Denmark travel guide
Denmark is a small, flat Scandinavian country of islands and coastline, with Copenhagen's harbour, design and food scene at its heart and Viking history, castles and long sandy beaches beyond. Everything works smoothly, distances are short and cycling is a way of life. It suits city-breakers, families, design and food lovers, and travellers who like to explore by bike.
Places worth the trip
Copenhagen
The colourful harbour houses of Nyhavn, the royal palaces of Amalienborg and Christiansborg, the old Tivoli Gardens amusement park and the Little Mermaid statue. The city is best explored by bike, and you can swim in the clean harbour at public bathing spots in summer.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
A modern art museum in Humlebæk, north of Copenhagen, with galleries linked by glass corridors and a sculpture park that runs down to the sea, with views across to Sweden.
Kronborg Castle, Helsingør
A Renaissance castle guarding the narrow strait between Denmark and Sweden, made famous as the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and hosts summer Shakespeare performances.
Aarhus
Denmark's second city has the ARoS art museum, crowned by a circular walkway of rainbow-coloured glass, and Den Gamle By, an open-air museum of historic town houses from across the country. The student population keeps it lively.
Skagen
At the northern tip of Jutland, the North Sea and the Baltic meet at Grenen, where you can stand with a foot in each sea. The town's light drew the Skagen Painters in the nineteenth century, and the Råbjerg Mile is a migrating sand dune nearby.
Billund and LEGO House
The home town of LEGO has LEGO House, an experience centre full of models and building zones, and the original Legoland park next door.
Roskilde and Viking history
Roskilde's Viking Ship Museum displays five original Viking ships raised from the fjord, with reconstructed boats to sail in summer. The town's cathedral is the burial place of Danish monarchs and a UNESCO site.
Møns Klint and Bornholm
Møns Klint is a line of white chalk cliffs rising above the Baltic on the island of Møn. Bornholm, a Baltic island closer to Sweden than to Copenhagen, has round medieval churches, rocky coasts and smokehouses.
Interesting facts about Denmark
- LEGO was founded in Billund, and its name comes from the Danish 'leg godt', meaning 'play well'.
- The Danish flag, the Dannebrog, is often described as the oldest national flag in continuous use.
- The Kingdom of Denmark also includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both of which are self-governing.
- Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen opened in 1843, making it one of the oldest amusement parks still operating.
- No place in Denmark is more than about 50 kilometres from the sea.
Best time to visit Denmark
May to September is the best time to visit, with long daylight hours, mild temperatures and outdoor life in full swing; June has the longest days, and Midsummer Eve (Sankt Hans) on 23 June is celebrated with bonfires. July is the main holiday month for Danes. Autumn and winter are cool, dark and often windy, but cosy cafés, Christmas markets and Tivoli's Christmas season make December atmospheric.
Getting around
Trains link Copenhagen with Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg and other cities, crossing the islands on long bridges, and regional buses cover smaller towns. Copenhagen's metro, including a direct line from the airport, runs around the clock, and the city has an extensive network of cycle lanes and bike rental schemes. Ferries serve the islands, including Bornholm. Renting a car is useful for exploring rural Jutland and the smaller islands, and bridges such as the Great Belt Bridge charge tolls.
Practical details
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Currency
- Danish krone (DKK)
- Languages
- Danish
- Plug types
- C, E, F, K
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 112 for all emergencies
- Driving side
- right
- Tipping
- Service is included in prices, so tipping is not expected. Rounding up for good service is appreciated but optional.
Staying online in Denmark
Denmark has excellent mobile coverage across the country, including most rural areas and the islands, with 4G and widespread 5G. Coverage can occasionally weaken on remote stretches of coast and at sea. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, trains and public buildings. Card and phone payments are used almost everywhere, so you rarely need cash. Denmark is in the EU, so EU roaming rules apply for EU plans; visitors from elsewhere should check roaming costs. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Useful apps
- DOT Tickets (DOT Billetter): Buy tickets for buses, metro and trains in Copenhagen and eastern Denmark.
- Rejseplanen: The national journey planner covering trains, buses, metro and ferries across Denmark.
- DSB: Book intercity train tickets and seat reservations with the national railway.
- Google Maps: Cycling and walking directions in Copenhagen and other cities.
Denmark travel FAQs
Hardly ever. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts, and some places no longer take cash. Denmark uses the krone, not the euro.
Yes. The city has wide, separated bike lanes and many rental options. Follow local rules: keep right, signal before turning and stopping, and use lights at night.
Yes, coverage is excellent across the country. If your plan doesn't include EU roaming, a travel eSIM gives you local data while your home number stays active for calls and texts.
Yes. Trains cross the Øresund Bridge to Malmö in around half an hour, making it an easy day trip. Carry your passport or ID, as border checks may apply.