World Country Guide

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Food & Drink
Smrrebrd is a highly popular traditional Danish dish that is often eaten for lunch. It consists of a slice of dark bread with butter, topped with slices of meat, fish or cheese and generously garnished. It bears no resemblance to traditional sandwiches and needs to be eaten sitting down with a knife and fork. Buffet-style lunch (the koldt bord) is also popular with a variety of fish, meats, hot dishes, cheese and sweets, usually on a self-service basis. Danes do not mix the various dishes on their plates but have them in strict order. A normal Danish breakfast, or morgen-complet , consists of coffee or tea and an assortment of breads, rolls, jam and cheese, often also sliced meats, boiled eggs and warm Danish pastries. Given its geographical position, it is not surprising that shellfish also forms an important part of Danish cuisine. Apart from traditional dishes, French or international cuisine is the order of the day. In Copenhagen, superb gourmet restaurants can be found, whilst lborg is noted for its impressive number of restaurants. Most towns have ‘fast food’ outlets for hamburgers and pizzas, and the sausage stalls on most street corners, selling hot sausages, hamburgers, soft drinks and beer, are popular.
Danish coffee is delicious. Denmark also has many varieties of beer, famous breweries being Carlsberg and Tuborg. Most popular is pilsner (a lager) but there are also darker beers. The other national drink is akvavit, popularly known as snaps, which is neither an aperitif, cocktail nor liqueur and is meant to be drunk with food, preferably with a beer chaser. It is served ice cold and only accompanies cold food. There are no licensing hours.

Note
The Danish Hotel and Restaurant Association displays signs indicating restaurants where the needs of diabetics are given special attention. It consists of the words ‘Diabetes mad – sund mad for alle’ (‘Food for Diabetics – healthy food for everyone’) encircling a chef’s head.

Nightlife
There is a wide selection of nightlife, particularly in Copenhagen, where the first morning restaurants open to coincide with closing time at 0500. Jazz and dance clubs in the capital city are top quality and world-famous performers appear regularly. There are numerous beer gardens.

Shopping
Copenhagen has excellent shopping facilities. Special purchases include Bing & Grndal and Royal Copenhagen porcelain, Holmegrd glass, Bornholm ceramics, handmade woollens from the Faroe Islands and Lego toys. Visitors from outside the EU can often claim back on some of the MOMS (VAT) on goods purchased that are sent straight to their home country from the shop in Denmark. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900/1000-1730/1800; Sat 0900-1700. Supermarkets are often open Mon-Fri 0900-2000. Opening hours vary from town to town since shops can regulate their own hours. At some holiday resorts, shops are open Sunday and public holidays.

Special Events
Festivals take place throughout the summer in nearly every town in Denmark, featuring street festivities and performing artists. For a complete list of festivals and cultural events in the different regions (published in several languages) contact the Danish Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Denmark in 2005:
Jan 15 Opening of the Royal Danish Opera at Doken, Copenhagen. Feb 6-7 Shrove Tide Tilting at the barrel, close to Copenhagen. Mar 11-13 Holmboe in Horsens (classical music festival), Mid Jutland. Apr 21-24 Odense Folk Festival. May 28 Half-marathon across the Great Belt, Korsr. Jun 21-Jul 3 Viking Plays, Lindholm Hje, lborg, north Jutland. Jun 30-Jul 3 Roskilde Festival (music festival). Aug 3-7 Post Danmark Rundt (bicycle race). Sep Champion of the Baltic (regatta and boat race), Bornholm. Oct 14 Night of Culture (various locations). Nov 10-13 Silkeborg's International Puppet Theatre Festival. Dec Christmas Markets and Celebrations (countrywide). Dec 3-4 & 10-11 Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market, Odense.

Social Conventions
Normal courtesies should be observed. Guests should refrain from drinking until the host toasts his or her health. Casual dress is suitable for most places but formal wear is required at more exclusive dining rooms and social functions. Smoking is restricted on public transport and in some public buildings. Tipping: Hotels and restaurants quote fully inclusive prices and tipping is not necessary. Taxi fares include tips. Railway porters and washroom attendants receive tips.