If you’re planning your very first visit to Copenhagen, I regret to inform you that there’s more to the city than the Little Mermaid and absurdly good looking people on bikes.

In fact, the Little Mermaid is possibly the worst bit! (But more on this later)

Copenhagen is truthfully as gorgeous as all the guides say, but it’s not a destination without challenge. Don’t worry though – this post rounds up all the top must-knows I’ve accumulated over multiple visits, making sure you have the best experience ever.

So, from the best neighbourhoods for visitors to more niche must-knows like where to score FREE WINE, I hope you find this list of Copenhagen tips helpful!! Yes, I did indeed say FREE WINE. Read on 🙂

1. Remember that the Danish name for the city is København 

First things first, while we English-speakers know the city as Copenhagen, in Danish it’s actually written København!

You will frequently see this at train stations, bus stations or booking sites online, so do bear in mind that this is just the local name of the city and not an entirely different place… a mistake that is frighteningly common.

In terms of when to visit…

2. Copenhagen is beautiful in the summer, but it’s also a great festive destination

Oftentimes, tourists prefer to visit Copenhagen in the summer because this is when the city thaws out and comes alive, with lots of unique activities like the many harbour baths and beaches scattered around town. 

But having been twice now in the winter, I can definitely vouch for it as a winter destination as well, especially in the festive period from late November until Christmas, when an abundance of cutesy and cozy Christmas markets take over the city.

Santa Lucia Day on December 13th is an especially noteworthy day when they do this amazing procession with kayaks and boats that are all strung up with lights.

That’s not the only festive occasion though. They go all out for Halloween at Tivoli as well, and in Spring you’ll get to experience the cherry blossoms, so really, there are great reasons to visit year round. Spoken like a true Copenhagen fangirl, I suppose.

3. Consider staying in a cool neighbourhood that’s not directly in the tourist center

Usually I like to stay as central as possible in a city for convenience, but honestly, Copenhagen is so compact, and the public transport is so fantastic, that staying outside of the tourist core is a great option… especially because you get to see more of what makes Copenhagen so special, with much more affordable food options as well.

Some great neighbourhoods include Vesterbro, once a gritty area now known to be quite hip and cool; Nørrebro, known for its diverse food scene and super cool Superkilen park; and Østerbro, known for its beautiful green spaces.

If you don’t mind staying a little farther out of the center, on my last visit I stayed at the Hotel Ottilia – By Brøchner Hotels in Carlsberg City and thought it was really cool. Not only is the hotel itself beautiful, this district used to be home to the main Carlsberg Brewing facilities… so plenty of snooping opportunities for beer lovers.

And something super cool about the Brøchner Hotels chain is they offer a free wine hour and nightcap hour where you can drink for free at any of their locations – a huge money saver in Copenhagen!

But hey, if budget allows and your priority is being close to everything, then a hotel in the Indre By, or inner city, is not a bad choice.

4. Copenhagen is mostly cashless, so get a good travel-friendly card

Truly, you will not be needing cash here, so rather than prioritize getting cash out for your trip, I would get a good travel-friendly card instead.

Ideally you want something that won’t be charging you any extra fees for usage abroad. I’ve been using Wise for the past few years and it has been so simple and amazing – they even send you a free card to use when you open an account and if you use my referral link, you can get your first transfer for free as well.

5. Remember that Copenhagen is very well connected to other great destinations

A final note for itinerary planning: there are tons of options for day trips or extra destinations from Copenhagen, so definitely look into adding some additional spots if time allows.

Within an hour, for instance, you can take the train over to Sweden’s 3rd largest city, Malmö.

Or head up to Helsingør, which is home to the famous Kronborg Castle, the very castle that sets the stage for Hamlet, one of the most famous plays in history.

Or take your pick from many other castles like Frederiksborg Castle, or a number of cutesy seaside villages along the Danish Riviera.

6. Definitely take the train from the airport to the centre – it’s super quick!

Copenhagen has the niche honour of ‘my favourite airport to city commute’ in the world. Why? The journey takes only 12 minutes, and the signage from the airport to the train is excellent, making it pretty impossible to get lost.

From the airport to the centre in 12 minutes!! Can you imagine? I don’t think locals realize how good they have it.

Once you’re there though, do know that… 

7. Copenhagen is a very walkable city, so be sure to explore on foot

Especially around the Indre By, or inner city, there are many points of interest within easy walking distance of each other, so I’d recommend you walk as much as you can, using public transport in between to fill the gaps.

From Nyhavn, for instance, you can do a really great sightseeing loop of the city’s main sights in just a day, walking over to Amalienborg and then Frederik’s Church, over to the super cool military fortress of Kastellet, which is close to the infamous Little Mermaid, then back to Rosenborg Castle and the Torvehallerne, then finally through the famous pedestrianized boulevard of Strøget and back to King’s New Square. All this would take less than 2 hours total of walking time, so definitely doable on foot. 

And for those who want to explore a bit more outside of the central core, you can even do the 13km loop Havneringen Walk which takes you past some great spots along the inner harbour.

8. While walking, be very careful not to jaywalk or walk into bike lanes

While the bike lanes in Copenhagen are disconcertingly wide, it’s still pretty easy to step into them by accident as an inexperienced pedestrian, thanks to a lack of physical barriers.

So, always be on the lookout for bike lanes, and bikes in general. Trust me, there’s a frightening amount of them.

Speaking of cyclists though, another option is you can…

9. Consider renting a bike to explore Copenhagen like a true local would

After all, this is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.

But I stress you should only do this if you are super confident on a bike and learn the general rules of cycling in the city ahead of time. Otherwise you might be endangering yourself and other cyclists.

I would definitely recommend cycling or taking public transport over taxis because in general…

10. Taxis are very expensive in Copenhagen

So unless you want to watch your budget evaporate with every ride, I’d recommend you stick to public transport as much as possible.

If you absolutely need to catch a ride somewhere, I would recommend you only order taxis through apps so that you know roughly how much it will cost beforehand. This isn’t because you’re likely to get scammed by taxi drivers, but more just to prepare you for the cost upfront, which might help you evaluate if you want to explore other options instead.

As of 2025, apps like Uber and Bolt do work in Copenhagen, but all they do is order you a local taxi, so it’s not going to be any cheaper. Other apps include taxa4x35 and Viggo, which is a Scandinavian ride-hailing service using only electric cars.

Again though, the smarter use of money is to travel around with public transport. 

11. Public transport in Copenhagen is efficient and quick

The city uses a mix of buses, metro, harbour buses & trains, so you really will be able to get just about everywhere you need to go using public transport in some form. Especially because the Metro runs 24/7 and trains can come as frequently as every two minutes during rush hour.

You can use one ticket to mix and match different modes of transport as needed, and tickets can be purchased both in-person at stations or digitally through apps like the DOT Ticket App or the DSB app.

Just make sure you have a ticket before you board any trains because tickets aren’t sold on board. And make sure you have the right ticket for the number of zones you’re travelling through. If you’re staying within the city centre, it’s likely just to be two zones, but from the airport to the city, it’s three. No need to stress too much about zones though – if you enter your departure point and destination on the ticket apps, for instance, it’ll tell you exactly how many zones you need. 

Generally, you’ll only need to show your ticket if there’s an inspector that asks to see it – there won’t be any fare gates or anything but make sure you have the correct ticket to avoid getting fined.

And Google Maps works just fine for transport instructions, but if you want something more detailed you can also make use of the Journey Planner on the official Public Transport.dk website.

Overall, single tickets will work fine if you plan to just use public transport here and there, but if you’re maybe staying outside of the city center or think you’ll use public transport more than twice a day…

12. Consider getting a CityPass or the Copenhagen Card for unlimited transport

The CityPass is an offering from the local transport authorities that grants you unlimited travel by bus, train, and metro for a set number of zones and a set number of time, usually increments of 24 hours.

