Travel guide – denmark
denmark
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Overview
Best known for its large dogs and Viking warriors, Denmark is a small, prosperous and highly functional kingdom in northern Europe that is often overlooked by travellers on their “grand tour”, although it has one of the highest standards of living in the world and plenty of charming experiences to offer visitors.
It is almost totally surrounded by water, consisting as it does of the Jutland Peninsula and 482 islands. Its only land border is with Germany. The country’s capital city, lovely and lively Copenhagen, occupies the biggest of the offshore islands. With all the water it is not surprising that Denmark is very reliant on shipping and fishing; the country also has an important agricultural sector, though, and is famed in particular for its dairy products. Lovers of butter and cheese will enjoy a taste of Denmark!
Denmark boasts small green farms, blue lakes and white coastal beaches, the rural areas sprinkled with thatched cottages, castles and windmills across a gentle landscape which lends itself well to cycle touring. The cities are modern and bustling, but an air of medieval charm has been preserved in old sections of colourful buildings and cobblestone streets. The country boasts 280 museums, most of the important ones in Copenhagen, including the Viking Ship Museum that is devoted to honouring Denmark’s bold ancient mariners.
Other special attractions include the annual summer music festival in Roskilde, which is one of the largest in Europe; the Tivoli Gardens amusement park which has entertained crowds in Copenhagen since 1843; and one of the world’s longest bridges, which spans 10 miles (16km), joining Denmark to Sweden.
The country is compact with an excellent road and rail transport system, and numerous ferry connections to the myriad offshore islands. It all adds up to a very civilised destination, as sweet and tempting as the rich, flaky pastry treats that the world has come to know as the ‘Danish’.
Regions and cities within Denmark...
Copenhagen
Climate
Denmark has a mild climate with no extremes of heat or cold. In the light summer months of June to August, the average daytime temperature is 66ºF (19ºC) and in the coldest month of February the average is 34ºF (1ºC). Being a coastal country Denmark can be rather wet and windy.
Health
There are no specific health risks in Denmark, and medical facilities are first class. There is a small risk of tick-borne encephalitis in forested or rural areas during summer, and insect protection is advised. Free emergency treatment is available to all foreign visitors at public hospitals, and due to a reciprocal health agreement UK passport holders receive free medical and hospital treatment. To make use of this service, UK national should carry a a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
The basics
Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. European-style, round, two-pin plugs are standard.
Language
Danish is the official language, but English is understood and widely used.
Tipping
Restaurant and hotel bills are inclusive of service charges, as are taxi fares.
Safety
Most visits to Denmark are trouble-free, and crime levels are low. During the tourist season, however, muggers, pickpockets and bag-snatchers become active especially in crowded areas and on the train station in Copenhagen. Visitors should take precautions to keep personal belongings safe.
Communications
The international country code for Denmark is +45. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). There are no city codes and all phones are eight digits. There are several GSM mobile telephone networks, which have roaming agreements with most international mobile phone companies. Public phones are widely available for both local and international calls and accept coins and prepaid cards. Internet cafes are available in most urban areas.
Duty Free
Travellers to Denmark over 16 years arriving from the EU do not have to pay customs duty on 800 cigarettes, or 400 cigarillos, or 200 cigars, or 1kg of tobacco; 10 litres of spirits with alcohol content exceeding 22%, or 20 litres of alcoholic beverages with alcohol content less than 22%, or 90 litres wine or 60 litres of sparkling wine, or 110 litres of beer. Travellers arriving from non-EU countries can enter with the following items for duty-free purposes: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco; 1 litre of spirits with alcohol content above 22%, or 2 litres of dessert wine not exceeding 22% alcohol volume, or 2 litres of table wine; and 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette. Other items up to the value of DKr1,350 are permitted provided they are for non-commercial use. Fresh food items are strictly prohibited. Drugs have to accompany a doctor's prescription and firearms and ammunition will only be cleared if accompanied by an authorization from the relevant authorities in the traveller's home country.
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