Denmark – islands and Lego blocks and the little mermaid
One of the most interesting places to which you can go by car from PANEK Rent a Car is Scandinavia. The harsh climate, low temperatures and the waters of the Baltic, North and Arctic Seas make the countries of Northern Europe particularly attractive to tourists looking for breathtaking views.
One of the closest Scandinavian destinations that can be reached by car is Denmark. The country located in the immediate vicinity of Germany and Sweden is most easily accessible to the inhabitants of central and western Poland, and you can get to the home of “Lego blocks” in two ways: the first is a trip to Świnoujście, then a ferry to the Swedish Ystad and then over the Oresund bridge to Copenhagen, the second is a journey through northern Germany, Hamburg and the border at Flensburg. The second option is particularly attractive because of the views, but both are so interesting that we suggest going to Denmark one way and returning to the country with the other.
Watch out for speed
Denmark, like all Scandinavian countries, has a very strict policy regarding speed limits. In built-up areas, the limit of 50 km / h is applied, but there are more and more zones in which it is allowed to move at speeds of up to 30 km / h. However, special attention should be paid outside the built-up area, because there is a limit of 80 km / h on national roads, and we will drive the motorway at a maximum speed of 110 km / h. Fortunately, the country has a well-developed network of highways, which are additionally free. The most impressive, however, are the spectacular bridges and tunnels connecting the individual islands. Consumers’ note here: the two longest bridges Oresund (between Denmark and Sweden) and Storebaelt (connecting Zealand and Funen) are payable and for passenger cars up to 3.5 tons, the journey costs EUR 64 and EUR 35, respectively.
When traveling in Denmark, you should also pay attention to the opening hours of gas stations. Most of them work from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and only some of them on highways and larger cities are open 24 hours a day. On all roads, dipped headlights must be used around the clock, and cyclists coming from the right have the right of way. When using parking spaces, including the free ones, you should obtain a special clock disk at the gas station, set the return time on it and place it in a visible place behind the windshield.
The capital of Denmark, the capital of attractions
The largest city and the capital of Denmark is Copenhagen. It has a specific, slightly nostalgic character, and Nyhavn and the old town abound in quiet, narrow streets, which you can walk through for long hours. People traveling with children must visit the Tivoli Gardens Park, which abounds in attractions for children, restaurants and eateries. Being in the capital of Denmark, it is worth visiting the zoo, which is one of the most interesting and modern in all of Europe. For lovers of marine fauna, we especially recommend the largest aquarium in Scandinavia, in which you can admire, among others, Hammer Sharks.
Copenhagen will be especially appreciated by lovers of castles and religious architecture. The city is rich in monuments, and especially worth seeing are Christiansborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, the Rococo-style Amalienborg Palace and Roskilde Cathedral, the burial place of Danish rulers. A special attraction, however, is the Kronborg Castle located a few kilometers from Copenhagen, the seat of kings, known, among others, from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”.
An important place on the map of Copenhagen is Christiania, which was supposed to be a zone free from national law, and the residents themselves were to enact their own regulations. The zone has become the home of many artists and anti-systemists, with the idyllic world subordinated to the rapidly developing soft drug market. Today, Christiania’s glory has faded a bit, and the interesting regulations are: the ban on photography and the ban on running!
Copenhagen has one more world famous attraction. It is a little mermaid sitting on the stone quay of the city harbor. One of the legends says that she is the sister of the Warsaw mermaid, with whom she came to the Baltic Sea. She liked the city so much that she decided to stay here forever, while the other sailed further to Gdańsk and the Vistula to Warsaw, becoming a symbol of the capital of Poland.
Danish attractions
A place that you must definitely visit during your stay in Denmark is Legoland, located in Billund. This city made of Lego blocks attracts not only the smallest tourists, but also quite adults. You can see here, among others, the famous X-Wing Luke Skywalker made of 5 million bricks, as well as world and European buildings.
It is also worth going to the Danish Riviera, full of beautiful beaches and exclusive hotels. You cannot forget about the island of Funen, where Hans Christian Andersen was born, and the white cliffs in the south of Zealand, reaching up to 120 m above sea level. Cattle farms located on almost uninhabited islands are extremely impressive, and architectural gems like bridges between islands disappearing in underwater tunnels will be remembered for a long time.
Denmark is the smallest of the Scandinavian countries, but its location on several hundred islands allows you to feel the atmosphere of this inaccessible, northern European land. Very expensive airline tickets encourage you to visit the country by car. Ideally, it should be one of the modern vehicles available at PANEK Rent a Car.