The choice might seem a bit confusing at first because there are so many different CityPasses, but basically, you would choose the one you want based on how much ground you want to cover. The CityPass Small would work for most first time visitors, because it includes the city centre and the airport, covering Zones 1-4.

The City Pass Large though might make sense if you’re planning any nearby day trips as this one can even get you to Helsingør.

Another offering that might make sense for first timers is something known as the Copenhagen Card. This card includes admission to 80+ attractions in the city as well as unlimited public transport, so if you think you’ll be doing a lot of sightseeing around paid attractions, this one might be worth it.

In any case, having an unlimited transport pass can be great for ease of mind and to take the work out of buying single tickets each time, but definitely crunch the numbers before committing to it because you’ll probably walk a lot more around the center than you’d think. 

When choosing your mode of transport though, I would personally… 

13. Prioritize the Metro over S-Trains when travelling around

S-Trains connect central Copenhagen with neighbourhoods and districts that are farther away. These trains are much older and (in my opinion) a little depressing compared to the sparkling clean Metro system. So, as a tourist in Copenhagen, I would say you should take the Metro whenever possible, over the S-Train.

This card gives you access to many of the city’s most major sights for a set period of time.. as well as unlimited public transport.

At the moment, they seem to offer two options – the Discover Card, which includes 80+ attractions with time packages ranging from 24 hours to 120 hours; and the Hop Card, which only covers 40+ attractions in the inner city, and has options for 24, 48 and 72 hours.

If you plan to do any of the paid sights while you’re visiting, like Tivoli Gardens, for instance, or the main castles or museums, a card like this can definitely save you a lot of money because individual tickets for things in Copenhagen can be crazy expensive.

Just be sure to do the math and crunch the numbers – I have a free spreadsheet in my VIP Zone that can help with that too!

15. Don’t miss the free activities & things to do in Copenhagen 

Of course, walking around to admire the city’s beauty is completely free, but there are also some free attractions to tick off your list as well, like the Botanical Garden, for instance, the Citadel, and the Changing of the Guard.

There are also some churches that offer free entry as well, like the Marble Church, AKA Frederik’s Church, and Grundtvig’s Church, which looks exactly like the church from Shrek. 

As well as all the green spaces and parks too, which are great for budget-friendly picnics. 

Some museums are also free on select days, like the Thorvaldsens Museum, Nikolaj Kunsthal, and Copenhagen Museum which are all free on the last Wednesday of the month.

Another really cool free initiative though is you can actually rent a kayak for free via Green Kayak, so long as you agree to help fill a bucket with garbage as you paddle, so that’s a pretty cool way to explore the water while also giving back to this beautiful city.

16. Remember that Nyhavn is beautiful, but pricey and filled with tourist traps

Nyhavn is arguably the most famous spot in Copenhagen with those beautiful colored buildings lining the water but the shops plus food and drink spots here will definitely have inflated prices.

I would say, consider stopping by for a photo and maybe sitting along the water with drinks or a picnic of your own, rather than dining here – unless budget is no issue!

17. Lower your expectations for the Little Mermaid (and don’t miss its parody)

It is a very small statue surrounded by people taking a ton of photos – not overly remarkable and it’s kinda out of the way, yet somehow still part of every tourist itinerary. So my best advice is, skip it if you truly do not care for the photo, or go with very low expectations if you feel it’s a true must-see.

Just don’t forget there’s also a quirky alternative known as the Genetically Modified Little Mermaid not too far away that might be worth checking out while you’re in the area. Definitely a more unique photo opp for sure. I don’t know about you, but I personally adore her to bits:

What IS worth it though, in my opinion, is to… 

18. Enjoy Copenhagen from the water at some point for a unique perspective

The cheapest way to do this would be to simply hop on a Harbour bus, but you can also do a canal cruise which IS included in the Copenhagen Card or even rent a private boat tour if you’re feeling fancy. In any case, don’t miss an opportunity to sightsee from on the water – it really enhances the experience.

19. Tivoli is really cool to see but know that it can get very pricey

This world famous amusement park is one of the top attractions in Copenhagen, and for good reason. It is really such a cool place, especially when they have festive decor, but it has to be said: pricing for Tivoli can be a bit confusing, so here are some things to note.

