Denmark
Denmark is a country in Northern Europe. Part of it, Jutland, lies on a peninsula north of Germany while a number of islands, including two major ones, Zealand and Funen, are spread across the Baltic Sea between Jutland and Sweden.
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. However, the country has opted out of European Union's Maastricht Treaty, the European monetary system (EMU), and issues concerning certain internal affairs.
Regions
Denmark is made up of the following regions:
Smaller islands:
- Anholt in Kattegat.
- Fanø west of Esbjerg
- Rømø
- Mandø
- Fejø
- Femø
- Askø
- Bogø
- Omø
- Enø
- Langeland near Funen
- Samsø
- Læsø
- Sejerø
- Tåsinge
- Ærø
- Møn
- Als
- Drejø
- Endelave
- Orø
- Mors
- Sprogø
Denmark also has two overseas dependencies:
Cities
These are the four major cities in Denmark:
- Copenhagen (København)
- Aarhus (Århus)
- Odense
- Aalborg
Other destinations
- Legoland - Lego Brick theme park, everything is made by Lego's bricks. A must for children. Just 1 Km from Billund Airport in Jylland.
- Ribe - Denmark's oldest town
- Roskilde - Viking ship museum and cathedral. Also home of the famous Roskilde Festival.
- Hornbæk, Gilleleje, Tisvildeleje, and Liseleje - Popular beach towns in north Zealand
- Skagen - On the top of Jutland
- Elsinore (Helsingør) - famous for Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet, located north of Copenhagen. Within the castle there's a museum about Shakespeare.
- Fanø - cosy holiday island located in Vadehavet near Esbjerg.
- Bornholm - famous sites include Hammershus, one of Denmarks best-kept castle ruins.
Remarkable Bridges
There are several remarkable bridges interconnecting Danish islands.
Understand
Terrain — Denmark is home to the 'lowest-highest' point in Europe; but what that exactly entails is somewhat uncertain. Ejer Baunehoj, in the Lake District region south-west of Aarhus (Århus), seems to be the highest natural point (171m with a large tower built on top to commemorate the fact), although Yding Skovhøj, some 3km away stands 2m higher owing to an ancient burial mound. Either way, the tops of the towers of the Øresund Bridge are technically the highest point(s) in Denmark!
Get In
By plane
Denmark is served by two major and several minor airports.
- Copenhagen Airport is the largest airport in Scandinavia. The airport is located at the town Kastrup on the island Amager, 8 km from central Copenhagen. The airport is connected by train to Copenhagen Central Station and beyond as well as Malmo and other towns in Sweden. Buses and taxis are also available.
- * Sterling, SAS Scandinavian, and others connect Copenhagen with many cities in Europe and beyond.
- * EasyJet serve Copenhagen from London Stansted and Berlin Schoenefeld.
- Aarhus Airport is located on the Djursland peninsula 44 km north east of Aarhus, 50 km from Randers, 90 km from Silkeborg, 99 km fra Horsens, 98 km from Viborg and 138 km from Aalborg. An airport shuttlebus connects the airport to Aarhus Central Station from where you can reach the rest of Jutland by Train.
- *Ryanair offers connection to London Stansted Airport
- * SAS Scandinavian offers frequent domestic service to its Copenhagen hub.
- * British Airways offers regional services to Oslo, Gothenburg and Stockholm.
- Billund Airport in South-Central Jutland is located in the town Billund, 29 km from Vejle, 65 km from Esbjerg, 104 km from Odense, 100 km from Aarhus, 210 km from Aalborg, and 262 km from Copenhagen. The airport is connected by buses to major cities and towns in the region. Taxis are also available.
- * Sterling and others connect the region with several cities in Europe.
- Malmö-Sturup Airport is located 61 km from Copenhagen and offers low-fares flights with Ryanair and Wizzair. An Airport shuttlebus connects the airport with Copenhagen central station. FlyBus charges 10 pounds / 100DK for the ride.
By train
From Germany
There are five direct trains per day from Hamburg to Copenhagen, approximately every two to three hours. These trains are loaded onto a ferry for the sea passage from Puttgarten to Rødby, and the total journey time is around 4.5 hours.
There are also two train lines to Jutland from Hamburg, one via Padborg and the other via Tønder.
From Sweden
Trains run every twenty minutes from Malmo to Copenhagen. The total journey time is 35 minutes.
By Bus
Graahundbus, Eurolines, and Abildskou run buses between european and danish destinations.
Berlin DKK 200 (7 hours).
