🇩🇰 Copenhagen Like a Local
Know Before You Go
In the best possible way - Copenhagen is like no city you've ever been before. There are some unique and quirky things you should be aware of before you visit. From the ever-changing weather to cultural traits of the Danish people, your visit to Copenhagen may seem very foreign at times.
Here are few things to know before your trip to help it run smoothly. Navigate these things and rest of your trip will be a breeze!
Local Weather
There are a few Danish sayings about the weather that we'll drop here. During your time in Copenhagen, you may find that they ring true.
The first is "if you don't like the weather, just wait ten minutes." From context alone, you can probably guess that the weather changes quickly. Copenhagen is a coastal city on the Baltic Sea on an island called Sjælland. The weather blows in and blows out and changes throughout the course of the day.
A cloud blocking the sun can make you feel like the temperature has suddenly dropped, and from morning to midday you'll feel a massive change even if it's only a few degrees difference.
You can expect windy days, rain (but not usually a heavy downpour or a complete washout), and everything in between. That's where another Danish saying comes in, "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing". Make sure to pack waterproof clothes, dress in layers, and adapt to the weather around you.
Copenhagen isn't the most affordable city to go shopping, so pack wisely. It may be worth checking a bag compared to the cost of scrambling to buy rain gear or additional layers.
BONUS TIP: Should you have to make clothing purchases in Denmark, non-EU residents can get a VAT (tax) refund. If you spend over 300 DKK ($40), ask for a refund invoice at the store and show your foreign ID. The easiest way to get refunded is to visit the Global Blue kiosk at Copenhagen Airport.
Make Reservations
One overarching tip is to make reservations and book tickets in advance. Many Copenhagen restaurants, bars, and cafes are small and require that you reserve your seat and arrive on time (your seat will be given away if not). Many cities don't require you to reserve space in a bar, but especially on the weekends and after work hours it's really important in Copenhagen.
We highly recommend using Earlybird to look for last-minute reservations and 33% off fixed menus. We use it ourselves and have had some of our best meals in Copenhagen at Michelin rated restaurant with a huge discount.
The same is true for tours and excursions - reserve a spot in advance and arrive one time. Punctuality is very important in Danish society - so if you're late, your tour guide or excursion could leave you behind. Wages in Denmark are high, so restaurants, and even tours are only staffed to the minimal level and are frequently unable to take "walk up" guests.
In short, it's important to book in advance and be on time when you're touring Denmark. Wherever possible in this guide we have given you booking links and reservation links to assist you.
For attractions, we provide GetYourGuide booking links where possible. We recommend using this vendor because you get instant confirmation and electronic tickets. Most importantly, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before your planned activity - this is a major benefit in a city like Copenhagen where the weather can dictate your itinerary and flexibility is key.
How to Get Around
How should you get around? There's a lot of options, but avoid taxis and cabs - they're very expensive and a bit unnecessary. Copenhagen is easy to get around by foot, public transport, or bike.
Copenhagen is the world's best biking city - it's incredibly flat and has an expansive bike infrastructure. One of the best ways to get around Copenhagen is on a bright orange bike from Donkey Republic. Use our promo code ROBETROTTING for 15% off your first ride and 5% off all of your rides. You can scan the QR code on a bike to get started or search for the app and download.
Public transport is easy to navigate and you can get from the airport to the city center in about 20 minutes by train, metro, or bus. The Copenhagen Card is a great way to save money and get around because it includes 80+ attractions AND all of your public transport. You can buy one here:
You can also purchase a rechargable rejsekort or "travel card" from the big blue boxes near the metro and train stations. Instructions are in English and you can secure a discount of up to 50% on most trips, just remember to swipe in and out.
Must Do Activities
Let's start with our collection of must-do activities in Copenhagen. You'll find all kinds of attractions and activities described as "must-do" but many of them are skippable. Below, we included the things that we still love to join our friends and family for, even after years of living in Copenhagen.
We also give you tips and tricks that we have learned for each of these attractions. We'll show you where to find the house in Nyhavn where Hans Christian Andersen lived - you can snap a photo while everyone walks past to buy a $10 cup of coffee.
Depending on the way you travel, this guide could suit your for a 2 or 3 day trip to Copenhagen.
Places to Eat and Drink
We assume you'll need to eat and drink as you explore the city, so in this section we decided to include unique craft beer bars, lively bakeries and brunch spots, and historical Danish pubs. It's also a sampling of the things you'll find in our other guides.
These are some of our favorite places to pop in on a weekend or take visiting friends. They love these places, and hopefully you will too!
What's Next?
If you found this guide helpful you can say thank you in the so many ways!
🫙 Add a tip to the tip jar
💾 Save this guide
📤 Share this guide
⭐ Write a review of this guide
Watch Our Copenhagen Travel Videos
We've been uploading weekly videos about living in Denmark, Danish culture, and Copenhagen Travel since 2020. Here's a curated playlist of our most useful travel videos:
Connect With Use Elsewhere
We love connecting on other platforms, so please follow us on TikTok, Facebook and/or Instagram.
Tag us in your posts, we'd love to see what you're up to and get a glimpse into your time in Copenhagen.
Check Out More of Our Guides
Wishing you an incredible Copenhagen trip and we invite you to check out some of the other guides in our library.
