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The wonder, historical past, and uniqueness about Denmark, mixed with having a number of the happiest individuals on Earth, is what makes it such a outstanding place to go to.
From Vikings to royalty, Lego to folklore and legends, and beer to bikes, there are such a lot of distinctive issues to do in Denmark that provide you with a really immersive look into Danish tradition.
In all of my years travelling, I’ve discovered Denmark to be one of many best locations in Northern Europe to journey in.
Most Danes communicate English, they’re usually very useful, they don’t drive like lunatics, and it’s comparatively secure and straightforward to get round.
Listed here are a number of the most original issues you are able to do within the nation to get essentially the most out of your journey.
High tip: Discover the cities and the countryside just like the locals and rent a motorbike. With hundreds of kilometres of cycle lanes all through Denmark, you’re positive to see some wonderful websites. One factor to be careful for is that bicycles and vehicles have totally different site visitors lights, so be sure you take a look at the smaller lights when driving. Check out the street guidelines and driving etiquette earlier than you pedal off.
1. Go to Tivoli Gardens
No journey to Denmark is full with out a go to to Tivoli Gardens within the coronary heart of Copenhagen. I’m not speaking about spending the day admiring the flowers (though they’re very beautiful).
This magical amusement park has one thing for everybody with each nostalgic and trendy rides, music live shows, theatre, eating, lovely buildings, and gardens.
Working since 1843, this can be a conventional theme park, so that you gained’t see the extent of commercialization you discover within the extra trendy theme parks, however you’ll have simply as a lot enjoyable.
Even Walt Disney liked Tivoli! Do you know that his go to to Tivoli is partly the place he gained the inspiration to create Disneyland?
2. Expertise the Altering of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace
You’ll be stunned how shut you possibly can stand to see the altering of the Royal Guards at Amalienborg Palace, the primary residence of Queen Margrethe and the Royal Household in Copenhagen.
Each day the guards march by means of the streets of Copenhagen from their barracks close to Rosenborg Fortress to Amalienborg.
The most effective place to see the altering of the guards is at Amalienborg when the guards arrive at round 12 midday day-after-day.
3. {Photograph} the colourful Nyhavn Port
Some of the photographed locations in Copenhagen must be Nyhavn, the outdated business port, which was remodeled into brightly colored buildings housing eating places and bars.
Take your time and go for a wander alongside the canal earlier than stopping for a drink or perhaps a meal in case your finances will stretch that far, and absorb the ambiance.
Nyhavn is inside straightforward strolling distance of Amalienborg Palace and is a good place to cease in after the altering of the guard.
For a novel expertise, why not attempt bungee leaping in Nyhavn Harbor? In 2009, Bungy Leap Copenhagen opened a 226-foot bounce over the harbour from a crane. Now that’s one approach to see the town from a unique perspective!
4. Discover the canals of Copenhagen
Copenhagen, like a lot of Denmark, is surrounded by water. So exploring the canals and harbour is a good way to get to know the town from a unique perspective. Even higher is there are many choices for the way to do it.
Nearly all of guests take a canal tour by means of certainly one of round 4 corporations you’ll discover across the metropolis. We used our Copenhagen Card that we’d purchased for entry to sights that additionally gave us a free canal experience.
However the choices don’t cease there. You’ll be able to take a personal tour on a Danish crusing boat, rent an electrical or solar-powered boat to discover by yourself, or if you happen to’re feeling energetic you possibly can rent a kayak and go it alone or in a tour group.
Maintain an eye fixed out for the Little Mermaid statue. You’ll be stunned how small and underwhelming it appears in actual life.
5. See the Crown Jewels at Rosenborg Fortress
For lovers of all issues royal, head to Rosenborg Fortress the place you possibly can see the tightly guarded Crown Jewels of the Danish Kings and Queens.
With royal artworks and regalia going again 400 years, there’s loads to maintain you occupied for a few hours.
6. Benefit from the Grandeur of Frederiksborg Fortress, Hillerød
Frederiksborg Fortress is my favorite fortress in Denmark and with good purpose.
The grandeur and the great thing about the fortress and its gardens aren’t simply matched. The biggest Renaissance fortress within the Nordic area, Frederiksborg was constructed to amplify Christian IV’s standing as a robust monarch in Europe. He achieved that in my eyes.
The fortress now homes the Danish Museum of Nationwide Historical past, displaying 500 years of Danish historical past with its assortment of artwork, furnishings and portraits.
