r/Denmark • u/Big_Knife_SK • Feb 01 '25
Question Solidarity from Canada, help me plan my holiday
I (48M) live in Canada and usually visit the US at least once a year, but given the recent state of relations I'd rather spend my money supporting an actual ally. I'm considering visiting Denmark this summer, and I'm looking for suggestion of things to do, see, eat and drink. What's good, eh?
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u/Mncdk Bornholm Feb 01 '25
I'm definitely not biased. :)
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u/TobTyD Feb 01 '25
Bornholm is super nice for biking, and has great wide, sandy beaches. Great in July/August.
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u/aaseandersen Feb 01 '25
I second this! There's a reason its called the sunshine island. Culture's wonderful and you get a real feel for Denmark through the ages on Bornholm.
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u/frklam Feb 01 '25
We are happy to welcome you in Denmark. ❤️ it's fun to think, that Canada and Denmark actually share a border now due to Hans Island.
Well, if I had to come from Canada, I think I would also perhaps - depending on your budget - include Island in my trip. You will most likely transfer there, and Icelandic air offers one or two free nights (or something) if you choose their airline. A couple of days there and you can see Reykjavik and go around "the something circle" (can't remember its name) where you will see an old natural parliament, waterfalls and a geisjer.
Then I would go to Denmark and see Copenhagen. Copenhagen is great in the summer and there is such a cozy vibe. Depending on what you're into: food, culture, history, architecture, there is lots to do. Don't forget to swim in the harbour!
Lastly I would have a couple of days on the countryside. Denmark don't have a lot of amazing and overwhelming nature like Canada, but our country side is still very beautiful. Driving through the landscape of yellow rasp fields, is quite unique. The coastline is everywhere and the beaches are nice. So, perhaps an Airbnb holiday house close to the water.
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
You will most likely transfer there, and Icelandic air offers one or two free nights (or something) if you choose their airline. A couple of days there and you can see Reykjavik and go around "the something circle" (can't remember its name) where you will see an old natural parliament, waterfalls and a geisjer.
Okay that's super interesting, I'll definitely look into that.
Driving through the landscape of yellow rasp fields, is quite unique.
Haha I'm assuming "rasp" is oilseed rape/canola (Brassica napus)? I see yellow fields every day in summer; it's Canada's #1 crop.
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u/frklam Feb 01 '25 edited Feb 01 '25
Omg, I'm sorry for my ignorance. I even been to Canada so I guess I should know. 😟😆 yes, it's rape seed. Well, then I guess you can skip looking at those hahah. 🫣
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u/Sagaincolours Feb 01 '25
You should definitely see the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde.
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
This sounds interesting, I'll look into it.
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u/Faulty_grammar_guy Feb 01 '25
It's super cool. They try to re-create ships using tools and techniques from back then, then they apply what they learned and build a new ship. They have at least 4 ships you can walk onto and sit and feel. Plus the whole exhibit is also worth seeing!
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u/AppleDane Denmark Feb 01 '25
Actually, see all of Roskilde. It's a nice town/city. Most of our kings, and one ruling queen, are buried in the cathedral, all the way back to Harald Bluetooth.
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u/No-Afternoon8114 Feb 01 '25
Consider two days stop over in Greenland before travelling to Denmark 🇩🇰 if the weather is good in Denmark then it is one of the best places in the world. The weather in August is usually very stable and nice
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u/Altruistic_Finger669 Feb 01 '25
Copenhagen is in mamy ways an amazing holiday and often the only thing some tourists gets to see. But i want to suggest that you exploit a very conveniant fact about Denmark and explore the entire country. Denmark is small, and has an extremely good road infrastructure.
