Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

40 pieces of magic mushrooms, 5 grams of hashish, five LCD-laced papers or other materials with LSD, 1.5 grams of heroin, 1 gram of cocaine, and 2 grams of methamphetamine were decriminalized in 2009. However, carrying any of these drugs is still a misdemeanor, which could result in a fine up to 15,000Kc. Carrying drugs across an international border—drug trafficking—is a serious criminal offence.

      Petty Crime and Scams: A common scam in bars and nightclubs involves a local woman inviting a traveler to buy her drinks, which end up costing exorbitant prices. The proprietors may then use force to ensure the bill is paid. In bars, never open a tab and instead pay for each drink as you order it, as the tab bill may include drinks you never ordered, and once again, the proprietors will force you to pay. Check the prices of drinks before ordering. Con artists may also pose as police officers in metro stations and tell you your ticket is invalid, demanding that you pay large fines. To avoid this, make sure you buy a ticket and validate it, in which case you know you are in the right. Another scam involves one person approaching you in Old Town Square and asking if you’d like to hear a riddle. While you’re distracted, an accomplice may try to steal your personal belongings.

      Credit Card Fraud: Credit card fraud is also common. If you think you’ve been a victim of this, contact your credit card company immediately. Children may also approach you asking to sign a petition and provide a donation. These petition sheets are often fake, and the children are in cahoots with con artists.

      Pickpockets: Pickpockets are common in crowded tourist areas such as Old Town Square, Prague Castle, and the Charles Bridge, as well as on public transport. Avoid too-crowded public transit and always keep an eye on your personal belongings.

      DENMARK

      The Scandinavian countries are Rand Paul’s worst nightmare. They’re the ultimate “nanny states”—overly taxing their people (most of whom are pretty okay with it), and giving back something more akin to a safety king-sized bed than a net. Denmark has characteristically high taxes and significant benefits for its people, but compared to Sweden and Norway, Denmark really plays it fast and loose. The Danes love to drink all day (and all night), still allow smoking indoors in some places, and, best of all, don’t have a ridiculous government monopoly on alcohol (looking at you, Sweden and Norway). Whatever’s going on over there seems to be working, though. The Danes are routinely ranked the happiest people in the world, thanks largely to a cultural mindset that is equal part bemusing and unpronounceable (see: hygge). Long story short, the Danes just think happy, and it works. For the whole country. Incredible. Denmark straddles the border between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. Like its northern neighbors, it is still obsessed with Vikings and you’ll find at least one museum exhibition dedicated entirely to furniture, but Denmark also contains the Renaissance castles of France, the picturesque canal-side waterfront of Italy, and the bike-friendliness of Amsterdam. Don’t worry, though: with typical Scandinavian prices, you won’t mistake Denmark for Germany any time soon. Your dollar won’t take you as far here as, well, pretty much anywhere else, but, as Socrates once said, “you get what you pay for.” In Denmark, that means “hostels” that are more like four-star hotels and “street food” markets reminiscent of premium food courts. But, if you’re okay setting a budget, trying to stick to it, and quickly realizing that your bank account is emptying faster than Copenhagen during the summer vacation season (seriously, it’s so damn long), experiencing Denmark is worth every krone.

AARHUS

      Coverage by Eric Chin

      Aarhus has come a long way since it was founded in the eighth century as a Viking settlement. Over the centuries, buildings rose, buildings burned, Christianity and the plague arrived with mixed results, and people came—so many people that Aarhus is now Denmark’s second largest city. Today, Aarhus is trying out a bold new look—one with apartment buildings designed to look like icebergs and libraries and playgrounds under the same roof – but it hasn’t forgotten its origins. The oldest part of the city, Latinerkvarteret, remains a cultural center for shops and restaurants, and despite several new high-rise buildings, the towering spire of Aarhus Cathedral remains still stands as the tallest point in the city. Despite this rich history, Aarhus is Denmark’s youngest city demographically, thanks to a large student population. Combine that with a bustling tourism industry, and the result is everything from budget hostels to grand hotels, burgers and Vietnamese to Michelin-starred restaurants, and Irish pubs to Bond-style cocktail bars. Copenhagen may be the city to visit in Denmark, but you’d be remiss not to give Jutland a try, and there’s no better place than Aarhus.

       ORIENTATION

      Aarhus doesn’t have neighborhoods that are as distinct as in, say, Copenhagen, there are certainly distinct areas. The area known as Aarhus C is sometimes also called Midtbyen, and stretches north from Aarhus H to several streets past Aarhus Cathedral. Here you’ll find almost all the major sights in the city, including restaurants, museums, and the busy nightlife streets Åboulevarden, Skolegade, and Frederiksgade. The area between Aarhus Cathedral and the Ring 1 Road to the north is known as Latinerkvarteret (The Latin Quarter), and is the oldest part of the city. To the west of the city center is Vesterbro, a largely-residential neighborhood that includes cultural attractions like the Botanical Garden and Den Gamle By.

       ESSENTIALS

      GETTING THERE

      Aarhus Airport (AAR) is a tiny airport located about 35mi. northeast of the city. Departures mostly go to Copenhagen. There is an airport bus between Aarhus Central Station and Aarhus Airport scheduled for each flight. Tickets can be purchased on the bus for DKK 115. The easiest way to get to Aarhus is by train via Copenhagen, a journey of 3-4hr. Aarhus’s main train station is Aarhus Central Station (Aarhus H), and there are many trains between Aarhus H and Copenhagen Central Station (København H) each day, often more than one per hour. Train service in Denmark is operated by DSB. Tickets (DKK 400) can be purchased at either station.

      GETTING AROUND

      Most attractions are within walking distance. To go beyond the city center (to the Moesgaard Museum, for example), Aarhus has a system of buses run by Midttrafik with several ticket options. Single tickets can be purchased with cash at a kiosk on the bus for DKK 20 for two zones, which covers the city center and immediate suburbs. Tickets can also be purchased for 24hr (DKK 80), 48hr (DKK 120), or 72hr (DKK 160) at the Aarhus bus station (Aarhus Rutebilstation, Fredensgade 45). The Danes are famous for loving their bicycles, and Aarhus is no exception. The city has a free city bike system for use October-April. There are a few important rules, though. Lights must be used at night, and you have to provide your own. You also need a 20 DDK coin to unlock a bike, which is returned to you when you return the bike. There are bike stands near many important cultural and recreational sites, and can only be used in the city center.

      PRACTICAL INFORMATION

      Tourist Offices: Dokk1 (Hack Kampmanns Plads 2; 87 31 50 10; open M-Sa 10am-4pm, Su 11am-2pm)

      Banks/ATMs/Currency Exchange: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Aarhus, though you may have to pay a small fee to use an international card. Currency exchange and ATMs (sometimes called “pengeautomat”) can be found at Aarhus Central Station or on main streets Sønder Allé and Store Torv.

      Post Offices: The Danish postal service is run by PostNord (Posthus Superbrugsen; Vesterbro Torv 1; 70 70 70 30; open M-F 1pm-5pm).

      Internet: Free internet is widely available in Aarhus, and can be found in hostels, museums, and most cafés and coffee shops. Many shops and restaurants will advertise free Wi-Fi with window stickers.

      BGLTQ+ Resources: LGBT Aarhus is available on Thursdays 6pm-8pm at Café Sappho (Mejlgade 71; 86 13 19 48; lgbt. dk; Facebook