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Tourist Info > Denmark Tourist Information for Denmark.Contents
Denmark [1] is a country in Scandinavia. The main part of it is Jutland, a peninsula north of Germany, while a number of islands, including two major ones, Zealand and Funen, are the two main islands in Østersøen Sea between Jutland and Sweden. Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. However, the country has opted out of European Union's Maastricht Treaty, the European monetary system (EMU), and issues concerning certain internal affairs. Denmark is also the birthplace of one of the world's most popular toys - Lego. There is no other better place in the world where one can buy Lego bricks than at the Legoland theme park in Billund. UnderstandThese days the Danish Vikings have parked their ships in the garage, and put the horned helmets on the shelves. And along with the other Scandinavian nations forged a society that is seen as a benchmark of civilization, with progressive social policies, a commitment to free speech so entrenched in Danish society, that it put the nation at odds with most of the world during the Mohamed cartoon controversy, and a liberal social-welfare system, that's not only the most equal in the world, according to the Economist, it is also the most competitive. Top it off with rich well preserved cultural heritage, and the Danes legendary sense of design and architecture, and you have one intriguing holiday destination. TerrainDenmark is home to the 'lowest-highest' point in Europe; but what that exactly entails is somewhat uncertain. Ejer Baunehøj, in the Lake District region south-west of Aarhus (Århus), seems to be the highest natural point (171m with a large tower built on top to commemorate the fact), although Yding Skovhøj, some 3km away stands 2m higher owing to an ancient burial mound. Either way, the 213m tall Søsterhøj Transmission Tower (1956), with its top 315 m above sea level is technically the highest point in Denmark! TippingIn Denmark service charges are automatically included in the bill at restaurants and hotels, and tips for taxi drivers and the like are included in the fare. So tipping is not expected, nor required, but is a matter of choice. Needless to say, tipping for outstanding service is obviously greatly appreciated. CitiesThese are the nine regional centers in Denmark:
Regions
Other destinations
Remarkable Bridges There are several remarkable bridges connecting Danish islands with each other, Jutland and Sweden.
Get inBy planeDenmark is served by two major and several minor airports.
By train
There are five direct trains per day from Hamburg to Copenhagen, approximately every two to three hours. These trains are loaded onto a ferry for the sea passage from Puttgarten to Rødby, and the total journey time is around 4.5 hours. There are also two train lines to Jutland from Hamburg, one via Padborg and the other via Tønder. Trains run every twenty minutes from Malmö to Copenhagen. The total journey time is 35 minutes. By busGraahundbus [19], Eurolines [20], and Abildskou [21] run buses between european and danish destinations. Special Bus route E55 Berlin – CopenhagenBerolina [22]. Berlin DKK 200 (7 hours). By boat
Get aroundLong distance train travel is done with DSB, the Danish State Rail system. [30] 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 [31]. 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. In the greater Copenhagen region, the zone system is complemented by a system of “klippekort”, punch cards. These cards come in a variety of colors where the color signifies the total number of zones one can travel through for each punch. So a two zone card punched once allows one an hour of travel throughout two zones. A two zone card punched twice in the same machine is valid for travel in four zones or from the airport at Kastrup to the main train station in Copenhagen. DSB also uses a similar system of klippekort/punch cards for travel in the Oresund region. To use a klippekort/punch card, you insert the card, face up, into the yellow machine on the train platform. You will hear a clunk as a punch discard is removed from card. Repeat to add zones. The machine will also have a zone map and a guide to explain how many punches it takes to travel from where you are to where you want to go. Most regions have their own klippekort but they do not work between regions. Some of the long distance bus companies offer klippekort that are valid for a specific route across regions but these are probably of little use for travelers as they have to be bought on cards of 10 punches(trips). By busLong distance bus-service between Jutland and Copenhagen is possible with the companies Abildskou (line 888) [32] and Søndergaards Busser [33]. An Århus-Copenhagen ticket is DKK 270 One way for adults with Abildskou. See also the overview at: [34]. By trainThe primary Danish train company is Danish State Railways or DSB [35]. Many feeder lines for the principal train line in eastern Jutland are now operated by British company Arriva. Other small rail lines are operated by other companies. DSB also operates the S-Tog commuter rail system around the greater Copenhagen area. Eurail passes are valid on all DSB trains. Danish trains are very comfortable, very modern and very expensive. Tickets can be purchased in stations, from vending machines in the stations and via DSB's website. In addition to a ticket, some trains require a seat assignment. Most trains have 230V power outlets. Due to worn out rails the trains are often late and will be so for the next few years. The S-Tog will probably also continue to be somewhat unreliable (use a 20 minute buffer if planning trips longer than, say, 20 minutes). All trips with trains and local buses can be scheduled electronically through rejseplanen.dk [36]. By ferryThe only way get to most of the smaller islands, is by ferry. Ferries are the best way to get to Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, although it also can be reached by plane. Since the opening of the bridge to Sweden, the easiest route from Copenhagen to Bornholm is by train and then ferry from Ystad. Through tickets are available from Copenhagen and Ronne - booking is mandatory. There is also a bus that serves this route - Gråhund Bus 886 from Copenhagen to Ystad, where it links with the ferry to Bornholm By car or bicycleThere are no toll-roads except the two big bridges: Storebæltsbroen [37] between Zealand and Funen (DKK 215 one way), and Øresundsbron [38] between Copenhagen and Malmö (DKK 235 one way).  Margueritruten is a 3500 km long connected route of small scenic roads passing 100 important Danish attractions. It is marked by brown signs with the white Marguerite Daisy flower. It is marked on most roadmaps. Biking in Denmark is, in general, safe and easy. Drivers are used to bikes everywhere, and all major cities have biketrails along most roads. Denmark is quite flat, but can be windy, cold or wet on a bike. Bikes are generally allowed on trains (separate ticket is needed). Note that biking on the expressways (Da: motorvej) is prohibited, and that this also includes the Great Belt Bridge and the Øresund Bridge. Trains can be used between Nyborg and Korsør and between Copenhagen and Malmö if you need to cross the bridges. Official marked routes across the country can be found in the guides on this page: [39] By thumbIt is quite easy to hitchhike in Denmark. People who pick up hitchhikers usually speak English. Destination boards are recommended. It is illegal to hitchhike on the highways, so it is better to use highway-entrances and gas stations. When crossing by ferry, try to get into a car that already paid for the ticket. If you hitchhike from the southern part of Denmark (direction from Hamburg or Kiel, Germany), and continue in direction to Copenhagen, make sure the driver doesn't stop in Kolding. If he does, ask him to stop at the last gas station before Kolding. On the Kolding highway crossing there is no place to hitchhike and it is one of the worst places in Europe for hitchhikers. Check out the Tips for hitchhiking article here on wikitravel if you are new to hitchhiking. By airScandinavian Airlines [40], Danish Air Transport [41] and Cimber Air [42] all operate domestic routes. If you are not in a hurry, however, trains will often get you where you want to go a lot cheaper. The exception being the Island of Bornholm where air travel is often both fast and inexpensive. TalkDenmark's national language is Danish, a member of the Germanic branch of the group of Indo-European languages, and within that family, part of the North Germanic, East Norse group. It is, in theory, very similar to Norwegian Bokmål and also to Swedish, and is to some extent intelligible to speakers of those languages, especially in written form. Its sound, however, is more influenced by the guttural German language, though, rather than the lilting languages found to the north and understanding spoken Danish may be a trace more difficult to those who only speak Swedish or Norwegian. It is also more distantly related to Icelandic and Faroese, though spoken Danish is not mutually intelligible with these languages. English is widely spoken in Denmark, the only partial exception is children or people older than 65. Danish school children start their English lessons in third grade, and regular English lessons continue until students finish high school, furthermore many Danish university courses are fully or partially taught in English. In this regard it is worth noting that Denmark is probably one of very few countries in the world, where you don't get extra points for trying to speak the language, rather the opposite, and Danes in general have very little patience with non-fluent speakers. So except for a few words like Tak (Thank you) or Undskyld mig (Excuse me), English-speakers are much better off just speaking English than fighting their way through a phrasebook. If you do try, and the person you are talking to immediately switches to English, don't feel bad, it is not meant to condescend or belittle. Should you perceive it so, you can take minor comfort when the conversation stops every once in a while as the person you're talking to skims their mental dictionary, looking for an English equivalent of a Danish word. You might also encounter some wacky English grammar once in a while among the very young or the slightly older generation. Though this generally shouldn't a problem, just keep in mind that enunciating just a tiny bit when speaking will go a