First – the price of admission varies depending on when you go, so you have to check the calendar on their website for accurate pricing. 

Second – generally the base admission you pay or get for free with the Copenhagen Card doesn’t include any rides, so do know that you’ll have to pay for any rides on top of that, with a standard ride pass for all rides ranging from 189 – 279 DKK.

Not exactly the cheapest, but it is a fun spot if you like amusement parks.

20. Get familiar with basic Danish pronunciation & a few basic phrases

Honestly, most people in Copenhagen – especially those working in hospitality or tourism – speak amazing English, so you don’t need to worry too much about learning Danish before you go… but I do think having a loose grasp of basic pronunciation can help you a long way when you’re ordering dishes at a restaurant, or asking for directions.

So, do know that… 

1. j = y sound
2. ø = euh sound
3. Å = oh 

It might also be polite to learn some basics like…

1. Hello, which is just Hej! (Hi)
2. Thank you, which is Tak 

And as a very handy resource…

21. Know that you can find public toilets online at www.kk.dk/toiletter

And yes, they’re free!! There’s nothing worse than wandering around a city being unable to find free public toilets, so this website is a godsend. Do note though, that a lot of bathrooms are unisex/gender neutral, in case you’re not expecting that. 

I’d also say if you’re visiting in colder months…

22. Do prepare yourself for some intense wind and pack layers accordingly

Maybe it was just bad luck on my part but I felt like I kept getting hit by strong winds I was NOT prepared for in Copenhagen, so make sure you’re not wearing any super loose hats or anything like that.

If you’re prepping for potential rain, it’s also better to pack a rain jacket with a good hood rather than an umbrella, which might just blow inside-out, or poke someone’s eyes out in crowds…

Now this is a fairly random one, but it’s a big culture shock for some first timers so… 

23. Yes – parents leave babies outside. Don’t be alarmed by this!

Apparently, it’s a very common cultural practice to just let your babies nap outside in their strollers even when it’s cold out. The fresh air is said to be good for them, so don’t freak out if you see an unattended baby while walking around. Their parents are probably having lunch inside or something. 

Now speaking of lunch, do know that.. 

24. Copenhagen has a great food scene, but be prepared for it to drain your wallet

Unfortunately, dining out in Copenhagen is very pricey, so this can be a quick budget killer on your trip. 

Some easy ways to save though, include prioritizing quicker food options like the go-to trusty Danish hot dog, which you’ll find all over the city, and I also was a big fan of Gasoline Grill, which is a popular burger spot.

Another great option is dining at food halls or markets, where you’ll find lots of great options for things to try, and often for a cheaper price than sit down restaurants. The Torvehallerne has lots of great options including spots with Danish specialties like Smørrebrød. 

There’s also the Reffen Copenhagen Street Food Market, which is very popular as well.

And a really cute concept I’d love to try next time is something known as communal dining. The most popular place for this is Absalon and basically, every night there’s a set menu and you buy a ticket for dinner then get seated with a bunch of strangers to eat together. The price is amazing, like 60 DKK Sunday to Wednesday and 100 DKK Thursdays to Saturdays, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Of course, if budget allows, Copenhagen has loads of nicer restaurants and fine dining options but I’m unfortunately not able to advise on the best ones. Just make sure you book ahead for any popular spots and brace your budget. 

Luckily, tipping isn’t expected, though rounding up to no more than 10% can be a nice sign of appreciation if you feel like it… so at least you can save some money there. 

25. Visit as many bakeries as you can, but learn the etiquette beforehand

One of the best foodie things to do in Copenhagen is just try as many pastries as possible. There are so many good ones and if you follow your nose and find what looks good, it’s hard to go wrong. 

When you enter a bakery in Copenhagen though, the way it works is you take a number first. This is how queues and line ups are done. So be sure to take one so that you’re not left waiting awkwardly to be helped. 

I hope this list of Copenhagen travel tips was helpful!

Let me know in the comments if you have any more to add.