,234
- Assens: 5,965
- Kerteminde: 5,775
- Bogense: 3,499
Funen was the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, the composer Carl Nielsen and American Revolutionary War hero Colonel Christian Febiger.
The highest natural point on Funen is Frøbjerg Bavnehøj.