Helsingor

Small cruise ships dock close to town centre.

Quays 1-3 are a 5 minutes walk away.

Cruise ships larger than 150m anchor, and passengers tender to King quay's new two-sided pier.

A printable map to take along.

Before the Malmö-Copenhagen Øresund bridge was completed, ferries between Helsingborg and Elsinore carried most trans-scandinavian transit and tourist traffic. Heavy Sound traffic remains because the border is densely populated on both sides. Ferries are generally cheaper than bridge fees and often follow a shorter route than the bridge.

Helsingborg Castle is extremely impressive, with ramparts sometimes more than 20 feet thick and stunning views. It was Shakespeare's Hamlet setting, and Hamlet performances are sometimes staged there. Its extensive grounds, moats and ramparts are easily reached from landing stages; this visitor-friendly castle gives a fascinating view of Denmark's military, maritime and royal history.

Although the city is quite spread out, most sights other than the technical museum are in the compact centre, making walking the best option.

Modernised quays lead to Culture Yard, an architectural highlight with many facilities skilfully fitted into the converted former-shipyard buildings. It borders Danish Maritime Museum, itself strikingly installed in a dry dock. The museum's extensive artifacts and innovative displays give visitors of every age an impressive, interactive view of the maritime world.

Pedestrian streets Kullagatan, Bruksgatan and Södra Storgatan are the main shopping areas.

Väla, one of Scandinavia's largest shopping centers, is just outside the city.

Denmark does not belong to the EURO-monetary system, though major shops will probably price goods in both Danish kroner and EURO (€). Most major international credit cards are accepted across Denmark.

Danish is the language, and english is widely spoken.

Many cafes, mainly around the main railway station, give customers free WiFi. The city library also provides it, 10-15 minutes' walk from the port.

For emergencies, call 112.

Opening hours are Mon-Thu: 10 am-5.30 pm, with supermarkets to 8 pm; Fri: 10 am-6 pm; Sat: 10 am-2 pm. Some tourist-area shops, especially in summer, open beyond their usual hours.

Shops may open on the first Sunday each month and on every December Sunday before Christmas Eve. If a first Sunday falls on a holiday or Constitution Day, they remain closed. Ordinary shops are also closed on public holidays, including Constitution Day, 5 June, and Christmas Eve, December 24. Kiosks, bakeries and station shops are usually open after 5 p.m. on Saturdays and on Sundays.