The land of the ancient Vikings, the land of Danes, the land that disrupted the history of western Europe a century ago, Denmark is today a proud country of historical sites, beautiful streets, heritage houses and royal palaces. It boasts of lovely ports, seaside walks, amazing museums and offers one hell of a Scandinavian holiday. From the cities of Copenhagen and Odense to the ancient city founded by Vikings - Aarhus, there are so many tourist places to visit in Denmark. Read on to find out.

Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark and a very beautiful one at that. It is also one of the most liveable cities of the world, quite apparent at first sight, as the land is filled with pristine waterways and coloured harbours, open green parks and palatial homes. The city has a thriving art scene as well as a rich viking history that makes museums a great circuit for tourists. Since Copenhagen was once a Viking fishing village, it has survived with a lot of artefacts from that era. You can visit the Tivoli Gardens - a beautiful theme park, go and see the sculpture of Little Mermaid from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytales, check out the Christianshavn district and go for walks to admire the royal palaces and churches.

Aarhus is the 2nd largest Danish city and was founded by Vikings back in the 8th Century. It is also one of the most thriving hub of culture and arts in the country with loads of festivals, art pieces, events, hip bars, pubs, restaurants and shopping arcades to its credit. The music in Aarhus is also something that distinguishes it from the rest of Europe and Scandinavian land. The city is renowned for the international jazz festival as well as some tourist attractions like Den Gamle By, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Marselisborg palace and the iconic Aarhus Cathedral that dominates the city skyline.

Odense is famous world over because it is the birthplace of one of the most prolific fairytale writers ever, the one who gave us tales like The Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina and The Little Mermaid - Hans Christian Andersen. You will find a ton of museums, art installations, statues and galleries dedicated to the author and his stories. Odense also boasts of a great zoo, some amazing parks, lively bars and quiet islands. The name of the city literally means ‘Odin’s sanctuary,’ and draws its inspiration from the Norse myth. You will love the old Viking castles here, Saint Canute’s Cathedral, Funen’s Abbey and the Funen Village Museum. Do make it a point to gorge on some lovely marzipans here.

Aalborg is a waterfront city that breathes a fresh blow of life into its otherwise industrial set up. The city straddles Limfjord, which is a narrows strait of water. The waterfront nearby makes for a beautiful evening strolling place for locals and tourists alike. There are medieval castles here and Viking burial grounds, great nightlife and some of the best opera and theatre of Denmark. The largest festival of Scandinavia, the Aalborg Carnival, is hosted by the city. When here, do visit Budolfi Church, Aalborghus Castle, Jens Bang’s 17th century Dutch Renaissance and Jørgen Olufsun’s house.

Skagen is a harbour town near the North Sea, falling in the Baltic Region of Denmark. It is a coastal paradise and home to stunning beaches that attract hoards of summer tourists from all over the country as well as abroad. The city also has pretty neighbourhoods to walk around, shop and just chill, as well as showcases its rich art and cultural heritage in museums, galleries and theatre. Visit Green, a long stretch of sandbar with corals, go to the Sand covered Church and enjoy the sand dunes of Rabjerg Mile. There are also amazing sailing options and seafood joints by the sea to amuse your evenings.

Roskilde is known all over Europe for its grand Rock Festival, along with the throbbing music scene in the city. The city itself is a mix of post-industrial and modern architecture, Viking harbours and old towns with cathedrals that look out of fairytales. Roskilde is only a couple of kilometres away from Copenhagen, which makes it a coveted day trip. You can visit the Royal Tomb here at the Roskilde Cathedral, check out the Gothic cathedral, go to the Viking Ship Museum and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Royal Palace, art galleries and other museums.

Sonderborg is a historic city in Denmark, straddling the two sides of Als Sund waterway. Another waterfront city that is also a historic site of two German-Dane wars, Sonderborg is today studded in modern buildings as well. Some of the tourist places to visit in Sonderborg are Dybbol Windmills, Historiecenter Dybbol Banke, Augustenborg Palace and Sonderberg Castle. Due to its close proximity to the German border, the town also sees a heavy German influence and makes for a nice two days sojourn.