In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Denmark
Copenhagen
København
Copenhagen is a bike-and-daylight city: sights close together, expensive meals, and short winter days; plan the outdoors for midday and eat at the food halls rather than sit-down dinners.
Copenhagen is flat, small and costly. The trips that go wrong walk in cycle lanes, book sit-down dinners at every meal, or arrive in December without daylight. Four walking clusters cover a first visit; Roskilde, Helsingør and Malmö are day trips from one kept bed.
- Country
- Denmark
- Local name
- København
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- Time zone
- Europe/Copenhagen
- Stay
- 2 days: Rosenborg, Nyhavn, Strøget
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- DKK
- Money
- Cards and phone payments are the norm and some cafés no longer take cash. Carry a debit or credit card that works abroad; Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget DKK 350–600 excl. bed · Mid DKK 600–1000 excl. bed · High DKK 1000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a SIM at the airport or a phone shop (passport needed).
- Emergency
- All services 112 · Non-emergency medical helpline 1813
- Plugs
- 230 V; sockets take types C and K. A plain European adapter is enough for most visitors.
- Tipping
- Not expected; service is included. Round up in a restaurant if the service was good.
- Water
- Tap water is safe to drink; ask for "postevand" in a restaurant to get it free.
- Toilets
- Cafés, museums and stations; some public toilets cost a coin or a card tap. Free toilets at many tourist sites.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | DKK 40–55 |
| Bakery pastry | DKK 25–45 |
| Hot dog from a cart | DKK 40–65 |
| Metro or bus ride, two zones | DKK 24–30 |
| Pint of beer in a bar | DKK 55–85 |
| Bike rental, per day | DKK 100–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup (CPH)
- CPH to the Inner City: one ride-hailing car or taxi, about 25 minutes — the metro is a fallback, so decide the car before you land and message the hotel for a late arrival.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen Central Station (København H) | Intercity trains to Jutland and Funen, S-trains, regional trains, the airport train | Walkable; Strøget is 10 minutes on foot |
| Nørreport Station | S-trains and the metro; the hub for the castle and the food halls | A 10-minute walk to Strøget |
| Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup (Københavns Lufthavn) | International flights; the metro and trains run to the city | Metro about 15 minutes to Kongens Nytorv; train about 13 minutes to Central |
| Øresund trains from Sweden | Trains from Malmö and Sweden over the bridge | Same as the airport metro |
| Ferries and coaches | Overnight ferries from Oslo and coach routes | Metro or bus |
Typical fares
- Airport to the centre by metro
- About DKK 36–45, 15 min
- Metro or bus, two zones
- DKK 24–30
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster; metro, bus or a bike between clusters. The compact centre means few journeys take more than 20–25 minutes.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside any one cluster |
| Metro | DKK 24–45 depending on zones; day and multi-day passes available | Between clusters and to the airport |
| Bus | Same tickets as the metro | Routes the metro does not reach |
| S-train and regional train | Same zone system | Day trips and the north and west suburbs |
| Bike | DKK 100–200 a day | Flat, quick trips once you are confident in traffic |
| Taxi or ride-hail | Metered; ride-hail apps show the fare | Late night or with bags |
| Harbour bus | Same tickets as the metro | A harbour ride to the Opera House and Refshaleøen |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- A city pass helps only if you use several museums; single tickets or a 24-hour ticket cover most trips.
- Late at night
- The metro runs around the clock; night buses fill in for trains (frequency unverified).
See and do
01Rosenborg Castle and the King’s GardenRosenborg Slot
The crown jewels in a small Renaissance castle, and a park to walk afterwards.
Hours: best At opening · Price: DKK 130–180 · Time: 1.5–2.5 h · 55.6857, 12.5773
02Amalienborg PalaceAmalienborg Slot
The royal square and museum, with the guard changing at midday.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: DKK 130–180 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 55.6842, 12.5931
03Tivoli GardensTivoli
A garden and small amusement park; best after dark in season.
Hours: best Late afternoon to evening · Price: DKK 150–170 · Time: 2–4 h · 55.6736, 12.5681
04The Round TowerRundetårn
A short spiral ramp up to a roof view of the old centre.
Hours: best At opening · Price: DKK 40–60 · Time: 20–40 min · 55.6813, 12.5757
05Christiansborg Palace and its towerChristiansborg Slot
A free view from the parliament tower, and the ruins below the palace.
Hours: best Clear afternoon for the tower · Price: Tower free · Time: 45–120 min · 55.6761, 12.5800
06Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
An indoor sculpture and art museum with a palm-filled winter garden.
Hours: best Any rainy day · Price: DKK 130–150 · Time: 1.5–2 h · 55.6728, 12.5722
07Nyhavn
The most photographed canal in Denmark; better early or late.
Hours: best Before 09:00 or after 19:00 · Price: Free · Time: 20–40 minHours: best Before 9:00 AM or after 7:00 PM · Price: Free · Time: 20–40 min
08Torvehallerne food hallsTorvehallerne
A covered lunch with many choices and standing room.
Hours: best Weekday lunch · Price: DKK 90–200 · Time: 45–90 min · 55.6836, 12.5720
09A smørrebrød lunch
The classic local lunch at a table, with snaps.
