Why go
Understanding the map makes trip choices easier: Jutland connects to continental Europe, Copenhagen sits on Zealand, Odense is on Funen, and Bornholm lies apart in the Baltic. The coasts and islands offer very different settings from inland towns, especially on an exposed shore.
The full story
Mainland Denmark is the Jutland peninsula, which meets Germany to the south. East of it lie Funen and Zealand, home to Odense and Copenhagen respectively. Bridges link Jutland, Funen and Zealand, while ferries connect many smaller islands. Bornholm sits farther east in the Baltic Sea, so it calls for a separate travel decision rather than a casual detour from Copenhagen. The land is generally low, with rolling farmland and a coastline that changes character from place to place. Northern Jutland has broad sandy shores and dunes; the southwest coast faces the tidal Wadden Sea. Elsewhere, islands, bays and straits keep the water close to the route. The contrast between open North Sea exposure and the more sheltered eastern waters is useful when choosing a coastal stop. Weather can change quickly between continental and maritime influences, and daylight varies strongly by season. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are self-governing parts of the wider Danish Realm, but they are geographically separate from a trip through Denmark itself.