Please see our Disclaimer and Definition page before reading further to prevent any misunderstandings.

Driving and Driving Standards

The driving standards in Denmark are very good and in the main it is a relaxing country to drive in.  Most Danes don’t speed and we saw no traffic police or cameras though TomTom alerted us to 2.  There are some slight differences that you should be aware of:-

• Towns are generally 50kph limit indicated by the town name in white, and then back to national limit 80kph when you see the town name crossed out.  If the town name is in blue then the current limit applied.
• When you turn off a main road, even at traffic lights, be wary of cyclists/pedestrians as they may have right of way even if you have a green light.  For instance, turning right at a traffic light, a cyclist on the inside of you can go straight on and have right of way, and as you turn pedestrians may be crossing with a green man! 
• You must drive with your dipped lights on all the time.  (95%+ of people comply)

Tolls

There are only 2 toll roads in Denmark, and these are the main bridges – one between Fyn (Funen) and Zealand – 225 DKK for <6m, and one between Copenhagen and Sweden.   There are numerous ferries you may need or want to take between various parts of Denmark.

Road quality

Good standards but much quieter than UK roads.  The “Daisy Route” is more picturesque but you need a map to see where it actually goes!  Avoiding motorways is easy and not that much slower most of the time.  Towns are generally okay and not too stressful.

Fuel Prices/ Availability

Diesel maybe 25% cheaper than UK.  Slightly cheaper than Germany.  Note prices vary up to 20% per station, and even 10% depending on time of day!  Most garages are “pay at pump” type, and be aware foreign credit cards are charged extra.  Easier to pay cash up to 200DKK notes, but no change given.

LPG is rarer but enough stations around (see my GPS database).  Probably twice UK price though.

Parking

Parking is generally free except in cities and some towns, but even moving out a few 100m parking can be free.  Some parking, especially near centres, is restricted.  “1 Time” is “1 hour”, “2 Timer” is “2 hours” etc.  You must have a parking disk (available at tourist info) to use these areas, and simply set the clock to the time of ARRIVAL. 

Signs may say when the parking restrictions apply, such as 9-17 meaning 9am to 5pm, and if the restrictions apply on Saturday then they are given in brackets below, and if they apply on Sunday then they appear in Red below that.  We did see a German car getting a fine, so ensure you comply.

Best Aires Guides

Please remember to look at our GPS database pages where we list everywhere we stayed as well as the databases we used.

Bordatlas is okay but not fantastic in Denmark

All The Aires (Scandinavia) is lacking in detail on the free motorway network, so can’t really recommend.

Danish Camper has all the motorway aires listed, also available online http://www.parkel.dk/dacf/vand__wasser__water.html

Availability and quality of Aires

Not many aires are available, especially overnight ones.  Most aires are on the motorway network and are simply service points.  These services points are generally okay, pretty clean, and we had no problems on our trip.  The facilities we used were always free in Denmark.

Many marinas allow campervans to stay as do some farms.

Overall View of Motorhome trip in Denmark

Denmark is a nice place to visit – doesn’t have any real naff areas, but doesn’t have that many “wow” factors along the way.  No complaints as we enjoyed our trip, but probably isn’t the most memorable as a whole.  Would we come back again?  Denmark is a small country, so in 3-4 weeks you are likely to have seen most things.  So we’re unlikely to return for a long trip but happy to visit if we pass through on future trips.

Which trips detail Denmark

Trip 7 – 8 weeks around Holland, Germany and Denmark

Is Wildcamping permitted

Wild camping is illegal and banned everywhere, however Overnight Parking is “Tollerated”.  This means that if you confine all your activities to the inside of your van then you comply with the law and it isn’t a problem.

Be aware, Denmark has various signs at possible wild camping areas:-

“No Camping”, or Caravan/tent crossed out.  This means a reminder to “no camping”.  I understand you can still park a van there overnight, but I would ensure the van was parked only, and we would not outstay our welcome (e.g. overnight one night only)

“No motorhomes” or “No Overnight Stays”.  A fairly rare sign, but clearly you can’t stay there overnight in a camper.  On some carparks with “No Motorhomes” on, I don’t think you can actually park either?  Though this was never an issue for us.

(FYI – see http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftopict-92508-.htmlto help with your research)

WiFI / Internet Availability

Very easy – almost always open/unsecure internet within 5 minute walk of any built-up area.  Tourist Info/Libraries also have plenty.  McDonalds don’t seem to bother here.

Other tips

• Food is very expensive.  A fresh baguette, maybe 50p in UK, is £2.  Other items 30-80% more than UK, and in some cases a lot more.  Standard beer £5 a pint and eating out can be £15 for burger and chips.
• Most people, especially young, speak perfect English.
• Cans have a 1DKK refundable deposit – all supermarkets take them back, smaller ones at checkout, others have automated machines at recycling area.
• The main tourist season seems to be July to mid August, so things slow down from sometimes from mid August and almost akways from September.  Some attractions close on Mondays off season – and don’t expect some activities to run.
• All the Danes we spoke to are very friendly indeed, however – when driving and walking, opening doors, and moving out of the way for instance, you will seldom get a “thank you” or acknowledgement.  This isn’t rudeness as it is in the UK, just the way they do things I guess!