Denmark Holiday

Once the centre of a Viking kingdom that stretched across the globe, Denmark has been reduced to the smallest of the Scandinavian countries over the centuries – yet this Norse nation manages to balance itself on top of the European continent, embracing characteristics of both regions.

Coming a long way from a nation of angry men in horned helmets, the modern Danish lifestyle is distinctly Scandinavian with a high standard of living, friendly faces and fashionable design.

Denmark's countryside is dotted with the ancient castles and ring forts of its turbulent history, which saw the nation rise and fall as a world superpower.

In the Viking age around the tenth century AD, the Danes terrorised and influenced nations from Germany to parts of Britain, expanding the Danish Empire.

By the 16th century, the Danes controlled much of northern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as Iceland and Greenland.

However, with the abolishment of absolutism in the mid-1800s, Denmark gained a constitution and parliament. A succession of relinquishments of land and a position of neutrality in the two world wars meant the Danish people finally defined their borders and concentrated on political stability.

Visitors to Denmark today find it a well-organised, clean and cultural country, rightly proud of its past yet striving to produce a socially-conscious future.

The nation's capital for 600 years, Copenhagen exemplifies the mix of style the country offers. With row after row of period buildings, beautiful churches, glittering rivers, green parks and modern amenities, the city caters for the interests of all.

"Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen", the home of fairy-tale legend Hans Christian Anderson, is not the biggest of world cities but offers a tantalising mix of sea, rivers, design, shops, bars and polite locals speaking perfect English.

The city supplies its visitors with a fine array of activities, including an assortment of boat tours to view the city from one of its most flattering angles, on the water.

Copenhagen's historic architecture and handsome persona get an even better view from the sea. Tourists can also view the long-suffering Little Mermaid statue at the shore – decapitated twice since she came to rest there in 1909.

In winter the nation gets alluringly festive, with the city of Copenhagen transformed into a magical labyrinth of snow-topped exuberance, topped with hundreds of lights and decorations as beautiful as a richly-iced Danish pastry.

Denmark's second largest city, Aarhus, was founded in the tenth century by the Vikings, but now houses a population of around 280,000 much calmer Danes.

Famous for its university and the Aarhus Festival in the first week of September, the city sits on the east of the mainland of Jutland.

Travellers to the mainland can also pay a visit to one of Denmark's most famous attractions – Legoland, situated in the middle of Jutland.

The theme park features rides, displays, shopping and shows – and of course, lots of small plastic bricks.

The country has a temperate climate for most of the year and is not quite as cold as its Scandinavian cousins Norway and Sweden, yet the winter months do have a small number of daylight hours.

Flights into Copenhagen leave from locations all over Europe, and the International Airport is just nine kilometres from the city centre. Buses and trains connect the city to the rest of mainland Denmark - and a striking new bridge links the country to Malmo in Sweden.

The tolerant country that brought the world Lego, offers sleek jazz festivals and exports fantastic bacon is certainly worth a visit – but it is probably best to avoid the comedy Viking helmet.