Denmark

When to go

Weather

Summer from June-August, winter from December-March and very wet with long periods of frost. February is the coldest month, spring and autumn are mild.

Festivals

The Copenhagen Jazz Festival is the capital’s biggest event, held over ten days in early July, the Roskilde Festival, Europe’s largest music festival, rocks in late June/early July, attracting top acts like U2, Radiohead, the Chemical Brothers and Bob Dylan. A European Medieval Festival is takes place in Horsens each August, with up to 2,500 people in costume.

Highlights

Legend has it that the Dannebrog, the national flag, fell from the sky in 1219 into the hands of King Valdemar II, during his crusade against Estonia. He held onto it and won the battle. If true, this would make it the oldest national flag still in use

Copenhagen

Founded in 1167, the largest urban area in Scandinavia has many old buildings and monuments. The greatest single crowd-puller is the Little Mermaid statue by the harbour. A number of museums, castles, and palaces, and even the Carlsberg factory, can be looked around, but for something totally different check out Christiana, a commune set up in 1971 by hippies and anarchists in an abandoned military barracks. Self-declared as immune from Danish law, a vivid mix of psychedelic houses, vegan restaurants, vibrant music and art make up this home to 1,000 people. It is an intriguing experiment in alternative living.

Zealand

The island on which Copenhagen sits is also home to fine beaches, lakes, forests, and royal palaces. The fortress of Kronbørg in Helsinør may be the setting of Hamlet.

Bornholm

A slow-paced self-contained island in the Baltic, 200 kilometres east of the capital. Wheat fields and forests cover the centre, the coast is all powdery white sand and fishing villages. Hammerhaus, the country’s largest castle ruin, dating from 1260, is here.

Fyn (Funen)

Called the ‘Garden of Denmark’, Fyn contains beautiful and impressive historic castles and manor houses.

Jutland

Making up the main part of Denmark, these gorgeous sandy beaches are unsafe due to changing winds and tides.

Being there

Etiquette

Normal courtesies apply, but be sure to only drink once the host has made a toast your health. Denmark’s seaside resorts often allow nude bathing.

Food and Drink

Smørrebrød - slices of bread topped, often smothered, with a variety of fish, cheese, meat and garnishes - is the most popular Danish dish. Seafood plays a large part in the diet and a variety of international dishes are widely available. Fantastic coffee and many famous beers are made here, the national drink though is akvavit, or more as its more commonly known snaps - ice cold and served with cold food and a beer chaser.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Bing & Grøndal and Royal Copenhagen porcelain, Holmegard glass, Bornholm ceramics, Lego.

Additional Info

People and Places

Capital: Copenhagen.
Language: Danish.
Population: 5,383,507.
Population Density: 124.9. (pop per km²)
Size: 43,098. (area km²)

Transport

Copenhagen (CPH) 8 km from the city, Århus (AAR) 44 km from the city, Billund Airport (BLL) 2 km from Legoland.
Frequent ferry services between islands. The main cities on all islands are connected by rail. The road system makes frequent use of ferries.

Red Tape

National driving licence. EU nationals taking their own cars are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card for insurance purposes.
UK: 55 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SR, tel (020) 7333 0200, fax (020) 7333 0270, email lonamb@um.dk. US: 3200 Whitehaven Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 234 4300, fax (202) 328 1470, email wasamb@um.dk.
UK: Kastelsvej 36-40, DK2100 Copenhagen Ø, tel 3544 5200, fax 3544 5293, email info@britishembassy.dk. US: Dag Hammarskjølds Allé 24, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, tel 3341 7100, fax 3543 0223, email info@usembassy.dk.

State of the Nation

Life expectancy: M 75.34, F 80.03.

Finance: Credit cards and traveller’s cheques widely accepted.
Business hours: 0800/0900-1600/1700 Monday-Friday.
GMT: + 1(+ 2 in the summer).
Voltage guide: 220 AC, 50 Hz.
Country dialling code: 45.