The Best Active Vacations in Denmark

Fishing: For centuries, much of Denmark relied on the sea and whatever the country's fishermen could pull out of it for its diet. Since then, no smørrebrød (open-faced sandwich) buffet has been complete without a selection of shrimp, herring, and salmon. The preparations of plaice, cod, eel, perch, and trout are culinary art forms. The seas off Funen, especially within the Great Belt, have yielded countless tons of seafood, and that tradition has encouraged anglers and sports enthusiasts to test their luck in the rich waters of the Baltic. Many outfitters can introduce you to the mysteries of fresh- and saltwater fishing.

Biking: A nation of bikers, Denmark has organized the roads to suit the national sport. A network of bike routes and paths is protected from heavy traffic, and much of the terrain is flat. Bicycling vacations are available as inclusive tours that cover bike rental, ferry tickets, and accommodations en route. Some deluxe tours transport your luggage from one hotel to the next. For more information, contact the Danish Cycling Federation, Rømersgade 7, DK-1362 Copenhagen (tel. 33-32-31-21; www.dcf.dk).

Camping: With about 550 officially sanctioned campgrounds, Denmark has one of the highest numbers, per capita, of campgrounds of any nation in the world, and living in a tent or a pop-up trailer in the great outdoors is something of a national obsession. There are plenty of campsites near the city limits of Copenhagen, and many more are located around the country in areas of scenic or historic interest, some near the sea. The official website and address of the Danish Camping Federation is www.campingraadet.dk. Either via their website, or by calling or writing them at Campingrådet, Mosedalsvej 15, DK-2500 Valby (tel. 39-27-88-44), you can request that the staff send you information about the nation's campsites. Other sources of information about camping are available at www.visitdenmark.com (the official website of the Danish Tourist Board), or an equivalent site, www.dk-camp.dk, which lists more than 300 campsites that are privately owned. You can obtain a free DK Camping Danmark catalog at all DK-CAMP camping grounds, tourist offices, and many service stations.