Day 22 (31 March): Oslo to Copenhagen

Having spent a couple of solid days in Oslo, in 33 days it will be time to say goodbye to Norway for this trip and hello to Denmark! Our flight departs Oslo just before 9am, and with a 2 hour pre flight airport arrival time, it’s an early start… but not too early! We thought about taking the train, but it was the best part of a day to get between Oslo and Copenhagen. The flight is just over an hour. We’ve heard so many good things about Copenhagen, and Denmark in general, so we wanted the extra day to experience it.

Denmark’s history dates back to the Viking Age (8th–11th centuries), when Norse seafarers from the region explored, traded, and raided across Europe. The Kingdom of Denmark was officially unified in the 10th century under King Harald Bluetooth, who is credited with introducing Christianity.

During the Middle Ages, Denmark was a powerful force in Scandinavia, controlling parts of present-day Sweden, Norway, and even England for a time. In 1397, Denmark joined Sweden and Norway in the Kalmar Union, which eventually dissolved in the early 16th century.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw Denmark engaged in numerous wars, especially with Sweden. In the 19th century, Denmark lost Norway (1814) and later suffered territorial losses to Prussia in the Second Schleswig War (1864). The country remained neutral in World War I but was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.

After the war, Denmark became a founding member of NATO and later joined the European Union in 1973. Today, it is a highly developed, democratic nation known for its strong welfare system, environmental policies, and high quality of life.

Can’t wait to start exploring this country!

Copenhagen’s colourful buildings