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Things to do in Denmark

Leisure activities in Denmark
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Updated byAnne-Lise Mtyon 18 December 2019

Whether you want to exercise in the great outdoors, stroll along a historic cobblestoned street, or cosy up in a ‘hyggeligt' café, the Scandinavian country of Denmark has it all. There are activities suited to kids, families, couples, and solo travellers

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Denmark

Denmark is home to an impressive amount of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although they aren't on most people's bucket list, these attractions show off the country's pristine nature and cultural relics. The list includes former royal hunting grounds, the Wadden Sea National Park, and a stunning cathedral that is the resting place of the Danish royal family. 

See the full list of Denmark's UNESCO World Heritage Sites to plan your next adventure. 

Castles and manors in Denmark

Denmark's fantastic castles, manors, and historic estates can be reached easily from most cities. Strong efforts of preservation have kept these sites in near-perfect condition; spending a few hours at a castle in Denmark feels like stepping into history.

The area of Zealand (Sjælland) is famous for castles like Frederiksborg Castle and Kronborg Castle, the castle known as Hamlet's in the famous Shakespeare play Hamlet. The Copenhagen area alone has five castles reflecting the life and times of Danish royalty

Open-air museums in Denmark

Open-air museums comprise clusters of houses and town buildings that represent what life would have looked like at different times in Danish history. Some of the museums have gone to great lengths to furnish the interiors of houses with period pieces and antique objects, reflecting themes such as the Viking Era, peasant culture, and military history. 

Here are some of the open-air museums in Denmark:

Festivals in Denmark

Music and food festivals are practically a culture in Denmark. Expats can enjoy a variety of festivals held right throughout the year: from jazz festivals in summer to iconic expo events like fashion week, there's bound to be an event that gets you excited. Many festivals are held in the bigger cities of Aarhus and Copenhagen, but luckily, the country is well-connected, and it's easy to travel around Denmark

Activities for the kids in Denmark

Denmark is any child's playground. In addition to the famous Legoland to the world's oldest amusement park Bakken and scary rides at the renowned Tivoli Gardens, Denmark is home to parks, zoos, aquariums, and more amusement parks to provide fun for the whole family. Some even have on-site accommodation to make your holiday more relaxing. 

Here are some of the most popular parks for families:

Faarup Sommerland
Ree Park Safari
Lalandia Aquadome water park
The North Sea Oceanarium

Beaches in Denmark

Denmark has more than 7,000km of coastline. The warmer summer months are perfect for exploring the coast and discovering your new favourite beach. Whether you're after a spot for swimming or taking a quiet seaside stroll, Denmark's selection of beaches will have something for you. 

The coastline areas also present the perfect opportunity to try out some water sports: kayaking, sailing, and fishing are just some of the activities that you can enjoy in the warmer months. 

Sports in Denmark

In addition to water sports, why not try biking? Denmark is a flat country wonderfully suited to cycling, both for leisure and exercise. Other sports that expats could try include golfing, jogging in the country's many dedicated parks and green areas, and joining a club or association to practise sports and adapt to the Danish lifestyle. 

We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.

About

Anne-Lise studied Psychology for 4 years in the UK before finding her way back to Mauritius and being a journalist for 3 years and heading Expat.com's editorial department for 5. She loves politics, books, tea, running, swimming, hiking...

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