Denmark: When to Go

Late June, July and August are high season, with open-air concerts including the big ones such as Roskilde, street activity and basking on the beach. Other bonuses: longer opening hours at museums and other attractions, and potential savings on accommodation (some hotels drop their rates). Downsides: lots of other travellers celebrating midsummer with gusto. Mitigating factor: in late August, Danish kids are back in school - so you get the summer weather but fewer crowds.

May and early June can also be delightful for a visit. The land is a rich green, accented with fields of yellow rapeseed flowers; the weather is generally warm and comfortable; and you'll beat the tourist rush. Although autumn can also be pleasant, it's not nearly as scenic, as the rural landscape has by then largely turned brown. Winter, with its cold weather and long nights, is pretty inhospitable to tourism. Many destinations close up in October and don't open again until late April.

Weather

Denmark's temperatures are fairly similar across the country. Summers are short with temperatures around 20°C (70°F), dropping significantly at night, and flatlining quickly outside the months of June to August; by winter, temperatures hang around 0°C (32°F). Rain is fairly moderate but consistent throughout the year. Overall, if you can bear the odd seriously cold winter, it's fairly pleasant year-round.