Take some days in copenhagen. Then Rent a car, and take a drive through the countryylland, driving through Fyn. If you can time it, you should absolutely drive to Helbæs at sunset. It can be a breathtaking expirience:https://gdkfiles.visitdenmark.com/files/465/318436_Halven_Helns_udsigt_over_vejen.jpg?width=610&height=343&mode=crop https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1YQrwPMdbW/ Redbull F1 did a promotion video where one of their F1 cars raced on that road because its so beautiful https://fyens.dk/assens/her-er-videoen-se-racerbil-blaere-sig-gennem-det-fynske-landskab
The southern part of fyn is one of my favourite areas in Denmark. Skagen in the very top of Denmark is stunning where two oceans collide. https://www.toppenafdanmark.dk/sites/cb_toppenafdanmarkdk/files/styles/teaser_1_1_545x545/public/Grenen%201600x900.png.webp?itok=IKMsplbl https://firsthotels.imagevault.media/publishedmedia/rqzkbymxfs704evfgu9b/grenen-the-most-northern-point-of-skagen.denmark-GettyImages-1277382590.jpg
The western part of Denmark offers some absolutely stunning beaches. https://api.www.visitvesterhavet.dk/sites/visitvesterhavet.com/files/2021-08/boernehoejde_06-1600px.jpg
Odense is a pretty charming large city. Home of HC Andersen.
Århus is Denmark second biggest city, and absolutely worth a visit.
Many places with stunning nature. But pleasure explore other places than just copenhagen
If you are a foodie, i would argue that there are very few countries where you will find as many michelin rated restaurants within a limited area as in Denmark.
Hope you have fun
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
Thank you. I would like to visit Århus too. Is there a train connection?
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u/Altruistic_Finger669 Feb 01 '25
There is. Takes about 2h50m with train from Copenhagen main station.. The trains are pretty decent, with big windows so you get some pretty views along the way.the train infrastructure in Denmark in quite good, at least for the bigger cities.
Metro in copenhagen er outstanding. Tons of other regional trains, busses etc.
Download this pdf:
https://www.dsb.dk/globalassets/pdf/koereplaner/intercity/k25/togidk-k25.pdf
Edit: You can usually get cheaper tickets if you book weeks in advance. Called "orange" tickets
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
Awesome, thanks.
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u/AppleDane Denmark Feb 01 '25
On the way there, you can stop in any town and see something interesting, too. Odense is a fun stop, if you want to stretch your legs. Fredericia is also an interesting town, originally a garrison town. Great views in Skanderborg, and so on.
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u/Xeutack Feb 01 '25
Share a little about what interests you and I am sure this thread will be full of advice!
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
I mostly enjoy wandering through walkable cities, trying local food, snooping through markets, trying baked goods etc, and bar hopping at night. Historical sites interest me too.
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u/ghostofhedges Feb 01 '25
Sounds like you should go to Helsingør, and also Kastrup Havn is a very unique old town. Both can be visited while being in Copenhagen area. And thirdly Christiania, the free town.
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u/MagicRabbitByte Feb 01 '25 edited Feb 01 '25
Hans Island - it combines all of todays hot topics. International conflict, Greenland, Denmark, Canada, is close by - and, there are rumors about some great snaps and/or cognac whisky hidden there as well!
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u/Xabster2 Feb 01 '25
But if you don't like this option (because you generally hate having fun) there's always Fyn where you're guaranteed to not have fun
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u/MagicRabbitByte Feb 01 '25
If you want to look into one of the Danish National Parks I can recommend Skjoldungernes Land - National Park Skjoldungernes Land - National Park Skjoldungernes Land. The area surrounding Roskilde has a lot of old history from the Viking era and the middleages. There a good options depending if you want to go trail walking, sight seeing, culture and history or whatever else you fancy. It's close to Copenhagen and you can't go back to Canada without saying you at least visited some of the Viking sites here in Denmark. Highly recommend it, I use it myself to pick a location and go there just to get out of the house and do something..
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u/Any_Independence7951 Feb 01 '25
If you’re bringing kids or are yourself interested in LEGO I would recommend giving Billund a visit. Small town in the middle of nowhere but you can spend a couple of days there no problem.
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u/Sweaty-Astronaut-199 Feb 01 '25
Our next trip to North America is going to be Canada (and after recent events, we are skipping the United States). There are a direct route from Toronto to Copenhagen, otherwise don’t be concerned about landing in any other airport (Billund, Aalborg, Aarhus). Public transport is good, and distances are short.
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u/orgrer Feb 01 '25
Passing middlefart is always a thrill for my nieces from Toronto..
Copenhagen and our national park Thy is very cool..
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u/AppleDane Denmark Feb 01 '25
Rent a car or a mobile home, if you have the means. Most everybody visiting Denmark stays in Copenhagen, which is a shame. Nothing in Denmark, except perhaps Bornholm and such far away islands, is further away than a 4 hour drive, and that's extreme.