By boat
From Germany
- Scandlines run ferries from Puttgarden to Rødby on Lolland and from Rostock to Gedser on Falster, as well as a ferry from Sassnitz to Rønne on Bornholm.
From Iceland, Faroe Islands and Shetland Islands
- Smyril Line run a ferry from Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) via Tórshavn (Faroe Islands), Lerwick (Shetland Islands) and Bergen (Norway) to Hanstholm in Northern Jutland.
From Norway
- Color Line run ferries from Oslo and Kristiansand to Hirtshals and from Larvik to Fredrikshavn in Northern Jutland.
- DFDS Seaways run a ferry from Oslo via Helsingborg (Sweden) to Copenhagen on Zealand.
- Fjordline run a ferry from Bergen via Haugesund and Egersund to Hanstholm in Northern Jutland.
- Stena Line run a ferry from Oslo to Frederikshavn.
From Sweden
- Bornholmstrafikken run a ferry from Ystad to Rønne on Bornholm.
- Scandlines and HH-Ferries both run ferries from Helsingborg to Elsinore (Helsingør) on Eastern Zealand.
- Stena Line run a ferry from Varberg to Grenaa in Eastern Jutland.
From the United Kingdom
- DFDS Seaways run a ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg in South-Western Jutland.
Get Around
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 tranportation company based on a zoning system. This ticket is valid on all public transportation including trains for one to two hours (depending on the number of zones you travel).
For longer travels you buy a DSB train ticket. This ticket is valid on trains and all public transportation in a couple of zones in each end. I.e. if you go by train local busses, metro, etc in each end is usually included in the train ticket. If you want to use the train ticket to go the station you need to buy the ticket in advance because you cannot buy it in the bus.
If you go to a neighbouring tranportation region, it can be cheaper to buy a local ticket for each region than to buy a train ticket to the destination.
By bus, train and ferry
Most trains have 230V power outlets.
By car or bicycle
There are no toll-roads except the two big bridges: Storebæltbroen between Zealand and Funen (DKK 200 one way), and Øresundbroen between Copenhagen and Malmo (DKK 235 one way).
Margueritruten is one 3500 Km long connected route of small scenic roads passing 100 important Danish attractions. It is marked by brown signs with the white Marguerite Daisy flower. It is marked on most roadmaps.
By thumb
It's quite easy to hitchhike in Denmark. People who pick up hitchhikers usually speak English. Destination boards are recommended. It's illegal to hitchhike on the highways, so it is better to use highway-entrances and gas stations. See also FAQ about hitch-hiking in Denmark.
By air
Scandinavian Airlines, Danish Air Transport and Cimber Air all operate domestic routes. If you are not in a hurry, however, trains will often get you where you want to go a lot cheaper. The exception being the Island of Bornholm where air travel is often both fast and inexpensive.
Talk
Denmark's national language is Danish, a member of the Germanic branch of the group of Indo-European languages, and within that family, part of the North Germanic, East Norse group. It is, in theory, very similar to Norwegian Bokmål and Swedish, and is to some extent intelligible to speakers of those languages, especially in written form. Its sound, however, is more influenced by the guttural German language, though, 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, especially in the larger cities. German is spoken in areas that attract tourists from Germany, i.e. mainly the Jutland West Coast, the southern part of Funen and nearby islands (e.g. Langeland and Ærø), and also in Southern Jutland (Sønderjylland / Northern Schleswig).
Buy
The national currency is the Danish krone (DKK, plural "kroner"). 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 Euro. The Danish krone is pegged to the Euro to an accuracy of 2.25%. The exchange rate is around 1 EUR = 7.45 DKK.
Automatic teller machines are widely available.
You should note that almost everything in Denmark is expensive; particularly if you're not from Northern Europe. All consumer sales include a 25% sales tax but displayed prices are legally required to include this, so they are always exact. If you are from outside the EU/Scandinavia you can have some of your sales tax refunded when leaving the country.
Eat
Apart from the kebab shops and pizza stands, dining in Denmark can be fairly expensive, but a worthwhile cost. Traditional Danish fare includes items as pickled herring, fried sanddab, and other assorted seafood items. Hearty meats are also prevalent, as seen in items such as frikadeller (pork only or pork and veal meat balls topped by a brown sauce) and "stegt flæsk og persillesovs" (thick pork bacon slices topped by a parsley cream sauce). Many meals are also accompanied by a beer, and shots of aquavit or schnaps, though these are mainly enjoyed when guests are over. Drinking along with meals is encouraged as the foods are enhanced by the drinks, and vice versa. For dessert, try either "ris a la mande" (rice pudding with almonds with cherries) or æbleskiver. For candy try a bag of "Superpiratos" (hot licorice candy).
