<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Denmark</title><link>https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark</link><description>Denmark</description><item><title></title><link>https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark/denmark-laws-on-substances-guns-natural-resources-and-more</link><description>Drugs, guns, photography.. There are laws around these things in Denmark. Find out how to stay on the right side of the law in Denmark.</description><pubDate>2018-05-04T10:00:00Z	</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark/denmark-laws-on-substances-guns-natural-resources-and-more</guid><author></author><source>https://www.worldnomads.com</source><body>&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#gay-travel"&gt;LGBTQ&lt;/a&gt;+&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#goods"&gt;Importing Goods&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#drugs"&gt;Drugs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#drive"&gt;Drink Driving&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#photo"&gt;Photography&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#porn"&gt;Pornography&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#nude"&gt;Nudity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#sex"&gt;Prostitution&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#guns"&gt;Guns&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="gay-travel"&gt;LGBTQ+&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Homosexuality is legal in Denmark&amp;nbsp;as are same-sex marriages. Copenhagen has a lively gay community, and there are plenty of gay-friendly venues around town. LGBTIQ travelers will also find this to be the case in other towns and cities around Denmark.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="goods"&gt;Importing goods into Denmark&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Denmark is&amp;nbsp;strict about its natural resources, on the mainland as well as its territories. You cannot take certain gemstones or precious and semi-precious metals from Greenland and, while whale meat is available in the Faroe Islands, importing it to other EU territories may incur a fine or even imprisonment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="drugs"&gt;Drugs&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Offenses involving illicit drugs carry strict fines. Marijuana is considered a soft drug in Denmark, and penalties for possessing it won't be nearly as strict as they are for carrying a substance like cocaine. However, there are still consequences to breaking the law and those found carrying drugs deemed to be for personal consumption will receive a 500 kroner fine (US$80 or 67 Euros). Denmark's Euphoriants Act (1955) states that drug violations can result in up to two years jail time. Being under the influence of illegal substances or alcohol while driving or riding a bike can lead to large fines and long jail terms. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The area of Freetown Christiania is an interesting outlier in Danish society. It became an autonomous neighborhood in 1971 and has fewer than 1,000 residents. The area operated under its own set of rules separate from Danish government and banned all violence, weapons, theft, illicit drugs and gang affiliation. Christiania specialized in selling marijuana and hash on the aptly named Pusher Street until trading was banned in 2004. Since then, it has gradually been reentering normal Danish society. Despite the ban, sellers still vend their green wares.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Perhaps it's for these reasons that residents are strict on certain things, such as taking pictures anywhere in the neighborhood (visitors should note it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings elsewhere in Denmark) and visiting just to buy drugs, which are still sold, just not openly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="drive"&gt;Drink driving&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The legal limit in Denmark is 0.05% and if you get caught over the limit, you will cop a harsh financial penalty and possible time in a Danish prison. Should you be convicted in Denmark, you could be banned from entering other countries in the&amp;nbsp;Schengen area for up to six years.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="photo"&gt;Photography&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some venues and government buildings do not allow photography, so always ask before you start to snap away. It's also a nice gesture to&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/how-to-take-photos-responsibly"&gt;ask someone if they mind being photographed&lt;/a&gt; if you are photographing a subject up close.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Little Mermaid Statue&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Little Mermaid statue is one of Copenhagen's most famous landmarks however&amp;nbsp;there is a law governing the use of any photographs taken.&amp;nbsp;The family of the sculptor, Edvard Erikson is very protective of the statue's copyright, so much that anyone who takes a photo and uses it in any publication or for business purposes will&amp;nbsp;receive an invoice for the use of the image. Several Danish newspapers have been slugged a fee for using images of the bronzed ocean beauty.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="porn"&gt;Pornography&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pornography is legal in Denmark, and it became the first country in the world to legalize it in 1969. Pornographic publications are freely available, and there is a dedicated porn TV channel. Be careful however if you decide to sample some magazines for souvenirs, you may not be allowed to bring them home or take them into another country if you are traveling on.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="nude"&gt;Nudity&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nudity is permitted on Danish beaches, with several beaches dedicated to those who want to be sun-kissed in the buff (with the exception of Henne Strand and Holmsland Klit). Always look out for signage before you strip off, to avoid embarrassment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="sex"&gt;Prostitution&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prostitution was decriminalized in Denmark in 1999. However, there are some associated activities which are still classified illegal such as prostitution by non-residents, operating a brothel and pimping.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="guns"&gt;Guns&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Guns are rarely carried by regular citizens in Denmark, and a special license and test are required. Police officers and military personnel carry guns. If you're caught with a gun without a license, you could face a jail term. Since so few civilians own guns, weapon-related crimes often involve knives.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;</body><imageAttribution>iStock/SeanPavonePhoto	</imageAttribution><haveImageSyndicationRights>0</haveImageSyndicationRights><imageLicsensorId>	</imageLicsensorId><imageLicensorName>iStock	</imageLicensorName><imageCaption></imageCaption><video></video></item><item><title></title><link>https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark/denmark-crime-and-night-time-precautions</link><description>Denmark is one of the safest countries in the world, but petty crime does happen. Here's what you should look out for to stay safe.</description><pubDate>2018-05-04T10:00:00Z	</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark/denmark-crime-and-night-time-precautions</guid><author></author><source>https://www.worldnomads.com</source><body>&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#crime"&gt;Crime hot spots in Denmark&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#transport"&gt;Public transport safety in Denmark&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#hotel"&gt;Hotel safety&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#scams"&gt;Scams in Denmark&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="crime"&gt;Crime hot spots in Denmark&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Even the safest countries have their crime problems. This Scandinavian nation has recently experienced a rise in gang violence, particularly among immigrant groups.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These altercations are centered in the main immigrant enclave of N&amp;oslash;rrebro in northwest Copenhagen. A spate of shootings has taken place due to the rivalry between the Loyal to Familia gang from&amp;nbsp;Bl&amp;aring;g&amp;aring;rds Plads in N&amp;oslash;rrebro and Brothas from Mj&amp;oslash;lner Park in the outer N&amp;oslash;rrebro area. In 2017&amp;nbsp;there were more than 30 shootings and four fatalities as a result of the gang war.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Recent news stories have reported immigrant populations from North Africa and the Middle East feel growing animosity directed at them due to these gang clashes. They claim that any non-European is looked at like a second-rate citizen in Copenhagen, which has a sizable Muslim population.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you feel&amp;nbsp;victimized or discriminated against due to your ethnic background, race, or nationality, you can contact the local police (emergency number 112) and reach out to your country's embassy or consulate. Denmark also has the &lt;a href="http://www.erstatningsnaevnet.dk/da/GlobalMenu/english.aspx"&gt;Criminal Injuries Compensation Board&lt;/a&gt;,&amp;nbsp;where you may be able to seek compensation if you are seriously injured in a crime. Incidents must be reported to police within 72 hours to be eligible for this program.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Foreign and local biker gangs in Denmark are involved in violent and organized crimes connected to drug trafficking. Hells Angels, Bandidos and German Guerilla Nation are some groups connected to drug-related crimes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Freetown Christiania&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Freetown Christiania is a self-proclaimed autonomous state within Copenhagen&amp;rsquo;s city limits, a short walk from the bustling food market at Paper Island. It attracts tourists due to its weird and wonderful d&amp;eacute;cor, graffiti and noticeable acceptance of all things marijuana. It is sometimes referred to as 'Mini Amsterdam'. Until a recent clampdown, it was possible to buy soft drugs out in the open on Pusher Street.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Today, sellers still vend their green wares but may wear masks and are camera-shy. There is no photography allowed on Pusher Street, and it is frowned upon in Christiania as a general rule. Picture taking may be met with visible hostility from the 850-strong resident community. The Hells Angels are believed to be heavily involved in cannabis dealing in the area.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Christiania is a lawless enclave. Do not walk around unaccompanied after dark for your own safety. Some female travelers also report feeling unsafe during daylight.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Vesterbro&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Vesterbro area is one of the less-affluent parts of Copenhagen&amp;nbsp;and travelers may encounter prostitutes soliciting and drug users, although the area is witnessing rapid gentrification.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some shootings have occurred in this area, so exercise caution when walking at night. Remove yourself from any location or situation that seems suspicious or hostile.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&amp;Oslash;rstedsparken&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Travelers report this area is a &lt;em&gt;beat&lt;/em&gt; for gay men clad in leather - a.k.a. 'bears'. if you are approached (and are not interested) politely decline and you'll be fine.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&amp;Aring;rhus&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some travelers, especially men, advise against walking around in the city at night, reporting stumbling drunks looking for a fight. Another traveler said he was offered some shots of alcohol in a bar there and didn't remember getting home. Football fans can be volatile if their team loses or they encounter a fan of the opposing team. Aarhus GF football team fans are nicknamed &amp;ldquo;Ultra White Pride&amp;rdquo; and are known for clashes with fans of rivals teams.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="transport"&gt;Public transport safety in Denmark&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pickpockets and purse-snatchings have been reported at train stations including Copenhagen Central. While it's never smart to carry items like passports, if apprehended by officials you should have some legal documentation with you. Carry a copy of passport.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pickpocketers operate on buses and trains, and at Copenhagen Airport. Thieves often work in pairs so one can distract the victim while the other commits the crime.&amp;nbsp;Thieves may barge into you or trip you to distract you before lifting your wallet.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="hotel"&gt;Hotel safety&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some thieves may be harder to spot, as many &lt;g class="gr_ gr_1415 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="1415" data-gr-id="1415"&gt;dress&lt;/g&gt; well and wait in hotel lobbies and other places frequented by travelers. They operate under the assumption that guests feel&amp;nbsp;safe, drop their guard and are more likely to leave bags and purses unattended.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Never put a bag on the back of your chair, including your computer bag, which is a popular item stolen in city centers. Thieves also target cars, so lock up all valuables in the hotel safe and remove everything valuable from your car.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="scams"&gt;Scams in Denmark&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Gambling scams&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Str&amp;oslash;get Street is known for street gambling, another tourist trap that may drain your wallet in the blink of an eye. Some travelers confessed that they fell for the scheme, which involves guessing where the right playing card is or which cup a ball is hidden under. These street scammers can make you lose as much as 500 kroner fast. In Roskilde, travelers have&amp;nbsp;reported being approached by scammers trying to show them a trick with a ring. Be cautious and don't give into curiosity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Bird poo scam&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;in a scam that has popped up in several European countries, unsuspecting victims are splashed by a substance and are offered help by strangers who then help themselves to valuables.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;Fake police&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some travelers have reported being asked for ID by police officers using the excuse that they are looking out for drug dealers. They will then ask to see how much money you have on you and ask for a bribe. Some will demand to frisk you, in the process relieving you of your wallet.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Real Danish Police would never ask for a bribe so always ask to see ID. If the fake officer doesn't budge, make a scene or offer to head to the local police station. They will soon leave you alone.&lt;/p&gt;</body><imageAttribution>iStock/SeanPavonePhoto	</imageAttribution><haveImageSyndicationRights>0</haveImageSyndicationRights><imageLicsensorId>511063315	</imageLicsensorId><imageLicensorName>iStock	</imageLicensorName><imageCaption>Copenhagen, Denmark</imageCaption><video></video></item><item><title></title><link>https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark/denmark-expenses-and-rip-offs</link><description>"Moms" What is it? You'll see this in the price in virtually every purchase, including accommodation rates, meals and retail items in Denmark. Here are a few ways you can save some kroner.