Denmark

Denmark is a country I’ve not only traveled to but even ‘lived’ in. Long story short: back in 2010, I started university. By 2011, I didn’t have good enough grades to go on a semester abroad. The whole reason why I went to that damn faculty was for its study abroad opportunities. So I pulled my act together for like one semester, got the grades, and then with those barely-pass grades, I could choose from like four countries that didn’t give a shit about my GPA. As a result, I chose Aarhus, the second-biggest city in Denmark, and its School of Business and Social Sciences.

Aarhus is where a random Pole taught me how to hitchhike on my request. And like a true ‘expat’ or Erasmus ‘student’, I saw nearly nothing of the country—or the inside of my faculty.

Nevertheless, I’d like to make up for that original sin. I was mostly absent during my five-month Erasmus stint because I was hitchhiking in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. So one day I’ll have to do a do-over and see more while being soberer. And that’s okay with me.

Next Time in Denmark:

  • Hitchhike even more
  • Visit those unique parts that are technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark: the Faroe Islands and Greenland
  • Travel off to the island of Bornholm and Christiansø. Back in 2013 during my first major hitchhiking trip, I stood on the coast of Świnoujście with some old Danish kroner in my hand ready to pay for the ferry across, but they only accepted Polish złoty. And no, thought of exchanging it hadn’t crossed my mind
  • Hitchhike the Øresund Bridge to or from Sweden. This has been on my Marvellous Masterpieces of Human Engineering bucket list for ages, so this is definitely something I finally want to do
  • Finally, finally visit Møllehøj, the highest point of Denmark at 171masl. There was talk in my chaotic household to hitchhike there and plant the Polish flag atop, but somehow the 40 kilometers between Risskov and this hill meant an insurmountable obstacle for a depressed brain or two
  • Revisit Aarhus. I’d like to see the old places I’ve lived in and experience them while dissociating. Also, I’ve never been to that damn famous rainbow panorama in the ARoS art museum
  • Visit some kickass islands by ferry or another boat, such as Fur, Ærø, Læsø, that aptly-named Langeland, Rømø, Anholt, Sejerø, and, for example, Birkholm or wherever. I there are any super-tiny islands I could visit by kayak, ferry, or hitchhiking a sailing boat, I will love it
  • Hit up a bunch of exciting Danish lighthouses
  • In general, I want to experience more of Danish nature, such as the Mønsted Kalkgruber caves and Søhøjlandet
  • Get lost in the Samsø Labyrinten, the world’s largest labyrinth
  • Visit some abandoned places, such as Hadsund Airport and… If you know some cool urban exploring places in Denmark, drop them in the comments below!
  • Revisit Skagen and finally go to the sand-covered church, which I just pedaled by the last time

Share your Danish Tips and Links!

If you know cool places and things to do in Denmark, comment at the bottom of this page so I can always find your suggestions again once I start plotting my return! Tips especially welcome if you are Danish or lived there for a while

Are you a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Denmark? Then drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!

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