Social ConventionsNormal courtesies should be observed. Guests should refrain from drinking until the host toasts his or her health. Casual dress is suitable for most places but formal wear is required at more exclusive dining rooms and social functions. Smoking is restricted on public transport and in some public buildings.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airlines are
SAS (SK) (website:
www.flysas.com) and
Sterling Airlines (SA) (formerly
Maersk Air)
(website:
www.sterlingticket.com).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsCopenhagen (CPH)
(Kastrup) (website:
www.cph.dk) is 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city (journey time – 15 to 30 minutes).
To/from airport: A rail link connects the airport and main railway station in Copenhagen (journey time – 12 minutes). There are also high-speed Intercity trains to Funen (journey time – 1 hour) and Jutland (journey time – 2 hours) with additional connections to Malmø (Sweden) on a 30-minute journey via the Øresund link. There are also regular bus services from the airport departing every 10 to 20 minutes (journey time – 20 minutes).
Facilities: An outgoing duty-free shop, a wide range of car hire firms, bank/bureau de change, and several restaurants and bars.
Århus (AAR) (Tirstrup) (website:
www.aar.dk) is 44km (27 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Buses connect with flight arrivals; taxis are also available.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, a wide range of car hire firms, bank/bureau de change, a post office and a restaurant.
Billund Airport (BLL) (Billund) (website:
www.billund-airport.dk) is approximately 2km (1.3 miles) from Legoland.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Copenhagen (website:
www.cmport.com),
Esbjerg (website:
www.port-of-esbjerg.dk),
Frederikshavn (website:
www.frederikshavn.dk),
Hanstholm (website:
www.hanstholmshavn.dk) and
Hirtshals.
There are regular
ferries to and from the Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK.
DFDS Seaways (website:
www.dfdsseaways.co.uk) is one of the main operators. North Jutland is connected to the Faroes, Iceland, Norway and Scotland during the summer by ferries.
There are no departure taxes when leaving Denmark by sea.
Several major
cruise lines call at Copenhagen.
Getting There by RailCopenhagen is connected by rail to all other major European cities, and typical express journey times to Copenhagen are: from London 24 hours; Hamburg 4 hours 30 minutes; Berlin 11 hours 30 minutes. All international trains connect with ferries where applicable.
Rail PassesInterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The
Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The
One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting There by RoadAll the major road networks of Europe connect with ferry services to Copenhagen; it is advisable to book ferries in advance. The completion of the 18km- (11 mile-) long toll Great Belt bridge and tunnel, linking Copenhagen (which is situated on the island of Sjælland) with the island of Funen, now provides the first seamless surface connection from the European continent to Copenhagen. It includes the world’s second-longest suspension bridge at 6.5km (4 miles) long. A second bridge and tunnel, the Øresund connection, links Copenhagen with Malmø in Sweden. This consists of an 8km (5 mile) bridge and an 8km (5 mile) tunnel linked by an artificial island. Tolls are applicable for both bridges.
Eurolines, departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in Denmark. For further information, contact
Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219; website:
www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com).
See
Getting Around for information on
documentation and traffic regulations.
OverviewThe Faroe Islands are treated as being outside of the EU for the Duty Free section. The following goods may be imported into Denmark without incurring customs duty:
(a) Non-Danish residents arriving from an EU country with duty-paid goods purchased in an EU country:
10l of spirits or 20l of fortified wine (maximum 22 per cent);
90l of table wine;
800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco;
110l beer;
other commodities:
no limit.
The above quantities are guide levels as recommended by the EU. Goods must be for personal use only.
(b) Residents of non-EU countries entering from outside the EU (excluding Greenland) with goods purchased in non-EU countries:
1l of spirits or 2l of sparkling fortified wine (maximum 22 per cent);
2l of table wine;
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extracts;
100g of tea or 40g of tea extracts;
50g of perfume;
250ml of eau de toilette;
other articles, including beer:
up to DKK1350. Alcohol and tobacco allowances are for those aged 17 or over only, coffee and coffee extracts allowances are for those aged 15 or over. It is forbidden to import fresh foods into Denmark unless vacuum packed. Special rules apply to tobacco products when traveling to Denmark from Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. Travelers are only allowed to import certain quantities without paying excise duty. More information is available from the website
www.toldskat.dk.
