Denmark

Overview

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.

Dubbed in various surveys and polls throughout the years as the "happiest country in the world", it is often pictured as a romantic and safe place, likely linked to Hans Christian Andersen as a "fairy tale" on its own. Of course much more lies beneath the surface, but for the traveller, Denmark is likely to prove convenient, safe, clean, but also quite expensive to visit.

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).

Places to explore

The 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 situated in the small shallow sea of Kattegat and the Baltic Sea, between Jutland and Sweden . Separated from the other islands, Bornholm lies by itself between Sweden and Poland in the Baltic Sea. The capital, Copenhagen, is located at the easternmost shore of Zealand.

Though not immediately obvious on a map, Denmark includes more than 400 islands, of which 72 are populated. The peninsula of Jutland and the main islands make up most of the population and land area; smaller islands are here categorised as part of those.

Sights and landscapes

The list on the right only includes commercial tourist attractions, where numbers of visitors are registered, and excludes concert halls, theaters and natural sites for instance. Many other official lists exist, differing depending on the selection criteria.

The National Museum in Copenhagen, also has a good collection of Viking artefacts. The city of Frederikssund holds an annual outdoors Viking play from the summer solstice and a few weeks forward.

Mainland Denmark has 13 world heritage sites. The Jelling rune stones date back to the 900s have been called "Denmark's Birth Certificate", testifying to Denmark's conversion to Christianity around that time. They were erected by Gorm The Old, considered the first official king of Denmark. His son is buried in another of the sights, Roskilde Cathedral, the first brick Gothic church in Northern Europe and the final resting place for most Danish kings and queens ever since. Possibly the most famous Heritage site in Denmark is Kronborg Castle in Helsingør , home of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, but also an impressive castle in its own right, which guarded the main route to the Baltic Sea.

Experiences

In some people's minds (mainly in the countryside, less so in the cities) the inclusiveness and egalitarianism should only pertain to "the Danish tribe" or those who pay high taxes. A contradiction in terms you could say, but these ideas have nevertheless affected Danish society to some degree in the 2000s, mirroring a similar development in Europe and the Western world at large. As a traveller, however, you should not expect to deal with or experience this at all; the values of inclusiveness, equality and egalitarianism are firmly established in Denmark and at the core of Danish culture.

The weather in Denmark is a bit unreliable, so if your plans include outdoor activities, it can be a good idea to have alternative indoor activities as a backup. If you don't mind a day or two of grey weather and a few drops of rain, just make sure to bring a raincoat along.

Culture and food

Apart from the ubiquitous kebab shops and pizza stands, dining in Denmark can be fairly expensive, but a worthwhile cost. Most Danish cafes and restaurants are child friendly. 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. Dogs are generally not allowed inside, but some cafés do.

Planning your route

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.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.