Destination:
Denmark

The waterside city of Copenhagen is packed with old-world fairytale charm alongside some of the world's most avant garde architecture. It is a vibrant, modern city with a long and fascinating history, having been the capital of Denmark for nearly 600 years and home to the oldest resident monarchy in the world.

The biggest city in Scandinavia, Copenhagen occupies a pleasant and strategic spot on the Baltic east coast of Denmark's largest island, Zealand, its harbour overlooked by the world-famous statue of the 'Little Mermaid'.

One of the first impressions that strike visitors to this busy, dynamic capital is the cleanliness and orderliness that prevails in its narrow medieval cobbled central city streets and along the picturesque canals in Christianshavn. Most of the myriad attractions for visitors are situated within about one square mile (3 sq km) of flat terrain in the centre, making it easy to explore on foot (or bicycle, which is the vehicle of choice for locals).

Five streets in the heart of the city have been merged to provide the world's longest pedestrian mall, running between RÃ¥dhuspladsen and Kongens Nytorv, which are packed with historic gabled buildings, dynamic department stores, stunning shops, restaurants, pavement cafes, theatres, and world-class museums and galleries.

Despite the condensed city centre, Copenhagen is not short on green lungs: parks such as the ever-popular Tivoli Gardens abound in this city, which prides itself on its strict anti-pollution laws and lack of glass and chrome skyscrapers.

The family-friendly city that spawned beloved storyteller Hans Christian Andersen is, indeed, a modern fairy-tale: one of Europe's finest capitals that retains a provincial charm and sense of history along with its cutting-edge efficiency, offering its justifiably proud citizens an extremely high standard of living.

A great place for a city break, Denmark's fifth largest and youngest city, Esbjerg, is billed as 'the gateway to Jutland', but those who choose not to move beyond the gateway will have plenty to see and do in this neat, clean port city.

Esbjerg grew up around its harbour, which was established by the State in 1868 to serve as a strategic North Sea port. Today it is the centre of Denmark's offshore oil industry, but with its lovely beaches, attractive shops, thriving café society and jolly nightlife it has also become a popular holiday town.

Not surprisingly, most of Esbjerg's tourist attractions are nautical by nature, including a 'sealarium' at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum. A boat trip round the harbour is a must, and for the more active the city offers a wonderful swimming stadium, angling, golf and windsurfing. The best thing about Esbjerg, though, is its proximity to the scenic Jutland Peninsula coastline, with wide windswept sand dunes, and popular family attractions like Legoland at Billund (about an hour's drive away) and the picturesque medieval town of Ribe. Denmark's favourite offshore vacation islands of Romo and Fano are within easy reach by ferry.

As a major educational centre (two universities and numerous other tertiary learning institutions) Esbjerg also has a full cultural calendar, and art is everywhere, from major galleries to small, private studios. Being a city with a large youthful population, clubs and bars pulse with live music and dancing until dawn.

Roskilde may be only 22 miles (35km) from Copenhagen, but this small city has an ancient feel all its own. It dates back more than a thousand years, and was the capital of Denmark in medieval times, as well as a hub of both Viking activity and the Danish church.

Roskilde's most significant attractions are the Roskilde Cathedral, which is the burial site for Danish monarchs, and the Viking Ship Museum, which displays ancient weapons, ships, and other artefacts from the Viking Age. The city also has the Roskilde Palace, which is a former royal residence and now contains an art museum.

The town is widely known as the home of the Roskilde Festival, one of Europe's biggest music festivals.

Roskilde is a small and pleasant town, small enough to walk around and containing a number of museums and galleries worth visiting, as well as parks, cafes, pubs and shops. The university ensures a lively atmosphere, and the city of 52,000 is anything but sleepy.

Located on the island of Funen, 60 miles (96km) west of Copenhagen, Odense is Denmark's third largest city and a vibrant centre of commerce and nightlife. A busy harbour city, the quaint streets of the Old Town offer interesting shops, cafes and restaurants that buzz with activity.

Odense has a long history going back thousands of years, and archaeological finds date back to the Viking era. The city is thought to be a centre of the Odin cult due to its name, which means Odin's Shrine.

The real claim to fame of Odense, and the main attraction for thousands of tourists each year is that the city was the birthplace of famed storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. The residents of Odense are so proud of their native son that at times it seems hard to find a shop, restaurant or monument dedicated to anyone else! Visitors to Odense can visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which is based in the house he was born in.

There are many other things to see and do in Odense not related to The Little Mermaid or The Ugly Duckling, however. The town has several beautiful castles and cathedrals, and museums dedicated to Danish history and classical composer Carl Nielsen, who was also from Odense. The music and nightlife in the city is among the best in Denmark, with symphonies, theatre, live music and a non-stop parade of outdoor festivities in the idyllic summer months. There is always something happening, and visitors to the city will never be at a loss for things to do in Odense.

Sometimes referred to as the 'Pearl of the Baltic', Bornholm is a wildly popular holiday destination in Denmark for tourists from Sweden, Poland and Germany, though it is largely overlooked by tourists from the US and UK.

The island, located in the Baltic Sea, is geographically closer to Sweden and Poland than the Danish mainland, which gives it a uniquely international environment. Established as an important trading post in the Viking age, Bornholm passed in ownership from country to country for many centuries and was a heavily-contested strategic point in World War II for the Russians and Germans.

These days visitors to Bornholm come not the trade or occupy but to enjoy the island's sunny beaches and gorgeous natural environment, and activities like sailing, fishing, camping, hiking, bicycling and just lounging in the sun are popular ways to pass the time. The Almindingen forest is among the largest in Denmark, and Dueodde boasts some of the best sandy beaches in the Baltic.

The numerous small towns on Bornholm hold their own attractions, including the beautiful sunrises and charming winding streets of Gudhjem, the jazz festival at Allinge, and the bustling markets and local beers of Svaneke. The biggest town on Bornholm is Rønne, which is where most ferries disembark, and features pretty 19-century architecture, and a collection of museums, shops and restaurants.

Getting to Bornholm is not easy, as ferries from Copenhagen take between 5-7 hours, however there are regular direct flights from Denmark and Germany. Bornholm can be uncomfortably crowded and inconveniently over booked in the peak summer season, but the dramatic changes in season in late spring and early autumn are ideal times to enjoy the abundant beauty of the tiny island.