I’m starting up a new section of the blog called Travel Tips, which will include some practical tips and things to know before visiting each country. These will include things that we had to look up or wish we knew, such as tipping, how to get around, and whether or not you need to get out cash before you go. This one includes helpful travel tips for Copenhagen.
Currency
Although Denmark is part of the EU, they still use their own currency: the Danish krone (DKK). Almost everywhere still accepts Euros, but you don’t really need to take out any cash, as everywhere we went took credit cards. Restaurants, taxis, museums, and Tivoli ticket kiosks (and carnival games) all took credit card.
Tipping
Tipping is not common or expected in Copenhagen. If you feel like your server or bartender did an outstanding job, feel free to leave 10 to 20 DKK (~$1-$2) on the table or ask them to round up the bill to the nearest 10 DKK if you are paying with card.
Where to Stay
Copenhagen is super backpacker friendly (see backpacking packing guide here) and is loaded up with cheap hostels. When I was looking for a place to stay, I found tons of hostel/hotel hybrids which I thought were awesome. They still have a bar and nice public space, but also have single rooms with private bathrooms in addition to the shared rooms of hostels. There are also plenty of boutique hotels, and a lot of them include breakfast which is a nice touch.
Language
The official language of Denmark is Danish, but almost everyone is fluent in English. Really everywhere we went, everyone spoke English.
Transportation
Copenhagen is without a doubt one of the cleanest cities I have ever been to. The streets are clean, the air is clean, and the metro is spotless. Definitely take the metro when traveling around the city because it is so easy to use. There are only four metro lines and they come every 3 minutes. We got around easily just using google maps. The metro is free with the Copenhagen card, but you can buy a City Pass for 24 hours or a single ticket at any of the stops using a kiosk or online here.
There are no Ubers in Copenhagen, and the taxi from the airport to my hotel was around $45. The train tickets from the airport to the city center (near my hotel) was around $5. If you have the Copenhagen Card (read about it here), public transportation is included.
Other Travel Tips
I went in the fall and the weather was pretty chilly and rainy. I would say the Copenhagen attire is “practical casual.” Make sure to pack comfortable shoes for walking, like Adidas or Chelsea boots. Most people had on jeans and a casual shirt, plus a puffer jacket. Our hotels were a five minute walk from the train station, but the sidewalks had a bit of cobblestone, so I was glad I used a backpack instead of a rolling suitcase.
And don’t forget to pack your European power adapter. We love this* one because it has two USB ports and two American plugs, so you can charge four things at one time.
*This post contains affiliate links; clicking on them does not cost you anything extra, but does allow Tried & Trouvailles to make a small commission on your purchase through the Amazon Affiliate Program.
Any other travel tips for Copenhagen? Leave us a comment!