Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, and the most populous city in Denmark, with approximately 1.96 million people in the greater Copenhagen area (of approximately 5.63 million people in total in Denmark).

Copenhagen has a lot to offer a visitor. This page attempts to provide general information relevant to a couchsurfer visiting the city - for more in-depth tourism-related information, please refer to other sources, such as the Wikivoyage-page on Copenhagen. Or contribute an article yourself!

Hospitality Exchange
Check the How to write a couch request page before sending requests.

Couchsurfing
Ambassadors: Kirstine Desian, Rocain

There are now over 1000 people listed as being in Copenhagen - covering all areas of the capital. Be open to where you want to stay - not many people live in the centre! Most locations outside the center are only 30-40 minute train og bus ride into the City Centre or by Metro and most areas are covered overnight by the extensive Night Bus Network. Please remember, Couchsurfing is not intended to be a free Hostel Service! Find someone you think you will connect with and enjoy spending time with so that everyone benefits!

If you are unlucky and cant find a host - check the links at the end of this article for Hostels and Cheap Hotels - if you have stayed in a good one and would recommend it - add it to the list - if you would like to warn others against one - again add it in! In emergencies (last minute fall throughs and no hostel availability) try posting to a group. Although be warned that most Copenhagen Hosts do not tend to respond to generic post type requests.

By plane
All major carriers and low cost airlines fly into Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport, a few fly into Malmö Sturup Airport, some may even land in Roskilde Airport (although rarely).

Check out Momondo.com, Dohop.com or Travellink.dk to find the cheapest airline tickets to come.

The airport is located approximately 15 minutes by train or metro from the city.

Getting To and From the Airport
The easiest way of from the airport is the newly opened Metro, it takes 15 minutes to Nørreport station, You pass through 3 zones from the Airport to Central Copenhagen, a single ticket costs 30 DKK (4 €) or get a ten-trip discount card. See the chapter on getting around the city for more information on public transport

By bus
Long-distance busses also stop in Copenhagen, many stop near DGI-byen, just a few minutes walk from the central station.
 * Eurolines operate bus services to most of Europe
 * Swebus offers transport to many cities in Sweden and Norway. Please note that Swebus refers to Copenhagen with the Swedish spelling: Köbenhamn.

Hitchhiking
It should be possible to hitch a ride down Europe from Grønttorvet just where Holbækmotorvejen begins. Grønttorvet (the Vegetable Square) is where most fruit and vegetables are being sold to Supermarkets in Denmark so there are a lot of Trucks going in and out of there to all of Europe. (Do not confuse with the similarly named Grønttorvet near Nørreport station on Israels plads)

Getting Around Once you are Here
Driving a car in Copenhagen is an option, but as public transport is excellent and covers all parts of Copenhagen, try it out: See Rejseplanen to plan your trip.

Currency
In Denmark we're so romantic we couldn't let go of our beloved "krone" it's tied to the € and the exchange is so that you get around 750 DKK for 100 € depending on your exchange rate. There are yellow exchange places scattered around the inner city.

Only a few big shops on the main street take €, but virtually everyone including even the smallest little grocery shop accepts Visa(not electron, look for the Electron sign before you step into the store) some accept Mastercard too, a few bigger shops may accept American Express/Diners Club/Discover/JCB/EuroCard but you shouldn't rely on those cards alone. Føtex accepts almost all cards and nearly all Føtex have an ATM inside. Netto accepts €, SEK and NOK but only in notes and sometimesit it may seem impossible 2 pay with €, SEK and NOK in notes as the cashiers have little exåerience with this. Netto does accapt Electron.

Zoning system and Travelcards
Copenhagen is divided into zones. Zone 1 is central Copenhagen, zone 2 is the outer parts of the city, zone 3 is most of Amager, zone 4 is outer Amager including the Airport. All higher zones are in the suburbs. Tickets cost 10,5 DKK per zone with a minimum purchase of two zones. A much cheaper option is getting a Discount Card with 10 trips on it. They come in several different versions, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or all zones. Purchasing a 2 zone and a 3 zone 10 trip discount card, covers all possible combinations of zones(2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 3 = 6, etc). They are sold in vendor machines on all stations (therefore also at Copenhagen Airport Kastrup). Paying with any major credit card directly in the vendor machine is an easy possibility.

