Polski
For most people, the vacation season is associated with sand, sun and heavenly beaches. According to the survey, almost half of Poles choose Greece, Spain and Italy. However, among other European countries, there are some that also hide plenty of attractions, and not only in summer! One of them is Denmark – the smallest of the Nordic countries.
Table of Contents:
- Weather in Denmark
- Renewable energy sources
- Unusual bridge over the Sound
- Traditional Danish cuisine
- Copenhagen – an extraordinary capital
- Bike tours
- Canal cruise not only in Venice
- Nightlife
- Christiania – the capital of street art and cannabis
- By camper van in Denmark
- Denmark – the kingdom of LEGO
- Legoland Billund amusement park
- Vacations in Scandinavia
Weather in Denmark
Many people associate Scandinavia with darkness and cold. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially in the case of Denmark. This small country is located in Northern Europe between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. As a result, there is a typical maritime climate. Winter in Norway tends to be short and wet, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. Summers are also rather mild, so look in vain there for the heat that prevails in southern Europe.
Denmark is an ideal destination to visit in winter if you want to escape the cold and in summer if you are not a fan of high temperatures.
Renewable energy sources
As the country lies between the seas, it is quite windy there. This definitely promotes the construction of renewable energy sources. Denmark obtains most of its energy – more than 70% – from there. Wind turbines are the most popular, and giant windmills can be found there at every turn. Probably no European country can boast of their numbers like the Danes.
Unusual bridge over the Sound
However, windmills in Denmark can be found not only on land. Wind turbines are also located on the water, which can be seen especially when driving over the famous Øresundsbron, an almost 8-kilometer long bridge over the Sound. Although the trip is not the cheapest, as you have to pay almost 500 zloty one way for a passenger car, it is nevertheless worth it. It is also worth knowing that we need to check the weather forecast beforehand. During storms, the bridge is closed because the road over it is unsafe.
Also read: Trips to Norway – what is worth seeing?
It is also interesting to know that it is the second longest bridge connecting two countries, in this case Denmark and Sweden. The first idea to build a bridge appeared as early as the 1930s. It was built in the 1970s, but it was not started until 1995 and completed four years later.
Traditional Danish cuisine
For lovers of culinary conquests, unfortunately, we do not have good news. Danes, like Norwegians, do not spend long hours in the kitchen. This means that the dishes are rather simple to make and do not surprise with anything special. What’s more, we can find a lot of similarities in Danish cuisine to Polish cuisine, as one of the favorite dishes of the Danes is minced cutlets! Served with boiled potatoes and pickled cucumbers or beets, they are a guest on every Danish table.
In addition, Danes love cold snacks in the form of sandwiches on dark bread called smørrebrød, which literally means “greased bread.” The sandwiches are served with a variety of toppings: fish, beef, grilled chicken and vegetables. Such sandwiches can be bought literally everywhere, even in elegant restaurants. It is worth noting that they should be eaten with a knife and fork.
Copenhagen – an extraordinary capital
One of the highlights of being in Denmark is Copenhagen. It is not only the country’s capital, but also its largest city. It is so beautiful and diverse that a weekend may be far too short to explore its charms.
By far the most representative and best-known place is Nyhavn, a street and canal in the heart of Copenhagen. All the buildings are painted in different colors, and as a result, it is not difficult to miss it. Moreover, some of them have not changed their appearance since the 19th century. In addition to specific colorful houses, there is also a marina.
Copenhagen is also home to numerous castles and palaces, including the Amalienborg Royal Palace. It is the official residence of the Danish monarchy. It consists of four parts, which surround a monument to Frederick V. Above the whole rises the beautiful, baroque-eclectic Marble Church (a.k.a. Frederick Church). Scandinavian palaces definitely differ from those built, for example, in the UK in that they are much more modest, and tourists can enter the palace squares without any problem.
Bike tours
Due to the fact that Copenhagen has a whole lot of sights and places worth seeing, you can consider visiting it in two ways. The first of these is the bicycle. Contrary to popular belief, it is not Amsterdam that is the bicycle capital of Europe. There are many more cyclists in Copenhagen! There are also thousands of bike lanes, and most of them are wide on both sides of the street. Even in the inner city, where the city is full of tourists, you can easily ride a bicycle.
Canal cruise not only in Venice
Another option is a canal cruise. Copenhagen, like the aforementioned Amsterdam or Italy’s Venice, has a whole network of canals encircling the city. You can take a guided water streetcar or a smaller, intimate boat, on which Danes often have picnics.
You can also opt for a cruise when organizing, for example, a bachelorette party. Typical boats prepared for events are really there. This includes those signed with the famous Aperol Spritz.
Nightlife
Denmark’s capital is also famous for its busy nightlife. These include numerous exclusive clubs where DJs from around the world play, small jazz clubs and atmospheric pubs. The night market – Reffen located opposite the famous Little Mermaid – is also bustling with life. Here you can find dishes from around the world and listen to live music.
Another place with a similar vibe is Broens Gadekøkken. Here you’ll also find a variety of cuisine, topped off with kraft beer and delicious drinks. Everyone eats at large tables set in the middle, from where you can admire the constantly passing boats.
Christiania – the capital of street art and marijuana
The heart of Copenhagen also hides an unusual neighborhood – Christiania. It was established in the 1970s. On the site of the old military barracks. Initially, it was to be a place where hippies would live, creating a kind of utopia. As a result, the Danish government has given it the status of an independent community, which has established its own laws (including a ban on running, driving or taking pictures). In practice, the site has also become a lure for criminals and drug addicts. Nowadays, you can easily buy marijuana there in roadside stalls or use the services of prostitutes standing on almost every corner.
But Christiania is not just a black market, it is also Denmark’s street art capital. On almost every building there we can admire colorful works of street art. This is a peculiar and unusual outdoor gallery. The residents of Christiania have painted virtually every possible space in this part of the city: buildings, fences and even old sculptures. That’s why it’s worth taking a walk there.
By camper van in Denmark
But Copenhagen is not the only city worth noting in this small country. In order to have a chance to see it in its entirety in a relatively short period of time, it is worth considering an RV trip. Note, however, that Denmark is the only Scandinavian country that prohibits sleeping in the wild. Thus, the camper can only be parked in specially designated areas. Fortunately, there are quite a few of them, and popular phone apps, such as the following, can help us find them. Park4Night.
Denmark – the kingdom of LEGO
When writing about Denmark, it is also essential to remember that it is the kingdom of LEGO bricks. The company was founded by a Dane, Ole Kirk Christiansen, in 1932. The small plastic bricks resembling bricks quickly won the hearts not only of Danes, but also of people around the world. Over the years, they have changed their appearance slightly and to this day remain one of the most desired toys by children… and adults. Currently, LEGO offers more than just the usual sets of bricks for building cities or spaceships. There we can find three-dimensional images of Marilyn Monroe and artificial flowers. Their prices range from tens to hundreds of zlotys.
Legoland Billund amusement park
There was even a theme park – Legoland – created with LEGO fans in mind. It is located in Billund, a small city in southern Denmark. There is undoubtedly something for everyone at Legoland. There are entire miniature cities built with LEGO bricks, as well as famous monuments from around the world: the Roman Colosseum, the Taj Mahal and the Sydney Opera House. In addition, there are also numerous rollercoasters, carousels and mini ships. All, of course, built with blocks.
Legoland is so huge that it is worth spending a minimum of two days there to enjoy every attraction. A one-day ticket costs 399 Danish kroner, while an annual pass costs 629 kr. You can also buy a picnic basket or take advantage of the bars and restaurants on site. Be sure to also take a look at the souvenir store, where even mugs resembling those made of blocks await.
Vacations in Scandinavia
Denmark, although it doesn’t have high mountains or impressive fjords is also worth a look. When planning your next vacation, keep it in mind and go there, at least for a weekend, to fall in love with it at first sight and come back for more in the near future. And there really is something to come back to!
Also read: Trips to Norway – what is worth seeing?
