Overview

Denmark is one of the Scandinavian countries, bordered by Germany, Sweden and Norway. It’s the smallest of the Nordic countries with an estimated population of around 5,78 mio.

Denmark together with two autonomous constituent countries – the Faroe Islands and Greenland – constitute the Realm of Denmark.

Trips to Denmark:

Copenhagen & Faroe Islands

Copenhagen & Dragsholm

Back in time, Denmark, Sweden and Norway were ruled together by a single sovereign ruler and were called the Kalmar Union. After the Swedish secession in 1523, Denmark and Norway remained united under the same monarch until 1814, when Norway was ceded to the King of Sweden. 

The country covers an area of 43,094 square kilometres and it consists of 443 islands, of which only 74 are inhabited.

Denmark’s northernmost point is the city Skagen, where at the top of it people can marvel at the two seas – the Baltic Sea and the North Sea – that meet.

A fun fact is that you are always around 50km from the sea from any given point in Denmark.

Danes are extremely attached to their flag, which was first acknowledged already in 1219 and has its own name – “Dannebrog”. To this day the Danish flag remains the oldest state flag in the world that is still in use by the nation.

Denmark is considered to be one of the most socially and economically developed countries. There is a high level of income equality, good health-care, easy access to education and more, which results in the fact that the country ranks as one of the happiest in the world almost every year. 

Cycling is an extremely important part of the Danish lifestyle. More than 50% of people in Copenhagen cycle to and from work every day, all year long. Biking in Denmark is a very safe and popular way to travel. There is more than 12.000 km of tracks and lanes for bicycles throughout the country.

Denmark is also home to the two oldest amusement parks in the world. When you visit you have a choice between the lovely Bakken just 30 min outside of Copenhagen and Tivoli Gardens situated in the heart of the city, both full of activities and rides to enjoy. In Billund, you will also find the world-famous Legoland. 

Entry Requirements

Denmark is a member of the EU. Depending on where you are travelling from and your nationality, different rules may apply.

If you are travelling from any other Schengen EU country, you can travel freely to and from Denmark and you do not need to show your ID or passport, however, it is still recommended to take it with you. It may depend on your airline whether you are required to show your ID or not. 

Citizens of countries that are not members of the EU or Schengen agreement, may need a visa to enter Denmark. See here if you require a visa.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A and B and Tetanus immunizations are recommended for all travellers. We recommend this website for more information on vaccinations. We also advise consulting your general practitioner before you travel. 

You can also obtain some additional information from the CDC website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel 

Simply choose Denmark as your travel destination and read about any further requirements. 

Weather

Copenhagen – Average temperatures
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Min (°C) -1 -1 1 4 8 12 14 14 11 7 4 1
Max (°C) 3 4 6 11 16 19 22 22 18 13 8 4
Min (°F) 30 30 34 39 46 54 57 57 52 45 39 34
Max (°F) 37 39 43 52 61 66 72 72 64 55 46 39

Communication

Denmark – country code +45. There is a great connection in most places in Denmark. In most cafes and restaurants you can get free access to Wi-fi.

Electricity

Like the majority of the European countries, Denmark operates on the two-pole round-pin continental plugs. Electrical current is 230V (volts) and 50Hz (cycles) AC. (Sockets and power plugs have type E and K.)

Travel Advisories

When travelling to Denmark, follow the instructions of the local authorities. Travelling to Denmark is generally perceived to be safe, but you can always provide yourself with a photocopy of your ID and passport, just in case. Depending on your bank, you may also need to inform them of your travel, so they are aware that you may be using your card abroad.

Currency

Denmark has its own currency – Danish Krone – DKK. Most places in Denmark accept credit cards or mobile payments. If you prefer to withdraw cash, there are numerous ATMs in every city or possibility of bank withdrawal. 

However, if you prefer to pay by cash, it is advised to withdraw the money before travelling to Denmark in order to avoid bank fees.

Government

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy since 1849. The Danish monarchy is the oldest continuing monarchy in the world. Queen Margrethe II is the current head of state; however, her role is mostly ceremonial. The Prime Minister and the Parliament (called “Folketinget”) based in Copenhagen hold the real power in the country.

Religion

In Denmark, almost 75% of the population is registered as members of the Church of Denmark, the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Church is separated from the state. One can choose to pay a voluntary tax which helps to maintain church buildings and allows members to hold an event like a wedding or baptism, etc.  

Over 20% of the population is non-religious and over 2,5% are members of other religions. 

What is interesting and contrasting to other countries is that women constitute over 55% of the priests.

Ethnic Groups

Denmark has an estimated population of 5,78 mio. (which does not include Greenland or the Faroe Islands). Around 86,9% of the population is of Danish descent, which is understood as having at least one parent who was born in the country and has Danish citizenship. 

The remaining 13,1% comprises the immigrants of various descent or their children, which include such ethnicities like: Albanian, Arab, Bangladeshi, Bosniaks, Chilean, Chinese, Ethiopian, Indian, Inuit, Iranian, Jewish, Kurd, Lebanese, Pakistani (who are among the largest ethnic group from a non-western country), Poles, Somali, Sudanese, Thai, Turk and Vietnamese.

Languages

Danish is the official language in Denmark. English is obligatory and education starts already in primary schools, therefore many Danes speak English on a high level, and it is considered their second language. There are also minorities that speak their languages, mostly German (in the south of Denmark in the Jutland region), Faroese and Greenlandic.

Economy

Denmark has a well-prospering economy, however its strongly dependent on foreign trade. 

An estimated 60% of the Danish land is used for agriculture and Denmark is a major international player when it comes to exporting goods like meat, fish and dairy. 

Danmark is also one of the countries where income inequality between men and women is among the lowest in the world. Also, the unemployment rate is relatively low in comparison to other European countries. Statistics from 2017 show that around 78,8% of all 15-64-year-old people were professionally active on the labour market.

As typical for Nordic models, Danish citizens pay high taxes, however, they obtain a lot of high-level services and benefits in exchange, e.g. health-care, child benefits, free education and scholarships for students both from Denmark and international.

When it comes to energy consumption, Denmark has a goal to be fully independent of fossil fuels by 2050. Throughout the years the country has established itself as a leader in e.g. wind energy. Over 30% of all energy consumption in the country comes from renewable sources. 

Climate

Denmark is situated in the middle of several seas and therefore its climate is mild and temperate. The weather is very changeable. Due to the country’s flatness, the differences in weather between various regions and areas are not great. The western parts and smaller islands experience however more wind than the mainland.  

The coldest month is February with an average temperature of 0°C and the warmest is July with an average temperature of 17°C. 

The last couple of years there has been a record of warmer summers, with the temperatures reaching even as high as 30°C or over, however that kind of weather usually lasts only for 2 or three days.

There is a lot of clouds, wind, and humidity all year round. Rain falls throughout the year with the highest precipitation between the months of August and November.