Hostelworld Guide for Copenhagen

The Essentials

Copenhagen, the largest city and capital of Denmark, is hugely popular with visitors thanks to a mix of
modern attractions and old school charm. From the Little Mermaid to the free-town of Christiania, this city
has its own unique character, where historical buildings rub shoulders with slick shopping streets, and this
is all brought together by a network of canals. It's an easy city to get around, with a particular fondness for
bicycles and a great public transport system. Whether you're looking for a wholly cultural experience or
something a little more hedonistic, Copenhagen will provide.

Getting There
By plane: Copenhagen Airport is in Kastrup, a town
8km southeast of the city. Trains depart from the
station at Terminal 3 for the city centre at regular
intervals. The journey takes around 12 minutes.
By train: If you come to Copenhagen by train, you'll
most likely arrive in Central Station. Frequent
services connect the city with other parts of
Denmark, as well as many European cities.

In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget Tips
Where to Shop

By bus: Central Station is also the main hub for

buses arriving in Copenhagen. Services run from
here to all over Europe, with Eurolines operating the
bulk of these.

Getting Around
On foot: Copenhagen's a flat city, so it's easy
enough to explore on foot. A lot of the main
attractions are within walking distance of each other
and the city centre.
By S-Train/Metro: The S-Train runs on 7 lines with
all the trains on the network passing through
Central Station. Metro services run daily from
5am-12pm, and all night on Thurs-Sat.
By bicycle: Public city bikes, lots of bike paths and
flat roads, make cycling a great choice for getting
around Copenhagen.

Copenhagen facts
Name: Copenhagen, which is the capital of
Denmark, is known as Kbenhavn in Danish.

Climate
Copenhagen has a mild maritime climate, meaning
it's generally cold in winter and warmer in summer.
The coldest months are January and February, with
temperatures sometimes dropping below zero.
Usually, the city gets snow in winter. July is both the
hottest and wettest month in Copenhagen. Highs
tend to hover around 18C and there's about 71mm
of rain. August and September are also wet months.

Good to know...
Language: Danish
Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)
Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50Hz, 2-pin plug.
Area code: +45 (Denmark), no city code.
Emergency codes: Ambulance 112, Fire 112,
Police 112.
Time Zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
Central Post Office: Tietgensgade 37
Main Tourist Office: Wonderful Copenhagen
Tourist Information, Vesterbrogade 4A

Embassies
USA: +45 3341 7100
Canada: +45 3348 3200
Australia: +45 7026 3676
South Africa: +45 3918 0155
UK: +45 3544 5200
Spain: +45 3542 4700
Germany: +45 3945 9900
Italy: +45 3962 6877
New Zealand: +45 3337 7702*
France: +45 3367 0100
*Number is for the General Consulate

Location: You'll find the city of Copenhagen on

the island of Sealand, one of many islands that
make up Denmark.
Population: Around 1.7 million people live in
the Greater Copenhagen area.
Area: Copenhagen is the largest city in
Denmark and covers an area of over 88 square
kilometres.
Founded: The city was officially founded in
1167.
Hostelworld Guide for Copenhagen

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Cheap Eats
Ems Deli, Frederiksborggade 10, Nrrebro Along
with its breakfast and brunch offers, this caf also
has a wide variety of sandwiches, bagels, pastries
and coffees. The music playing inside is quite lively,
and a cup of coffee here is a great way to shake out
the cobwebs first thing in the morning. Open
Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-9pm.

Let them eat cake

Conditori & Caf Hans Christian Andersen,
Rdhusarkaden, Vesterbrogade 1 Denmark is
known for delicious Danish pastries, and this
caf is a great place to try one. These, and
other tasty treats, can be enjoyed with a pot of
coffee, which can be refilled at no extra charge.
Sandwiches and salads are also available.
Open Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-7pm, Sat
8am-6pm, Sun 12pm-6pm.
Sunset Boulevard, Kbmagergade 43, Strget A
great place for lunch, Sunset Boulevard serves hot
and cold sandwiches, and a selection of salads.
Meal deals made up of a sandwich, fries and a
drink are good value. The interior's pretty funky too,
with lots of places to sit. Open Mon-Sat
10am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm.
Riz Raz, Kompagnistraede 20, Straedet Offering
all-you-can-eat buffet specials, the difference with
this restaurant is that its buffet is entirely
vegetarian. You can choose from a huge range of
hot and cold dishes, while there are also some
meat dishes on the main menu. Open daily,
11am-12am.
Mama Rosa, stergade 57, Strget Found on
Copenhagen's main shopping street, this restaurant
offers mostly Mexican and Italian dishes. There are
daily lunch specials, set 2-course tourist menus and
4 different 3-course menus. It's a colourful spot,
with bright tablecloths and potted chilli plants
continuing the Mexican theme. Open daily,
11am-12am.

