Denmark

Denmark is an extraordinary country, famous for its rugged northern nature and cosy cities, interesting history and entertaining present. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit every year. People of different nationalities live here, but they are all very open, friendly and independent. Welcome to Denmark, the country is looking forward to you!

Denmark on the map

Geographical location of the country

Denmark is situated in the north of Western Europe, on the Jutland Peninsula and a number of large islands. Historically, Denmark has been classified as part of Scandinavia, as has Sweden and Norway. This is due to the common history of these countries, which developed separately from the rest of Europe.

Denmark is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, namely the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. There are numerous islands in the Baltic Sea, among which islands of Zealand. It is the largest island of the Baltic.

By land, the country borders only with Germany. The length of this border is 67 kilometres. Denmark is separated from Norway by the Strait of Skagerrak and from Sweden by the Kattegat. The total length of the coastline is 7,300 kilometres.

The territory of the country is flat, the highest point rises only 178 meters above sea level.

Safety for tourists in Denmark

Denmark is ranked 5th in the Global World Index, which takes into account not only the safety of tourism, but also the attitude of the residents towards the country’s visitors. Crime rates are low and penalties for offences are strict. Thanks to this, it is safe to walk around the country, even at night. But tourists should not be complacent.

Petty theft and pickpocketing do exist in the kingdom. So it is best to avoid the crowds and to be careful at railway stations and in transport. Pickpockets often work in pairs, one creating a distraction and the other grabbing the wallet.

The level of terrorist threat in the country is low. However, a number of cities and towns have some troubled areas where tourists are better off not entering.

Traffic in the kingdom is quiet, with more bicycles on the streets. And while car drivers are polite to pedestrians, bicycle calls are best heeded.

In Denmark, the streets are meticulously kept clean; there is no litter, no intestinal infections, and you can drink water straight from the tap.

There are practically no dangerous animals in Denmark. Only some poisonous snakes can pose a danger to tourists.

The main danger for tourists in the country is the sea. The water is quite cold, there are often undercurrents and the surf can be unusually strong. Hundreds of tourists die in the sea every year despite warning signs on all beaches.

Holidays

Despite the harsh northern climate, Danes know how and love to celebrate. The country has both public secular and religious holidays, which are days off.

Among the Christian holidays, Christmas, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost are especially popular. The biggest celebrations are of Shrovetide and St. Martin’s Day on November 10. On this holiday, Danes certainly roast a goose.

Secular celebrations include New Year’s Eve and Labour Day. The country also celebrates Constitution Day, which was adopted back in 1849.

In addition, there are numerous music festivals and carnivals. Most of them are held in Copenhagen, but large carnivals are also held in other cities – Odense, Aarhus and others. The largest carnival in Copenhagen lasts three days and is celebrated on Trinity Eve.

Things to do in Denmark

A holiday in this Scandinavian country is by no means boring. There are plenty of opportunities for tourists to have a great time and despite the cold climate, even beach activities are available.

1. Beach holidays. There are many well equipped beaches, especially for families with children. There are a lot of attractions, entertainment centres and water parks.
2. Yachting. On many beaches of Denmark there are yacht clubs, so lovers of sailing will easily find something to their liking.
3. Windsurfing. For windsurfing, the beaches on the North Sea are the best place to go. The winds are often strong, the currents change direction and the waves are very high. Cape Skagen is most popular with surfers.
4. Diving. Despite the cold water, many tourists come to Denmark especially to scuba dive and observe the underwater world. The Kattegat strait is popular with divers.
5. Fishing. Fans of fishing also have a lot to do in Denmark. Many beaches offer special equipment rentals, and experienced guides will help you find the best place for sea fishing. You can also go fishing on the Danish lakes.
6. Visiting museums, parks. The most popular attraction for tourists in Denmark. Especially a lot of museums in Copenhagen. Popular and the house-museum of Andersen in Odense.
7. Legoland. If you didn’t know, Denmark is the home of the famous designer. Here is a huge entertainment complex for children, fully assembled from parts of the constructor Lego.
8. Shopping. In the shopping malls and boutiques of the country you can have a great time, though it is quite an expensive activity. From Denmark, they often import porcelain, jewellery, technology, furs and much more.
9. Nightlife. Copenhagen is renowned as the nightlife capital. There are many great restaurants, bars and clubs. But the fun in them boils only from Thursday to Saturday. For the city’s guests, there is a special night canal cruise.
10. A bicycle tour. The Danes are big fans of active lifestyles, including cycling. The country has many cycling paths and special hiking trails.
11. Ski resorts. In Denmark, in spite of the total absence of mountains, there are still ski resorts. They are designed primarily for children, because you have to ski from low and gentle slopes of hills. The most famous of these resorts is Silkeborg.