➡️ We are also testing 30% off our Summer Guide for our YouTube community with the Promo Code YT2023 - feel free to use it yourself no matter how you found this guide
🇩🇰 Copenhagen Like a Local
Know Before You Go
In the best possible way - Copenhagen is like no city you've ever been before. There are some unique and quirky things you should be aware of before you visit. From the ever-changing weather to cultural traits of the Danish people, your visit to Copenhagen may seem very foreign at times.
Here are few things to know before your trip to help it run smoothly. Navigate these things and rest of your trip will be a breeze!
Local Weather
There are a few Danish sayings about the weather that we'll drop here. During your time in Copenhagen, you may find that they ring true.
The first is "if you don't like the weather, just wait ten minutes." From context alone, you can probably guess that the weather changes quickly. Copenhagen is a coastal city on the Baltic Sea on an island called Sjælland. The weather blows in and blows out and changes throughout the course of the day.
A cloud blocking the sun can make you feel like the temperature has suddenly dropped, and from morning to midday you'll feel a massive change even if it's only a few degrees difference.
You can expect windy days, rain (but not usually a heavy downpour or a complete washout), and everything in between. That's where another Danish saying comes in, "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing". Make sure to pack waterproof clothes, dress in layers, and adapt to the weather around you.
Copenhagen isn't the most affordable city to go shopping, so pack wisely. It may be worth checking a bag compared to the cost of scrambling to buy rain gear or additional layers.
BONUS TIP: Should you have to make clothing purchases in Denmark, non-EU residents can get a VAT (tax) refund. If you spend over 300 DKK ($40), ask for a refund invoice at the store and show your foreign ID. The easiest way to get refunded is to visit the Global Blue kiosk at Copenhagen Airport.
Make Reservations
One overarching tip is to make reservations and book tickets in advance. Many Copenhagen restaurants, bars, and cafes are small and require that you reserve your seat and arrive on time (your seat will be given away if not). Many cities don't require you to reserve space in a bar, but especially on the weekends and after work hours it's really important in Copenhagen.
We highly recommend using Earlybird to look for last-minute reservations and 33% off fixed menus. We use it ourselves and have had some of our best meals in Copenhagen at Michelin rated restaurant with a huge discount.
The same is true for tours and excursions - reserve a spot in advance and arrive one time. Punctuality is very important in Danish society - so if you're late, your tour guide or excursion could leave you behind. Wages in Denmark are high, so restaurants, and even tours are only staffed to the minimal level and are frequently unable to take "walk up" guests.
In short, it's important to book in advance and be on time when you're touring Denmark. Wherever possible in this guide we have given you booking links and reservation links to assist you.
For attractions, we provide GetYourGuide booking links where possible. We recommend using this vendor because you get instant confirmation and electronic tickets. Most importantly, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before your planned activity - this is a major benefit in a city like Copenhagen where the weather can dictate your itinerary and flexibility is key.
How to Get Around
How should you get around? There's a lot of options, but avoid taxis and cabs - they're very expensive and a bit unnecessary. Copenhagen is easy to get around by foot, public transport, or bike.
Copenhagen is the world's best biking city - it's incredibly flat and has an expansive bike infrastructure. One of the best ways to get around Copenhagen is on a bright orange bike from Donkey Republic. Use our promo code ROBETROTTING for 15% off your first ride and 5% off all of your rides. You can scan the QR code on a bike to get started or search for the app and download.
Public transport is easy to navigate and you can get from the airport to the city center in about 20 minutes by train, metro, or bus. The Copenhagen Card is a great way to save money and get around because it includes 80+ attractions AND all of your public transport. You can buy one here:
You can also purchase a rechargable rejsekort or "travel card" from the big blue boxes near the metro and train stations. Instructions are in English and you can secure a discount of up to 50% on most trips, just remember to swipe in and out.
Must Do Activities
Let's start with our collection of must-do activities in Copenhagen. You'll find all kinds of attractions and activities described as "must-do" but many of them are skippable. Below, we included the things that we still love to join our friends and family for, even after years of living in Copenhagen.
We also give you tips and tricks that we have learned for each of these attractions. We'll show you where to find the house in Nyhavn where Hans Christian Andersen lived - you can snap a photo while everyone walks past to buy a $10 cup of coffee.
Depending on the way you travel, this guide could suit your for a 2 or 3 day trip to Copenhagen.
Places to Eat and Drink
We assume you'll need to eat and drink as you explore the city, so in this section we decided to include unique craft beer bars, lively bakeries and brunch spots, and historical Danish pubs. It's also a sampling of the things you'll find in our other guides.
These are some of our favorite places to pop in on a weekend or take visiting friends. They love these places, and hopefully you will too!
What's Next?
If you found this guide helpful you can say thank you in the so many ways!
🫙 Add a tip to the tip jar
💾 Save this guide
📤 Share this guide
⭐ Write a review of this guide
Watch Our Copenhagen Travel Videos
We've been uploading weekly videos about living in Denmark, Danish culture, and Copenhagen Travel since 2020. Here's a curated playlist of our most useful travel videos:
Connect With Use Elsewhere
We love connecting on other platforms, so please follow us on TikTok, Facebook and/or Instagram.
Tag us in your posts, we'd love to see what you're up to and get a glimpse into your time in Copenhagen.
Check Out More of Our Guides
Wishing you an incredible Copenhagen trip and we invite you to check out some of the other guides in our library.
➡️ We are also testing 30% off our Summer Guide for our YouTube community with the Promo Code YT2023 - feel free to use it yourself no matter how you found this guide