Denmark is a country in Northern Europe. 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.
Smaller islands:
Denmark also has two overseas dependencies:
These are the five major cities in Denmark:
There are several remarkable bridges connecting Danish islands with Sweden and Europe.
Denmark 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 254m tops of the towers of the Great Belt Bridge are technically the highest point(s) in Denmark!
In 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.
Denmark is served by two major and several minor airports.
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.
Graahundbus, Eurolines, and Abildskou run buses between european and danish destinations.
Special Bus route E55 Berlin – Copenhagen Berolina
Berlin DKK 200 (7 hours).
Long distance train travel is done with DSB, the Danish State Rail system. 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 . 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).
Long distance bus-service between Jutland and Copenhagen is possible with the companies Abildskou (line 888) and Søndergaards Busser . An Århus-Copenhagen ticket is DKK 270 One way for adults with Abildskou.
See also the overview www.fjernbusser.dk
The primary Danish train company is Danish State Rail or DSB although there are other small rail lines 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
The 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.
There are no toll-roads except the two big bridges: Storebæltbroen between Zealand and Funen (DKK 200 one way), and Øresundbroen between Copenhagen and Malmo (DKK 235 one way).
Margueritruten is one 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 highways (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:
It's quite easy to hitchhike in Denmark. People who pick up hitchhikers usually speak English. Destination boards are recommended. It's 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's 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.
Scandinavian Airlines, Danish Air Transport and Cimber Air 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.
Denmark'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 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.
English is widely spoken in Denmark, especially in the larger cities. 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).
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.
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; particularly if you're not from Northern Europe. 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 when leaving the country.
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).
The 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.
Some of the most popular and traditional choices are:
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 aforementioned aquavit, gløgg, a hot wine drink popular in December. Danish beer is mostly limited to pilseners which are good, but not very diverse. However in the last few years Danes have become interested in a wider range of beers. During the Christmas season, Glögg, a hot spiced red wine with raisins and almonds is popular fare for warming up from the cold with a group of friends.
The Danish Beer Enthusiasts maintain a list of bars and restaurants with a good selection of beers as well as a list of stores with a good selection
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/CPHAPHI-Hilton-Copenhagen-Airport-hotel/index.do
http://www.palacehotel.dk/web/website.php?id=home_en.htm
In an emergency dial 112 (medical help/fire brigade) or 114 (police). This is toll free, and will work even from cell phones even without a SIM card.
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 harbor recently opened for bathing (read the Stay safe section).
As of 15 August 2007 it is not allowed 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 m2 and all public transport.
Australia
Copenhagen Dampfærgevej 26, 2100 Copenhagen Ø. phone 70 26 36 76
Brazil
Copenhagen Ryvangs Allé, 24, 2100 Copenhagen Ø phone45 3920-6478/79
France
Copenhagen Ny Østergade 3, 2nd floor, 1101 Copenhagen K. phone 33 67 01 64
Århus Consul Thorkild Rydahl, address Frederiksgade 34, 8000 Århus C. phone 86 18 35 00
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy Stockholmsgade 57, Box 2712
2100 Copenhagen ØTel 35 45 99 00, 35 45 99 11
MiddelfartConsul Torben Østergaard-Nielsen, 1988c/o A/S Dan-Bunkering Ltd.
Strandvejen 5box 71 5500 MiddelfartTel 64 41 54 01
Odense Consul Knud Thybo, 1984 c/o Fehr & Co. A/S Svendborgvej 90
5260 Odense STel 66 14 14 14
ÅrhusConsul Finn Prang-Andersen, 1998Havnegade 48000 Århus CTel 86 18 25 88
Copenhagen
Consular Chancery of EmbassyEngskiftevej 4
2100 Copenhagen Ø Tel 39 18 34 44
Århus
Consul Henning Holmen Møller, 1996 Rådgivningsfirmaet Holmen Møller ApS
Lille Torv 68000 Århus CTel 86 12 14 00
Vangehusvej
Consular Chancery of EmbassyEngskiftevej 4
2100 Copenhagen Ø Tel 39 18 34 44
[Indian Embassy Denmark http://www.cultureholidays.com/embassy/indian-embassy-denmark.html]
Copenhagen
Indian Embassy in Copenhagen2100 Copenhagen,
close to Svanemøllen train station
2100 Copenhagen Ø Tel 00-45-39182888
Århus
Consul Henning Holmen Møller, 1996 Rådgivningsfirmaet Holmen Møller ApS
Lille Torv 68000 Århus CTel 86 12 14 00
Copenhagen
Consular Section of EmbassyPilestræde 611112 Copenhagen KTel 33 11 33 44
Århus
Consul-General Jørgen E. Handberg, 1991Dalgas Avenue 578000 Århus CTel 86 18 03 22
Copenhagen
Consular Section of EmbassyToldbodgade 331253 Copenhagen KTel 33 70 72 00
Esbjerg
Consul Ernst Moth Nielsen, 1987Kvaglundvej 826705 Esbjerg ØTel 76 14 55 30
Odense
Consul Robert Rasmussen, 1998Christiansgade 705000 Odense CTel 66 11 27 77
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy Consul Erling H.C. Korch, Amaliegade 39 1256 Copenhagen K Tel 33 14 01 24
Odense
Consul Steen Haustrup, 1989 Energivej 40 Box 151 5260 Odense S Tel 65 95 70 02
Århus
Consul Heine Bach, 2004 St.Torv 1 8000 Århus C Tel 89 33 36 19
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy Kristianiagade 21 2100 Copenhagen Ø Tel 35 42 22 66
Århus
c/o CFJE Olof Palmes Allé 11 8200 Århus N Tel 86 19 02 22
Copenhagen Consular Section of Embassy Sankt Annæ Plads 15 A 1250 Copenhagen K Tel 33 36 0375
Odense Consul Hans Erik Hempel-Hansen, Vestergade 97-101 Postbox 927 5100 Odense C Tel 63 12 82 00
Skagen Consul Aksel Groth, Sct. Laurentiivej 26 9990 Skagen Tel 70 15 10 00
Århus Consul Søren Lund, Sct. Clemens Stræde 7, Postbox 623. 8100 Århus C Tel 86 12 50 00
Copenhagen 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
Odense Consul Frits Niegel, Albanitorv 4. 5000 Odense Tel 66 14 47 14
Århus Consul Claus Herluf, Skolegade 19 B. 8100 Århus C. Tel 87 30 77 77
Copenhagen
Consular Section of Embassy Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24. 2100 Copenhagen Ø.
Tel 35 55 31 44
Url
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