Denmark
Denmark is a flat Nordic country of peninsula and islands, known for Copenhagen, Viking-age sites such as the Jelling stones and Renaissance castles like Kronborg.
Denmark is a Nordic country in Northern Europe and the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries. Its only land border is with Germany, to the south. Most of the country is the Jutland peninsula plus many islands. The largest island, Zealand, holds Copenhagen, the capital and largest city. Aarhus, Aalborg and Odense are the other large cities. Travelers come for Viking-age sites such as the Jelling stones, Renaissance castles like Kronborg, and the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. Cycling is part of daily life, with more than 12,000 km of bicycle routes.
The land is mostly flat farmland with sandy coasts, and the climate is temperate. Summer days are very long, with sunset around 22:00, while winter days are short, with sunset around 15:45. Autumn is the wettest season and spring the driest, with about 791 mm of rain a year. Copenhagen Airport is Scandinavia's largest passenger airport, and long-distance trains are run mainly by DSB.
Five things to know before Denmark
- Carry your passport at the German and Swedish borders
The Danish police run temporary border control with Germany, as spot checks, and with Sweden, as regular checks of road, rail and ferry traffic. Denmark's land borders with both countries are Schengen internal borders. Danish police on border control
- Expect EES registration at the Schengen border
Non-EU visitors may register fingerprints and a photo at their first Schengen entry, at no cost, and passports are no longer stamped. UK advice warns of possible delays at Copenhagen Airport on flights from non-Schengen countries. EES explained
- Carry a card, since many places are cashless
Many shops, cafés and restaurants take only cards or mobile payments, and some kiosks and supermarkets stop accepting cash after 8 p.m. A contactless card with no foreign fees is the easiest option. Money
- Check the bike lane before you turn or cross
UK advice says cyclists often have the right of way and drivers should check cycle lanes before turning right. On foot, look both ways at every curb in Copenhagen. Copenhagen
- Stop in Odense between Copenhagen and Aarhus
The two big cities are far enough apart that Odense works as a night or a long stop on the line. Compare it with Aarhus before you fix the order of your route. Odense or Aarhus
Denmark travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The harbor, bikes, food and where to base yourself.
Read the guideAarhusArt, old town streets and the Jutland coast nearby.
Read the guideOdenseHans Christian Andersen's town and a stop on the line west.
Read the guideAalborgNorth Jutland's city, with art museums and a harbor front.
Read the guideSkagenGrenen, painters' houses and dunes at Denmark's northern tip.
Read the guideHelsingørKronborg Castle and the ferry to Sweden, a train ride from Copenhagen.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guideRail pass or ticketsWhen a Eurail pass beats point-to-point fares.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- DKK 250
- Food
- DKK 250
- Transport
- DKK 90
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- DKK 900
- Food
- DKK 600
- Transport
- DKK 150
- Sights
- DKK 160
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- DKK 1,400
- Food
- DKK 1,000
- Transport
- DKK 400
- Sights
- DKK 500
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh4°Low1°Dark, coldJanuaryRain
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, cold
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low1°Cold, grayFebruaryRain
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cool, lighterMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, lighter
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Mild, springAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Long light eveningsJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long light evenings
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, festivalsJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, festivals
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, harbor swimsAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, harbor swims
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Mild, quieterSeptemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Cool, autumnOctoberRain
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, autumn
- NovemberCloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low5°Dark, coldNovemberCloudy
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, cold
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh5°Low2°Christmas marketsDecemberRain
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Copenhagen, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Denmark
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Denmark
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°9°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue10°5°47%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Wed12°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°6°0%Friday: Fog. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat8°3°2%Saturday: Fog. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun8°6°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 05:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.694 DKK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
NovemberSalzburg Christkindlmarkt
NovemberNuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
NovemberStrasbourg Christmas marketFestivals by month
- Jan
- FebFastelavnAcross Denmark
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- JunRoskilde FestivalCopenhagenCopenhellCopenhagen
- JulCopenhagen Jazz FestivalCopenhagen
- AugCopenhagen PrideCopenhagenAarhus FestugeAarhus
- SepMidtfyns FestivalOdense
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in Denmark: Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Copenhagen, Nov 19, 2026 · Rush Fifty Something Tour Copenhagen, Apr 4, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Copenhagen, Jun 6, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Copenhagen, Jul 13, 2027
Before you go to Denmark
Denmark FAQ
Do I need a visa for Denmark?
Not for short stays on US, UK, Canadian, Australian, German or Spanish passports. UK visitors get 90 days in any 180 across Schengen; German and Spanish citizens are EU citizens and need no visa. The Danish Immigration Service lists a separate 3 months in Denmark for US, Canadian and Australian nationals. Use the visa checker.
Are there border checks between Denmark and Germany or Sweden?
Yes, temporarily. The Danish police carry out spot checks on the German border and regular checks of road, rail and ferry traffic from Sweden. Carry a passport or, for EU citizens, a valid ID card.
Do I need cash in Denmark?
Rarely. Many shops, cafés and restaurants accept only cards or mobile payments, and some kiosks and supermarkets stop taking cash after 8 p.m., though cash works in most places.
Do you tip in Denmark?
Not as a rule. Service charges are included in hotel, restaurant and taxi bills, and VisitDenmark says any tip for great service is up to you, with no set etiquette.
When is the best time to visit Denmark?
VisitDenmark names June to the end of August as the peak season, with up to 19 hours of daylight, and suggests the shoulder seasons for quiet cycling roads. Winter is cold and dark; the Sandormen at Skagen stops after 24 October 2026.