DENMARK

Fairy tales and football matches, delicious pastry, a bronze mermaid sitting on a rock, looking out over a city, fierce Vikings and Lego… there’s not one slot into which Denmark and its people can be conveniently put. This is the country where the feared Vikings came from, traveling in their longboats to distant shores; and this is, too, the land of Hans Christian Andersen whose fairy tales enthrall children even today.

Denmark is a country with a long and interesting history, a vibrant culture; but it’s also a nation that is fiercely proud of the fact that it’s a modern and developed nation, one of the most prosperous countries of West Europe. With such a combination, it’s hardly surprising that Denmark is pretty popular on tourist itineraries.

Capital: Copenhagen

Best time to visit:

  1. Although Denmark’s winters are not as bitterly cold as the winters in the rest of Scandinavia, November to March can nevertheless be an uncomfortable time to visit.
  2. During this period, you’re likely to find snow, chill winds, and closed tourist offices. The best time to visit the country, therefore, is between mid-April and November, when the weather’s good.
  3.  May, June and late August or early September are definitely better, as the place has warmed up by then, but the crowds of tourists haven’t yet hit the tourist attractions.
  4. July and August are the peak tourist season, and the time when accommodation tends to get scarce.

Minimum days required: 5 days

Places of Interest:

  1. Copenhagen–  The Little Mermaid, Copenhagen Zoo, Amalienborg,  National Museum of Denmark, Rosenborg Castle
  2. Aarhus– The old Town, Tivoli Friheden, Moesgard Museum, Marselisborg Palace, Viking Museum, Arhus Domkirke
  3. Aalborg–Aalborg Zoo, Budolfi Church, Aalborg Historical Museum
  4. Esbjerg -Esbjerg Kunstmuseum, Esbjerg Water Tower, Zion Church

Climate:

  1. Despite the fact that Denmark is part of Scandinavia, it is not subjected to the freezing temperatures you’d expect in this part of the world.
  2. Although January and February (the coldest months of the year) can be pretty cold, with the mercury falling to below 0? C, the cold never gets unbearable- the reason being the warm Gulf Stream, whose waters pass the western coast of Denmark.
  3. Summers in Denmark are pleasant, with the temperature in May and June hovering around 25 C- very comfortable indeed.
  4. What is not quite so comfortable is the fact that Denmark is uniformly cloudy and drizzly- overcast skies are the norm, and sunshine is usually a cause for celebration.

Currency:  Danish Krone

Things to carry:

  1. Almost everything you’re likely to need- including toiletries and cosmetics- are easily available in Denmark, but if you’re very choosy about what brand you use, you might like to bring along sufficient supplies to last you through the trip.
  2.  If you’re on special medication, do carry an adequate supply of medicine, along with your doctor’s prescription.
  3. As far as clothing is concerned, keeping in mind the fact that Denmark has a relatively mild climate, you needn’t stuff your bags full of woollens- unless you’re going in the dead of winter, when temperatures can go down to freezing point. Remember to pack an umbrella or raincoat.

How to get there:

Air:

  1. Copenhagen International Airport is the main gateway to Denmark, and is linked by a number of airlines to destinations across the world. In addition, smaller airports at other cities- including Aalborg, Billund and Esbjerg- cater to flights coming in mainly from destinations in Scandinavia or the UK.