Denmark
One Bridge, Two Countries, Countless Memories
TL;DR for the Impatient Traveller
If you’re visiting Scandinavia, don’t make the same mistake I did.
Give Denmark more than a stopover.
Drive across the spectacular Øresund Bridge into Sweden, slow down over Danish coffee and pastries, wander through Copenhagen’s colourful streets, explore the peaceful countryside, and leave time to simply enjoy the country’s relaxed way of life.
Denmark may not shout for your attention but it quietly earns a place in your heart.
The Lost Mumbaikar Says:
“I treated Denmark as a gateway, twice. It quietly reminded me that some destinations deserve to be the journey itself. It might just become the place you remember the most”.
The Country I Regret Not Exploring Enough
Some countries leave you speechless and Denmark belongs firmly in the second category.
When I look back at nearly 100 countries I’ve visited, Denmark somehow doesn’t make it into my personal Top 25. Yet if someone asked me to recommend one European country that offers almost everything; history, design, engineering, food, nature, quality of life, and some of the happiest people on Earth. Denmark would easily be near the top of that list.
That’s my only regret.
We gave Denmark just three days during our December 2019 Scandinavian road trip, using it mainly as our gateway to Iceland. Looking back, it deserved far more time.
It wasn’t my first visit. Back in 2017, while driving through Central Europe after exploring the Czech Republic and Austria on my way towards Norway, I had already spent two days in Denmark. Even during that short visit, it left a lasting impression.
So when we returned in 2019 with our family, choosing Copenhagen as our stopover before Iceland was an easy decision. We already knew Denmark was one of Europe’s finest family friendly destinations; safe, beautifully organised, easy to drive, and offering the perfect balance of history, culture and modern Scandinavian living.
From Finland to Sweden, Norway… and Finally Denmark
By the time we landed at Copenhagen Airport (Copenhagen Kastrup Airport), our Scandinavian adventure had already been unforgettable. We had driven through Finland, experienced the Arctic winter, crossed into Sweden, explored Norway’s spectacular landscapes, and finally arrived in Denmark before flying onward to Iceland.
Denmark wasn’t meant to be the highlight. It was simply our gateway to Iceland. Ironically, it became one of the countries I wish we had explored much more.
After collecting our Audi A4 and loading the luggage, I turned to my wife and said, “We’re going to Sweden.”
She looked at me in complete confusion.
“What? We just landed in Denmark!”
She thought I had changed our itinerary and was taking the family back to Sweden.
I laughed and told her that Sweden wasn’t the destination. I simply couldn’t miss the opportunity to drive across the magnificent Øresund Bridge, one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels and, in my opinion, one of the most spectacular road trips you can experience. Since it was only minutes from the airport, there was no way I was heading to the hotel before crossing it.
Our two boys couldn’t have been more excited. For them, driving into another country within minutes of landing without airports, immigration or border checks felt like pure magic.
Sometimes, the journey itself becomes the first attraction of the trip.
Driving Across the Øresund Bridge
The Øresund Bridge (Øresundsbron) was one of the main reasons I wanted to return to Denmark.
Stretching almost 16 kilometres (10 miles), this remarkable engineering masterpiece connects Copenhagen, Denmark, with Malmö, Sweden, carrying both a four-lane motorway and a double-track railway. Opened in 2000, it transformed travel between the two countries, making it possible to drive from one capital region to another in less than an hour.
What makes the Øresund Link truly unique isn’t just the bridge itself.
About halfway across, the bridge simply disappears.
Instead of continuing over the water, it reaches the artificial island of Peberholm, where vehicles enter the 4-kilometre Drogden Tunnel beneath the sea before emerging near Copenhagen Airport. The design allows some of the world’s largest ships to pass through the busy Øresund Strait without any obstruction while road and rail traffic continue seamlessly underground.
The concept immediately reminded me of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, where the road also transitions into an underwater tunnel beneath the sea to reach the crescent. Having driven through both, I couldn’t help appreciating how brilliant engineering can overcome geography in completely different parts of the world.
As I drove across the Øresund Bridge, I found myself admiring not just the views but the vision behind it. Projects like this aren’t merely about connecting two pieces of land, they connect people, cultures and economies. It’s one of those places that makes you appreciate what human ingenuity can accomplish.
Once we reached Malmö, we parked the car, walked around for a while, grabbed a quick snack and simply enjoyed the feeling of being in another country. Then we got back into the car and drove to Copenhagen again.
That, to me, is the magic of Europe. In many parts of the world, crossing an international border is a major event. Here, it was as simple as deciding to go for a drive.
Sometimes the best road trips aren’t about reaching a destination. They’re about crossing an international border just to enjoy a coffee and driving back with a smile.