If you're only staying in the Copenhagen-area for a few days, buying a Citypass is an option. It's valid for zone 1-4 (that includes the airport and the city center), and 24 or 72-hour tickets are available. Current price for an adult is 190 DKK. The ticket is valid for one person only.

Read more on the Movia Tourist page about Zones and Discount Cards

All tickets are good for all forms of public transportation, metro, train, bus, ferrybus(but using this option costs dobbel ticket), and two zones is good for one hour (more zones longer time).

It is also possible for two people to share zones, so one stamp of a 4 zone card equals two 2-zone tickets. Note that you need at least two zones regardless whether you're only traveling in one zone.

Another option that at first hand may seem expensive is to get a monthly card or pendler card(you need a normal passport photo in order 2 purchase it) at any manned station therefore also at Copenhagen Airport Kastrup. As with the tickets, the min. purchase is for 2 zones and it should have a validity of min. 1 month. A zone 1+2(covers almost all the center and most suburbs in Copenhagen)month card for 1 month is 310kr(1/4-09)aprox 41 Euro.

With this month card or pendler card you also avoid to have to pay double in the night busses. Once you have purchased it, it is free rides, all day, all night(within the picked zones).

Metro
The Metro will take you from Vanløse, through Frederiksberg passing Nørreport (busiest station in Copenhagen) to Kongens Nytorv and Christianshavn and all the way through Amager to the Kastup Airport or to west Amager. Opening hours The Metro runs all day from around 5 in the morning to about 1 at night, it also run every 15 minutes Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Google has the metro (mostly) plotted into their maps.

Bus
Copenhagen buses are yellow, with a red, blue stripe on the front, or lacking it. Normal busses are all yellow and don´t go very often(aprox every 20. min). The "A" buses are very frequent(aprox. 3. - 7. min.) and have a red stripe on the front. "S" buses are fast because they stop at fewer stops, they have a blue stripe on thr front. "N" buses are night buses and cost double the daytime fare. You enter all buses in the front and exit in the middle or behind, remember to go all the way to the back of the bus to allow others in (no fun standing in the rain all day watching half empty busses drive by). You can only buy normal tickets in the bus, and they only take coins and smaller notes, no credit card and no Euros.

S-trains
S-trains take you out to the greater Copenhagen area and all the suburbs, you cannot buy a ticket in the train and if you get caught as a foreigner, you will be asked to pay cash or you will be escorted to a ATM. If you refuse this, the police will be called and a report will be made (in other words arrested).

See the city pulse to see where the trains are in real time!

Not paying with public transport
The fee is 750.- DKK approx. 100 Euro (2013.12.30).

If you get caught as a foreigner, you will be asked to pay cash or you will be escorted to a ATM. If you refuse this, the police will be called and a report will be made (in other words arrested).

Now you may think you can spot they controllers but the new action is to have civilian controllers and also civilian police that escort the controllers.

Taxis
Taxi is also an option in Copenhagen, and it it very safe due 2 video cameras onboard and they accept all cards(even thougt there is a small fee for foreign cards) and the ride is always fixed price and not a bargain, like in some foreign countries. The tip is included in th ride as it is in all services in Denmark.

Richshaws
Rickshaws or Bike taxis are great for sightseeing they are the same price as taxis

Bikes!
Copenhagen is one of the most bike friendly cities in the world with green bike paths on most streets and even some dedicated bike paths, and from August it is possible to drive your bike by the lakes giving you a beautiful view and a fast way to get all the way from Østerbro through Nørrebro and Frederiksberg to Vesterbro

Warning watch out for those right turning trucks, assume that you're invisible to them and stay back until they passed even though you have the right to go first. You also have a right to be squished under a 20 ton truck but that doesn't mean you want to.