Frederiksborg Fortress takes care of its smallest guests with a devoted exercise room for youngsters the place they will recreate historical past sporting costumes and armour, design a coat of arms, write with ink and quill, and fill in exercise books about kings and queens.
7. Go Underground at Kronborg Fortress, Helsingør
With spooky underground passages, magnificent ballrooms and engaging historical past, the Royal fortress of Kronborg at Helsingør, also called Elsinore, is sort of a place out of fairy tales.
World-famous because the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Kronborg is a real fortress with a tower to climb, moat, cannons, and reenactments of Hamlet all through, making it a lot enjoyable to go to.
Additionally to like was a go to to the casements. Wandering across the severely darkish and gloomy underground passages with a torch, you bought to see the place 1,000 troopers would barricade themselves in throughout warfare, for weeks at a time, with their horses and provisions.
In these underground passages, additionally, you will discover the Danish legend Holger Danske asleep, as he has been for a whole lot of years. Legend has it, he’ll get up the day Denmark is attacked by enemies.
8. Study on the Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde
Head to the gorgeous city of Roskilde (well-known for the Roskilde Competition) and spend just a few hours on the Viking Ship Museum. Right here you’ll witness 5 authentic Viking ships and picture what voyages they’ve been on.
The spotlight for individuals who go to within the hotter months is crusing out on Roskilde Fjord on a Viking ship. Sadly when it got here time for us to set sail, our quick voyage was known as off attributable to an incoming storm. Perhaps subsequent time.
Head over to the boatyard to look at the boat builders in motion constructing full-scale reconstructions of the prehistoric boats utilizing conventional strategies.
When you’re there, have a go at some Viking crafts. My two boys hand-painted wood swords to carry residence, whereas their cousins made necklaces.
There was additionally loads of different actions to get pleasure from together with dressing up as Vikings and out of doors video games.
9. Play at Legoland Denmark
One of many issues Denmark is most well-known for is Lego, so in case you have a Lego lover in your loved ones, then spending a day or two on the authentic Legoland theme park is a should.
My favorite place at Legoland from after I was a baby, and extra not too long ago after I took my youngsters there, is the SEAT Site visitors College the place youngsters study to drive Lego vehicles and even get their drivers license. I like to recommend if you wish to do it that you just head there at first of your go to to e-book in a time. It’s in style.
With round 60 million Lego bricks all through the theme park, you’ll be in awe on the creations of mini-cities, well-known buildings, and a few favorite characters from the likes of Star Wars and Ninjago.
With over 50 rides, there’s one thing for all ages, from Xtreme racers and rollercoasters, to Duplo planes and Lego prepare rides. It’s one of many high issues to do in Denmark with youngsters.
Legoland is within the small city of Billund, just below three hours drive, or a brief flight west of Copenhagen. When you’re there, drop in and go to the comparatively new Lego Home which has an entire lot of indoor enjoyable and actions.
10. Recognize the pure great thing about Møns Klint
Some of the shocking and spectacular pure wonders in Denmark is the 70 million-year-old chalk cliffs of Møns Klint.
Take a stroll down the sturdy stairs to the seashore 128 metres beneath, the place you possibly can seek for fossils and take within the awe-inspiring sight of six kilometres of chalk cliffs on the sting of the Baltic Sea.
The surroundings isn’t the one factor that’ll take your breath away – keep in mind you’ll nonetheless should stroll again to the highest of the cliffs.
There’s a lot extra to Møns Klint than the cliffs. Be sure you depart time to go to the GeoCenter Møns Klint which is true to its declare – Denmark’s cool science centre.
Uncover dinosaurs that roamed the realm, study ice glaciers, meteor showers, super-volcanoes and the creation of the panorama.
There’s additionally loads of each indoor and out of doors actions together with a kid-friendly 3-D cinema, indoor climbing cave, tree climbing, snorkelling and crusing.
Møns Klint is greatest reached by automobile and being lower than two hours from Copenhagen, you may go to the realm on a day journey, or keep in a single day.
11. Return in time on the Middelalder Centret (Medieval Centre)
The islands of Lolland-Falster, one hour south of Copenhagen in Nykøbing Falster has a lot to supply guests to Denmark and certainly one of my favorite sights was the Middelalder Centret (Medieval Centre).
