Copenhagen in Denmark is one of Europe’s oldest capitals and home to the nation’s parliament, government, and monarchy. It is the nation’s largest city with a population of over 1 million. Copenhagen is a very attractive city with water canals, narrow streets and old stone buildings. It is proud of having the highest level of life in the world, has fun together with the street musicians and sparkles with thousands of its lights in the Tivoli garden. Copenhagen offers lots of entertainment, museums, art galleries, restaurants, botanical gardens, wild parks and many more. It is a city suited for tourists and easy to explore.
The city can be cold in the winter so the most popular times to visit are in the summer months. Accommodations range from youth hostels and budget accommodation to exclusive five star hotels. For visitors there are many theaters, museums, art galleries and musical entertainment choices which will make your stay in the royal city memorable. Copenhagen City Hall Square in the center of the city can hold over 50.000 people for events. At one side of the square is the world famous Tivoli Gardens which features an amusement park which was established in 1843. It is worth a stroll around to check out the old world village like atmosphere featuring rides and restaurants. On the other side of the City Hall Square is the pedestrian shopping street Strøget a excellent starting point for shopping expeditions.
Another famous attraction is the Amalienborg Palace which is the residence of the Danish royalty and is actually four different palaces set out surrounding a square. At noon visitors gather to watch the changing of the guard. For kids there are many attractions including the Copenhagen Zoo, the National Museum, the Aquarium or the New Carlsberg Glyptotek. There are also public beaches within easy reach of the city. Be sure to try out a saunas which is part of the Danish culture. Cuisine in Copenhagen offers a variety of choices ranging from basic meals including smorrebrod (open sandwiches), frikadeller, (meatballs) and pølser, (hot dogs) to the ultimate in fine restaurants. There is a growing number of North African and Middle Eastern restaurants influenced by recent immigrants to the area. Cafes and pubs abound as Denmark is renowned for its beer including the world famous Carlsberg lager.
Copenhagen has a thriving nightlife. Most nightclubs get going around midnight and are busy until dawn. Dancing, live music, and jazz clubs are all popular night time attractions. Copenhagen’s international casino draws large crowds interested in gambling. For opera lovers the Opera House in Copenhagen is one of Europe’s most modern and impressive buildings and features top notch opera. The Danish Royal Theatre dates from1872 and is home to the country’s highly rated theater and ballet performances.The Christiania area of the city was developed in the early 1970s by hippies who developed their own laws which were independent of the Danish government. It is now an area famed for art and a diversity of cultures.The famous Little Mermaid statue is one of Copenhagen’s most famous landmarks and attracts almost one million tourists every year. Nyhavn is the old harbor area and is a picturesque area not to be missed. Nyhavn includes many quays with boats and is a fun area to explore.
Denmark is the smallest Scandinavian country, consisting of the Jutland peninsula, north of Germany and over 400 islands of various sizes. If you are considering getting into international business with any of the Scandinavian countries, you should first be aware of the cultural differences in each country and adapt your business plan accordingly. If you are entering into a business venture with Denmark, you will need to be well versed with their business attitude and etiquette. Having a thorough knowledge of what should and shouldn’t be done in terms of business etiquette will make your business dealings easy in this country. When interacting with business owners and company representatives from Denmark, ensure that you are well prepared.
Although, the Danes are known to be calm when it comes to business meetings, but they are also known to be scrupulous when it comes to analyzing information and data. So, make sure that you are well informed about the business venture and are ready to answer any questions that might arise. It is advisable that you avoid planning business trips during holiday months like July and August. This is because you will only have a skeleton staff available to help you should you choose to set up a business in Denmark at this time.
Another tip to doing business with companies in Denmark is to dress well during business meetings. The Danes are known to have a high-standard of living and a strong appreciation for fine things, but despite this, flamboyance is frowned upon. You will need to dress well but in a manner that does not call too much attention to yourself, else you might create an impression of haughtiness.
In Denmark, punctuality is highly valued, so do your best to make sure that you don’t run late for a meeting. However, if you do, ensure that a phone call is made citing a valid excuse for your tardiness. The Danes use the expression ”heij” (pronounced ”Hi”) and this is used both upon greeting and departing. When addressing people, it is advisable to use the first name and then their surname.
Keep in mind that the Danes value personal space and do not like to be in very close proximity with people. Therefore, when interacting with the Danes ensure that there is enough space between you. Denmark has a tolerant and open-minded society, so do not worry if you make a mistake in social etiquette when interacting with them, as this will not have damaging consequences to your business.
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