Abolition of duty-free goods within the EUOn 30 June 1999, the sale of duty free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use
only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirThe network of scheduled services radiates from
Copenhagen (Kastrup). Other airports well served by domestic airlines include Ålborg, Århus, Billund, Esbjerg, Karup, Rønne, Skrydstrup, Sønderborg and Thisted. Domestic airports are generally situated between two or more cities which are within easy reach of each other. Domestic flights are usually of no more than 30 minutes’ duration. Limousines are often available. Discounts are available on certain tickets bought inside Denmark. Family, children and young person’s discounts are also available.
Getting Around by WaterThere are frequent ferry sailings from Kalundborg to Århus, Ebeltoft to Sjællands Odde and Rønne to Copenhagen. The larger ferries usually have restaurants or cafes and may have TV, video and cinema lounges, shops, play areas for children and sleeping rooms. Local car ferries link most islands to the road network.
Getting Around by RailThe main cities on all islands are connected to the rail network: Ålborg, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Herning, Horsens, Odense and Randers.
Danish State Railways (DSB) (tel: 7013 1418;
website:
www.dsb.dk) operates a number of express trains called
Lyntogs which provide long-distance, non-stop travel; it is often possible to purchase newspapers, magazines and snacks onboard these trains. Payphones are also available. Intercity
IC3 trains are faster and more direct. Seat reservations are compulsory. Children under 10 years old travel free. There are also price reductions for persons over 65 and groups of eight people or more. The
Englænderen boat-train runs between Esbjerg and Copenhagen and connects with ferries from the UK. DSB passenger fares are based on a zonal system. The cost depends on the distance traveled; the cost per kilometer is reduced the longer the journey.
Rail PassesThe
Scanrail Pass allows unlimited travel within Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Standard-class prices for adults are approximately £266 for 21 days and £171 for five days in two months. As elsewhere in Europe,
Inter-Rail passes are valid in Denmark. Bus and ferry and, of course, rail tickets may be purchased at all railway stations.
InterRail’s One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Denmark. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by RoadThe road system in the Danish archipelago makes frequent use of ferries. Country buses operate where there are no railways, but there are few private long-distance coaches. Motorways are not subject to toll duty. Emergency telephones are available on motorways and there is a national breakdown called
Falck, which can be called out 24 hours a day. There are petrol stations on motorways, generally with other services such as restaurants. Many petrol stations are automatic. A maximum of 10 liters of petrol is allowed to be kept as a reserve in suitably safe containers. The Danish Motoring Organization is
Forenede Danske Motorejere (FDM), Firskovvej 32, PO Box 500, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby (tel: 7013 3040;
website:
www.fdm.dk). Speed limits are 110kph (68mph) on motorways, 80kph (50mph) on other roads and 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas (signified by white plates with town silhouettes). Speed laws are strictly enforced, and heavy fines are levied on the spot; the car is impounded if payment is not made.
Cycling: There are cycle lanes along many roads and, in the countryside, many miles of scenic cycle track. Bikes can easily be taken on ferries, trains, buses and domestic air services.
Car hire: Available to drivers over the age of 20, and can be reserved through travel agents or airlines. However, many car rental firms will only hire vehicles out to drivers over 25 years of age.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Traffic drives on the right. The wearing of seat belts is compulsory. Motorcyclists must wear helmets and drive with dipped headlights at all times. Headlamps on all vehicles should be adjusted for right-hand driving. All driving signs are international. Children under 12 years old need to travel in the rear of the car.
Documentation: A national driving license is acceptable. EU nationals taking their own cars to Denmark are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card. Without it, insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal cover in Denmark; the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the car owner’s domestic policy.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesCar repair is often available at petrol stations; costs include 25 per cent VAT on labor and materials, which is not refunded when you leave the country.
Parking: Parking in cities is largely governed by parking discs, available from petrol stations, post offices, tourist offices, banks and some police stations. These allow up to three hours parking in car parks (one hour in Copenhagen). Kerbside parking is allowed for one hour Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300 unless stated otherwise. The hand of the disc should point to the quarter hour following time of arrival. The disc is to be placed on the side of the screen nearest the kerb. Where discs do not apply, parking meters regulate parking. Parking on a metered space is limited to three hours Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1300. Meter charges differ according to the area of the city.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel times from
Copenhagen (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in Denmark.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Ålborg | 0.45 | 6.00 | 4.30 |
| Århus | 0.30 | 4.30 | 3.08 |
| Esberg | 1.00 | 5.00 | 3.12 |
| Sønderborg | 0.30 | 5.30 | 3.45 |
| | | |
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