Northern Europe · UN member
Denmark: Travel Guide & Requirements
Kingdom of Denmark · Kongeriget Danmark
Denmark is a country in Northern Europe with its capital in Copenhagen. It has a population of 6.0 million (#114 in the world) and covers 43,094 km². The official language is Danish. The currency is the Danish krone (DKK, kr).
Where is Denmark? Map of Denmark
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm).
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Coordinates
- 56° N, 10° E
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 7,314 km
- Denmark
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Denmark showing Copenhagen (capital) and the largest cities: Århus, Odense, Aalborg, Esbjerg, Kolding, Klinteby Frihed and Herning.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Denmark
- Passport
The Danish Immigration Service says a visa-free traveller's passport or travel document must be valid for three months past the intended date of departure from the Schengen area and must have been issued within the past…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Denmark entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office tells British nationals that at Danish border control they may also need to show a return or onward ticket.
- Proof of funds
The Danish Immigration Service says visa-free visitors must have the necessary means to pay for their stay and return trip: as a general rule approx.
- Travel insurance
The Visa Code says applicants for a uniform visa must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance (for a multiple-entry visa, covering the first intended visit); it must be valid throughout the territory…
- Arrival card
The UK Foreign Office tells British travellers that when they travel into the Schengen area for short stays they may need to register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photo in the EU Entry/Exit System; on th…
- Customs allowance
Cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared when entering or leaving the EU.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Denmark
- Safety: Denmark is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Denmark Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: July to August — when daytime highs in Copenhagen are around 21°C.
- Money: the Danish krone (DKK) — 1 US dollar is about 6.6606 DKK.
- Plugs: type C, E, F and K, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: Danish is official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 130 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Copenhagen.
- Capital: Copenhagen. About 6.0 million people live in Denmark.
- Outdoors: 6 national parks and 3 ski areas.
Key facts
Denmark at a glance
Languages spoken: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language
Geography & history
About Denmark
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)
Climate
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Highest point
Store Mollehoj 171 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Natural hazards
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
National symbols
lion, mute swan
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Denmark
The default speed limits in Denmark are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 130 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 1515 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 8080 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- 130130 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)2.3 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Denmark safe to visit?
Denmark is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Denmark Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Denmark
The best time to visit Denmark is July to August, when daytime highs in Copenhagen are around 21°C. June and September are also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (21°C by day), February the coldest (-1°C at night), and August the wettest with about 83 mm of rain.
- Jan3°C-0°C
- Feb3°C-1°C
- Mar5°C0°C
- Apr10°C4°C
- May15°C8°C
- Jun18°C12°C
- Jul21°C15°C
- Aug21°C15°C
- Sep17°C12°C
- Oct12°C8°C
- Nov8°C5°C
- Dec4°C1°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Denmark
Plugs & sockets
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Etwo round pins and a hole for the socket's earth pin
- Type F (Schuko)two round pins with earth clips on the sides
- Type Ktwo round pins and a half-round earth pin
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
3 ski resorts in Denmark
- 1 km of slopes
- 10 lifts
- up to 112 m
Biggest: Hedeland Skicenter · CopenHill · Bornholms Ski Venner
National parks
6 national parks in Denmark
- 2,322 km² protected
- oldest from 2007
Largest: Wadden Sea National Park · Kongernes Nordsjælland · Thy National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Danish krone exchange rates today
Denmark uses the Danish krone (DKK, kr). One US dollar buys 6.6606 DKK; over the last 30 days the DKK has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in DKK
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Denmark ranks
How Denmark compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Denmark
136 airports and airfields — 5 large, 12 medium and 85 small, plus 32 heliports. 16 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Denmark borders 2 countries along 141 km of land borders. Coastline: 7,314 km.
Military
Danish armed forces
Denmark ranks #50 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $14.9 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Copenhagen (1.4 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, …
Export partners
Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Top exports
packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Denmark
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec).
Danish passport
Ranked #8: 125 countries visa-free, 32 with visa on arrival, 8 with an eTA and 19 with an eVisa.
Danish passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Denmark's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Denmark
Dial +45 before the local number. Internet domain .dk.
Climate footprint
28.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 4.75 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Denmark: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Denmark
Denmark Business Visitors: Schengen Visa Rules Under EU Review, No Changes Yet
The European Commission is reviewing the EU Visa Code, and a position paper filed before the call for evidence closed on 6 October 2026 sets out prio…
Vietnam–Scandinavia Travel Ties Grow, but No New Routes or Dates Announced
Vietnam Airlines has signed agreements with Copenhagen Airport, SAS and the Confederation of Danish Industry to strengthen its Scandinavian connectiv…
Travellers from Slovenia can enter 183 destinations visa-free, joint 7th in 2026
Slovenia sits in joint seventh place in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, with its passport holders able to reach 183 destinations without arra…
Frequently asked questions about Denmark
What do I need to travel to Denmark?
How long must my passport be valid for Denmark?
Where is Denmark?
What is Denmark known for?
What is the capital of Denmark?
What language is spoken in Denmark?
What currency does Denmark use?
What is the calling code of Denmark?
Which countries border Denmark?
How strong is the Danish passport?
What is the speed limit in Denmark?
Is Denmark safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Denmark?
What plug type does Denmark use?
How many airports does Denmark have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.