Smørrebrød
The traditional Danish lunch is smørrebrød, open sandwiches usually on rye bread - fish are served on white bread, and many restaurants give you a choice of bread. Smørrebrød served on special occasions, in lunch restaurants, or bought in lunch takeaway stores, are piled higher than the daily fare.
Some of the most popular and traditional choices are:
- Pickled herring, plain, curry, or with red spices.
- Liver Paté Sandwich, probably the most popular
- Stjerneskud, salad, plaice, shrimp, etc.
- Røget ål og røræg, smoked eel and scrambled eggs
- Pariserbøf, beef patty cooked rare with capers, horseradish, raw onions, and a raw egg yolk on top.
- Dyrlægens Natmad, liver pate, slices of salty meat, onion rings, jellied meat sauce.
- Beef tartar
- Flæskesteg, Slices of pork roast with pickled red cabbage.
- Roastbeef, with remoulade, fried onion, horseradish.
- Kartoffel, sliced potatoes, tomatoes, and mayonnaise.
- Hakkebøf, beef patty with soft fried onions, a fried egg, pickles.
- Shrimps, you get a generous portion of just shrimp with a little mayonnaise.
- Ost, Cheese. Try a very old cheese served with raw onions, eggyolks, and rum.
Drink
Danish beer is a treat for a beer enthusiast. The largest brewery, Carlsberg (which also owns the Tuborg brand), offers a few choices, as well as a delicious "Christmas beer" in the 6 weeks leading up to the holidays. Other tasty beverages include the aforementioned aquavit, gløgg, a hot wine drink popular in December. Danish beer is mostly limited to pilseners which are good, but not very diverse. However in the last few years Danes have become interested in a wider range of beers. During the Christmas season, Glögg, a hot spiced red wine with raisens and almonds is popular fare for warming up from the cold with a group of friends.
The Danish Beer Enthusiasts maintain a list of bars and restaurants with a good selection of beers as well as a list of stores with a good selection
Sleep
Budget
Medium
- Best Western => 15 hotels in Denmark including hotels in smaller towns.
- Scandic-Hilton => All rooms have free wireless internet. Great discounts when booking early.
- Radisson-SAS => Most hotels have wireless internet. Found in all major Danish cities.
Do
- Billetnet=> books larger concerts, theater plays, sporting events etc. You can book online or in any post office. If you book online you can have the tickets mailed to you or you can print out a confirmation and exchange it for a ticket at a BilletNet office or at the scene.
Stay Safe
- Generally: Denmark is very safe. No risk of natural disaster or animal attack. Crime and traffic are only minor risks.
- In the traffic: Danes generally drive by the rules (except for the bicycles) but may not be very helpful to other drivers in ceding right of way, etc. Watch out for the bicycles in the cities, especially when turning across bicycle lanes; they have right of way. On highways, make sure that you only pass on the left, and be aware that Danes like to drive fast.
- On foot in cities: As mentioned above, Danes drive by the rules, and they have every expectation that pedestrians do the same. Therefore, it is important to obey Walk/Don't Walk signals and avoid jaywalking in cities, simply because cars will not slow down since you're not supposed to be there.
- On the beach: Don't bathe alone. Don't get too far away from land. Don't jump head first in shallow water. Swim along the coast rather than away from it.
- In the city: A few districts in major cities should be avoided at night by the unwary, or by lone women.
In an emergency dial 112 (police/medical help/fire brigade). This is toll free, and will work even from cell phones with no SIM card.
Stay Healthy
Tap water is potable unless indicated. Restaurants and other places selling food are visited regularly by health inspectors and are awarded points on a 1-4 "smiley scale". The ratings must be prominently displayed, so look out for the happy face when in doubt. While pollution in the major cities can be annoying it doesn't pose any risk to non-residents. Nearly all beaches are fine for bathing - even parts of the Copenhagen harbor recently opened for bathing.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed in government buildings with public access (hospitals, universities, etc). It is allowed in restaurants and bars, but they have to use an official sign to tell if the place is smoking, non-smoking, or non-smoking in a separate area. There have been made propositions in the parliament for a complete smoking ban in all public areas; including restaurants and bars. The majority of politicians and Danes are for a ban. the Danish Lung Association maintains a list of smoke free restaurants, bars etc.
Respect
- When it comes to conversing with Danes, most do not have the patience to decipher a foreigner's halting Danish and would much prefer to speak English, so there is no necessary 'Taler du engelsk?' before addressing most people in the cities. This holds especially true with young people. However, it is polite to ask when further out in the smaller towns or when speaking to older Danes.
