Denmark
Discover Denmark
Denmark (Danish: Danmark) is the smallest of the Nordic countries in terms of landmass. Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European naval power, the Kingdom of Denmark is the oldest kingdom in the world still in existence, but has evolved into a democratic, modern, and prosperous nation. These days, the Danish Vikings have parked their ships in the garage and put the helmets on the shelves, and along with the other Scandinavian nations, have forged a society that is often seen as a benchmark of civilisation; with progressive social policies, a commitment to free speech so strong it put the country at odds with much of the world during the 2006 cartoon crisis, a liberal social-welfare system and, according to The Economist, one of the most commercially competitive. Top it off with a rich, well-preserved cultural heritage, and the Danes' legendary sense of design and architecture, and you have one intriguing holiday destination.
What to Experience in Denmark
Famous Beaches
Taste of Denmark...
Apart from the ubiquitous kebab shops and pizza stands, dining in Denmark can be fairly expensive, but a worthwhile cost. As a family with kids, you can dine at nearly any restaurant in Denmark, as long as your kids are able to behave themselves. Many restaurants have a special child's menu option (børnemenu in Danish) at a cheaper price. Most Danish cafes and restaurants are very children friendly. Dogs are generally not allowed inside, but there are places that welcome dogs. In the new millennium, Copenhagen has emerged on the world scene as a very happening place for food enthusiasts and gastronomic travellers, the highlight being the world-renowned restaurant Noma serving and evolving the New Nordic Cuisine, but many restaurants with an international gourmet cuisine has also been celebrated and are attracting attention internationally. Copenhagen is not the only place with high end restaurants worth a visit and international gastronomic guides have broadened their discerning gaze to include several places outside the capital in the last few years. Three restaurants in Aarhus has received Michelin stars since 2015 and many places in the province are featured in food guides. If you are looking for gastronomic experiences out of the ordinary in Denmark, it could be a good idea to study The White Guide a bit. It is not a complete guide, but it claims to be the only authoritative restaurant guide for the Nordic region and started out in Sweden.
Culture & Religion
Culture
Sports are popular in Denmark, with association football reigning supreme in popularity and counted as the national sport, followed by gymnastics, (Olympic) handball and golf. Along with the other Nordic countries as well as Germany and France, Denmark is among the Handball superpowers and matches among those teams or world and European cups are closely followed by Handball enthusiasts. Badminton is also a popular sport in Denmark, and Denmark is the only non-Asian country to be considered a badminton powerhouse. Another trait of Danish culture as any tourist pamphlet will tell you, is "Hygge", which translates as something like "cosy" or "snug". Danes themselves will be quick to point out this is somehow a unique Danish concept, which is hardly in tune with reality, but it does probably take a more prominent place in the culture than in many other countries.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Denmark into what it is today.
The Danes are first mentioned in writings from the 6th century, and became widely known in the Viking age, when they together with their Norwegian and Swedish kin travelled far for trade, raids and settling. The Danish kingdom was established during the Viking age. Harald Bluetooth was christened and succeeded in christening his realm in the 960s. The kingdom was enlarged and in the 11th century his grandson Cnut the Great was king not only of modern Denmark proper, but also the Scanian lands of southern Sweden, Norway and larger parts of England (which were lost after his death). Denmark continued its expansion, of which both the church and the Hanseatic League played important roles. In a combined effort to counter the rising power and influence of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic area, the Kalmar Union was ratified in 1397, unifying the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden under one rule. Due to a complicated succession of unfortunate deaths and possibly some intrigues, fifteen year old Eric of Pomerania became first official monarch of the Kalmar Union. At the time of unification, the Norwegian Empire also included the North Atlantic Isles of Orkney, Shetlands, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland, while the Kingdom of Sweden included a large part of present-day Finland and the Kingdom of Denmark also included Holstein....
Climate
The weather in Denmark is relatively mild compared to other Scandinavian countries, but it is clearly divided into four seasons, each with their own characteristics. For a traveller it is important to know what to expect at the time of visit, how to dress and how to plan your stay. Snow cover is not always guaranteed during the winter months, but because of the northern position, daylight hours are with certainty much more scarce than the long pitch black nights. Even when the sun is supposed to be up, the skies are often depressingly grey with heavy clouds and almost no sunlight. These conditions persists for three months, December to February, and sometimes November and March as well. Once in a while a lucky day of four to five hours sunlight can be experienced, but the temperatures are usually around freezing point.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsDenmark is not only the gateway to Scandinavia in cultural terms, but certainly also geographically, and as such the country is well connected with the rest of the European continent and to Scandinavia. A plethora of ferries connects Denmark with Europe and Scandinavia, and Copenhagen airport even more so serves as the main Scandinavian hub, since its southern latitude makes it a natural stopping point for flights between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. Denmark is a member of the Schengen Agreement. See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, what countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality....
