Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we travel to Denmark! As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about Denmark travel.
Hate #1: Danish Ambivalence
The Danes are very content with themselves and their lives, and they’re also very private. You’ll notice they don’t make eye contact, there’s no small talk and no small pleasantries, like please and thank you. They won’t ask how your day is because they don’t want you to ask them! As a tourist, you’ll notice how quiet the streets are, and nobody talks on public transportation. Where this becomes the most obvious is in the service. You are not the priority of the server and service is really slow and ambivalent.
Hate #2: Denmark is Expensive
What makes poor service even worse is the amount you are paying for it. Like the rest of Scandinavia, Denmark is very expensive. If you want to go out for a beer in Copenhagen, plan to spend around $8. Compare that to Portugal, where one beer might cost $1.50. When you go out to eat in Denmark, a meal will cost around $20-25. There are ways to save money and some of the museums and walking tours are free. Do what the Danes do: grab a beer at 7-11 and enjoy it in a park.
Read: How to Cut Costs While Traveling
Hate #3: Danish Cuisine
The food in Denmark is not spectacular. A lot of restaurants advertise “new Scandinavian cuisine.” That’s because “Old Scandinavian” cuisine is horrible. There are some cool restaurants in Denmark and the Danes have done a great job with international cuisine, but it’s not really a foodie destination. There are a few things you have to try, though. Hot dogs, herring and open-faced sandwiches are all typical Danish food that everyone will tell you to have.
Hate #4: Denmark Weather in Winter
It doesn’t get super cold in Denmark in winter, but it’s gray and rainy and sometimes snowy. The winter lasts a really long time in Denmark so it gets frustrating if you are traveling around. It’s also very dark in Winter so don’t expect sunny days. On the other hand, the summer in Denmark is amazing.
Read: The Best & Worst of European Winter Travel
Hate #5: Danish Shop Hours
Shops in Denmark close at 5:00 or 6:00 during the week and even earlier on Saturday. Most stores are closed on Sundays. So you really have to plan your shopping and make sure you get to the stores when they are open.
Love #1: Outdoor Activities
Regardless of the weather, Denmark is made for outdoor activities. There are bike paths throughout the country, beaches, hiking, beer gardens, and outdoor Christmas markets. Even in the winter, you’ll find a lot of Danes outdoors. There’s a lot of natural beauty to appreciate in Denmark.
Love #2: Safety in Denmark
Denmark is very safe. People just hang up their coats at a bar or museum, you’ll see bikes lying around, some locked up, some not. Denmark is so safe, they leave their babies in strollers outside the restaurant while they go inside to eat! As a traveler, it’s so nice not to be on high alert all the time, checking my wallet and pockets. Of course, you should take the usual precautions you would in any city, but in general, it’s very safe in Denmark.
Love #3: Language in Denmark
It’s unlikely that you’ll know or learn much Danish before your Denmark vacation, but the Danes speak excellent English, so you don’t have to worry about any language barriers. Chances are if you hear someone speaking English with an accent, they aren’t Danish.
Love #4: Family-friendly and Bike-friendly
We already mentioned the outdoor activities, but Denmark is super bike-friendly and family-friendly. Legos are from Denmark so there is a Legoland and there are Lego stores all over. The museums are kid-friendly, as are the beaches. There are tons of bike lanes all over Denmark, but as a tourist, you really have to watch out for the bikes and follow the traffic signals.
Love #5: Architecture and Design
Sure, there are cool historic buildings and castles, but Danish modern design is really cool, too. The Copenhagen Opera House is a good example of modern design in Denmark. So just walking around and admiring the architecture is a fun, free thing to do in Denmark.
Denmark is a great country once you get over the prices and it’s really easy for new travelers to navigate because it’s so safe and everyone speaks English. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Denmark. Want to know more about traveling to Denmark? Check out some of our other blog posts: