|
|
|
Denmark Hostels, Eurail Passes, and Backpacking Tips |
The smallest and southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, Denmark (Danmark in Danish) is a mix of lively cities and pastoral farmland.
The countryside abounds with ancient medieval churches, Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century fishing villages. Denmark has some wonderful white sand beaches, the warmest waters in Scandinavia and scores of unspoilt islands to explore. Copenhagen is Scandinavia's largest and most cosmopolitan capital, with renowned museums and a spirited music scene.
Highlights
Half-timbered houses and ancient churches are thick on the ground in Denmark, but a few places are unique. Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark, has an exquisite historic centre encircling a 12th-century cathedral. The tiny fortress island of Christiansand, off Bornholm, retains its ramparts and 17th-century buildings, with almost no trace of the 20th century.
The Danish countryside holds a number of Viking sites, including a Viking ring fortress at Trelleborg in southern Zealand. The impressive Lindholm, outside Aalborg, contains the largest plot of Viking and Iron-Age graves in Scandinavia.
Denmark has castles aplenty - the most strikingly set is Egeskov Castle in Funen.
Despite gentle hills here and there, Denmark is quite flat, which, combined with an extensive network of cycle routes, makes it a great place to explore by bike.
When to Go
The best months are April, May, September and October.
Visas & Documents
No visa needed for US travelers.
Dangers
Travelling in Denmark presents no unusual dangers. Nevertheless, be careful with your belongings, particularly in busy places such as Copenhagen's Central Station. In cities, you'll need to quickly become accustomed to the busy cycle lanes between vehicle roads and the pedestrian pavement.
Time
One hour ahead GMT/UTC.
Business Hours
Office hours are generally 9 am to 4 pm weekdays. Most banks are open 9.30 am to 4 pm weekdays (to 6 pm Thursday). Stores are generally open to 5.30 pm weekdays and to 2 pm Saturday.
Public Holidays & Special Events
Many Danes go on holiday during the first three weeks of July. Public holidays observed in Denmark are: New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday (Thursday before Easter), Good Friday, Easter, Common Prayer Day (4th Friday after Easter), Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, 5 June (Constitution Day), 24 to 26 December.
The acclaimed 10-day Copenhagen Jazz Festival is held in early July, with outdoor concerts and numerous performances in clubs around the city. Roskilde has a grand Woodstock-style rock festival on the last weekend of June. There are folk festivals in Skagen near the end of June and in T0nder in late August. The 10-day Arhus Festival in early September features an array of music and multicultural events. For information on music festivals nationwide, contact Dansk Musik Informations Center (33 11 20 66), Grabrodre Torv 16, 1154 Copenhagen.
Emergency
The one and only emergency number is 112.
Foreign Embassies
All of them are in Copenhagen:
Canada (33 48 32 00), Kristen, Bernikows Gade 1
UK (35 44 52 00), Kastelsvej 40
USA (35 55 31 44), Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24
|
|
|
