2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide - (Page 14)

DENMARK DENMARK GRENADA FINLAND FINLAND FACTS May to September FUN FACT: Denmark offers some of the world's most unique accommodations- from a prison hotel and a Stone Age village, to a lighthouse, a haunted castle and a prairie wagon. Even a Mongolian yurt! GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Copenhagen from New York (JFK) ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Danish Krone LOCAL FOODS: Rye bread; Danish rice pudding; smoked herring; Danish cheese; and smorrebrod, an open-faced sandwich. Do reserve a table at one of the many Michelin-starred restaurants, and do try New Nordic cuisine, which focuses on the slow food movement and locally sourced ingredients BEST BUYS: Danish butter cookies; figurines; porcelain kitchenware; Viking jewelry; scarves; and chocolate INFORMATION PLEASE: visitdenmark.com BEST TIME TO GO: Copenhagen Castles, palaces, gardens, aquariums-Copenhagen, Denmark's capital and its most populated city, has it all. It's also one of the most cutting-edge cities in the Nordic region, home to Christiania, a green and car-free neighborhood considered a "society within a society" where visitors will find a mix of homemade houses, workshops, art galleries, music venues, cheap and organic eateries, and beautiful nature. SEE: There's a world of museums, gardens and attractions waiting to be discovered in Copenhagen, but for something a little different explore the city's TV and film locations. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of "The Killing's" Sarah Lund (think woods, police headquarters and city hall) or delve into "The Danish Girl" by visiting Copenhagen's historic street, Snaregade, The Royal Theatre and Charlottenborg Palace. SAVOR: If you want to experience Copenhagen like the locals, you have to jump in the saddle...in the saddle of a bicycle, that is. Visitors can go at it alone-city bikes come with built-in GPS and tourist information-or opt for a member of The Association of Authorised Tourist Guides, which in all speak 27 languages. Do jump on the city's new cycle bridge, The Bicycle Snake, which offers a fun ride along the harbor. SIGNATURE EVENT: Throughout the summer the harbor is home to the Sand Sculpture Festival, featuring 10 giant sand sculptures created by international sand artists. STAY: The 17-room Nimb Hotel, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member, is a Moorish-styled palace with a striking Venetian marble facade facing the Tivoli Gardens. It offers four dining options, including a cellar wine bar, and Danish-styled rooms with fourposter beds, original works of art and high-end technology, as well as views of the gardens. CRUISE: Copenhagen is an ideal jumping-off point for cruises to the Baltic countries, and is an excellent departure point for cruises along Norway's west coast to the North Cape and the midnight sun. It's also a top choice for cruises to the British and North Atlantic Isles such as Greenland and Iceland. Helsinki FACTS May to September Despite their reputation of elusiveness, the Northern Lights appear 200 nights a year in Finnish Lapland GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Helsinki connecting through Amsterdam ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: The Euro LOCAL FOODS: Mammi (Finnish Easter pudding); Baltic herring; Runeberg tarts; kaalikaaryleet (cabbage rolls); lohikeitto (salmon soup); karelian pastry, made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice; and you'll find berries everywhere BEST BUYS: Reindeer canned meat; Salmiakki candies; sauna gifts; glassware; and avant-garde accessories INFORMATION PLEASE: visitfinland.com BEST TIME TO GO: FUN FACT: 14 In seaside Helsinki, which runs along the Baltic Sea, you can hopscotch from the Ateneum Art Museum, with more than 20,000 works of art, to the Market Square, the National Museum of Finland and the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, displaying cottages, farmsteads and manors of the past four centuries that have been relocated from all around Finland. This capital city, which is home to some 600,000 people, is located on the tip of a peninsula and on over 300 islands. SEE: Hop on a ferry to the island of Suomenlinna, which is only a 15-minute ferry ride away from the Market Square and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the "fortress of Finland," this island, which does not charge an admission fee, features the King's Gate, the entrance gateway to the fortress; barracks; a church; and a prisoner of war camp memorial, among other sights, including six museums. SAVOR: Dive into the capital city's gastronomy. Trendy restaurants offer New Nordic Cuisine; pop-up restaurants appear in the streets, parks and homes of Helsinki during Restaurant Day, held four times a year; and in June, Taste of Helsinki offers up delicious fare from the city's best restaurants. SIGNATURE EVENT: The annual Cirko Festival 2016, taking place May 5-15, is the largest new circus festival in the Nordic countries, presenting cutting-edge new circus from Finland and abroad. STAY: The 171-room Klaus K property, a Design Hotels member, is inspired by a Finnish epic poetry, "Kalevala," with each of the guestrooms depicting a theme that illustrates the "Kalevala's" primary emotional desires, including envy and passion. There are three room categories, Sky Balcony, Sky Studio and Sky Loft, and guests staying in the Loft have access to the rooftop terrace, which offers panoramic views of the city. CRUISE: As Finland's busiest port, Helsinki welcomes almost 300 visits from international cruise ships-Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Viking Ocean Cruises, among others- and over 400,000 tourists during the summer months. http://www.visitdenmark.com http://www.visitfinland.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Ghana
Kenya
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Senegal
Tanzania
Egypt
India
Israel
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide