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Travel guide
Copenhagen
4 days · 8 things to do
Best time to go: May to September
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Welcome
Copenhagen, in a few days
The Danish capital is best seen by bike, between the coloured houses of Nyhavn, the old rides of Tivoli and the canals of Christianshavn. It has turned hygge into a way of life and design into a creed, from the Torvehallerne food halls to the street food of Reffen. Compact and calm, almost everything is within twenty minutes' cycling.
- Day by day
- D1 Day 1 2 things
- D2 Day 2 2 things
- D3 Day 3 2 things
- D4 Day 4 2 things
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
The trip
Day by day
Map of the sights (numbers follow the suggested order). It prints with the base map.
D1
Day 1
2 things to do · at your own pace
- Morning · Nyhavn free · about 1 hThe canal of painted houses, once a sailors' harbour, where Hans Christian Andersen lived for some twenty years and old wooden ships still moor.
- Afternoon · Christiania free · about 1 h 30The self-proclaimed free town set up in 1971 in former barracks, still self-governing; the lakeside path along the ramparts passes remarkable self-built homes.
🛏️ Where to sleep · Absalon Hotel€150 a night
D2
Day 2
2 things to do · at your own pace
- Morning · Tivoli Gardens · half a dayAn amusement park opened in 1843 in the city centre, with an old wooden roller coaster, flower gardens and thousands of lanterns lit after dark.
- Afternoon · Copenhagen by bike · about 2 hWide cycle lanes, bike bridges and flat streets; the loop from Nyhavn over Inderhavnsbroen to Christianshavn and Islands Brygge gives the best harbour views.
🛏️ Where to sleep · Ibsens Hotel€140 a night
D3
Day 3
2 things to do · at your own pace
- Morning · Torvehallerne food halls free · about 1 h 30Two glass market halls near Nørreport with around sixty stalls, from fishmongers and coffee roasters to smørrebrød counters, good for a quick lunch.
- Afternoon · Rosenborg Castle · about 2 hChristian IV's Renaissance castle, with near-intact period interiors, a narwhal-tusk throne and the crown jewels in the vaulted basement treasury.
🛏️ Where to sleep · Hotel SP34€200 a night
D4
Day 4
2 things to do · at your own pace
- Morning · The Little Mermaid free · about 1 hThe small bronze statue inspired by Andersen's tale has watched the harbour from her rock since 1913; expect her to be smaller than you imagine.
- Afternoon · Louisiana Museum of Modern Art · half a dayAbout 35 minutes north by train, glass pavilions and a sculpture park above the Øresund, with Giacometti, Kusama and major temporary exhibitions.
🛏️ Where to sleep · Hotel Alexandra€190 a night
Before you go
Worth sorting before you go
📶 eSIM data
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
🛡️ Travel insurance
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
💳 Fee-free card
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
🚐 Airport transfer
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Good to know
Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Smørrebrød: open sandwiches on dark rye bread, topped with herring, egg, roast beef or shrimp, eaten with a knife and fork.
- Stegt flæsk: crisp fried pork belly with potatoes and parsley sauce, voted the national dish in 2014.
- Frikadeller: pan-fried pork meatballs, served with potatoes and pickled red cabbage.
- Pickled herring: marinated, curried or in sherry, the start of a proper lunch, often with a glass of snaps.
- Rød pølse: the red hot dog from a street stand, with remoulade, crisp onions and pickled cucumber.
- Wienerbrød: the buttery layered pastries the rest of the world calls Danish.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Do not walk or stop in the cycle lanes. They are busy and fast, and cyclists expect them to be clear.
- Wait for the green man. Danes do not cross on red, and jaywalking can earn a fine.
- Eating out is expensive. Have your main meal at lunch, when many restaurants offer cheaper set menus.
- Pack a waterproof and a warm layer, even in summer: the wind off the sea cools the warmest day.
Getting by
Words that help
English ↔ Danish
| English | Danish |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hej / Goddag |
| Thank you | Tak |
| Please | Vær så venlig |
| Yes | Ja |
| No | Nej |
| Excuse me | Undskyld |
| Goodbye | Farvel |
| Do you speak English? | Taler du engelsk? |
| I don't understand | Jeg forstår ikke |
| How much is it? | Hvor meget koster det? |
| Where are the toilets? | Hvor er toilettet? |
| The bill, please | Regningen, tak |
| Help! | Hjælp! |
| Cheers! | Skål! |
The essentials
The practical page
CurrencyDanish krone (DKK)
BudgetAbout €200 a day, mid-range
Best seasonMay to September
PlugC/F/K · 230V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingIncluded in the bill, round up
Emergency112
EntrySchengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
HealthNo specific vaccination needed. Check that tetanus, diphtheria, polio and MMR are up to date.
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/copenhagen
Don't forget
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.