After Dark
The Scottish Pub, Rdhuspladsen 16, near
Tivoli Check out the backpackers' nights held here
on Mondays and Tuesdays to sample the drinks on
offer and to meet travellers from all over the world.
There's live music six nights a week and a DJ on
Fridays and Saturdays. Brave souls might like to try
one of the pipes, which hold four litres of Carlsberg,
more than enough to have you dancing up a storm.
Open Mon-Thurs 4pm-3am, Fri-Sat 4pm-5am, Sun
4pm-2am.
Vega Musikkens Hus, Enghavevej 40, Vesterbro
Here you'll find both the Ideal Bar and Vega music
venue and club. The Ideal Bar hosts events like
poetry slam nights, which are fun even if you can't
always understand what's being said. Lots of bands
from all over the world play in Vega, making it one
of the best places in the city to see live rock music.
Open Wed 9pm-1am, Thurs-Sat 9pm-5am.
The Dubliner, Amagertorv 5, City Centre Live
music every night of the week and TVs showing
major sporting events are just part of what makes
this such a popular bar. Inside you'll find a mix of
long benches, tables and couches under a big
dome skylight. You can take your beer to the seats
outside too. Open Mon-Thurs 10am-2am, Fri-Sat
10am-4.30pm, Sun 12pm-1am.

Gay/Lesbian Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a pretty large and lively gay
scene. Some of the more popular places
include Centralhjrnet (Kattesundet 18), which
is the city's oldest gay bar, Rocco (Axeltorv
12E) and Cosy Bar (Studiesstraede 24), which
is popular with both gay and straight people.
VELA (Viktoriagade 2-4) is a bar specifically
targeted at lesbians.
The Moose, Svaertegade 5, City Centre Slightly
off the beaten path but still close to Strget, this bar
is small and smokey inside. It has a great
atmosphere and friendly staff. Happy hours are long
here, lasting from 9pm to closing time on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday. Open Mon-Wed 1pm-6am,
Thurs-Sat 1pm-7am, Sun 1pm-3am.
Rosie McGee's, Vesterbrogade 2A, Vesterbro
Spread over 2 floors, Rosie McGees has 4 bar
areas and 3 dance floors, one of which vibrates. On
Fridays, this bar offers a selection of drinks
promotions. Check out the musician playing
acoustic guitar inside daily. Open Mon-Fri
12pm-1am, Sat 12pm-5.30am, Sun 12pm-4.30am.

Hostelworld Guide for Copenhagen

Don't Miss
The Little Mermaid, Langelinie The Little
Mermaid, introduced to the world in 1913 and
created by Edvard Eriksen, is one of the most
recognisable landmarks in the world. Sculpted in
bronze and based on the Hans Christian Andersen
character, she's visited by around a million people
each year.
Canal Tours Lasting about an hour, these canal
tours are a great way to get a different view of
Copenhagen. From the water you'll see some of the
main attractions and learn lots of interesting facts.
You'll also pass underneath some of the very low
bridges stretching over the canals. Tours run from
March-Dec, opening hours vary; admission 60 DKK.
The Round Tower, Kbmagergade 52A, City
Centre Completed in 1642, this tower is Europe's
oldest functioning observatory and is 35 metres
high. Walk up the spiral ramp, climb the last few
stairs, and then step outside for great views out
across Copenhagen. Open 7 days, May-Sept
10am-8pm, Oct-April 10am-5pm; admission 25
DKK.
Carlsberg Visitors Centre, Gamle Carlsberg Vej
11, Vesterbro Here you can see the largest
collection of beer bottles in the world, which right
now consists of around 18,000 bottles. Here you'll
learn about the production of beer and the history of
Carlsberg. End the trip by enjoying your two free
drinks. Open Oct-June Tues-Sun 10am-4pm,
July-Sept 7 days 10am-4pm; admission 65 DKK.

