What to Know Before Visiting Copenhagen, Denmark
#1 - Get the Copenhagen Card
This is perhaps the biggest piece of advice we can offer people travelling to Copenhagen. Denmark is not an affordable travel destination, so you should definitely try to find budget-friendly accommodations and experiences. The Copenhagen Card is definitely something you will want to have if you are staying here more than a couple of days. It covers entrance into most attractions and transportation. You can purchase whichever card you want based on the amount of time you want to use it. In total, we saved roughly $650 by purchasing the Copenhagen Card. The ease of just showing it at all the entrances to attractions and transportation was SO easy and stress-free.
#2 - Public Transport is Easy and Efficient
Maybe it was because of the Copenhagen Card, but we thought the transportation was extremely easy to navigate. There are trains that take you all throughout the city and some places more outside the city (that’s covered with the card). German punctuality is famous, but it has nothing on Danish transportation. Everything is fairly predictable in time and there is always going to be room on the train - if not, another one will shortly be on the way.
#3 - Food and Accommodations are Not Affordable
Perhaps one of the downsides of Copenhagen is how expensive it is. Not in our wildest dreams could we afford one of the nicer hotels in the city, so we opted for an Airbnb. Even Airbnb’s are not affordable (and usually look crappy), but we did manage to find one under $350 for 4 nights outside of city centre. Food is also quite expensive. For example, for the same items we get at Joe and the Juice in the UK, it was 3x more expensive for the SAME EXACT THING. With food costing as much as it does, one would expect the portions to be larger… and they’re not. Just be mindful and checking how much you’re spending with a currency converter.
#4 - There are 7-11’s EVERYWHERE
One hack you can use to save money on food is to go to a 7-11 around the corner to pick up a sandwich or salad and a beer. There are 7-11’s everywhere, so you’ll be able to find one straight away. Most people just cannot afford to get a beer at a restaurant or bar consistently, so many Danes enjoy grabbing a beer from the convenient store and enjoying it by the harbour. It’s a quick and easy way to get affordable food and beer and taking in the scenery.
#5 - You Will Want to Take in the Architecture
So, my husband and I agree that out of all the places we’ve been fortunate to visit, Copenhagen is probably our new favourite. It is absolutely stunning, and one of the things that makes it the best for us is all the amazing architecture. Danish architecture is among some of the best in the world, and it’s easy to see why. There are so many buildings that had the potential to be ugly, but somehow they’ve made them beautiful and multi-purposeful. Our jaws dropped several times seeing some of them. It’s the perfect combination of the new and the old.
#6 - You Don’t Need to Bring Cash - Card is King
In Denmark, the national currency is the Danish Krone. Like with all of our trips, we like to carry a bit of cash with us just in case. However, the only places we could use our cash was at souvenir shops and a hot dog stand. There weren’t many places that accepted cash. So, be sure you have your credit card working as you’re travelling around Denmark.
#7 - Stay Out of the Bike Lanes
Where we live in Cambridge, we thought there’s nobody who loves bicycles more than the people of Cambridge… and then we came here. Copenhagen has a bunch of bicycle lanes that are between the road and the pavement. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish between them, so be aware of it and try to be on the far left side when walking. Bicyclists will not move for you if you are in the bicycle lane - it seemed to be the only time they became a little aggressive. Just watch where you’re walking and you should be fine!
#8 - Don’t Expect Tivoli Gardens to Be Full of Thrill Rides
You have to go to Tivoli Gardens at least once in your life. You go for the history, not for the thrill rides. Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and was one of Walt’s Disney’s inspirations for building Disneyland in California. You can definitely see the resemblance, but realise that Tivoli Gardens is not for thrill seekers. It is more so a casual walk around the park with lots of kiddie rides, dining, and shopping. While there are some rides that are more thrilling than others, Tivoli Gardens is worth about 4 hours of your time (if you don’t have children).
#9 - The Danes Speak English Very Well
With just under 6 million speakers of Danish, the Danes understand if you do not speak Danish. What’s kind of embarrassing, however, is that many Danes speak English better than some Americans sometimes (not just the Danish, but many Scandinavians in general). That being said, reading Danish should not be that difficult for people with Germanic languages. With it being a Germanic language itself, there are similarities that can make communication easier. Speaking it is another thing though….
#10 - The Danes are Very Friendly and Helpful
We’ve heard time and time again that Danish people are very cold and unhelpful. We were also told that they are some of the rudest people in Europe and that tourists don’t like visiting the country for that reason. That could not be further from the truth! We found Danish people to be extremely kind and helpful throughout our whole stay. Sure, they’re not going to be as warm and bubbly as Italians or the Irish, but they are also kind and are not invasive. What we will say is that they are quick and to the point, which I personally enjoy. We had many wonderful conversations with Danish people along the way who were grateful we enjoyed the culture and history. We think Danish people are so fantastic that it is one of the main reasons why we loved Copenhagen so much!