</description><pubDate>2018-05-04T10:00:00Z	</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/northern-europe/denmark/denmark-expenses-and-rip-offs</guid><author></author><source>https://www.worldnomads.com</source><body>&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#crime"&gt;Crime Hot Spots in Denmark&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#transport"&gt;Public Transport Safety in Denmark&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="#hotel"&gt;Hotel Safety&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Budgeting tips&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some seasoned travelers and former residents recommend budgeting about 500 kroner (DKK) a day, roughly the price of a pair of jeans in the country, but you can whittle it down to closer to 300 kroner if you skimp on many things and try to prepare or cook your own food instead of eating out. Everyday items&amp;nbsp;such as milk and bread can also run high. Drinking is also very expensive -- as high as 35 kroner, which equates to US$5.58 or 4.70 Euro. You might want to "pre-game" at your hotel or a restaurant to avoid breaking the bank on pricey beers at the pub. Cans of&amp;nbsp;local beer can be bought relatively cheaply at any supermarket. A hostel dorm ranges from US$21-33 (132- 207 kroner) Staying in a 2- or 3-star hotel is about 650 kroner a night, which equates to US$103.67 and 87.33 Euro. A fast-food meal is about 60 kroner, or US$9.57 and just over 8 Euros and restaurant burgers are generally more expensive than in other countries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Transport tips&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There is no need to take an expensive taxi from Copenhagen airport to the city center. Getting into town from the airport is remarkably easy with the Metro. Simply hop on metro line M2 and you&amp;rsquo;re in the center in minutes. The cost of this journey is around US$5.58 or 35 kroner and you can buy tickets from the red/white machines clearly marked &amp;ldquo;Tickets/ Billetter&amp;rdquo;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Cheap eats&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;One traveler said that a way to cut down meal costs is by going to buffets. Some restaurants will do buffet-style during the day and leave out the VAT (Moms), which&amp;nbsp;reduces the cost significantly. Expect to spend anywhere from 70 kroner for a pasta buffet to 140 kroner for something more substantial. Most restaurants go back to their standard, tax-added menu prices for dinner.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hot dog stands feature in several Scandinavian countries including Denmark and can give you a cheap but filling option for as little as 19 kroner. Pizza shops will often run lunch specials for 40 kroner or less and kebab shops sell delicious plates with pita bread, meat or falafel, rice or fries and salad for 60-80 kroner.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Another great way to save money is to pack a picnic and head to a nearby park or garden for a relaxing cheap lunch. Some local attractions also have designated areas where people can relax and eat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It's also worth checking out Copenhagen's street food market, Copenhagen Street Food&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Accommodation &amp;amp; shopping&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For accommodation options, one traveler praises Denmark's vast array of camping grounds and hostel offerings, both of which can be great ways to cut down on the cost of your stay. The condition of hostels in most areas of the country is also a little better than the dingy backpacker havens seen elsewhere and may look more like boutique hotels, particularly in the lounge areas. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Those looking to spare some change for souvenir shopping may find Copenhagen's Str&amp;oslash;get Street suitable, but some travelers caution that clerks may try to overcharge in the already expensive city. Cafes, shops and other spots may try to get in on the "let's make an extra buck off tourists" game. Get outside the main tourist destinations to cut down the chances of being taken for a retail ride.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Save on sightseeing&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Despite the price tag of&amp;nbsp;some&amp;nbsp;attractions and activities in Denmark, there are plenty of free things to see and do which can save you money.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Take a walk down the colorful and vibrant waterfront area of Nyhavn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Check out 65 million-year-old fossils at the World Heritage Listed area of Stevns Klint, one hour from Copenhagen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Discover the Viking way of life at Trelleborg.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There is also the&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://copenhagencard.com/"&gt;Copenhagen Card&lt;/a&gt; which travelers can buy and gives you free transport, free access to 86 attractions, discounts on tours, restaurants and more. The card is available as a 24hr to 120hr card depending on how long you stay in the city. The card is bought online and&amp;nbsp;can be collected at Copenhagen Airport or other service centers upon presenting a printed receipt voucher.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Cash or card?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cash is the way to go in Denmark, as payments made by credit card incur a fee as high as 3 percent. ATMs are prevalent, so take out cash from there or convert it to DKK before you come. If you choose to withdraw cash at the airport, be sure to shield your pin from prying eyes and check that no one is following you. People have been robbed on the metro train into the city after using the ATMs at the airport. Be cautious and keep a constant eye on your belongings.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Though prices may be displayed in Euros in many establishments, Danish businesses are not obliged to accept anything other than the official currency.&lt;/p&gt;</body><imageAttribution>iStock/balipadma	</imageAttribution><haveImageSyndicationRights>0</haveImageSyndicationRights><imageLicsensorId>	</imageLicsensorId><imageLicensorName>iStock	</imageLicensorName><imageCaption></imageCaption><video></video></item></channel></rss>