long way in abating such situations. Many Danes also speak German, and it is widely spoken in areas that attract many tourists from Germany, i.e. mainly the Jutland West Coast, the southern part of Funen and nearby islands (e.g. Langeland and Ærø), and also in Southern Jutland (Sønderjylland / Northern Schleswig). Elsewhere in the country, many people vehemently prefer to avoid speaking it, even when they do have some command of the language, and you'll have a hard time convincing anyone (outside the tourist industry) otherwise - this has nothing to do with history, but is merely a result of the high fluency in English, making the locals less inclined to struggle through a language they are not entirely comfortable with - in a pinch or emergency though, people will probably step up, and do their best to help. French is also spoken to some degree, as all Danish students have received at least 3 years of lessons in either German or French, but given the Danes limited contact with the French language, fluency tends to be lagging. Bring your own unlocked GSM phone to make calls. Prepaid SIM cards are available at most shops and international calling can be reasonably priced. The prepaid credit generally only work in Denmark, but can be purchased in small amounts to avoid waste when you leave. Buy
The national currency is the Danish krone (DKK, plural "kroner"). In the more "touristy" shops in Copenhagen, and at the traditional beach resorts along the Jutland West Coast and Bornholm Island it will often be possible to pay in Euro. The Danish krone is pegged to the Euro to an accuracy of 2.25%. In the 12 months from Aug 2005 to Aug 2006 the average exchange rate was 1 EUR = 7.46 DKK. Automatic teller machines are widely available even in small towns. Credit cards are also widely accepted but not universally. Beware that many retailers will add a 2%-3% transaction charge (often without warning) if you pay with a credit card. You should note that almost everything in Denmark is expensive. All consumer sales include a 25% sales tax but displayed prices are legally required to include this, so they are always exact. If you are from outside the EU/Scandinavia you can have some of your sales tax refunded [43] when leaving the country. Eat
Apart from the kebab shops and pizza stands, dining in Denmark can be fairly expensive, but a worthwhile cost. Traditional Danish fare includes items as pickled herring, fried sanddab, and other assorted seafood items. Hearty meats are also prevalent, as seen in items such as frikadeller (pork only or pork and veal meat balls topped by a brown sauce) and "stegt flæsk og persillesovs" (thick pork bacon slices topped by a parsley cream sauce). Many meals are also accompanied by a beer, and shots of aquavit or schnaps, though these are mainly enjoyed when guests are over. Drinking along with meals is encouraged as the foods are enhanced by the drinks, and vice versa. For dessert, try either "ris à l'amande" (rice pudding with almonds and cherries) or æbleskiver (ball-shaped cakes similar in texture to American pancakes, served with strawberry jam), both normally only available in December. For candy try a bag of "Superpiratos" (hot licorice candy). SmørrebrødThe traditional Danish lunch is smørrebrød, open sandwiches usually on rye bread - fish are served on white bread, and many restaurants give you a choice of bread. Smørrebrød served on special occasions, in lunch restaurants, or bought in lunch takeaway stores, are piled higher than the daily fare. DrinkDanes are rightly famous for their good looks, but unlike most other places, despite their lucky draw at the gene pool, this hasn't translated into the self assertion and confidence you normally see. And the Danes have become infamous for being closed and tight lipped, bordering the outright rude. So while it is by no means impossible, you will be still be hard pressed to find a Dane readily engaging in casual conversations with strangers. That is, until you hit the country's bars and nightclubs. As any foreigner who has spend time observing the Danes will tell you, alcohol is the fabric that hold Danish society together. And when they are smacked of their faces in the dead of night, they suddenly let their guard down, loosen up, and while a bit pitiful, they somehow transmorph themselves into one of the most likeable bunch of people on earth. Rather than the violence associated with binge drinking elsewhere, because it seem to serve a very important social purpose, the natives get very open, friendly and loving instead. It takes some time getting used too, but if you want to form bonds with the Danes, this is how you do it - god help you if you are abstinent. This also means Danes how a very high tolerance for drunk behaviour, provided it takes place in the weekends. Drink a glass or two of wine for dinner during the week, and you can be mistaken for an alcoholic, but down 20 pints on a Saturday night, and puke all over the place, and everything will be in order. Drinking alcoholic beverages in public is considered socially acceptable in Denmark, and having a beer out in a public square is a common warm weather activity there, though local by-laws are increasingly curbing this liberty, as loitering alcoholics are regarded as bad for