Hey Biscuits! We’re back at it again with another Ultimate Travel Guide and this time we’re going to the historical Copenhagen! Copenhagen was the first Scandinavian country I’ve visited and what better way to start my Scandi adventures! Copenhagen can be a tricky country to visit so here’s the Ultimate Copenhagen Travel Guide to the rescue once again!
“If Copenhagen were a person, that person would be generous, beautiful, elderly, but with a flair. A human being that has certain propensities for quarrelling filled with imagination and with appetite for the new and with respect for the old – somebody who takes good care of things and of people.”
Connie Nelson
Getting to Copenhagen
The only international airport in Copenhagen is the Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup (CPH) and there are direct flights from London, Manchester and most of Europe. The airport is about 5 miles (15 min drive) to the city centre.
If you’ve got the time, it’s actually possible (and easy) to travel to Copenhagen completely by train from the UK! You can take the Eurostar to Brussels, stay overnight in Brussels, get the Intercity train to Cologne where you change to the EuroCity train to Hamburg and then you arrive in Copenhagen. Depending on when you book, you can get a ticket for as little as £95, a little long and usually more expensive than a flight it’s more about the adventure of getting there than getting there as soon as possible Check out Seat61 for more details.
Getting from the airport to the City centre literally couldn’t be easier. The airport is very well connected with train, Metro and buses all serving it in different directions. It’s also super-fast getting to the city from the airport and vice versa, takes about 15/20 mins and it’s a smooth and very easy journey! Metro from the airport costs a bit more than a regular metro ticket, 36DKK.
Visas for Copenhagen
UK, USA and European citizens don’t need a visa for to enter Copenhagen for tourism for up to 3 months. For the full list of visa exempt countries, click here.
Nigerian citizens require a visa to enter Copenhagen and the visa needs to be obtained in advance of your trip. No visas are issued on arrival at the airports unless as an emergency. The visa also grants you the right to stay in all Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Language in Copenhagen
Danish is the official/native language in Denmark; however, English is widely spoken and Danes generally speak it very well, as well as some German or French. So there definitely won’t be an issue communicating with locals here, zero language barriers! Not a single one.
Plug socket in Copenhagen
As with most of Europe, the plug socket is as below:
UK, Irish & Nigerian residents will need an adapter to use these sockets. American and Canadian residents I would suggest getting a transformer to use 110/125V appliances here.
As always, I would suggest you buy one before you arrive just in case you can’t find either there.
Currency in Copenhagen
The national currency is the Danish Kroner (£1 is approx. 8.3 DKK & $1 is approx. 6.6 DKK). There are many money exchange places dotted around the city so you don’t need to change at the airport and suffer lower rates. Also, I would suggest changing your money when you get here and not before you arrive because you’ll get better rates here than wherever you call home. Also, if you do decide to use an ATM machine, you don’t want to get charged in your home currency, make sure you get charged in the local currency.
How much should you change?
All depends on your budget or what you feel like you want to spend. I would suggest not changing all the money you brought in one go, instead change it in bits. As a guide maybe £100 first and when you feel like you might need more, change more, because changing money is super easy here.
Surprisingly, I found that my Monzo card had a better rate than the stores, only by a little but still lol. So that’s something to keep in mind if you have a Monzo or other such cards.
When to visit Copenhagen
Copenhagen, like mush of Europe, has temperamental weather but the best times to visit are from March to May and between June and August when the weather is good all day long and the sun isn’t too hot. The spring is best for lower rates and milder weather. I visited at the end of April and it was mild-ish lol, cloudy with sun on the last day.
The summer months, June to August brings warmer weather, with temperatures of +20C° which is very manageable. It also brings quite a few popular events and festivals, so, a more expensive time to visit.
Winter, October to March is the coldest time with temperatures hovering around 12°C but at night the temperature drops considerably below 1°C. The city is quieter because everyone is trying to keep warm haha so prices are likely to be cheaper.
Christmas and New Year are especially busy times so prices are likely to increase and hotels will fill up quickly.
Getting Around Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a very compact city and has one of the world’s transportation infrastructure, so getting around is super easy. The options available include cycling, buses, Metros, S-trains and harbour buses. Read my post about How to enjoy Copenhagen on a budget for more information on your options for getting around.
Where to Stay in Copenhagen
Within my previous on How to enjoy Copenhagen on a budget, I shared about Where you can stay in Copenhagen, so I don’t just repeat myself, check it out!
