If you feel in need of a lift, why not book a hotel in a country often ranked as the happiest in the world? It’s true the Danes have a lot to smile about - rich in culture, heritage and beautiful landscapes, Denmark has a healthy economy and an environmentally-friendly outlook, with much of the population choosing to get around by bicycle. The country is formed from a peninsula called Jutland, bounded on one side by the Baltic Sea and the other by the North Sea, and all around it are 400 beautiful islands crying out to be explored.
Where to Stay in Denmark
Copenhagen - There are more bicycles than cars on the roads of the cosmopolitan capital, whose city of spires with its skyline punctuated by the towers of churches, palaces and castles. Trendy bars, restaurants and hotels give Copenhagen a booming nightlife scene, adding yet another incentive to visit, as if one were needed.
Aarhus - The former Viking settlement in East Jutland was the centre of the Danish jazz explosion in the 1950s and continues to be at the forefront of cultural innovation. Key landmarks in Aarhus include the 12th century cathedral, and the popular Tivoli amusement park.
Odense - Hans Christian Andersen spent his childhood in Odense, and various statues and sculptures taking the writer’s work as inspiration are found around the city.
Helsingør - A coastal city chiefly known for the vast Kronborg Castle, which was the model for Elsinore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Several adaptations of the play have been either performed or filmed here. Book a beachside hotel in Helsingør
Roskilde - This vibrant city on the island of Zealand off Copenhagen is the setting for the hugely popular Roskilde Music Festival, and also has a renowned museum displaying several notable examples of Viking ships.
How to Make the Most of Your Hotel in Denmark
The Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairytale, is a Danish icon, and perches at the edge of the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen. If you’re visiting Roskilde then be sure to take in the Viking Ship Museum to learn the stories behind the audacious raiders. More Danish history, this time of urban architecture so slightly less bloodthirsty, can be found at the unique open-air Old Town museum in Aarhus.
Learn how one of Copenhagen’s grittiest neighbourhoods has been transforming into one of its hippest, with a small group beer and vice tour in Vesterbro that sees you visit a funky local bodega for a few beers along the way. In the evening, take in the thrilling rides and magical atmosphere in the Tivoli amusement park. Head up to the northernmost town on Jutland, Skagen, where because of the different water densities, you can clearly see a dividing line between the Baltic and the North Sea. The landscape in these parts is diverse and dramatic, and Skagen is also home to one of Denmark’s oldest lighthouses, and a charming teddy bear museum.