Copenhagen Travel Guide
Copenhagen for First-Timers
Everything a first visit needs: the krone and card payments, the airport metro, tickets and the Copenhagen Card, cycling rules, Monday closures, tipping, prices and how to save money.
Copenhagen is one of the easiest cities in Europe to visit: safe, clean, compact and friendly, with excellent public transport and almost everyone speaking English. But it has its own rhythms and a few habits that are worth knowing before you arrive, from the cycle lanes to the Monday closures and the near-total absence of cash. Here is what first-time visitors should know.
Money and payments. Denmark uses the Danish krone, DKK, not the euro, though the krone is pegged closely to the euro, at roughly seven and a half kroner to one euro, which makes conversions easy. Copenhagen is close to cashless: cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, from market stalls to public toilets, and some places no longer take cash at all, so a contactless card is all you need. Prices are among the highest in Europe, especially for eating out, alcohol and hotels, so budget generously. Service is included in restaurant bills, and tipping is not expected, though rounding up for good service is appreciated. As of 2026, Denmark has no overnight tourist tax.
Arriving. Copenhagen Airport is unusually close to the city, and the metro runs from the terminal to the centre in about fifteen minutes, around the clock, stopping at Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv and Norreport; regional trains run to Central Station in a similar time. Taxis are available but expensive. If you arrive by train from Germany or Sweden, you will arrive at Central Station, next to Tivoli.
Getting around. The metro, S-trains, buses and harbour buses share one ticket system, and you can buy tickets in the official app, from machines at stations, or with a travel card. The metro runs 24 hours a day, including the City Circle Line, which links Central Station, City Hall, Kongens Nytorv and the main neighbourhoods. The Copenhagen Card is a sightseeing pass that includes admission to dozens of attractions and free public transport in the capital region, including the trains to Kronborg and Louisiana; there are versions with Tivoli and with a hop-on hop-off bus. It pays off if you plan to see several paid sights each day; if you prefer a slower pace, pay as you go.
Cycling. Copenhagen is one of the world's great cycling cities, and renting a bike is a wonderful way to see it, but the cycle lanes are busy and fast, and locals take the rules seriously. Ride on the right in the bike lane, signal with your hand before turning or stopping, overtake on the left, never ride on the pavement or through pedestrian streets, and use lights after dark. As a pedestrian, look both ways before stepping into a bike lane. If you are not a confident cyclist, start on a quiet weekend morning or take a guided bike tour.
Opening days and hours. Mondays are the day many museums close, including the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Louisiana, Christiansborg's royal rooms and, outside summer, Rosenborg, so plan your Monday around outdoor sights, the canal tour, Nyhavn, the changing of the guard, Christiania and the Round Tower, which are open. Tivoli opens only in its seasons, so check the dates before you plan around it. Rosenborg requires a time-slot ticket booked online. Shops in the centre are open most days, with shorter hours on Sundays, and many restaurants close early by southern European standards, with kitchens often closing around 22:00.
The weather and the light. Copenhagen is mild but changeable, with cool summers, grey winters and wind and rain at any time of year, so pack layers and a waterproof. Summer days are very long, with light until late in the evening in June, while in December the sun sets in mid-afternoon; the Danes respond with candles, lights and hygge, the art of cosy, convivial living, which is at its best in winter.
Etiquette. Danes are polite but reserved, and they value punctuality, queuing and personal space. Do not stand in the bike lanes, do not walk on the cycle paths, and do not block the escalators: stand on the right. Speak quietly on public transport. In Christiania, follow the rules on photography and respect the residents' homes. At Amalienborg, keep out of the guards' path. Swimming in the harbour is popular in summer, but only at the official harbour baths and swimming zones.
Saving money. Many of the best experiences in Copenhagen are free: walking Nyhavn, the changing of the guard, the King's Garden, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid, Christiania, the Marble Church, the harbour baths in summer and the free evening entertainment of the city's squares and parks. Museums such as the Glyptotek have free days, including the last Wednesday of the month there, and children and young people under 18 enter free at many museums and castles, including Rosenborg, Christiansborg, Louisiana, Kronborg and the Round Tower. Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when many restaurants are cheaper, buy smorrebrod and pastries at markets and bakeries, and fill your bottle with tap water. A budget hotel in the centre, such as Wakeup Borgergade, keeps the biggest cost under control.
Safety and practicalities. Copenhagen is a very safe city, but watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, on Stroget, at Central Station and on busy trains. Tap water is excellent. Plugs are the standard European type. Most people speak excellent English, and signs at the main sights are in English. Emergency number: 112.
Shopping and design. Copenhagen is a design capital, and the shops along Stroget and in the streets around it, from the flagship stores of famous Danish design brands to small independent boutiques in the Latin Quarter, Norrebro and Vesterbro, are part of the experience. Look for Danish furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles and homewares, and for vintage shops selling mid-century pieces. Visitors from outside the European Union can often reclaim VAT on larger purchases, so ask for a tax-free form in the shop.