Question 1

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

The metro runs 24 hours a day, and a single ticket is valid on the metro, buses, trains and harbor buses. A two-zone ticket covers the trip from any of the cruise terminals to the center. Buy it before you board, because inspectors fine passengers without a valid ticket. The metro takes 12 minutes from Kongens Nytorv to Copenhagen Airport. From Ocean Quay, allow about 40 minutes to the airport by bus and metro. The yellow harbor buses, routes 991 and 992, are electric ferries that run the length of the harbor on an ordinary ticket. Bike lanes are busy at rush hour, so if you are not a confident cyclist, ride outside the morning and afternoon peaks. Watch for pickpockets around Copenhagen Central Station, City Hall Square and the start of Strøget.

Question 2

Culture and Sights

Accepted Answer

Nyhavn, the canal dug between 1670 and 1675, is lined with townhouses from the 17th and early 18th centuries. Hans Christian Andersen lived in Nyhavn for 18 years, and a plaque marks No. 67, his home from 1845 to 1864. The Little Mermaid, a bronze by Edvard Eriksen unveiled in 1913, sits on a rock at Langelinie and is only 1.25 meters (4.1 feet) tall. The Round Tower, finished in 1642 as an observatory, is climbed by a spiral ramp, not by stairs. Rosenborg Castle began in 1606 as a summer house for King Christian IV. The National Museum of Denmark charges adults for admission and lets under-18s in free.

Question 3

Food

Accepted Answer

Smørrebrød, an open sandwich built on rye bread, is the classic Copenhagen lunch. Smørrebrød toppings run from herring and seafood to raw beef and egg. Torvehallerne, the market halls in the city center, are open all year and sell groceries, baked goods, coffee and prepared food. Reffen is a street food market on Refshaleøen, one of the stops on the harbor bus route. The pastry that English speakers call a Danish is wienerbrød, or Viennese bread, in Denmark.

Question 4

Tipping and Currency

Accepted Answer

VisitDenmark, the national tourist board, says service charges are included in hotel, restaurant and taxi bills in Denmark, and any tip on top is up to you. The currency is the Danish krone (DKK). The 1,000-krone banknote was withdrawn in May 2025, so do not accept one in change. Many places in Copenhagen accept euros, but the exchange rate will not be in your favor. Major cards are widely accepted in Copenhagen. Bring your PIN, and expect some places to add a fee for foreign cards. If someone claiming to be a police officer demands an on-the-spot fine, ask to see identification. Visitors have occasionally been robbed this way.

Question 5

Traveling with Family

Accepted Answer

Tivoli Gardens has rides, gardens and shows, but it opens only for certain seasons, so check the dates before you plan a day around it. Rutschebanen, the wooden roller coaster at Tivoli, was built in 1914. Experimentarium, a science center in Hellerup, has exhibits for all ages and an area for children aged 1 to 5. Amager Strandpark has a lagoon with shallow water for children.

Question 6

A Brief History

Accepted Answer

Copenhagen's founding is traditionally dated to 1167, when Bishop Absalon built a fortress on the islet of Slotsholmen. Copenhagen had become the capital of Denmark by about 1416. The city grew fast under King Christian IV, who reigned from 1588 to 1648 and laid out the canal district of Christianshavn. Fires in 1728 and 1795 are the main reason so little of the medieval town survives. A British fleet bombarded Copenhagen in 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars. German troops occupied the city from April 9, 1940, to May 4, 1945. In 1943 most of Denmark's Jews escaped by sea to Sweden.

Question 7

Shopping

Accepted Answer

Strøget, a car-free shopping street about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) long, runs through the old center. Strøget has been closed to cars since 1962. Many shops in Copenhagen are closed on Sundays, though department stores and the larger chains stay open. Danish prices include 25 percent sales tax. Visitors who live outside the EU can claim it back on purchases of at least DKK 300 in one shop. Illums Bolighus, a home furnishings store, has its flagship at Amagertorv 10 on Strøget.

Question 8

Beaches

Accepted Answer

Amager Strandpark has 2.9 miles (4.6 km) of beach, part of it on an artificial island across a lagoon. Three stations on metro line M2 serve Amager Strandpark: Øresund, Amager Strand and Femøren. Copenhagen has swimming areas in the harbor itself, and the first and best known is at Islands Brygge. Bellevue Beach, at Klampenborg on the northern edge of the city, is a sandy beach 700 meters (765 yards) long.

Question 9

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

Every metro station in Copenhagen has an elevator or lift, and the harbor buses are wheelchair accessible. City buses have a manual ramp at the middle doors. The driver is not allowed to leave the seat, so you need someone with you to set it up. Mobility scooters are not accepted on city buses. On S-trains, wait by the front carriage and signal the driver, who will put out a boarding ramp. Help with boarding regional trains, including the airport train, must be booked with DSB more than 12 hours ahead. Taxis carry folding wheelchairs free of charge.

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