Travellers heading away for the festive season and being warned
If you are heading abroad this year to visit some of the world’s best Christmas markets, then you may want to read up on items you can and can’t wear as you wander around. As warned by the Foreign Office on its official GOV.UK website, people are being told that there is a dress code they need to adhere to.
In the section about safety and security under ‘laws and cultural differences’, the travel experts warn: “It’s illegal to wear clothing that conceals your face in a public place in Denmark. There are legal exemptions – for example, face masks for health reasons.”
If you break this rule, such as wearing a face covering to keep you warm during winter, then this could land you in hot water. “If you cover your face in public, you may get a fine of 1,000 krone (around £115). If you do it again, the fine can increase,” they added.
Discussing temperatures, weather-atlas states that in December, Denmark is a winter month which is “characterised by cold temperatures, short daylight hours, and a high probability of snowfall. Average temperatures drop sharply, ranging from -0.6°C (30.9°F) to 4.4°C (39.9°F). The weather gets increasingly colder as the month progresses, with temperatures often dropping below freezing, especially at night”.
As well as ensuring people wrap up warm whilst avoiding a fine, you should also be aware that Denmark follows Schengen area rules. This means that your passport must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before October 1, 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area
You should check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements and of course, renew your passport if you need to. If you fail to do so, you’ll be denied entry if your travel document is not valid.
