Denmark Guide
Introduction to Denmark
Delicately balanced between Scandinavia proper and mainland Europe, Denmark is a difficult country to pin down. In many ways it shares the characteristics of both regions: it's an EU member, and has prices and drinking laws that are broadly in line with the rest of Europe. But Danish social policies and style of government are distinctly Scandinavian: social benefits and the standard of living are high, and its politics are very much that of the consensus.
While Denmark is the easiest Scandinavian country in which to travel – both in terms of cost and distance – the landscape itself is the region's least dramatic: largely green, flat, farmland punctuated by innumerable fairytale half-timbered villages, with surprisingly few urban settlements. Apart from a scattering of small islands, the country is made up of three main landmasses – the islands of Zealand and Funen and the peninsula of Jutland, which extends northwards from Germany.
The vast majority of visitors make for Zealand (Sjælland) and, more specifically, Copenhagen, the country's one truly large city and an atmospheric and exciting focal point. The compact capital has everything: a beautiful old centre, a good array of museums – both national collections and smaller oddball establishments – and a boisterous nightlife. But Copenhagen has little in common with the rest of Zealand, which is largely quiet and rural. Zealand's smaller neighbour, Funen (Fyn), has only one urban draw in Odense, and is otherwise sedate, renowned for the cuteness of its villages, the sandy beaches of its southern coast – a major holiday destination – and numerous explorable small islands.
Only Jutland (Jylland) is far enough away from Copenhagen to enjoy a truly individual flavour, as well as Denmark's most varied scenery, ranging from soft green hills to desolate heathlands and windswept coastline. In Århus, Jutland also has the most lively and enjoyable city outside the capital.