5 Best Cities to Visit in Denmark

5 best cities in Denmark

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5 best cities in Denmark

Denmark, officially known as the Kingdom of Denmark, is a Nordic country in Northwest Europe. Denmark proper, which is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and an archipelago of 443 named islands with the largest being Zealand, Funen and the North Jutlandic Island. Denmark lies southwest of Sweden and south of Norway and is bordered to the south by Germany. The Kingdom of Denmark also includes two autonomous territories in the North Atlantic Ocean: the Faroe Islands and Greenland. In this article, we will explore the 5 best cities in Denmark.

Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the country ranks highly in some metrics of national performance, including education, health care, and protection of civil liberties, democratic governance, prosperity, and human development. The country ranks as having the world’s highest social mobility, a high level of income equality, and lowest perceived level of corruption in the world. As the eleventh-most developed in the world, Denmark has one of the highest per capita incomes, and one of the world’s highest personal income tax rates.

1. Copenhagen

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Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark. It forms the core of the wider urban area of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen metropolitan area. Copenhagen is situated on the eastern coast of the island of Zealand; another small portion of the city is located on Amager, and it is separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the strait of Øresund. The Øresund Bridge connects the two cities by rail and road. The city is originally a Viking fishing village established in the 10th century in the vicinity of what is now Gammel Strand. Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century. Beginning in the 17th century it consolidated its position as a regional centre of power with its institutions, defences and armed forces.

After a plague outbreak and fire in the 18th century, the city underwent a period of redevelopment. This included the construction of the prestigious district of Frederiksstaden and founding of such cultural institutions as the Royal Theatre and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Further disasters in the early 19th century led to rebuilding during the Danish Golden Age which brought a neoclassical look to Copenhagen’s architecture. Since the turn of the 21st century, Copenhagen has seen strong urban and cultural development, facilitated by investment in its institutions and infrastructure. The city is the cultural, economic and governmental centre of Denmark; it is one of the major financial centres of Northern Europe with the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

2. Odense

The third-largest city in Denmark is Odense which is located a little over 100 miles southwest of Copenhagen. With a population of over 200,000 people in 2017, this growing city boasts some great attractions of its own.

From its award-winning zoo to the many great museums like Brandts and the home of Hans Christian Andersen, you’re sure to find something to do on your trip any time of year. As a bonus, there’s also a city beach within easy access if you’re visiting in the summer.

3. Esbjerg

Esbjerg is a seaport city and also serves as the seat of Esbjerg Municipality on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. By road, it is 44 miles west of Kolding and 102 miles southwest of Aarhus. Esbjerg is the fifth-largest city in Denmark and the largest in west Jutland. Before a decision was made to establish a harbour at Esbjerg, in 1868, the area consisted of only a few farms. Esbjerg developed quickly. In addition to its fishing and shipping activities, it also became an important centre for agricultural exports. Over the years, many of the city’s visitors arrived by ferry from Harwich, Essex, England, but this service closed in September 2014 having run since 1875. The harbour facilities are being expanded to answer the needs of the wind-turbine industry and container shipping traffic. Esbjerg is served by Esbjerg Airport with flights to Aberdeen, Scotland and Stavanger, Norway.

The city has several notable museums and entertainment venues, including Esbjerg Art Museum, Esbjerg Museum and the privately owned Fisheries and Maritime Museum. The Esbjerg Performing Arts Centre was completed in 1997 to designs by Jan and Jørn Utzon. When approached by sea, the Man Meets the Sea is one of the prominent monuments, consisting of four 27-feet tall white-coloured men, overlooking Sædding Beach. The sculpture was designed by Svend Wiig Hansen and installed in 1995. Esbjerg is increasingly recognized for its university facilities and sporting activities. The city hosts branches of the University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University. It is home to the Danish football club Esbjerg fB and has an ice hockey division called Esbjerg Elite Ishockey.

4. Aalborg

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Aalborg is Denmark’s fourth-largest city. The distance to Copenhagen is 256 miles if travelling by road. The earliest settlements date to around AD 700. Aalborg’s position at the narrowest point on the Limfjord made it an important harbour during the Middle Ages, and later a large industrial centre. Architecturally, the city is known for its half-timbered mansions built by its prosperous merchants. There are also several tourist sites like the liBudolfi Church, now a cathedral, dates from the end of the 14th century and Aalborghus Castle, a royal residence, was built in 1550. Aalborg is a city in transition from a working-class industrial area to a knowledge-based community. A major exporter of grain, cement, and spirits, its thriving business interests include Siemens Wind Power, Aalborg Industries, and Aalborg Portland.

The city is an important cultural hub with theatres, symphony orchestra, Opera Company, performance venues, and museums such as Aalborg Historical Museum and the Aalborg Museum of Modern Art. The Aalborg Carnival, held at the end of May, is one of the largest festivals in Scandinavia, attracting some 100,000 people annually. The major university in the city is the University of Aalborg, founded in 1974. Trænregimentet, the Danish regiment for army supply and emergency medical personnel, is also in Aalborg. The city hosts Aalborg University Hospital, the largest in the north of Jutland which was founded in 1881. The European Commission has concluded that the citizens of Aalborg are the happiest residents in Europe.

5. Aarhus

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Aarhus is a charming city that currently serves as Denmark’s principal port, which makes it a great spot for finding some of the world’s freshest seafood. You’ll find Aarhus on the east coast of Jutland, Denmark’s western peninsula, about a three-hour drive from Copenhagen, but you can also travel to Aarhus from the Danish capital by bus, boat, or air.

Nightlife, sidewalk cafes, and architectural sites rich in cultural history are the primary attractions in Aarhus. After dusk, you can dance the night away at the Train, Glazzhuset, or Musikcafeen clubs or grab a casual drink at Herr Bartels or The Römer bars.

Now you know the 5 best cities in Denmark. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.