Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Denmark

A photograph of Denmark
Photograph · Moahim · CC BY-SA 4.0

Denmark is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries: the northern Jutland peninsula, which shares a short land border with Germany, plus an archipelago of 406 islands lying between the North Sea and the Baltic. Its population passed 6 million in May 2025, and roughly 40 per cent of that lives on Zealand alone — the largest island, and the one carrying Copenhagen. The land is flat and mostly arable, low, with sandy coasts, so a Danish route is measured in water crossings rather than in altitude. Beyond continental Denmark, the Kingdom also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Danish
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+45
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Danish krone (DKK)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C, E, F and K · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public drinking water is monitored by Danish authorities

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
    02 2 hr 30 min

    Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

    The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek stands on Dantes Plads, between Tivoli and the back of the Danish parliament quarter, and it is one museum only in the administrative sense.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  2. Danish War Museum Danish War Museum
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Danish War Museum

    The Danish War Museum, locally named Krigsmuseet, is a military history museum in Copenhagen. It occupies a historic waterfront building at Christianshavn, formerly serving as naval storage facilities.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  3. Statens Museum for Kunst Statens Museum for Kunst
    04 2 hr 30 min

    Statens Museum for Kunst

    Statens Museum for Kunst is Denmark's national gallery, standing on the edge of the Østre Anlæg park in central Copenhagen with Rosenborg Castle across the road.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  4. Designmuseum Denmark Designmuseum Denmark
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Designmuseum Denmark

    Designmuseum Danmark is a museum dedicated to Danish and international design, crafts, and applied arts. Located in central Copenhagen, it occupies a historic rococo building that formerly served as the Royal Danish Hospital.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  5. Thorvaldsen Museum Thorvaldsen Museum
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Thorvaldsen Museum

    Thorvaldsens Museum is a Copenhagen museum dedicated to the works of Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who spent much of his career in Rome. The building itself is distinctive with its colourful exterior, making it a notable landmark in the city.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  6. Natural History Museum of Denmark Natural History Museum of Denmark
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Natural History Museum of Denmark

    The Natural History Museum of Denmark, locally known as Statens Naturhistoriske Museum, is a major scientific institution in Copenhagen. It serves as the national museum for natural history and operates as part of the University of Copenhagen.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  7. Museum of Copenhagen Museum of Copenhagen
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Copenhagen

    The Museum of Copenhagen, known locally as Københavns Museum, is a city museum dedicated to the history of Denmark's capital. It presents the development of Copenhagen from its earliest origins through to the present day.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  8. Hirschsprung Collection Hirschsprung Collection
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Hirschsprung Collection

    The Hirschsprung Collection, known locally as Den Hirschsprungske Samling, is an art museum in Copenhagen. It was established through the private collection of Heinrich Hirschsprung, a tobacco manufacturer and art patron.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  9. Den Frie Udstilling Den Frie Udstilling
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Den Frie Udstilling

    Den Frie Udstilling, known locally as Den Frie, is an exhibition building and arts venue in Copenhagen.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  10. Workers Museum Workers Museum
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Workers Museum

    The Workers Museum, locally known as Arbejdermuseet, is a cultural institution in Copenhagen dedicated to the history of the Danish labour movement and working-class life.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  11. Kastrupgård Collection Kastrupgård Collection
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Kastrupgård Collection

    Kastrupgård Collection, known locally as Kastrupgårdsamlingen, is an art museum situated in the Kastrup area near Copenhagen. It occupies a historic manor house setting, presenting a cultural venue focused on art exhibitions within a distinctive architectural environment.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  12. Cisternerne Cisternerne
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Cisternerne

    Cisternerne is a subterranean exhibition space located beneath Søndermarken park in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. The venue comprises a former water reservoir built in the nineteenth century, now repurposed as a cultural institution.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  13. Museum of Danish Resistance Museum of Danish Resistance
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Danish Resistance

    The Museum of Danish Resistance, locally known as Frihedsmuseet, is a museum in Copenhagen dedicated to Denmark's resistance movement during the German occupation of World War II.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  14. Bakkehuset Bakkehuset
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Bakkehuset