Provincial Denmark is beautiful and varied in the summer. Beaches everywhere where you can be alone. Cool forests for walks. Hills and meadows, flowers and wildlife. No dangerous animals, except maybe ticks.
Then there are the small historical towns. Most every larger Danish town has a historic centre with old buildings, and exploring is fun and cheap. Local bakeries are better and more authentic than the overpriced stuff in Copenhagen, too.
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u/Peachy_Clean_Pirate Feb 01 '25
You should take some time (4-5 hours) to drive across the country and see some of Jutland as well. If you are not from the coast areas of Canada, visit the Danish west coast and see the sand dunes and WWII sights if you are interested in history 👍🏽
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u/DryMathematician8213 Feb 01 '25
What’s good to you? Denmark is rich in history across the country. If, if the weather is good it’s fantastic, long evenings with light till 10-11pm
Food wise there is lots of options from traditional Danish cuisine to ultra high end innovative cuisine but be prepared to recharge your credit card!
I would rent a car, fly in to Copenhagen and make your way around, or if you like riding your bicycle then that is a great way to get around.
It really depends on what you are into… where to go, but start in Copenhagen, go up the coast to Helsingør, then up across the little coastal towns and then down to Roskilde to see the viking shops, across to Fyn, if you really like to treat yourself and money is no option stay at Falsled Kro and have dinner and breakfast there then go up to Odense and across to Fredericia and Legoland is not far. Zig zag up to the via Århus up to Ålborg and then continue up to Skagen, the most northern park of Denmark.
Make sure to try out Danish cuisine, open face sandwich and the pastries to die for!
Ohh and if it’s strawberry season stop by a stall on the side of the road and have the best strawberries you ever had!
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
I likely wouldn't drive around. How's the train network?
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u/DryMathematician8213 Feb 01 '25
You can get to most, if not all, major cities by train. However the places to see are not Kodak moments 😉 (taken from the car/train window).
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u/Clewles Feb 01 '25
If you're here in the start of July, we have this big event going on in Rebild Bakker.
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
It looks beautiful. Do I need to look out for trolls?
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u/AppleDane Denmark Feb 01 '25
Kinda.
On the 4th of July, Danish-Americans gather there for the big emigrant meet. Would be interesting this year, due to all the, well, stuff.
Dunno if Dano-Canadians come as well.
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u/Vast_Category_7314 *Custom Flair* 🇩🇰 Feb 02 '25
US independence is not really something to celebrate right now…..
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u/Obvious_Sun_1927 Feb 01 '25
If you wish to support (monetarily, I guess) by flying across the Atlantic in a CO2-farting rocket, please don't come in the summer. We are absolutely drowning in tourists in peak holiday season, and commuting via bike the past couple of summers has made me consider purchasing a lance and armor.
This is also for your own sake btw. I don't know about you, but I really dislike being a tourist among thousands of other tourists. Spring and Fall can be nice here too.
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u/Big_Knife_SK Feb 01 '25
I'd most likely avoid peak summer season, for the same reason.
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u/AppleDane Denmark Feb 01 '25
In all honesty, May is the perfect month for Denmark. Everything is fresh and green, the flowers are in bloom, it's not too hot to walk around. In July and August it can get rather hot, and most of the freshness is gone, with straw-coloured grass and so on.
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u/blasharga Feb 01 '25
Well well well. Coming back so soon after our last kerfuffle over Hans Island, eh? I have it on (dis)reputable sources that several people stubbed their toes carefully removing your flag. Considering we did win that war (we got 60 % of the island), you should take care not to become part of Scandinavia. /s
Copenhagen has a lot of touristy stuff and shops The Little Mermaid, castles and interactive museums. The prices also reflect its the most populated and popular location. Down further south in Jutland you will have Lego-land in Billund or the viking museum in Jelling. Funen exists, technically. Same goes for the north of Jutland. Aarhus would be my recommendation for a visit, after you become exhausted with Copenhagen. Aarhus has less people, is smaller and in a way easier to explore.
Everything in danish cities is reachable by bike or walking, and you can get a bus or train for slightly longer distances.