If you’re planning a festive trip abroad to explore some of the world’s top Christmas markets, it’s worth brushing up on what you can and can’t wear while you’re there. The Foreign Office has issued a warning via its official GOV.UK website about a dress code that must be followed.
In the safety and security section under ‘laws and cultural differences’, it cautions: “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 violate this rule, such as wearing a face covering to keep warm during winter, you could find yourself in trouble. “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,” the experts added.
Discussing temperatures, weather-atlas state 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”.
So, while ensuring you stay warm and avoid fines, remember that Denmark follows Schengen area rules, which means your passport must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 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.