Shopping in Denmark
Shopping in Denmark is a test for the wallet: prices here are an order of magnitude higher than, say, in neighboring Germany. See other countries beginning with D. It makes no sense to buy clothes of world brands: even things of democratic brands like H&M or Vero Moda are expensive, let alone elite Prada or Louis Vuitton. You can save a little only in outlets (the Dansk Outlet network operates throughout the country) or on sales in December-January and July-August.
If you still want new clothes, but don’t feel sorry for the money, we recommend paying attention to small designer boutiques, of which there are many, for example, in the Strøget shopping district in Copenhagen. For vintage gizmos and antiques, it is better to hunt at flea markets in the metropolitan areas of Frederiksberg and Nörrebro, on Kongens-Nytorv, Thorvaldsen and Halmtorvet squares.
The best gastronomic souvenirs from Denmark are marzipans, cheeses and strong tincture Gammel Dansk with a unique bouquet of herbs, fruits and spices.
Amber crafts, crystal tableware, silver jewelry, and all kinds of Viking paraphernalia are popular with tourists. More high-status gifts for yourself and your loved ones are solid teak furniture, respectable Skagen watches, porcelain from the Royal Manufactory and Lindberg glasses, flaunting on the proud noses of the rich and famous. Children can be pleased with the Lego constructor, because Denmark is his homeland.
Small shops are open from 9:00-10:00 to 17:00-18:00, on Fridays until 19:00-20:00, on Saturdays until 13:00-14:00, Sunday is a day off. Large supermarkets are open longer, retail outlets in tourist areas receive visitors 7 days a week.
Cuisine and restaurants in Denmark
Danish cuisine is the embodiment of Scandinavian traditions: simple, hearty, replete with seafood and vegetables. Its main symbol is a sandwich, also known as a “smorrebrod”: multi-layered masterpieces with meat, fish, cheese, herbs, sauces and spices shine in famous restaurants and modest street eateries. Often they are served as a side dish with salads, also hearty and high-calorie: with ham, pasta, beans and mayonnaise.
The Danes also love fish: herring, salmon, mackerel and flounder are boiled, fried, salted, dried and smoked – unless they are added to desserts. From meat they prefer pork in the form of cutlets, pates, meatballs, sausages and sausages. Another interesting dish is salted chicken with pineapples, served both hot and cold. Each dish is served with a carefully selected sauce: mustard, brown, parsley or berry.
A snack in fast food will cost 60-70 DKK, lunch in a mid-range cafe – 100-150 DKK, dinner in a good restaurant – from 300 DKK per person. Tasting set in the “Michelin” Noma – 2250 DKK.
For dessert, you should try the thick berry jelly “red-dreams-meuse-flause” with whipped cream, carrot cake, strawberry soup, apple pie with currant jelly, apricot cakes and all kinds of buns. The most common alcohol is beer, liqueurs and schnapps; at Christmas, a special wine is brewed, reminiscent of mulled wine.
In Denmark, there are classic and experimental establishments with a national menu, restaurants of Greek, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian cuisines. Juice bars offer freshly squeezed juices and light snacks, steakhouses offer mouth-watering meats, small private breweries offer dozens of types of intoxicating drinks. Regional eateries often specialize in authentic dishes: on the island of Ærö they are treated to yeast pancakes with honey, on Fanyo – flour puddings “sakguk”, on Bornholm – smoked meats, and on Mön – spicy herring.
- What national dishes to try in Denmark
Entertainment and attractions in Denmark
An excursion to Denmark is a fascinating journey through cozy cities that have “made friends” of the past and the present, majestic castles, picturesque parks and unusual museums. Of the many attractions, it is easy to create a program that is interesting for both adults and children.
The most famous architectural monuments of Copenhagen are the rococo masterpiece Amalienborg, which has become the permanent residence of the royal family, and the elegant town hall with a 105-meter tower and the best observation deck in the city.
On the island of Slotsholmen, Christianborg flaunts – a spectacular granite palace, now transferred to the Parliament, and in the Royal Garden – the elegant Rosenborg Castle with a historical museum.
Impressive buildings from different eras have been preserved not only in the capital. In the vicinity of Copenhagen, Frederiksborg, built by King Frederick in 1560, is noteworthy, in Helsingor – Kronborg, where the tragic events of the imperishable Hamlet took place. Egeskov Castle on the island of Funen is a revived illustration of a romantic fairy tale, Sönderborg on Als is an impregnable fortress that has protected the country from sea raids for centuries. And Valle Castle on the island of Zealand is an exclusively female abode: once powerful queens lived here, and today they are ordinary Danes with difficult destinies.
The most visited Danish fortresses are the 10th century Aggersborg and Hammershus, 3 centuries younger.
The Royal Library houses Andersen’s original manuscripts, the National Gallery and the New Carlsberg Glyptothek hold treasures of world art. The most unusual expositions are the spicy Museum of Erotica and the Ripley Museum full of mysteries. And little travelers will certainly enjoy the Legoland entertainment paradise, the Lalandia water park, the ultra-modern Experimentarium and the ageless World of Hans Christian Andersen.
