Esbjerg, Denmark

Capital City

Nobody comes to Esbjerg for a holiday - it's an industrial port town, not a tourist destination. With a population of 71,554, it's the fifth-largest city in Denmark, but the bureaucracy is a persistent headache. The climate is mild, thanks to the city's location on the North Sea, but the weather is firmly oceanic. For those drawn to Denmark's offshore energy and shipping industries, Esbjerg may be worth considering, but it's hardly a charming Scandinavian idyll.