Centrally placed between the rest of Europe and Scandinavia, little Denmark has become a cultural heavyweight in just a few decades. The country currently has many Michelin-starred restaurants and critically renowned TV shows that air throughout the world. Across the United States on foot without completely draining your bank account is still an exciting journey today.
In terms of cuisine, you will have a difficult time locating better butter, bacon, or beer elsewhere in the area, not to mention some excellent cheeses and baked goods to boot. But you shouldn’t expect people who are concerned about their health to linger over a meal for the entirety of the day: a group of them will have jogged by your table before you can say “smrrebrd,” and bicycles will be everywhere.
Because agriculture is the country’s principal industry, technological advancement and an emphasis on renewable energy are significant components of the economy of day-to-day living. Also, it scores quite highly on the cultural front. At every turn, you can count on excellent design and a variety of superb musical choices, particularly jazz. In addition to this, Denmark is one of the most pleasant countries in all of Europe to travel to since its transportation system is so well developed.
The country has managed to maintain its own unique identity, as seen by the widespread esteem in which the royal family is held and by its unwillingness to completely merge with the European Union (the Danish rejection of the euro was more about sovereignty than economics). There is also the impression of a small country that has long outperformed its size: it formerly ruled a significant portion of northern Europe and still keeps tight links with Greenland, which was formerly under its control as a colony.
Where to go and what to see in Denmark
The country is composed of three primary landmasses: the islands of Zealand and Funen, the peninsula of Jutland, which extends northward from Germany, and the island of Bornholm, which is located in the Baltic Sea. The majority of tourists head to Zealand (Sjaelland), and more especially, Copenhagen, which is an interesting city with a stunning old center, an incredible selection of museums, and lively nightlife.
Odense, the city that was previously home to Hans Christian Andersen, is the sole significant urban attraction on Funen (Fyn); otherwise, the island is famous for its picturesque villages and sandy beaches. rhus and Aalborg, two of the liveliest cities in Denmark, are located on the Danish island of Jutland (Jylland), which also features a landscape that varies between lonely beaches, mild hills, and heathland.
The Best Time to Visit
Even though the spring season typically features clear skies and abundant sunlight, the best time to travel to Denmark is during the summer months of June, July, and August. During these months, the temperature is highest, the landscape is at its most beautiful, and all of Denmark’s tourist facilities as well as its transportation services are in full operation.
Take in mind, however, that July is the month of vacation for Danes, who flock in large numbers to the countryside or the shore; even so, only the most popular sites are likely to be unbearably congested during this time of year.
July, is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), however, it is not unheard of for the temperature to go as high as 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer. The months of July and August see the highest number of tourists in Copenhagen, thus the months of May, early June, and September are the best times to visit the capital city. Yet, there is always a lot going on in Copenhagen no matter the time of year.
Activities in Sports and the Great Outdoors in Denmark
In Denmark, football (sometimes known as soccer) is by far and away the most popular sport. FC Copenhagen, one of the twelve teams that make up the Superliga, is the most successful club.
For those who enjoy outdoor sports, there are several bike routes and hiking trails to choose from (www.dvl.dk). Various watersports are also popular with visitors. There are around 200 Blue Flag beaches in Denmark, and the vast fjords of Zealand and Jutland provide even more variation for anyone interested in partaking in recreational activities; inquire at tourist offices about where the greatest swimming may be found. Klitmller, in Jutland, commonly recognized as the world’s best surfing spot.
lodging options available in Denmark
Although there is a vast network of hostels that are of high quality, the cost of lodging is still a significant factor. Nearly all of them include cooking facilities, and the majority of them offer both dorm beds and private rooms, many of them come equipped with their own private bathrooms and showers.
A bed in a shared dormitory costs about 150 Krone per person per night. Guests who are not members of Hostelling International pay an extra 25 Krone per night, and guests who don’t bring their own linens will have to pay an extra fee to rent some. Danhostel Danmarks Vandrerhjem publishes a free hostel guide.
Most sleep-ins, smaller hostels catering to backpackers and can be found in most big cities at similar prices, are only open during the summer. There could be a cap on how old you can be (typically 35 or under). The local tourism offices are a good place to get information.
Food and Drink in Denmark
Although the quality of the ingredients is consistently high, traditional Danish cuisine often characterized by rather staid combinations of meat or fish and vegetables. This is despite the fact that the quality of the ingredients is invariably excellent, especially since many chefs espouse the farm-to-plate or organic cooking philosophy.
Local Food & Beverages
There are several local specialties that are well worth searching out, such as stegt flk med persille sovs (which translates to “thinly sliced fried pork with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce”) and the traditional rget sild (smoked herring). The morning meal, known as breakfast or morgenmad, is a special occasion, and nearly all hotels and hostels in Norway offer a buffet that includes cereals, freshly baked bread, cheese, ham, fruit juice, milk, coffee, and tea for approximately 60 kroner (if not included in room prices).
Brunch, which is provided in most cafes from 11 a.m. until the middle of the afternoon and costs 80–100 kroner, is a popular and satisfying option for late starters. Smrrebrd is the typical lunch in Denmark. It consists of slices of rye bread loaded with meat, fish, or cheese, and varied trimmings. Each sandwich costs between 40 and 80 kroner and is very satisfying. In most cases, restaurants and bodegas offer lunch specials that provide a delicious meal at a reasonable price (bars selling no-frills food).
Tilbud translates to “special,” while dagens ret means “dish of the day.” You should expect to pay anywhere from 80 to 180 crowns for one of them and between 120 and 180 crowns for a three-course lunch set. Smushi, the Danish equivalent of sushi, is the newest food trend to sweep the nation (about 50k per piece).
Try out The Varieties in Street Food Stalls
There are hot dog stalls (plsevogn) on all of the main streets and in all of the train stations. These stands offer daytime snacks such as hot dogs (plser), toasted ham-and-cheese sandwiches (parisertoast), and chips (pommes frites) for approximately 25 kroner. Bakeries and cafes sell Danish pastries such as wienerbrd, which are more flavorful and significantly less sweet than the imitations sold in other countries, as well as rundstykker, which literally translates to “round bits” and is a type of crispy bread roll.
Most restaurants charge between 130 and 200 crowns for dinner, but if you look hard enough, you can find a Middle Eastern or Thai restaurant with a buffet for 80 to 100 crowns. Compared to going out to eat, this can save you a lot of money. Pizza slices can usually be bought at kebab shops for about 30 krona each, and there are a lot of them in this country. If you plan to cook your own meals, Netto and Fakta are both good places to buy things at prices that are similar to each other.
Drinks
The most social places to drink alcohol are pubs, also known as vrtshus, bars, or bodega, and cafés, where beer is frequently the main alcoholic beverage served. Bottled lager is the most economical option, and the strong alternative is the so-called gold beer, also known as Guldal or Elefantal (with costs ranging from 25 to 35 crowns a bottle).
Draught lager, also known as Fadl, is more expensive and slightly less potent than regular lager, but it has a more refreshing flavor. Carlsberg and Tuborg are the most popular brands, but there has been a welcome increase in the number of microbreweries in recent years, and many bars and restaurants now brew their own beer on the premises. Most wines from other countries start at 40 kroner, and prices for spirits range from 20 to 40 kroner.
How to Acquir
The vast majority of visitors arrive in Copenhagen by either flying into the dazzling Kastrup Airport or pulling into the city’s Central Station, which connected with the European rail network via Germany and, across the beautiful Resund Bridge, to Sweden. Kastrup Airport is the more popular method of arrival. In addition, the terminal serves as the destination for the vast majority of buses operating on foreign routes.
Moreover, the regional airports of Aalborg, rhus, and Billund are responsible for the increasing number of low-cost flights, the majority of which are provided by Ryanair. There are frequent ferry services to Sweden and Norway (through Frederikshavn or Hirtshals), as well as a connection to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, albeit one that is somewhat more time-consuming (via Hirtshals).