Odense, Denmark

Dodge

Going to Odense for football in early August. have flights booked with Ryanair to Billund but everything else is still up in the air.

Anyone every been? Think I've to get a train from Billund to Odense.

Recommendations on what to do more then welcome

ApeXaviour

Never been to Odense, but I lived in Denmark, near Roskilde for a while. So maybe I could say a few general things on the country?

The danes all speak english, it's not rude to just begin speaking in english in a shop etc. as it is in other countries.
Public transport is great, if expensive. If you think you'll be doing a bit, then get the klip-cards from a DSB or 7-11. Speaking of 7-11's they're quite pricey (like centra here but even more expensive if you can imagine that!). But they have some redeeming features. They're open 24-7 and they sell some very strong beer throughout this time. A couple which are over 10%vol. May I recommend for taste Carl's Porter. And if you're on a budget, a 7-11 crawl.

The people are fairly tolerant, and so are the cops if damn scary looking.

Prices vary a lot depending on where you go. The three main supermarkets. I can't remember the most expensive except that that's what it is. I suppose like superquinn quality but, god, I've never spent so much money on food. Kvickly is middle, like tesco then Netto is the best for price if not choice. Okay I take it you're just going on a trip so this is fairly useless info. Expect the price of beer in a pub to vary considerably too. You could spend the equivalent of between 2 and 7 euro depending on where you go.

Dodge

Cheers, all tips/hints welcome

mallet head

I lived there for a while in the 90s and would recommend staying in Aarhus If you are in that general part of the country. Odense is ok but Aarhus has a good nightlife and decent Irish community. The danes can also be reserved in my experence especially the older generation who's English tends not to be as good as the younger folk. All in all you should have a good time but as the previous poster said if you shop around the bars there can be massive savings to be had.



Enjoy your stay.

katnip

Transport from Billund is not direct. You need to take a bus to either Vejle or Kolding and from there transfer to a train to Odense, in total about 2 hours travel. You'll need cash to pay for bus. When you're getting the train you can buy a seat reservation for an extra 20kr if you want it, so when you get your ticket plads=seat and vogn=train carriage. www.dsb.dk for train timetables.

Odense is Denmark's 3rd biggest city but known as Denmark's biggest country town so not a huge amount going on like Copenhagen. They have two hostels, one in the centre next to the train station and the other about a 10 minute cycle into the suburbs - www.danhostel.dk. They also have a campsite, check out Dansk Camping Union.

It's also known as one of the world's best cycle cities, definitely hire a bike, it's so easy to get around.

If you're coming to Odense I hope you like Hans Christian Andersen because they're nuts about him here. So lots of sights, etc. focused on him and his work.

Nightlife centered around the downtown pedestrianised street areas. Ryan's Irish bar just off Albanigade is pretty popular.