Bike rental There are several bike rental places scattered around Copenhagen.


 * 1) Luca's Cykler have bikes from 50 DKK per day.
 * 2) Cykelbørsen have bikes from 60 DKK per day and 270 DKK per week and 645 per month. Deposit from 200 DKK
 * 3) Baisikeli have bikes from 80 DKK per day and 270 per Week and 625 DKK per month. Helmets can also be rented.
 * 4) Copenhagen Bikes and Østerport Cykler have, apart from normal bikes, also Tandems (100DKK/day or 450DKK/week) and Christiania bikes (200DKK/day or 900DKK/week). Christiania bikes are great for transporting children and can carry up to 4 smaller kids plus driver or two small adults plus driver
 * 5) Rent a Bike Copenhagen has bikes available from 95 DK (+20 DKK for insurance, +10 DKK for lights/helmet). Has two very central shops.

Walk!
Most of the main sight are located fairly close together and can easily be visited on foot - and you get to see more of the city. If you are only going a couple of tube stops - walk (or get a bus). By the time you have got to the platform, waited for the train, gone the distance and come back up - you could have been there!

Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhood and their sights
 * Inner city - Museums, Shops, Restaurants, the pedestrian street, Tivoli, Nyhavn, The Little Mermaid(only until 2010, then The Little Mermaid is going for some exposition abroad), Gefion, The Marble Chruch, The Queens Palace
 * Christianshavn - Christiania, Peder Skram(a museum frigate), Sælen(the uboat that participated in Operation Desert Storm - also a museum))
 * Østerbro - Fælledparken a big busy park in the summer, also home for Parken(FCK)
 * Nørrebro - Falafel and Kebab, green grocers, halal, second hand stores, the former place of Ungdomshuset and Assistens Kirkegård(Hans Christian Andersen)
 * Vesterbro/Kongens Enghave - Carlsberg Breweries, many foreign restaurants and ethnical special stores
 * Valby - Carlsberg Breweries and Spinderiet(Shopping mall, opened sept 2008)
 * Vanløse - Damhussøen
 * Brønshøj-Husum -
 * Bispebjerg - Grundvigs Kirke(cathedal),
 * Amager - beaches, skinny dipping at Helgoland
 * Kastrup - The airport, some beaches
 * Frederiksberg - The Zoo
 * Klampenborg - Bakken(the eldest amusementpark in the world, opened 1583)

Looking for a room/apartment
Be advised that it is very difficult to find a room in Copenhagen and you will most likely have to look for something outside the city.

It is important to notice that according to danish legislation, it´s not permitted to take a large fee for apartment rental like 500 - 1.000 Kr as many online organisations do. It is permitted to take around 125 - 200 Kr pr year for this service.

Check out the Room & Apartment Rental group

Some places to look for apartments
 * ledige-lejligheder.dk
 * DBA Danish only use Gramtrans to translate
 * - you must pay to get access to contact details on Boligportalen. Very active page, though.

CS Guides and Organised Guided Tours
If you want to guide people, add a link to your profile and add some things you want to show to people Check the Couch Search for people willing to show you around the city. Some CS may add their profiles here for you to get in touch with them for a tour. If you cant secure a CS there are a number of options for organised tours - one that I know if is free and my surfers have recommended it.

Meetings
Meetings are held every 8th day to give everyone a chance to attend, check out Meeting page for details If you are arranging a meet - add it to the meeting pages - this makes it a lot easier to keep in touch with everybody and makes your event easy to find for all.

Nightlife

 * Vega is one of Copenhagens most popular concert venues, and you'll find Ideal Bar in the same building.
 * Pumpehuset is another popular concert venue.
 * Culture Box is a good place to go for electronic music.
 * The Rock is a hard rock/heavy metal concert venue and night club.
 * Stengade 30 is a popular place that caters to many different genres. RubA'Dub Sunday every Sunday is one of the places where you can usually find a party on a Sunday.

City Centre
La Vecchia Signora on Grønnegade serves Pizza from the traditional Italian stone oven heated by real fire, as well as other Italian classics. A bit pricey (Pizzas 115 to 130 DKK, other main courses 200 to 230 DKK)

O's American Breakfast & Dinner on Gothersgade, close to Kongens Nytorv. Good if you're into heavy American-style brunch and for many locals the place to go the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Usually crowded. Less well known and less crowded is their restaurant on Øster Farimagsgade where you can also sit outside if the weather is good.

Christianshavn
Café Kejzer on Strandgade has won the Copenhagen "Sandwich of the Year" award two times, and of course both winning sandwiches are on their menu. The menu also includes other light to moderate meals, and a good brunch in the weekend. Strangely, the place is usually not crowded even though you get good food at reasonable (for Copenhagen) prices.

The bakery on the square is one of Copenhagens best, and they have tables by the window where you can sit and eat your breakfast or lunch - or go outside and sit by the canal.

Eating and Drinking on a Budget
There are several places where you can eat a buffet, try a search on AOK the price will probably go up to around 120 DKK per person as most restaurants who offer buffets require you to order something to drink too.

Picnic on Fælledvej, next to Skt Hans Torv, offers decent food at reasonable prices. Main courses from 65-85 DKK, or try the Mezes (salads, mix any one to five), even cheaper. Reasonable prices on soft drinks and beer too.

Blue House on Torvegade, right next to Christianshavn Metro Station, makes affordable sandwiches, and they have a couple of vegetarian choices on the menu. Eat in or take out and sit by the canal.

Also on Torvegade you'll find Spicy Kitchen Café - decent Indian food at reasonable prices.

There is a folk/peoples kitchen every week at the following places and times, A full plate full of food usually costs 20 kroner and there are usually many nice people to meet.

Tuesdays - 7pm Kfax - This is on Korsgade, near the lakes. Really freindly people and you can also help out there by turning up a couple of hours early

Thursdays at Den ´Økologiske Produktions Skole at 8pm on ravnsborggade Every last Friday of the month there is a feminist folk kitchen at The folk house on Stengade

On sunday there is brunch at the folk house at 11am Usually at the folk/people kitchens all food is vegetarian or vegan if you have any spare food to bring too add to the meal it is usually appreciated (eg lots of pastys your shop was going to throw out!)

For a really nice organic vegetable meal however, you should go to Christiania and try out Grønsagen (the Vegetable) or Morgenstedet (The morning place)

Also for excellent vegi and vegan food (some are also gluten and nut free) try Estin at Lille Strandstræde 13, just off Nyhavn (the harbour). 12 freshly made dishes to choose from and prices start at 45 DKK. Not open weekends.

Nørrebrogade is the street most packed with cheap Sharwarma places you can get a falaffel or Sharwarma for 20-50 DKK.

Dumpster diving
Check Trashwiki if you're on a really low budget or if you simply enjoy pro-active recycling.

Day Trips
It is possible to get all around Denmark in a day, it is also advisable to visit Sweden since it's very near.

Helsingør and Helsingborg is some nice cities to visit, Helsingør with Kronborg castle, the setting of Shakespeares Hamlet, and a very cheap ferry to Helsingborg.

Malmö in southern Sweden is about 30 minutes from Copenhagen by train. Train leaves every 20 minutes.

Roskilde with the Viking ship museum and cathedral is also about half an hour from Copenhagen by train, with several trains every hour.

Hostels and Cheap Hotels

 * 1) Sleep-in-green (opens around June) an organic hostel with three dorms with 8, 20 and 38 beds, 85-120 DKK per night.
 * 2) Sleep in Heaven 120-130 DKK per night
 * 3) Danhostel 130-165 DKK per night

Working

 * Jobs in Copenhagen - English speaking employment opportunities in Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark.

isin: Denmark trash:Copenhagen hitch:Copenhagen