2025 in Denmark (Copenhagen stopover)
// updated 2025-08-30 16:00
On June 13, 2025, I took a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup (CPH) as a precursor to a cruise; the flight took about 8 hours, flying from 17:10 to 07:05 the next morning (after adding 6 hours for the time change):
- 17:10 - flight SK950 takes off for Copenhagen
- 17:30 - drinks were served (had a Bache-Gabrielsen cognac, a Norwegian-French brand)
- 18:00 - meals were served (had cod, rice, salad, bread and cake)
- 19:00 - sleep attempt (knowing the clock time would change quickly!)
- 23:30 - (or 05:00 with the time change) - "breakfast" (a warmly-heated sandwich)
- 06:30 - landing, with my first sight of Denmark
- 07:00 - de-planing began
This stopover made it my:
- 34th country to date
- my first time in continental Scandinavia (aside from my trips to Iceland)
- my 5th time in continental Europe
Upon arrival in Copenhagen:
- 07:15 - customs check-in with European Union (EU) customs
- asked for my purpose of visit and length of stay in the EU
- the "interview" took less than a minute without incident
- 08:00 - coffee purchased
- automated 7-Eleven kiosk for DKK 37 (C$8)
- barely slept the previous night so much needed
- 08:30 - boarded the next flight to Stockholm Airport (ARN)
- 09:00 - flight SK1418 took off
The second flight had a more "domestic flight" feel as it only lasted about an hour:
- 09:15 - Sweden sighted
- plane flew over the Øresund Strait
- saw a lot of wind turbines
- 09:30 - beverages (non-alcoholic) offered
- 10:00 - landing in Stockholm
Stockholm would become home for the next two nights before boarding the Norwegian Dawn for a Baltic cruise with:
- a return to Denmark on June 24th via the cruise ship in Aarhus
- a return to Copenhagen on June 27th after having disembarked from the Norwegian Dawn
Reflection
Not very much happened during this short "time" in Denmark, expect for the usual airport layover stuff. However, I did get that first sticker shock of the price of a cup of coffee in Scandinavia!
Also, aside from the Internet, I heard Danish for the first time. Danish has a "springy" sound at the end of syllables which makes it a pleasure to hear :)