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Travellers Essentials
Money Matters
The Danish currency is the krone, or crown (5.80 kroner equal
U.S. $1; 1996). The National Bank of Denmark (1818) is the
bank of issue and is the center of Danish finance, with head
offices in Copenhagen. In addition, several large commercial
banks have branches throughout the country. The country also
has nearly 460 saving bank branches.
When To Go
Considering its northern latitude, Denmark has a fairly mild
climate all year round. Still, the winter months - cold and
with short daylight hours - are certainly the least hospitable.
Correspondingly, many tourist destinations come alive in late
April, when the weather beings to warm up and the daylight
hours start to increase and by October they again become sleepers.
May and June can be delightful months to visit: the earth
is a rich green accented with fields of flowers, the weather
is comfortable and you'll beat the rush of tourists. While
autumn can be pleasant, it's not nearly as scenic because
the rural landscape has largely turned to brown and the air
quality suffers as many farmers burn crop waste in the fields.
High tourist season is July and August. There are open-air
concerts, lots of street activity and basking on the beach.
Other bonuses for travellers during midsummer are longer hours
at museums and other sightseeing attractions. The last half
of August can be a particularly attractive time to travel,
as it still has summer weather but far fewer crowds.
Getting There
The vast majority of overseas flights to Denmark arrive at
the Copenhagen International Airport. A few international
flights, mostly coming from other Scandinavian countries or
the UK, land at small regional airports in Εrhus, Aalborg,
Esbjerg and Billund. There are daily bus and rail services
between Germany and Denmark's Jutland peninsula.
It's also possible to arrive from Norway and Sweden by ferry.
Other boat options are the daily (high season) and weekly
(berg bashing) ferries running from Germany (Kiel and the
island of Sylt), Iceland (Seyρisfjφrρur), Norway (Oslo and
Larvik), Sweden (Helsingborg, Limhamm and Malmφ), Poland (Swinoujscie)
and the UK (Harwich and Newcastle). There are no departure
taxes when leaving Denmark.
Getting Around
Denmark has an efficient and well-run transportation system.
Domestic air travel is convenient between main cities and
it's possible to pick up heavily discounted fares on specified
flights. Most places are serviced by regional buses, many
of which are timed to connect with trains. There is a good,
reliable train system with reasonable fares and frequent service.
Driving is on right-hand side of the road, seat belt use
is mandatory and all drivers are required to carry a warning
triangle. A huge network of bike paths link the country, so
cycling is a practical way to get around, both within towns
and also from town to town. Ferry networks link all of Denmark's
populated islands, although the more adventurous might like
to charter a yacht and mosey around at their leisure.
Communications
The international telephone access code is 45. There are no
city or area codes. To place an outgoing international call,
dial 00 plus the area code and number. For directory assistance,
dial 118.
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