What is important to know about Denmark

If you are planning to visit Denmark, here are some of the most important things to know

Language

The country’s official language is Danish. It is one of the languages in the German language group. It is spoken by about 5.7 million people around the world, mostly in Denmark and its surrounding areas. The official language is, except Denmark, on the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

In the south of Denmark, a part of the population speaks German. Many Danes have a good command of English.

Population

At present, the country has just under 6 million inhabitants. About 86% of them are ethnic Danes of Scandinavian origin, who may be called descendants of the Vikings.

Immigrants and their descendants make up 14% of the population. Among them are quite a few Poles, Germans, Frisians.

For more facts about the Danes, their character and local colouring, read this article.

Currency

The country’s national currency is the Danish krone. Denmark is not a member of the Eurozone and although the option of switching to the euro was considered here, it did not find support at the referendum.

The Danish krone is known since 1837. It is divided into 100 öre, but only 50 öre coins are in circulation. The country’s banknotes feature ancient bridges, portraits of famous people, details of churches and archaeological finds.

Even euros and dollars can be brought into the country. Although they are not legal tender in Denmark, they can be easily exchanged for crowns in any bank branch.

Religion

Denmark is a secular country, meaning that religion is separate from the state. However, three quarters of the population identify themselves as members of the Danish People’s Church, which is officially supported by the state. This church belongs to Lutheranism, one of the Protestant branches of Catholicism.

About 5% of the population are Muslim. They are immigrants from Africa and Asia.

Climate

Denmark is divided into two parts, a mainland and an island, but the climate is not much different. Despite its northern location, the kingdom has a very mild climate, greatly influenced by the warm Gulf Stream. The country’s climate is defined as moderately maritime.

The country is characterised by a relatively high rainfall, with more rainfall on the west coast than in the east. Approximately 170 days a year turn out to be rainy. Autumn is the wettest autumn.

Winters are dry, sunny and freezing. The average temperature during the winter months is around 0 degrees. Rarely do they fall below -5.

Spring rains are rare, and temperatures rise gradually from +7 in mid-March to +15 by the end of May.

Danish summers are also not blessed with high temperatures. The average temperature in July is just +22 degrees.

In the autumn, it rains a lot and the temperature gradually drops to +5 degrees.

The best time to visit Denmark is from the end of May to the beginning of August.

Seaside temperatures

Denmark is not a tourist attraction in terms of beach holidays. Both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea are quite cold. Nevertheless, there are beaches here. In most cases, they are located in the Baltic Sea resorts. On the North Sea coast, there is only one major resort, Esbjerg.

1. Water temperature in winter, December to January: +1 to +5 degrees Celsius. The water is at its coldest in February.
2. Water temperature in spring, March to May: +3 to +12 degrees by the end of May.
3. Water temperature in summer, June-July: +16 to +19 degrees Celsius. The warmest month is August.
4. Water temperature in autumn, September-November: +17 to +8 degrees Celsius.

Natural disasters

Denmark is an average, safe place in terms of natural disasters. There are no active volcanoes, and the only dormant volcano, Himmelbjergeth, has not erupted for 3,000 years and is now a small hill.

Earthquakes occur 3 to 5 times a year in the country. Their intensity is very low, up to a maximum of 4.5, and the epicentre is usually located in the North Sea, far from the coast of Denmark.

The most dangerous natural phenomenon in the kingdom is heavy rainfall. They peak in the autumn. Often the rains cause localised flooding, but truly catastrophic floods are rare.

Storms are another natural hazard of the country. Most come from the North Sea and are accompanied by strong winds, heavy rainfall and high tides. In the lowlands of Denmark, such weather can cause flooding.

There are quite a lot of forests in Denmark, but fires are almost never seen in them. The reason for this is not only the humid climate, but also the strict control by the authorities.

You can read about the most destructive disasters in Danish history in this article.

Political system

Denmark is a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is the formal head of state. She exercises legislative power together with a unicameral parliament, here called the Folketing. The Queen is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces and head of the state church.

The executive is represented by the government, headed by the Prime Minister.

The country is divided into five administrative regions.

Greenland and the Faroe Islands are part of the Danish Commonwealth, but are autonomous and have their own legislative bodies.

The capital city is Copenhagen.

Denmark is a member of the European Union and NATO, but is not part of the Eurozone.

Major cities and resorts

Copenhagen is the country’s capital and largest city. Its population is 1.3 million. It was founded in 1167 and was called Christiania for a long time. It is located on the island of Zealand. Tourists are drawn to its many museums, palaces, churches, ancient quarters and of course the famous Little Mermaid statue, the heroine of Andersen’s fairytale.

Aarhus is the second most populous city in the country. It has a population of nearly 300,000 people. It is a major port in the east of the Jutland peninsula. The city was founded in 948. There are also many museums, a picturesque old town, a Gothic cathedral. The numerous fountains of Aarhus also arouse interest.

Odense is a city on the island of Funen. Its population is 178 thousand people. The city was founded in 1355. The city has a royal palace, but tourists are drawn here by the house-museum of Hans Christian Andersen, the great storyteller who made Denmark famous.

Symbols of Denmark

The Little Mermaid is a famous statue on the waterfront of Copenhagen. The Little Mermaid, seated on a rock, appeared in the city in 193 and has been accompanying and greeting all ships ever since.

Lego is a famous designer headquartered in Billund.

Andersen is the great storyteller who invented not only The Little Mermaid, but also The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling and many other famous characters.

The Vikings were Scandinavian sailors who terrorized the inhabitants of Western European cities.

How to get to Denmark

As a European country, Denmark is easily accessible by any means of transport.

Bus services connect it to the neighbouring countries of the European Union. By rail, you can reach the country not only by land from Germany but also by sea from Sweden via the Øresund Bridge.

A sea ferry connects Copenhagen and the Norwegian capital Oslo on regular flights.

But of course, most tourists get here by air. The kingdom has four international airports. The largest of them is Copenhagen Airport. It receives more than 20 million passengers a year. There are also airports in Billund, Aarhus and Aalborg.

How much money to bring

Planning a holiday in Denmark, many tourists choose an independent tour, expecting to rent an inexpensive hostel and minimize costs in this, not the cheapest European country. The cost of a double room in a hostel starts from 60 euros. In the three-star hotel, room price will start from 100 euros, and in the summer by 25% more expensive.

Special tours to Denmark can cost from 1000 euros per person for 5–6 days.

In the country itself, tourists are waiting for the following costs:

• Meals: will cost from 40 euros per day for two when buying fast food, and from 60 euros when eating in cafes and small restaurants.
• Sightseeing: Many excursions are free in the Kingdom, but museums and tours around the country must be paid. Special cards for free entry to museums and free public transport cost 75 euros for two days. Excursions cost from 13 to 35 Euros.
• Souvenirs: 40 to 100 Euros.
• Transport: a daily pass, for example in Copenhagen, will cost a tourist a little over 10 euros.
• Telecommunication: it will cost you 20 euros for 10 GB.

Thus, taking into account the reserve money for contingencies, the minimum amount per day will be 200 euros per person excluding accommodation. The maximum amount for a night out can of course be much higher.

Please

If you have already visited this country, please give us your impressions in the comments. Please write a couple of words about what you liked best, what made your memories of the country, and what you would recommend to other tourists. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!