The little mermaid looks forlornly out to sea in Copenhagen

Long gone are the days of roaming, bloodthirsty Vikings. Today this diminutive Scandinavian nation is among the most enlightened and socially progressive in Europe.

Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, is a clean, green, dream of a city, home to the radical 'free city' of Christiania and the kitsch fairytale fairground Tivoli Gardens. The cities of Odense and Arhus are also lively cultural hubs, but it is worth venturing beyond Denmark's museums, cafes and bars to explore the muted beauty of the Danish countryside. 

Here you'll find gently undulating meadows, dense forests, picturesque historic towns, a theme park built entirely out of blocks of Lego, Viking fortresses, Renaissance castles, the chalk cliffs at Mons Klint, the sand dunes of Rabjerg Mile, over 7,000 kilometres of unspoilt coastline and more than 400 offshore islands. 

Survival guide

Although Denmark enjoys a mild, inoffensive climate, winters are nonetheless cold and dark and not the best time to visit. May and June are ideal months for travelling in Denmark as days are generally warm and long and the countryside is bursting with colourful flowers. The tourist high season is July and August, and these are also the best  months for outdoor festivities, street performances and enjoying Denmark's extensive coastline. 

Danish is the official language, but English and German is also widely spoken, especially in Copenhagen, Odense and Arhus. If in doubt just ask: 'Taler du engelsk?' (do you speak English?). 

The currency is the Danish krone. Denmark is a relatively expensive country to travel around, but if you are frugal and stay in youth hostels and avoid eating in restaurants three meals a day, it is possible to get by on slightly less than US$50 a day.

Traditional Danish fare is hearty and delicious. You could seriously pile on the pounds by indulging in those ubiquitous sweet pastries, open rye bread sandwiches (smorrebrod), pickled herring, pork and veal meat balls - all invariably washed down with gallons of beer or shots of throat-burning schnapps.

Being a relatively flat and bike-friendly country, Denmark is an ideal destination to peddle around. There are thousands of kilometres of cycling trails carving through the cities and the countryside and 11 designated national cycle routes. Denmark's public transport system is among the best in Europe and its network of buses, trains and ferries makes getting around supremely easy for the visitor.

Copenhagen International Airport is the main international gateway to Denmark and is located 8km from central Copenhagen. Some budget airlines also service Malmo-Sturup Airport, 61km from Copenhagen in Malmo, Sweden. Malmo and Copenhagen are linked by the 16km-long Oresund Bridge and a shuttle bus and regular trains make the trip from the airport to downtown Copenhagen across this awesome structure.

Denmark is also linked by ferry services from Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands and Sweden.