Regions
Explore AreasThe main part of Denmark proper is Jutland, a peninsula north of Germany, but Denmark also includes a great number of islands, of which the major ones are Zealand and Funen. Most of the islands are si…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Long distance train travel is done with DSB, the Danish State Rail system. A number of long distance bus companies also operate. Each region in Denmark has its own local public transportation company. For public transportation (trains, buses and ferries) use the online travel planner Rejseplanen. There are two ways to buy tickets. For local trips you can buy a ticket from the regional transportation company based on a zone system. This ticket is valid on all public transportation including DSB trains for one to two hours (depending on the number of zones you travel). Most public transportation companies offer a number of passes which can save you a substantial amount on transportation. Rejsekort is an electronic ticketing system. For travellers it could makes sense to get the Anonymous prepaid card. The personal version will be expensive and take several weeks to obtain.
Where to Stay
For Budget accommodation, Danhostel is the national accredited Hostelling International network, and operate 95 hotels throughout the country. Only the country's two largest cities - Copenhagen and Aarhus, have a few independent youth hostels. It is worth noting that the Danish word for hostel is Vandrehjem, which also what hostels in Denmark are usually signposted as. Another option is one of the Hospitality exchange networks, which is enjoying growing popularity among the Danes, with couchsurfing reporting a doubling of available hosts every year. Hotels are expensive in Denmark. With an average price of a double room hovering around 1,200 kr in 2024, hotels are mostly off limits to shoestring travellers, although cheaper deals can most certainly be found, especially for online bookings done in good time before arriving. National budget hotel chains include Zleep and Cab-inn.
Money & Budget
The national currency is the Danish krone (plural "kroner", abbreviated "kr", ISO code: DKK). The word krone means crown in English; some vendors may translate it as such. Denmark is the only EU country that has negotiated a legal opt-out from adopting the euro (i.e. all other remaining non-euro EU countries are legally required to adopt the single currency at some point in the future). In the more "touristy" shops in Copenhagen, and at the traditional beach resorts along the Jutland West Coast and Bornholm Island it will often be possible to pay in euros. The Danish krone is pegged to the euro at a rate of 7.46 kr per euro with a narrow band of plus or minus 2.25%. Theoretically this means one euro may move anywhere between 7.29 kr and 7.63 kr.
Language & Talk
Denmark's national language is Danish (Dansk), a Scandinavian language rooted in Old Norse. For this reason, modern Danish is similar to Norwegian Bokmål and somewhat to Swedish, and is to some extent intelligible to speakers of those languages, especially in written form. However, its sound is more influenced by the guttural German language, rather than the lilting languages found to the north and understanding spoken Danish may be a trace more difficult to those who only speak Swedish or Norwegian. English is widely spoken in Denmark and many Danes (80-90% of the population) are fluent in the language; it is mandatory for Danes to learn English at school from a young age.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Dial 1-1-2 (Alarm 112) for emergency services in situations that are dangerous for life, health, property or the environment, such as accidents, serious crime and fire. This is toll free, and will work even from cell phones without a SIM card. For the police in non-emergencies call 1-1-4 (Service 114). Generally: Denmark is a very safe country, with almost no risk of natural disasters or animal attacks. There is one poisonous snake in some heathlands (Hugorm, the European viper; rare and non-aggressive), and a stinging, bottom-dwelling fish called "Fjæsing", known as Greater Weever (Trachinus draco) in English. Its sting is painful, and strong enough that medical treatment is always encouraged; for children and the elderly it is indeed often lethal. Red stinging jellyfish sometimes infest bathing waters in great numbers. Their sting can be painful, but has no adverse effects on humans. They are dish-sized, easy to spot and avoid.
Glimpses of Denmark
Nyhavn 17
The Wonderful Nyhavn
white and red flag on pole
green grass field near sea under white sky during daytime
Winter vibes in Copenhagen, Denmark.
boats in canal in Denmark during daytime
Tourists biking at Nyhavn, Copenhagen. www.febiyan.com
top view of mountains with houses
Copenhagen's newest bridge.
brown concrete building near body of water during daytime
Nyhavn 17
The Wonderful Nyhavn
white and red flag on pole