Denmark

Did you know the longest day in the summer is 17 hours and 27 minutes? That’s a lot of time to get some sightseeing in and to partake in local activities when you visit this European Union nation. Summer is the time to visit with the abundant sunlight. Denmark, the smallest and southernmost of the Nordic nations has one neighbour by land, which is Germany to the south. While part of Scandinavia located southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, Denmark is not part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Geography of Denmark

Geographically, the nation is made up of a Peninsula named Jutland, which is attached northern Germany. The Peninsula borders the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Off the peninsula is a series of islands including Funen, Zealand, Bornholm, and many smaller islands.

Major cities and attractions in Denmark

If you’re looking at travelling to Denmark, chances are you’ve heard of Copenhagen, the largest city and also the capital. Copenhagen is located on the island of Zealand. Other major cities in Denmark include Aalborg, Aarhus, and Odense. Aalborg and Aarhus are located on the peninsula of Jutland while Odense is located on the island of Funen.

Other cities and destinations of interest in Denmark include:

Bornholm – Well-kept Denmark castle ruins

Egeskov Castle – Well preserved Renaissance moat castle (near Odense)

Elsinore – Kronborg Castle and a Shakespeare museum (north of Copenhagen)

Legoland – A Lego Brick Theme Park

Ribe – Denmark’s oldest town

Roskilde – Viking Ship Museum in Zealand

Currency in Denmark

Despite being part of the European Union, Denmark has opted out of the Euro common currency. The official currency here is the Danish Krone. Most overseas travellers will find they will get the best currency conversion rates by simply using their ATM card for cash and a major credit card for major purchases.

There is a 25% sales tax (VAT) for consumer sales in Denmark, which is already included in the price of goods and services. Fortunately, if you are travelling from outside of the EU or Scandinavia some of the tax can be refunded under certain circumstances. First, your purchase must be 300 DKK or greater from each shop and secondly you must complete a VAT refund form and present it at the airport when you are departing Denmark or the EU. Enquire when making large purchases about the procedure.

Getting to Denmark

Copenhagen International Airport (CPH) is the primary air gateway to Denmark with non-stop flights from North America, Asia, and many other locations in Europe. There are many other airports such as Aarhaus Airport and Denmark is well connected to the region by air.

If you are already in Europe, there is a good transportation infrastructure in place and there is good train service to Denmark from points in mainland Europe. There are also many ferry services, which will transport you from Oslo and other points in Norway and Sweden to Denmark. Denmark is also a member of the Schengen accord, an open-border treaty among most nations of the European Union.

Getting around Denmark

The country is easy to get around with a good network of roads and trains. In fact, there are several noteworthy bridges interconnecting the Danish islands.

The primary train company is Danish State Rail, also known as DSB. While there is an excellent air network connecting all of the major cities, unless you’re in a hurry your best bet is to take the train. The train is not only reliable and less expensive, but will give you an opportunity to see some of the Danish countryside.