    Bakkehuset, locally known as Bakkehusmuseet, is a historic house museum in Copenhagen. The building holds cultural significance as a former literary salon and residence associated with prominent Danish Golden Age figures.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  15. Copenhagen University Botanical Museum Copenhagen University Botanical Museum
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Copenhagen University Botanical Museum

    The Copenhagen University Botanical Museum, known locally as Botanisk Museum, is a museum affiliated with the University of Copenhagen. It serves as a botanical research and exhibition institution.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  16. DieselHouse DieselHouse
    23 1 hr 30 min

    DieselHouse

    DieselHouse is an industrial heritage attraction in Copenhagen, Denmark. It serves as a museum and exhibition space centered on large-scale diesel engine technology and maritime-industrial history.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  17. Overgaden
    26 1 hr 30 min

    Overgaden

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  18. OXA
    30 1 hr 30 min

    OXA

    OXA is a Copenhagen establishment whose specific operational character is not recorded in the supplied source material. The production identity way/104486877 indicates it exists as a mapped OpenStreetMap feature with copied coordinates and name.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  19. Lille Mølle Lille Mølle
    33 1 hr 30 min

    Lille Mølle

    Lille Mølle is a historic windmill situated in the Christianshavn district of Copenhagen. The structure represents Danish milling heritage and stands as a preserved example of traditional windmill architecture.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  20. Jónshús
    34 1 hr 30 min

    Jónshús

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  21. Møstings Hus Møstings Hus
    48 1 hr 30 min

    Møstings Hus

    Møstings Hus is a historic house museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. The building serves as a cultural venue and exhibition space within the Frederiksberg municipality. It functions as part of the local heritage infrastructure, presenting art and historical collections to visitors.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  22. Lykkemuseet
    58 1 hr 30 min

    Lykkemuseet

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  23. MACA Museum
    59 1 hr 30 min

    MACA Museum

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  24. Musikmuseet
    61 1 hr 30 min

    Musikmuseet

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  25. Væggen
    65 1 hr 30 min

    Væggen

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  26. Heerup Museum Heerup Museum
    68 1 hr 30 min

    Heerup Museum

    The Henry Heerup Museum is a museum in Copenhagen dedicated to the life and work of Danish artist Henry Heerup (1907-1993). Heerup was a prominent figure in the COBRA art movement, known for his paintings, sculptures, graphics, and poetry.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  27. Enigma Enigma
    70 1 hr 30 min

    Enigma

    Enigma is a cultural venue in Copenhagen, Denmark, situated within the city's vibrant museum and attractions landscape. It appears to be an establishment that contributes to Copenhagen's reputation as a destination rich in cultural experiences.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen
  28. Storm Storm
    71 1 hr 30 min

    Storm

    Storm is a Copenhagen establishment identified by the OpenStreetMap way ID way/141759800. The local name is STORM in capital letters.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Copenhagen

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Denmark be?

Five to seven days allows three or four days in Copenhagen and time for one rail-linked extension such as Odense, Aarhus or North Zealand. Adding Jutland and several islands requires extra nights rather than longer day trips.

What entry documents are needed for Denmark?

Denmark’s New to Denmark portal is the official short-stay visa reference. Check the passport-specific rule and Schengen conditions there, including which country is responsible for an application on a multi-country trip.

What is the best way to travel around Denmark?

Copenhagen Airport has direct metro and rail connections. Intercity trains link Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg, while Rejseplanen combines train, bus and ferry options even when fares remain operator-specific.

When is a practical time to visit Denmark?

May through August provides Denmark’s longest days and the broadest seasonal opening pattern. Coastal weather can still change quickly, and island ferry frequency should be checked outside the main summer period.

What money and payment basics apply in Denmark?

Denmark prices goods in Danish kroner (DKK), not euros. Payment conditions are not recorded here; keep an alternative available for any terminal or small operator that does not accept the preferred card.

What practical safety details should I save for Denmark?

Use 112 for emergencies in Denmark. The supply is 230 V across Type C, E, F and K sockets, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.