Family holidays to Denmark

One of Europe’s smaller capitals, Copenhagen’s charming and easy to get around, keeps most districts close to the centre and throws in dozens of big, beautiful beaches just for good measure. The historic quarter’s where to find the restored harbour, quaint Nyhavn where Hans Christian Anderson had no less than three homes. Classically lovely Frederiksberg great for shopping and huge parks. Østerbro’s the laid back, green and very Danish, family district. And if you want to feel cool, even with kids in tow, head to Vesterbro: recently added to the world’s top 15 hippest neighbourhoods list.

• There really isn’t a bad area to look for somewhere to stay in the centre of Copenhagen. Pretty much every district has a choice of three and four star family hotels. Think design hotels and hostels in the historic quarter, they’re good value and look amazing.
• Don’t miss Tivoli Gardens; swimming at Kalvebod Bølge in Vesterbro; Nyhavn for the quaint waterfront and Little Mermaid statue; Frederiksberg Zoo; shopping on Strøget (Europe’s longest pedestrianised street); and Den Blå Planet Aquarium.
• Never skip breakfast in Copenhagen, it’s the best meal of the day in a city sensationally famous for food. Try Møller Kaffe & Køkken in Norrebro to start with.

Just half-an-hour from the city centre, Vestegen is the beachy and barefoot seaside Copenhagen for family summer holidays. But it’s an all-year-round attraction for locals who come for windswept winter weekends, sailing in spring and water sports pretty much any time.

• Great for heritage guesthouses, waterfront resorts, pretty hotels and self-catering cottages.
• Don’t miss ARKEN the contemporary art museum big enough to justify its own island; the Circus Museum; Ole Rømer’s observatory; and the Kroppedal Museum.

North, south and west Zealand surrounds Copenhagen. It’s an amazingly diverse holiday region, easily driveable from the city centre for a day and with a huge choice of places to stay if you’re tempted to linger – you will be.

• Head north for beaches and pretty seaside towns on the Danish Riviera; Elsinore and Hamlet’s Castle; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art; Fredensborg Castle and the Karen Blixen Museum.
• South Zealand’s where to find the Møns Cliffs and go island hopping on the Smålandshavet archipelago,
• West Zealand is endless coastline and the area for Denmark’s famous fjord beaches.

Denmark’s second largest city and, officially the happiest on earth, is just three hour’s drive from Copenhagen on the east coast of the Jutland Peninsula. It’s European Capital of Culture 2017 (jointly with Paphos in Cyprus) but, even in an ordinary year, you won’t be starved for things to see and do here.

• Several of the country’s most celebrated museums are in Aarhus including ARoS Art Museum, Den Gamle By Old Town Museum and Landsbrugmuseum for Children.
• 13% of the entire population are students so the atmosphere’s young, upbeat and lively. It’s also less expensive to eat and live here than in Copenhagen but no less endowed with Michelin stars and annual food festivals.
• Don’t miss the Tivoli Freheden theme park; the Moesgaard Museum; Silkeborg Aquarium and Aarhus Botanical Gardens (the Tropical Houses are amazing in winter).

Wild and romantic Jutland is where Denmark keeps its most remarkable fjords, remote and lovely North Sea islands, vast sand dunes, deserted beaches and ancient forests. It’s a mysterious and enchanting region but even its most remote northern point at Skagen in just over three hours’ drive from Aarhus.

• Visit North Jutland for gorgeous beaches, the shifting sands at Skagen, Thy National Park and Denmark’s motherlode of Viking heritage.
• South Jutland’s where Germany and Denmark share the Wadden Sea and kids can adventure round Legoland Ninjago.
• The beaches in West Jutland are the best in a country with no shortage of fantastic beaches. It’s also the area for Wadden Sea National Park and where the coastline’s just known as a 500km long natural playground.