A Slow Danish Morning
The following morning, for a change, we decided not to chase kilometres.
After weeks of driving through Finland, Sweden and Norway, Denmark almost forces you to slow down. There was no rush, no fixed itinerary, just the joy of wandering through Copenhagen and discovering places as we went.
We found a cosy café, ordered freshly brewed Danish coffee and, of course, tried what Denmark is famous for around the world: wienerbrød, the authentic Danish pastry. Buttery, flaky, light and dangerously addictive, it’s one of those things you simply have to experience in Denmark rather than anywhere else.
With coffee in hand and no real plan, we spent the day exploring Copenhagen. Some places we had already marked as must-visits, while others we stumbled upon simply by walking around.
Among the highlights were:
- Nyhavn – Copenhagen’s iconic waterfront lined with colourful 17th-century buildings, Christmas decorations and lively cafés.
- Amalienborg Palace – Home of the Danish royal family, where you can witness the famous Changing of the Royal Guard.
- The Little Mermaid – Denmark’s most photographed landmark, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless fairy tale.
- Strøget – One of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets, perfect for soaking in the city’s atmosphere.
- Rosenborg Castle – A beautiful Renaissance castle housing Denmark’s crown jewels.
Of course, three days were never enough.
We missed places like Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, Christiansborg Palace, the Round Tower, Frederik’s Church (The Marble Church) and a canal cruise through Copenhagen’s picturesque waterways. Those alone are enough to justify another visit.
That’s the charm of Denmark.
It doesn’t overwhelm you with famous landmarks. Instead, it quietly grows on you through its cafés, waterfronts, bicycles, architecture and relaxed way of life.
Some countries impress you the moment you arrive and Denmark simply makes you want to come back.
Into the Danish Countryside… and a Night to Remember
The next morning, we left Copenhagen behind and simply started driving.
That’s one of the things I love most about Europe. You don’t always need a destination. Sometimes you just follow the road and let the country surprise you.
The Danish countryside was exactly that snow-covered forests, charming villages, endless farmland, windmills and beautifully maintained roads. Every few kilometres we found another church, another lakeside view or another village that tempted us to stop for a few minutes.
There was no checklist.
No race to tick off attractions.
Just the freedom to drive wherever the road took us.
If you have more time than we did, I’d also recommend visiting Kronborg Castle (Hamlet’s Castle), the dramatic white cliffs of Møns Klint, Roskilde with its UNESCO-listed cathedral and Viking Ship Museum, or taking a scenic drive along Denmark’s coastline. They were all on our list, but three days simply weren’t enough.
That evening turned into one of our favourite memories of Denmark.
Although Denmark isn’t famous for wine, curiosity got the better of us, so we ordered a few local wines. To our surprise, they were excellent. It reminded me that one of the greatest joys of travel is trying something a country isn’t necessarily known for.
We then wandered into a couple of beautiful centuries-old restaurants and pubs, the kind with wooden beams, candlelit rooms, low ceilings and stories hidden within their walls. Sitting inside buildings that had welcomed travellers for hundreds of years made the evening feel even more special.
Traditional Danish food, local wine, great conversations and an atmosphere you simply can’t recreate in a modern restaurant.
Hours disappeared without us noticing.
When we finally stepped outside, it was almost 3 a.m.
Our two boys were still happily playing in the snow, completely entertained while their parents forgot about the time.
No famous landmark.
No bucket-list attraction.
Just one of those perfect travel evenings that no itinerary can ever plan and somehow, those become the memories that stay with you the longest.
Waiting for Iceland
By our final day, excitement had reached another level.
The next flight would take us to Iceland.
Almost all our Iceland planning had been done while we were in Denmark; studying maps, checking weather forecasts, deciding which waterfalls to visit, debating ice caves, glaciers and black sand beaches.
Little did I know then that Iceland would eventually become my favourite country in the world.
But every great journey has a starting point.
For us, Iceland began in Denmark.
And because of that, Denmark will always hold a special place in our family’s travel story.
The Lost Mumbaikar Reflection
Denmark reminded me that not every destination has to overwhelm you to leave a lasting impression.
Some countries amaze you with dramatic landscapes. Others with iconic landmarks. Denmark does something different. It quietly wins you over through its simplicity, thoughtful design, peaceful atmosphere and the feeling that life doesn’t always have to move at full speed.
We visited it twice, yet I still feel we’ve only scratched the surface.
If there’s one thing I would change about both trips, it would be giving Denmark more time. Some places are destinations. Others become reasons to return. Denmark, for me, is firmly in the second category.
Travel isn’t always about seeing everything. Sometimes it’s about discovering just enough to know you’ll be back.
Your Turn:
- Have you ever visited a country expecting it to be just a stopover, only to leave wishing you had stayed much longer?
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