All thrills, no spills

Tivoli Gardens, Vesterbrogade 3 Tivoli
Gardens is one of the world's oldest
amusement parks. It boasts the highest
carousel in the world, 40 restaurants, 3 open-air
stages and an aquarium. Opened in 1843, the
park is visited by around 4.5 million people
annually. Open 7 days at 11am Apr 17th-Sept
21st, Oct 10th-19th, Nov 14th-Dec 30th;
admission 95 DKK.

Mark Your Calendar

February - Copenhagen Fashion Week The
Danish Fashion Institute organises this event,
where established and emerging Danish designers
can showcase their work. Another Fashion Week
takes place in August.
March-April - NatFilm All of Copenhagen's
cinemas take part in this festival where Danish
distributors show everything from Hollywood
blockbusters to small indie movies. Retrospectives
and Danish films are important to the festival too.
June - Distortion Distortion is billed as a
'celebration of Copenhagen nightlife' and runs over
5 days. It was founded in 1998 and showcases
some of Copenhagen's different cultures, including
music and fashion. The club and street scenes are
also on display, with lots of parties held across the
city.
July - Roskilde Festival Famous international acts
take part in this well-known rock music festival
alongside up and coming Nordic bands. Roskilde
has been around since 1971 and today, bands play
on 7 different stages over 4 days.
July - Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2008 marked
the 30th anniversary of this festival. It has grown to
encompass over 900 concerts in 100 venues, with
more than 200,000 visitors.
July-August - HamletScenen Every year Kronborg
Castle hosts a selection of performances of some of
Shakespeare's best-loved works.
August - Kulturhavn The Kulturhavn, or Cultural
Harbour, festival takes place each year and
provides locals and visitors with a wide range of
activities to take part in. The festival lasts for 3
days, covering music, dance, theatre and more.
August - Copenhagen Cooking Over 10 days you
can sample some of the most delicious cuisine
Copenhagen has to offer. The festival also includes
wine tasting sessions, a cooking competition and
other special events.
September - Golden Days This major festival
takes place at locations across the city. It was
designed to promote Copenhagen's cultural side,
from music to film to dance to museum visits.
November - CPH:DOX This is Scandinavia's
biggest documentary film festival. For 10 days, the
city plays host to documentaries from all over the
world. Seminars and forums also take place.
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Neighbourhood Watch
Hellerup A short trip from the city centre on the
S-Train, this part of Copenhagen is filled with things
to see and do. You can visit the fun science centre
called the 'Experimentarium', walk along by the sea,
or check out the many exclusive boutiques and
stores along the tree lined streets. There's a good
choice of places to eat and drink here too.

This is our town

Christiania This 'free town' has been in
existence since 1971 and is built on the
concepts of communal living and alternative
lifestyles. You'll find many stalls here, offering
handmade jewellery, scarves, food and drink,
and more. There's a large stage area too,
where many different bands play. Tours
Sat-Sun all year at 3pm, Jun 26-Aug 31 every
day at 3pm; admission 30 DKK.
Nyhavn A more touristy area, Nyhavn canal leads
out into the harbour and is flanked by lots of
restaurants. At one time, writer Hans Christian
Andersen lived here. Why not join the locals, and sit
beside the canal with a traditional sausage from
one of the many 'plser' stands nearby.
Charlottenlund The beautiful beaches in
Charlottenlund, just outside the city and close to
Hellerup, are only a small part of this area's
considerable charm. Here, you can also take a walk
in the Charlottenlund Park or stop by Danmarks
Akvarium. This aquarium houses over 300 species
from sharks to anemones.
Vesterbro Not just the home of the red-light district,
Vesterbro has a lot going for it in terms of popular
spots to eat and drink, as well as places of interest.
Along Enghavevej, you'll find a mix of small shops,
cafs and bars. While in this area of the city, you
can also visit the Carlsberg Brewery, one of
Copenhagen's most popular attractions.

