Vacation time is a search for new places where you can have a little distraction and spend your vacation with benefits. Would you like to visit the smallest country in Scandinavia? Get acquainted with its culture, admire the picturesque scenery and spend time on the sandy beaches? We have found as many as 15 reasons why you should travel to Denmark right now. Where is Denmark? The Kingdom of Denmark is a country that can really surprise and captivate tourists, thanks to its magnificent geographical location. Most of the state is located on the Jutland peninsula, and the rest is located on more than 400 islands, 76 of which are uninhabited. Where is Denmark on the map? Denmark occupies a very small area on the world map. For comparison, the Kingdom is almost 15 times smaller than Great Britain, and the territory of Russia could accommodate 397 such states! Travelers should pay attention to historical cities, which perfectly fit the elements of modernity.
1. Copenhagen - the capital of Denmark
The most popular tourist destination in Denmark is considered to be the capital of the state — Copenhagen, one of the oldest cities in Europe. The city's historic architecture, museums and romantic atmosphere, especially at Christmas, make Copenhagen the best place to visit in Denmark.
The origins of the town date back to 1000, when a small fishing village was founded in its place. After 200 years, it received the status of a city, and in 1536 Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark.
Model and actress Helena Christensen, philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and world-famous director Lars von Trier were born here. Hans Christian Andersen worked and lived here. Today, Copenhagen is a modern European capital and a great tourist city-a source of inspiration for many megacities.
Among the historical monuments worth seeing are stone palaces and castles: "Royal Amalienborg", "Bernstorff", "Charlottenborg", "Chrlottenlund", etc. A mandatory point to visit Copenhagen is the island "Slotsholmen" in the heart of the city, or as it is also called "Castle Island" — currently the political center of the state. The nearby Christiansborg Fortress is the seat of the Danish Parliament, Prime Minister and Supreme Court. Here are the executive rooms of the ruling family.
On the routes and streets of the city you can find: the stock Exchange, the courtyards of medieval buildings, the town hall with a tower, clock and observation deck, the Royal Library, the building of the "New Royal Opera", the University of Copenhagen, the famous "Little Mermaid" (sculpture on stone), the fountain "Gefion", the planetarium and other iconic structures.
According to Wallpaper magazine's ratings, Copenhagen is annually recognized as one of the best cities in the world in terms of the level and quality of life. The capital of Denmark is perfectly equipped and has a developed modern infrastructure, especially for all kinds of plantings and "green" technologies. Every year, about 1,000 new residents and millions of tourists come to the city.
The maritime climate of the city is characterized by high humidity and frequent rains. Summers are cool and winters are mild.
2. The Little Mermaid is a symbol of Copenhagen
The statue of the" Little Mermaid "("Den Lille Havfrue") is one of the best places to visit in Denmark. The monument depicts the novel's main character by Hans Christian Andersen-half woman, half fish, sitting on a stone in the capital's port. Her gaze is directed a little into the distance, the little mermaid is clearly languishing in anticipation… The history of the monument goes back to the very beginning of the 20th century. A certain Karl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of the brewery "Carlsberg", was so delighted with the ballet of the same name that he promised himself to recreate the fairy tale's main character in the form of a sculpture. Sometime later, in August 1923, the monument was opened and became quickly recognizable not only in Denmark. The huge popularity of "The Little Mermaid" led to the creation of copies of it around the world. The most famous are: - The city of Solvang, California, USA; - Osaka City, Honshu Archipelago, Japan; - In Piatra Neamt, Eastern Romania.
3. The Oresund Bridge
The idea of building a bridge between Sweden and Denmark was discussed as early as the 1800s, but it wasn't until the end of the 20th century that decisions were finally made that came to fruition in the new millennium. In 2000, after five years of construction, the bridge over the Oresund Strait was put into operation, connecting Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo. The cost of construction cost about an unimaginable 20 billion Swedish kronor. According to many sources, the Oresund Bridge — the longest bridge in the world. Its length over the water is almost 8 kilometers, after which it smoothly passes into an underground tunnel with a length of another 4 kilometers, and ends with an artificial island "Peberholm". The Oresund Bridge is one of the most impressive architectural structures on the planet. This is a combined railway and road bridge, which is crossed daily by tens of thousands of people and more than 20,000 units of road transport. The sights of Denmark and Sweden can not be imagined without this grandiose structure, which has become truly legendary!
4. Cyclists in Denmark
In the 1990s, Copenhagen made a real cycling revolution. The city prefers cyclists, due to the developed infrastructure and the short distance between important points of the capital of Denmark. For 2/3 of Danes, a bicycle is the main means of transportation. Mothers with children, tourists and travelers, girls in high heels, teenagers and men of different age categories-all of them "slide" in a column of two-wheeled vehicles, along the cobbled streets of the city. Even if it's very cold here, it doesn't bother many people. A bicycle is not only a useful and cheap option but also a real pleasure and entertainment. The lack of excess cars causes the feeling of blissful peace in Copenhagen. No one stands in traffic for hours and breathes a cloud of exhaust fumes. Denmark impresses with its politics and cares for its residents.
5. The House of Hans Christian Andersen
We could not avoid this iconic place to visit in Denmark - Denmark's sights without the house of the great storyteller, just like Copenhagen without the "Little Mermaid"! The house-museum has found its place in the small town of Odense, which is secretly called the "Literary City". This is the small homeland of the most famous Dane in the world, and a walk through the cobbled streets of his childhood, perfectly preserved today, is a real step in time. Hans Christian Andersen was born in a tiny yellow house in 1805. Now this small building has turned into a museum that attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world. The creative heritage of the author has not squandered popularity since the times, and many visit Denmark The house-museum does not have a fixed schedule, the work schedule is constantly changing, especially during important holidays, such as Christmas. Therefore, before the trip, you should definitely find out the reception days of the museum. The easiest way to do this is on the official website hcandersensodense.dk. Besides, you will find a lot of additional and useful information there.
6. The Danes are the happiest nation in the world
In Denmark, it rains 171 days a year, and the average summer temperature is 17 degrees. However, the Danes are considered the happiest nation in the world. How do they do it? They have a "Hygge"! A strange word that cannot be translated literally, "Hugge" is more a state of mind of the people than any scientific term with a clear definition. Recently, the British magazine "The Economist" reported that being born in Scandinavia is like winning a lottery ticket: "The secret of Danish happiness lies in their small demands. The local population is satisfied with what they get. At the same time, the Danes do not have high hopes in the future and are humble about everything that happens to them. Comfort, comfort and safety are the main values of the Danish nation." Progress is finally no longer measured by the development of the country's GDP. Today, the level of happiness of the residents of their state is important. Therefore, since 2011, the UN annually publishes a list of the happiest countries in the world. And every year in this list is leading... that's right, the Kingdom of Denmark. So if you want to spend some time among the happiest people on the planet, the friendly Danish nation is always happy to welcome new guests to the Kingdom — this is another reason to travel to Denmark right now!
7. Danish national cuisine
Danish cuisine is very simple and considered rustic. It has its roots in the national peasant dishes that were prepared throughout the country before the Industrial Revolution of 1860. Most Danes lived off seafood and what they could grow on the land: rye bread, porridge, root vegetables, and canned fish or meat during the harsh winter months. In Denmark, food culture began to develop as meat production increased and the wood-burning stove was introduced in the late 17th century. It is generally believed that many traditional Danish products originated from this time. Let's talk about any particular national dish of Denmark, which is adored throughout the country. It is of course "Stegt flæsk med persillesauce" - fried pieces of pork belly, with boiled potatoes and bechamel sauce from parsley. You can also note: "Fleskesteg" is a version of the same fried pork, only it is usually consumed during Christmas dinner, and it is served with red cabbage instead of sauce. "Smerrebrod" — a large piece of buttered bread, littered with such goodies as fried fish, potatoes or leverpost - a kind of liver pate. Danes love fried, spicy and high-calorie food. Perhaps the diet is not the most useful, but the dishes are easy to prepare and very tasty. Be sure to try it!
8. Denmark-country of beer
Do you like beer? The Danes just love it! The kingdom is known all over the world for its brewing traditions and national varieties of foamy drinks. Of course, everyone knows "Carlsberg" or "Tuborg" well, but Denmark also has a huge number of small breweries, the number of which today has exceeded two hundred. The history of the foamy drink in the Kingdom is at least 5,000 years old and therefore is closely related to Danish culture and traditions. Even the Vikings at one time were crazy about beer — they used it daily, considering it more useful than water. Brewing in Denmark continues to flourish today, and the average Dane drinks about 80 liters of beer a year. In no other country in the world will you find such a wide range of quality beer, given the size of the country and population density. Wherever you are in Denmark, the nearest brewery is always less than 30 km away.
9. Tivoli Park
"Tivoli" is a famous amusement park and garden in the center of Copenhagen. It was founded in 1843 and has become a national treasure and an international landmark. Fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen has been to the park many times, as has Walt Disney, who even found his inspiration here to build "Disneyland" in America. The music program in "Tivoli" offers exciting programs, regardless of your age and genre preferences. In addition to major events such as "Friday Rock" and "Summer Classic", live music is played in the park every day. The gardens are often visited in the evening, when theater and concert halls open, and the sky is lit up with flashes of fireworks. More than 150 concerts are held annually, and the number of visitors reaches 4 million guests.