Things to Do in Copenhagen
I did a whole post on 20 free and cheap things to do in Copenhagen, especially if you’re on a budget. I shared about Where you can stay in Copenhagen, so I don’t just repeat myself, check it out!
Food in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has quickly rose on the list of foodie cities with restaurants like NOMA and other Michelin starred restaurants. So here are some Danish foods that you should try when you’re here:
Smørrebrød- These traditional open-faced sandwiches are all the hype in Copenhagen. It dates to the 19th century when it was lunch for Danish farmers and has quickly become a local favourite. Usually based on rye bread, the toppings you can get are limitless. From salmon to beef, vegetables, eggs and a sauce. It’s a very popular lunch option and is served, in some variety, in most restaurants.
Traditional Hotdogs- Hotdogs are surprisingly a really big thing in Copenhagen, the “Soul of Danish fast food” as Smørrebrød is the heart of Danish lunch. And it’s served in so many ways, from tradition to gourmet to even organic. In my previous post, I talked about where you can get great hotdogs in Copenhagen so I won’t bore you by repeating it here, just check it out!
Food Markets are also a big part of the Copenhagen food/street food scene. From old school markets to modern, industrial spaces trying out innovative flavours. If you love street food, then Copenhagen isn’t short of places to satisfy your cravings. These are some of the top places you need to visit during your trip:
Torvehallerne is a great market hall in the heart of the city, super close to Nørreport station. If you have taste buds, then make your way here and indulge your stomach on a few delicacies. It’s also a food market where many locals but fresh produce from and you can too if you plan on cooking at your Airbnb. For more info and how to get there, check out their website.
Reffen Island, created in 2018, with over 50 street food trucks and bars from over 18 nationalities in an outdoor location in Refchaleøen. It’s an innovative and ambitious idea with a sustainable vision to become the first street food market that produces its own organic ingredients. All the stores have to follow a sustainable “Reduce and Reuse” slogan so they strive to reduce food waste, use free-range and local ingredients where possible. Even beyond food, it’s a space that encourages entrepreneurs and community with concerts, talks, workshops and more.
For more info visit the Reffen website.
For more info on other food markets available, check out the Visit Copenhagen website.
Nightlife in Copenhagen
Most European cities have a popping nightlife scene to suit most tastes and Copenhagen is no exception! Although we never actually went out clubbing or to bars because we were shattered from all the walking in the day lol I know Copenhagen is well known for having a popping nightlife. I’ll try my best to give you some information based on my research. Whether you want a swanky nightclub or a lowkey bar, there’s something for everyone or every taste.
Blågårdsgade, in Nørrebro district, is a great place to really get a taste of Copenhagen nightlife. There is somewhere for everyone, small quiet independently owned bars to live music venues, all with a welcoming vibe. For a more comprehensive list of more nightlife venues, bars, chill out spots for different tastes, check out the Visit Copenhagen website.
Luggage Storage in Copenhagen
One lovely thing we took advantage of in Copenhagen is the Luggage storage! There are several ways to safely store your luggage while you walk around town, without dragging it around, until your flight. There are lockers in Copenhagen Central Station, down the stairs, by the Isterdgade Street entrance/exit. Check out this website for opening times. Please see below for prices. The small locker is big enough for one hand luggage suitcase and the Large can probably fit up to 3 hand luggage suitcases so you can split the cost if you’re travelling with others.
Safety in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is generally a safe city to visit, the main crimes tourists fall victim to is pick pocketing. Common sense still applies so be cautious especially around the central station, look out for pick pockets. Be alert at all times!
On the rare occasion of any crime happening to you, you can contact the Police on 114 and in case of Urgent matters on 112.
Phones/Internet
If you’re a UK or European citizen, then you can use your contract allowance as if you were in your own country at no additional cost. So, you obviously don’t need to get a SIM. Otherwise, a SIM is worth getting mainly to help you get around using Maps.
If, like me, you usually don’t like to bother with a SIM card, you can rely solely on WiFi. If Maps were the only reason you need data then I’d advise you to download an Offline Google Map before setting off, so you still see where you are without an internet connection (You’d still need internet connection for directions). There are lots of WiFi hotspots around the city so it’s definitely possible!
I hope you all have enjoyed this Ultimate Copenhagen Travel guide and it’s been helpful with planning your trip. If there are any questions you have or things you would like to add, this will be a live blog post so it will be updated periodically whenever something new happens so leave a comment on my Instagram, send me a DM or better still, leave a comment below!
Until Next Time Biscuits xx
