Airport
Copenhagen International Airport is a major hub in northern Europe handling about 18 million passengers and 300,000 flights a year. By car, negotiating the 8 kilometer distance to the city center takes around 25 minutes. By rail, the central railway station is 12 minutes away. By air, Copenhagen is 1 hour and 35 minutes from Frankfurt; 1 hr. 45 mins. from London; 1 hr. 50 mins. from Paris; 2 hrs. 40 mins. from Rome; and 8 hrs. 30 mins. from New York.

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Visas
European Union nationals may enter Denmark and stay for up to three months without a visa. For stays exceeding three months, a residence permit is needed, though no work permit is required. U.S. citizens travelling as tourists or on business can enter Denmark without visas and stay for a period not exceeding 90 days, provided their passports are valid at least two months longer than the last day of their visit. Other nationals, such as those from Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia, are also exempt from the visa requirement.

Foreign nationals that require a Danish visa must apply four to six weeks prior to their planned arrival in Denmark. Royal Danish embassies and consulate generals can issue visas valid for a stay of a maximum three months and residence and work permit valid for a maximum one year.

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Currency
The Danish monetary unit is the krone (the plural is kroner); the international symbol is DKK, but most prices are posted simply as 'kr.' The krone is divided into 100 øre. Bank notes are issued in denominations of: DKK 50, DKK 100, DKK 200, DKK 500 and DKK 1.000

Cash dispensers placed outside many banks and at central locations in Copenhagen allow you to use your Eurocard, Visa, Cirrus and MasterCard to obtain Danish currency. Some money exchangers are open even on Saturdays and Sundays. American Express and Euro Traveller's Cheques are cashed by banks and many hotels, restaurants and shops.

Although Denmark is a member of the EU, the country has chosen to retain its currency and not replace it with the euro. However, foreign visitors can still use the euro as a legitimate means of payment in Denmark. Euro coins and notes will not come into circulation until 1 January 2002. At present you can only pay in this currency through a credit card. Click here for currency conversion

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Credit Cards
Major credit cards (American Express, Diners, Eurocard, Visa and MasterCard) are accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops throughout Denmark.

Tipping
Service charges are automatically added to the hotel and restaurant bill in Denmark, so no tipping is required. Tipping for outstanding service is a matter of choice, but is not expected. Tips for taxi drivers are included in the fare.

Useful Numbers
Country dialling code: 45.
Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance): 112

Electricity
Denmark, like most other European countries, has 220-volt AC, 50Hz current and uses two-pin continental plugs. Visitors from the UK will need an adaptor for electric appliances, whereas North Americans need a transformer in order to use their 110/125V appliances.

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Health Risks
No vaccinations or health certificates are required when entering Denmark. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country. Many restaurants have special menus for diabetics, and nearly all have a selection of vegetarian dishes.

Excellent medical facilities are widely available in Denmark. Emergency medical care is supplied by municipal authorities, and hotel staff can direct guests to local emergency centers, hospitals or dental clinics. Emergency treatment at Danish public hospitals is free. Fees for non-emergency medical services are usually payable in cash, and are reasonable by international standards.

If you are taking prescribed medication, bring a supply that will last the duration of your trip since some of your medicines may not be available in Denmark.

Time Zone
GMT
GMT+1 (daylight saving time) from March 26 to October 28

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Business Hours
Business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Banks are open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Thursdays when they close at 6 p.m. Public offices are normally open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursdays until 6 p.m. and on Fridays until around 1:30 p.m. Offices and banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Post office hours are normally 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.

Shop hours on weekdays are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 or 7 p.m. Some shops in Copenhagen and in tourist areas stay open beyond these hours. On Saturdays, many shops in Copenhagen remain open until 5 p.m.

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Holidays 2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
20 Mar Maundy Thursday.
21-24 Mar Easter.
18 Apr Common Prayer Day.
1 May Ascension.
12 May Whit Monday.
5 Jun Constitution Day.
24-26 Dec Christmas.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
9 Apr Maundy Thursday.
10-13 Apr Easter.
8 May Common Prayer Day.
21 May Ascension.
1 Jun Whit Monday.
5 Jun Constitution Day.
24-26 Dec Christmas.

Climate
Denmark's climate, influenced by the gulf stream from the west, is temperate. It has cool summers, with a mean temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, and winters that are not particularly cold, with average temperatures of 1 degree C. Rain falls throughout the year, with the greatest rainfall in September, October and November. The least amounts of rainfall occur in February and April.

Copenhagen's weather is much more like London's or Amsterdam's than that of the other Scandinavian capitals. Click here for a 3-day weather forecast for Copenhagen.

Clothing
An overcoat and warm clothing are needed for late autumn, winter and early spring. Lighter apparel is fine for the rest of the year.

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GDP Growth
1.5%

Inflation
2.1%

Exports
Machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals

Imports
Machinery and equipment, petroleum, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper

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Trading Partners
Germany, Sweden, UK, Norway, France, U.S., Netherlands, Japan

Industries
Food processing, machinery and equipment manufacture, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding

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Teledensity
1.5 people per phone

Government
Denmark, a member of the European Union, is a constitutional monarchy. The Faroe Islands (an island group in the North Atlantic Ocean) and Greenland (located in the Arctic region) are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing administrative divisions.

Denmark has a unicameral parliament -- the Folketing -- which has 179 members. The head of state is the Queen, who appoints the cabinet upon the recommendation of the party or coalition of parties supported by the majority of the members of the parliament. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

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Geography
Denmark, part of Scandinavia, is located in northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany. It consists of the Jutland peninsula and around 406 islands, only about 80 of which are inhabited. The capital, Copenhagen, is on Sealand, the largest island. The entire country is 43,000 square kilometers (16,630 square miles) in area, not including Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

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Population
Denmark : 5.3 million
Copanhegan: 1.7 million

Ethnic Groups
Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German.

Language
Danish, but English and German are widely spoken. Danish belongs to the North Germanic (or Scandinavian) linguistic group together with Icelandic, Faroese, Norwegian and Swedish. The relationship with Norwegian and Swedish is so close that Danish speakers can understand either of the two. In the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Faroese and Greenlandic -- an Eskimo dialect -- enjoy equality with Danish under the terms of the Home Rule Acts.

Literacy
99%

Religion
The Danish State Church is Evangelical Lutheran, and approximately 91% of the population belongs to that church. Other Protestant groups and Roman Catholics make up 2% of the population; other religions, 7%.

Restaurants
Blue Elephant Copenhagen: Blue Elephant is a Thai food lover's paradise.
Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel
Amager Blvd. 70
DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
Tel: +45 33 965 970 (Main)
      +45 33 965 724 (Restaurant)
      +45 33 965 725 (Office)
Fax: +45 33 965 971