10. The amusement Park "Legoland Billung"
If you are planning to visit Denmark with your children, then "Legoland Billung", without a doubt, should be at the top of your list. This is one of the most famous and most visited family theme parks in Europe, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018. Every year, the park opens new attractions for children and adults. If you think that in Legoland you are waiting only for "LEGO" cubes (by the way, there are more than 65 million of them!), then you are mistaken. The entire park is divided into 10 themed areas with rides on the ground, water, and air. The complex of events also includes extreme attractions that will not leave indifferent older children and their parents. There are so many tourist attractions in the park that you can't physically see and try everything in a day. It is best to buy a ticket for two days, especially since it will be much cheaper. The cost of a one-day ticket starts at about 4,000 rubles.
11. Ribe is the oldest city in Denmark
Now, it's time to take a closer look at the most interesting cities in Denmark. Ribe is the second city in the Kingdom, after Copenhagen. It was first mentioned in 860, when Bishop Ansgar decided to build a church here, which was actually done. This date makes Ribe the oldest city in Denmark and one of the oldest in all of Northern Europe, not just in Scandinavia. Since the Middle Ages, the city has been actively developing and has become the most important commercial center of the country, the residence of bishops and kings. Despite the fires, floods, and epidemics, Ribe has perfectly preserved monuments of the Scandinavian Viking sailors' history and culture. Walking through the city, you can notice the cobbled narrow streets, half-timbered buildings, low colorful houses with wooden shutters and carved doors-all this creates a unique atmosphere, "imbued with the spirit" of antiquity. Be sure to visit Ribe — time has really stopped in this mysterious place!
12. City of Aarhus
The Danes call it "The City of Smiles". With a population of just over 300,000, Aarhus is considered the Jutland peninsula's main population center. Just like Ribe, Aarhus is a historic city. Its small size allows you to quickly explore the area — all the most important attractions are really within walking distance of each other. Among the iconic places can be noted: Famous harbor-pool. Designed for hundreds of tourists, it has become the largest harbor in the world with sea water; Summer house of the Queen of Denmark. Near it you can observe the daily changing of the guard at about noon; Attraction "Tivoli Friheden". If you hear crazy screams coming from the forest, don't worry — it's just "crazy" people jumping from one of the highest bungee jumps in the world; Also, you will find many museums, a botanical garden, a sandy coast and other amazing sights of Aarhus.
13. The Town of Klitmøller
It is often referred to as "Cold Hawaii". In Klitmøller the boats and ships sail on the raging sea side by side with surfers, who began to gather on the seafront in the early 1980s. Even 100 years ago, Klitmeller was a small fishing village. Still, the North Sea's cool waters and colorful landscapes did not go unnoticed — today the city can rightly be considered a "tourist paradise" for all lovers of water sports. We have already said that Denmark on the map got a great location, and the city of Klitmeller, no less beautifully found its place, but already in the Kingdom itself. Not far from the coast is the national Park "Ti", where you can go horse riding or mountain skiing. In addition, in Klitmøller there are a number of museums of art and culture of the Viking age.
14. The City Of Aalborg
Aalborg is another ancient settlement of the Kingdom, like many cities in Denmark. Over the past centuries, it was able to turn into an industrial and cultural center of the state. Aalborg is known for its theatres, symphonies, opera and other theatrical productions. It also hosts the largest carnival in Scandinavia, which is called "Aalborg Carnival". In the city you can find half-timbered mansions, the 16th-century castle "Olborghus" (former royal residence), the 14th-century cathedral "St. Budolf", built on the ruins of an old Viking church. It is also possible to allocate two famous ancient house: Jens Bang's house. 17th-century building in the "Dutch Renaissance" style»; The house of the mayor Jorgen Olufsen. A 17th-century sandstone structure. For more than 300 years, this building housed a pharmacy.
15. Castle Egeskov
Castle "Egeskov" on the island of FunenA fairy-tale castle on the water. He often appears on postcards and travel guides in Denmark. It is also the best preserved castle in the "Renaissance" style built on stilts. Around the fortress is a beautiful park and garden complex with labyrinths of shrubs, playgrounds for children and a museum of old cars and airplanes. You should visit the castle if you plan to visit Odense, Hans Christian Andersen's hometown, which we wrote about above. These two important sights of Denmark are located very close — you can "kill" two birds with one stone.