This dwelling museum reveals households reenacting life in medieval instances, together with cooking, caring for animals and dealing.
It’s stuffed with distinctive hands-on experiences from making ready to fireside the trebuchet, mock coaching for sword fights and archery, and you may even watch the knights battle it out in a jousting competitors.
12. Drive The Øresund Bridge (Øresundsbron)
Connecting Copenhagen to Malmo in Sweden is the Øresund Bridge.
It opened within the yr 2,000 and is 7,845 meters lengthy, has a cable-stayed design and features a railway and motorway.
It’s the second longest bridge in Europe that mixes a railway and street.
13. Go to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense
Hans Christian Andersen is likely one of the most well-known literary names from Denmark, well-known for writing the Little Mermaid, in addition to different tales such because the Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Garments, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Princess and the Pea and Thumbelina (to call however just a few).
Youngsters all around the world grew as much as tales by this beloved creator, and you may study his life and legacy on the museum set in a sequence of houses in Odense.
The museum accommodates paintings by worldwide artists, a fascinating home and backyard, and a Journey Land the place younger youngsters can study and play by means of costumes and props.
14. See the mind-boggling trendy artwork at ARoS Aarhus Artwork Museum
ARoS Aarhus Artwork Museum is the oldest public artwork museum in Denmark not in Copenhagen, and opened its doorways in 1859. It options world-class artwork installations and displays, with 10 flooring of exhibition rooms to discover.
Most individuals come right here for the “Rainbow Panorama” which is a walkway on the high of the constructing, panning for 150 metres round in a circle, however with colourful glass – permitting you to get a full 360 diploma panoramic view of the town, however by means of a colourful lens.
15. See the starling spectacle at Southwestern Jutland
Jutland is the peninsula that accommodates many of the areas of Denmark. Within the Southwestern area, yearly in September and October, a pure spectacle takes place.
That is known as “The Black Solar” and it’s when a whole lot of starlings flock collectively over the marshlands in and create a form of dance collectively within the sky.
This takes place round sundown, and occurs simply earlier than they migrate from their summer time breeding grounds in Scandinavia to southern Europe.
The most effective locations to see it’s in both the marshland close to Tønder and Ribe, or within the Wadden Sea Nationwide Park.
16. Go to the northernmost level of Skagen
Not many individuals enterprise to the northern fringes of Denmark to Skagen, which is precisely why it is best to! Go the place different vacationers don’t go, and witness the facility of this quirky city on the shores of the North Sea.
A few of the high websites are the Skagens Museum, which options work by Skagen Painters. This space has been identified to encourage artists for many years.
It additionally has some close by nature websites for wild and rugged seashore experiences. Go kiteboarding or dune exploring at Grenen Seaside, or hike the sand dunes of close by Råbjerg Mile.
17. Eat like a Dane
Whereas visiting Denmark, make sure to pattern as many native dishes as potential. The Danes are famend for his or her meals, with eating places reminiscent of Noma celebrated world wide.
High of the checklist of meals to attempt is Smørrebrød, scrumptious open sandwiches made usually on rye bread and topped with issues like chilly meat, fish, and cheese. However don’t assume you possibly can simply throw any outdated factor on there. There’s custom behind these sandwiches which must be adhered to.
Subsequent to attempt is Frikadeller, that are like meatballs however they’re so a lot better. Cooked in butter to make them even tastier, they’re usually served with potato, brown sauce/gravy and greens.
In case you’re after a hotdog, my choose is from Den Økologiske Pølsemand (DØP) that are made with sourdough bread, natural components and actual tasting sausages.
In case you’re on the lookout for one thing candy then look out for sensational Danish ice-cream, Danish pastries, and if you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to be there earlier than Christmas, attempt Aebleskiver. Much like a pancake, aebleskiver are historically served with jam and a sprinkling of icing sugar.
Earlier than You Go
Whether or not you’re trying to spend just a few days having fun with all of the enjoyable issues to do in Copenhagen, otherwise you’ve acquired per week or two to discover the castles, waterways, meals, and enjoyable of Denmark, I hope this has given you an awesome start line that can assist you plan your itinerary.
Earlier than you go, I’ve one remaining tip. Denmark is under no circumstances an inexpensive nation to go to, however you possibly can nonetheless do it on a finances if you happen to journey outdoors of peak instances, keep outdoors the town centres, and luxuriate in consuming within the markets and parks reasonably than eating places.
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