Hostelworld Guide for Copenhagen

Retail Therapy
Illum, stergade 52, Strget In operation since
1891, this huge department store is a treasure trove
for serious shoppers. Spanning five floors, it's home
to over 450 Scandinavian and international stores.
And for those worried about the bank balance, you'll
be happy to hear that shopping in Illum is tax free.
Open Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat
10am-5pm, 1st Sun of every month 12am-5pm.
Strget Made up of streets like Kbmagergade,
stergade, Amager Torv and Frederiksberggade,
Strget is the main shopping area in Copenhagen.
Packed with tourists and locals, there's a huge
number of well-known brands including Mango,
Foot Locker, Puma, and Monsoon.

Let's strike a bargain

Flea Markets, various locations You could
find genuine antiques nestled on tables
alongside china and old Smurfs figurines at one
of the city's flea markets. The Gammel Strand
market is a little pricier than some of the others,
but has a great location alongside the canal.
Near Nrreport Station at the Israel Plads
market, sellers offer bargains on everything
from second-hand books to ceramics.
Magasin du Nord, Kongens Nytorv 13, near
Nyhavn A huge department store with a long
history, Magasin du Nord is located right in the
heart of Copenhagen. Every year around 20 million
shoppers stroll through its doors. Here you'll find
everything from clothing and toiletries to things for
the house. Open Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri
10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-4pm.
sterbrogade This long street is located in the
sterbro area of Copenhagen. There's a great
range of smaller stores here, with places selling
everything from clothes to shoes to sunglasses.
Shops also offer a great selection of second-hand
items.

Copenhagen For Free

Walk around the King's Gardens Beside
Rosenborg Castle, this large park was created in
1606, at the same time as the castle was built.
Filled with trees and flowers, it's also home to a
large number of interesting statues. The gardens
are visited by millions each year. Open 7 days,
7am-9pm; admission free.
Wander through the Statens Museum for Kunst
The Danish National Gallery is home to around
10,000 paintings and sculptures by both Danish and
international artists including Rembrandt and
Picasso. It was initially opened to the public in
1896. Open Tues, Thurs-Sun 10am-5pm, Wed
10am-8pm, closed Mondays; admission free.
See Hans Christian Andersen's grave Visit the
Assistens Cemetery in Nrrebro to see the final
resting places of notable Danish citizens like author
Hans Christian Andersen and physicist Niels Bohr.
Filled with trees and plants, it's also a peaceful park
to wander though on a sunny day. Open Nov-Feb
8am-4pm, Mar-Apr Sept-Oct 8am-6pm, May-Aug
8am-8pm; admission free.
Visit Trinitatiskirke (or Trinity Church) on
Kbmagergade Inside you'll find high ceilings
elaborately decorated with hanging chandeliers. At
the back of the church, a huge organ faces the
altar. Choral performances and concerts are often
held here. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm;
admission free.

All about artefacts

Check out the National Museet At Denmark's
National Museum you'll learn about the Danish
people from the Ice Age to the present day. The
Eskimo display is a must-see, from the
harpoons to the animal hide underwear. There's
also a toy exhibit here, with teddy bears,
dollhouses and more. Open Tues-Sun
10am-5pm, closed Mondays; admission free.

A Day in Copenhagen...
Start the day in one of the city's many cafs, like the
Conditori & Caf Hans Christian Andersen. Try one
of the delicious Danish pastries with some coffee.
From here, why not hop on board one of the canal
tours. See the city from the water and learn a lot
about the history of Copenhagen.

Pick up a tasty lunch from one of the many sausage

stands (see above) scattered throughout the city
and enjoy it while sitting alongside the canal in
Nyhavn.
Wander along by the harbour where you'll find the
Little Mermaid statue. After that, catch the S-Train
back to the city centre.
Walking distance from Central Station is the
National Museum. It's well worth a visit for its
displays of weird and wonderful artefacts, from dolls
to ceremonial masks.
After all that culture check out Strget,
Copenhagen's famous network of shopping streets.
Designer names to local brands, there's plenty here
to tempt your wallet.
Many of the streets and narrow lanes off Strget
are filled with great places to eat. Stop at one of
these for dinner, like Riz Raz on Kompagnistraede.
Have a drink in The Moose on Svaertegade. Small
but with a lively atmosphere, this is a great place to
start the night, especially during its long happy
hours.
If you're looking for somewhere with a bit more
space to dance, head to Rosie McGees on
Vesterbrogade, which has 4 bar areas and 3 dance
floors.

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