- No respectful titles are necessary when addressing someone. The titles 'Hr' and 'Fru' have mostly disappeared from use in Denmark, and people are generally addressed by their first name regardless of the situation.
- Despite their disregard for formality, Danes are very polite and well mannered while in public. Be sure to practice good table manners while at restaurants, and make sure to learn the dozens of ways to say 'thank you' in Danish.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages in public is considered socially acceptable in Denmark, and having a beer out in a public square is a common warm weather activity there. But be sure to do so in moderation, especially during the daytime.
Contact
Embassies and Consulates
This is a list of embassies and consular posts in Denmark, as of February 2005. The list is far from all-extensive, it includes only the big countries. The embassy addresses themselves are limited to only the main cities, and other places of interest for the particular nation. Full list can be viewed Embassies and Consulates(Updated).
Australia
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Dampfærgevej 26
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel 70 26 36 76
France
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Ny Østergade 3, 2nd fl.
1101 Copenhagen K
Tel 33 67 01 64
Århus
Consul Thorkild Rydahl, 1996
Frederiksgade 34
8000 Århus C
Tel 86 18 35 00
Germany
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Stockholmsgade 57, Box 2712
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel 35 45 99 00, 35 45 99 11
Middelfart
Consul Torben Østergaard-Nielsen, 1988
c/o A/S Dan-Bunkering Ltd.
Strandvejen 5
Postbox 71
5500 Middelfart
Tel 64 41 54 01
Odense
Consul Knud Thybo, 1984
c/o Fehr & Co. A/S
Svendborgvej 90
5260 Odense S
Tel 66 14 14 14
Århus
Consul Finn Prang-Andersen, 1998
Havnegade 4
8000 Århus C
Tel 86 18 25 88
Italy
Copenhagen
Consular Chancery of Embassy
Engskiftevej 4
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel 39 18 34 44
Århus
Consul Henning Holmen Møller, 1996
c/o Rådgivningsfirmaet Holmen Møller ApS
Lille Torv 6
8000 Århus C
Tel 86 12 14 00
Japan
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Pilestræde 61
1112 Copenhagen K
Tel 33 11 33 44
Århus
Consul-General Jørgen E. Handberg, 1991
Dalgas Avenue 57
8000 Århus C
Tel 86 18 03 22
The Netherlands
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Toldbodgade 33
1253 Copenhagen K
Tel 33 70 72 00
Esbjerg
Consul Ernst Moth Nielsen, 1987
Kvaglundvej 82
6705 Esbjerg Ø
Tel 76 14 55 30
Odense
Consul Robert Rasmussen, 1998
Christiansgade 70
5000 Odense C
Tel 66 11 27 77
Norway
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Vice-Consul Eli Strøm, 1996
Consul Erling H.C. Korch, 1984
Amaliegade 39
1256 Copenhagen K
Tel 33 14 01 24
Odense
Consul Steen Haustrup, 1989
Energivej 40
Postboks 151
5260 Odense S
Tel 65 95 70 02
Århus
Consul Heine Bach, 2004
St. Torv 1
8000 Århus C
Tel 89 33 36 19
Spain
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Kristianiagade 21
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel 35 42 22 66
Århus
Vice-Consul Jens Otto Kjær Hansen, 1994
c/o CFJE
Olof Palmes Allé 11
8200 Århus N
Tel 86 19 02 22
Sweden
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Sankt Annæ Plads 15 A
1250 Copenhagen K
Tel 33 36 03 75
Odense
Consul Hans Erik Hempel-Hansen, 1983
Vestergade 97-101
Postbox 927
5100 Odense C
Tel 63 12 82 00
Skagen
Consul Aksel Groth, 1999
Sct. Laurentiivej 26
9990 Skagen
Tel 70 15 10 00
Århus
Consul Søren Lund, 1990
Sct. Clemens Stræde 7, 1
Postbox 623
8100 Århus C
Tel 86 12 50 00
United Kingdom
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Vice-Consul Jeanette Christoffersen, 1990
Vice-Consul Susan Jane Oxfeldt Jensen, 1996
Kastelsvej 38
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel 35 44 52 00
Odense
Consul Frits Niegel, 1980
Albanitorv 4
5000 Odense
Tel 66 14 47 14
Århus
Consul Claus Herluf, 1988
Skolegade 19 B
8100 Århus C
Tel 87 30 77 77
United States of America
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy
Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Tel 35 55 31 44
Url www.usembassy.dk
External Links
Official travel guide to Denmark
Denmark's official website
List of embassies in Denmark (Updated)
>