business. Drinking bans are usually signposted, but not universally obeyed. In any case, be sure to moderate your public drinking, especially during the daytime. Danish beer is a treat for a beer enthusiast. The largest brewery, Carlsberg (which also owns the Tuborg brand), offers a few choices, as well as a delicious "Christmas beer" in the 6 weeks leading up to the holidays. Other tasty beverages include the Aquavit (Snaps) and Gløgg - a hot wine drink popular in December. Danish beer is mostly limited to pilsners which are good, but not very diverse. However in the last few years Danes have become interested in a wider range of beers. The Danish Beer Enthusiasts [44] maintain a list of bars and restaurants with a good selection of beers as well as a list of stores with a good selection. SleepDo
FestivalsDenmark is teeming with music festivals in the summer months, to a point where listing each and everyone of them would be ridiculous, some of the most important ones are:
Stay safe
In an emergency dial 112 (medical help/fire brigade/police). This is toll free, and will work even from cell phones even without a SIM card. For the police in not-emergencies call 114. Stay healthyHealth services in Denmark are of a high standard, although waiting times for the emergency department can be quite long for non acute situations - since visitors are prioritized according to their situation. Except for surgical procedures there are no private healthcare system to speak of, all is taken care off my the public healthcare system and general practitioners. All visitors are provided with free emergency care, until you are deemed healthy enough to be transported back to your home country. Citizens from EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and certain British dependencies are all entitled to additional basic medical services during their stay, other nationalities should have a valid travel insurance for transportation home and any additional medical care needed after any emergency is dealt with, as this is not provided free of charge. As in the rest of the country, English speakers should not have any trouble communicating with staff in English. Dentists are only partly covered by the public healthcare system, and everyone, including Danes pay to visit their dentist. Danes and other Nordic citizens have some of the expenses covered by the public healthcare system, while non Scandinavian visitors, should generally be prepared to foot the entire bill themselves, or forward the expenses to their insurance company. Tap water is potable unless indicated. Restaurants and other places selling food are visited regularly by health inspectors and are awarded points on a 1-4 "smiley scale". The ratings must be prominently displayed, so look out for the happy face when in doubt. While pollution in the major cities can be annoying it doesn't pose any risk to non-residents. Nearly all beaches are fine for bathing - even parts of the Copenhagen harbour recently opened for bathing (read the Stay safe section). SmokingAs of 15 August 2007 it is not legal to smoke in any public space in Denmark. This includes government buildings with public access (hospitals, universities, etc), all restaurants and bars larger than 40 sq m and all public transport. Also be aware that you have to be at least 18 years old to buy cigarettes in Denmark. RespectIn a country which has no direct equivalent to please in their vernacular, where the local version of Mr and Ms has all but disappeared from common usage, and where the people can hardly muster a sorry if they bump into you on the streets, you could be forgiven to think they are the rudest people on earth, and you can get away with pretty much anything. You'd be wrong, most of the behaviour many tourists consider appalling can be attributed to either the Danes blatant, and when you get to understand it, quite sympathetic disregard for formality, or their unfortunate shyness (see drink section), and there are rules to the madness, way too complex to get into here, but some of the most important ones can be summed up as follows:
ContactCopeEmbassies and consulatesAustraliaCopenhagen BrazilCopenhagen CanadaCopenhagen FranceCopenhagen GermanyCopenhagen Copenhagen IndiaCopenhagen ItalyCopenhagen JapanCopenhagen The NetherlandsCopenhagen Esbjerg NorwayCopenhagen SpainCopenhagen SwedenCopenhagen Consular Section of Embassy Sankt Annæ Plads 15 A 1250 Copenhagen K Tel 33 36 0375 Skagen Consul Aksel Groth, Sct. Laurentiivej 26 9990 Skagen Tel 70 15 10 00
United KingdomCopenhagen Consular Section of Embassy. Consul David Stanley Thomas Morton, Vice-Consul Jeanette Christoffersen, Vice-Consul Susan Jane Oxfeldt Jensen, Kastelsvej 38.2100 Copenhagen Ø Tel 35 44 52 00
United States of AmericaCopenhagen Get outNorth AtlanticFor historical reason, Denmark is a central hub for access to the truly fascinating North Atlantic region, with direct flights to and from several cities on Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Hanstholm in Northwestern Jutland has weekly ferry services to Torshavn on the Faroe Islands and Seyðisfjörður on Iceland. Longyearbyen on Svalbard can be reached from several cities, once or twice weekly with a single stopover in Oslo
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