Hours: best A booked lunch · Price: DKK 300–450 · Time: 60–90 min · 55.6820, 12.5717
10A Roskilde or Helsingør day trip
Vikings or Hamlet’s castle by train from the centre.
Hours: best Weekday · Price: Train fare only · Time: Half or full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Roskilde | Train about 25 min | Half day |
| Helsingør and Kronborg | Train about 45–50 min | Full day or half day |
| Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (Humlebæk) | Train about 35 min | Half day |
| Malmö, Sweden | Train over the Øresund bridge, about 35 min | Half day |
| Frederiksborg Castle (Hillerød) | S-train about 40 min | Half day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pølsevogn (hot dog cart) at City Hall Square | Hot dog with everything · City Hall Square | DKK 40–65 | Budget |
| Lagkagehuset bakery at Nørreport | Pastry and coffee, or a rye sandwich · Nørreport | DKK 60–130 | Budget |
| Supermarket picnic | Rye bread, cheese and fruit · Citywide | DKK 40–80 | Budget |
| Torvehallerne food market | Smørrebrød or a salad at a stall · Nørreport | DKK 90–200 | Mid-range |
| Conditori La Glace | Cake and coffee · Latin Quarter | DKK 100–150 | Mid-range |
| Street food halls (Reffen) | Global street food · Refshaleøen | DKK 100–200 (check) | Mid-range |
| Restaurant Schønnemann | A full smørrebrød lunch with snaps · Latin Quarter | DKK 300–450 | Splurge |
| Michelin-starred restaurants | Tasting menus · Centre, Vesterbro, Christianshavn | DKK 1,500–3,500+ (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses and hours change — check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | DKK 200–350 dorm bed · DKK 700–1,100 double | Vesterbro and Nørrebro | Hostels and budget hotels |
| mid | DKK 1,200–2,200 | Indre By and Vesterbro | Chain and boutique hotels |
| splurge | DKK 2,800–5,000+ | Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv | Design and heritage hotels |
Per room per night in DKK, 2026 estimate; summer and Christmas add 20–50%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hejhi |
| Thank you | Taktahk |
| How much is it? | Hvad koster det?vahth KOS-ter deh |
| The bill, please | Regningen, takRY-ning-en, tahk |
| To this address, please | Til denne adresse, taktil DEN-neh ah-DRESS-eh, tahk |
| Cheers! | Skål!skawl |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Bikes: Never stand or walk in a cycle lane; wait for the bike lights before you cross.
- Christiania: Do not photograph in the market street and do not run; treat it as someone’s neighbourhood.
- Queues: Take a number at bakeries and counters; jumping a queue is rude.
- Tipping: Not expected; service is included in the price.
- Quiet: Talk quietly on the metro and in cafés; loud phone calls stand out.
- Cash: Some cafés no longer accept cash; carry a card.
Red lines
- Do not stand in cycle lanes.
- Do not swim in the harbour outside marked baths.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed taxis at the airport or the central station quoting a flat fare: use the rank, a booked ride or the metro.
- Pickpockets at the central station, on Strøget, at Nyhavn and on crowded metro cars: keep your phone and wallet in front pockets.
- Bike-rental and e-scooter charges added after return: photograph the bike and read the terms in the app.
- A "free" bracelet, flower or charity clipboard on a busy street ending in a request for cash: decline and walk on.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover between flights. Skip: A second museum; one castle is enough for a single day.
- 09:009:00 AMRosenborg Castle and the King’s Garden
- 11:3011:30 AMTorvehallerne for an early lunch
- 13:001:00 PMRound Tower and Strøget
- 15:003:00 PMAmalienborg and Nyhavn
- 18:006:00 PMTivoli in season, or a harbour walk
2 days
The usual Copenhagen stay. Skip: A same-day Christiansborg tower and boat tour; one is enough.
Day 1 — Rosenborg, lunch and Strøget
- 09:009:00 AMRosenborg Castle at opening
- 11:3011:30 AMKing’s Garden walk
- 13:001:00 PMA smørrebrød lunch
- 15:003:00 PMRound Tower and Strøget
- 19:007:00 PMTivoli in season, or dinner in Vesterbro
Day 2 — harbour and palaces
- 09:309:30 AMAmalienborg and the guard change at midday
- 11:3011:30 AMNyhavn
- 13:001:00 PMLunch at Torvehallerne
- 15:003:00 PMDesign Museum Denmark or the Glyptotek
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wonderful Copenhagen (VisitCopenhagen): www.visitcopenhagen.com/
- Copenhagen Airport (official): www.cph.dk/en
- Wikivoyage — Copenhagen: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Copenhagen
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
CopenhagenKøbenhavn
Til denne adresse, tak
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Rosenborg SlotRosenborg Castle
- Amalienborg SlotAmalienborg Palace
- TivoliTivoli Gardens
- RundetårnThe Round Tower
- Christiansborg SlotChristiansborg Palace
- TorvehallerneTorvehallerne food market
Write your own embassy’s phone number below; most are in the north-east of the city.
Almost everyone speaks English; Danish phrases are a courtesy, not a necessity.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/copenhagen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.