Denmark

Quick Facts

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Capital

Copenhagen (København)

Population

5,384,000

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

Religions

Christianity (Protestant)

Languages

Danish

Calling Code

+45

Nationality

Danish

Local name

Danmark

Introduction

Odense

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A modern, progressive nation, Denmark has long abandoned the less sophisticated ways of its Viking heritage. What highlights Denmark as an attractive place to visit is the lack of obstinate over-development and polluted modernity: its capital and largest city, Copenhagen is a thriving cosmopolitan city, but one which reveals the Danes' remarkable sensitivity to environmental aesthetics. Water fountains, parks and gardens abound; historical architecture remains superbly intact; and running through the city center is the world's longest pedestrian mall.

Denmark also boasts Scandinavia's oldest town, at Ribe. Ribe is a good place to visit if you want an insight into Danish history: not only because of its various museums heralding Viking artifacts, but also because of its relative lack of development over the last few centuries, leaving it much like it was three centuries ago.

Brief History

Geography

Denmark is a small flat peninsula. There are also several islands that are connected by bridges or boats. Denmark shares international borders with Germany and Sweden via a bridge.

Regions

Denmark is divided into 5 administrative regions.

• Hovedstaden (Danish Capital Region)
• Midtjylland (Central Jutland)
• Nordjylland (North Jutland)
• Sjælland (Zealand)
• Syddanmark (South Denmark)

Cities

• Copenhagen, the capital city
• Århus
• Aalborg
• Esbjerg
• Odense
• Roskilde

Sights and Activities

• Legoland - a theme park dedicated to Lego.
• Christiansø - a 17th century island fortress.
• Møns Klint - white cliffs
• Råbjerg Mile - drifting sand dunes
• Trelleborg - a viking fortress

Events and Festivals

• Roskilde Festival - One of the biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe
• Copenhagen Jazz festival
• Tønder festival for folkmusic

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

The airport in Copenhagen^[1] (CPH/EKCH), originally and commonly known as Kastrup Airport, is the major hub for Scandinavia. It is a large airport, and has connections to destinations around the world. If you go to the countries north of Denmark, there's a good chance that you will make a stop at this airport. There are also commercial flights from smaller airports in Aalborg, Aarhus, Billund and Esbjerg.

By Train

The Oresund Bridge connects Copenhagen by train to Malmö in Sweden. Hamburg in Germany is the hub for mainland Europe to access Denmark via either the Great Belt rail link, the Little Belt Bridge or a train ferry that operates between Rødby in Denmark and Puttgarden in Germany.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

International ferry services operate from Norway, Germany, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and the UK.

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Red Tape

If you are a European Union (EU) citizen, you may travel in Denmark without any restriction as per your EU citizenship rights. If you are not an EU citizen and Denmark is the first stop on your visit, you will need to obtain a Schengen Visa. This visa is valid for any country in the Schengen zone.

Money

The official currency of Denmark is the Danish krone (DKK). One krone (plural kroner) is divided into 100 øre.

Banknotes are in denominations of 50 kroner, 100 kroner, 200 kroner, 500 kroner, 1000 kroner.
Coins come in 25 øre, 50 øre, 1 krone, 2 kroner, 5 kroner, 10 kroner, 20 kroner.

As of 28 February 2008, the exchange rates against other major currencies are EUR1 = DKK7.50, GBP1 = DKK9.80, USD1 = DKK4.95.

There was a referendum on joining the Euro zone in 2000. The majority voted against.

Work

Study

Language

Danish is an east Scandinavian language (its closest relative is Swedish), a Germanic language developed from Old Norse. Danish is divided into multiple dialects, but the standard version, which is used in media and official relations is used by almost everybody. Danish is commonly understandable for Swedes, Norwegians and to some extent people from Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

According to European Union statistics, English is more widely spoken in Denmark than in any other EU state other than the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Beer: Carlsberg and Tuborg is sold everywhere, but there's a lot of smaller breweries that are worth trying
Spirits: snaps/akvavit (vodka-like spirit), gammel dansk (bitter) and Små grå (liquorice-vodka)

Health

Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

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