Copenhagen Travel Guide
Acknowledged as one of the world’s greenest cities, Copenhagen has much of its centre reserved for pedestrians, enforces strict climate policies and bikes outnumber cars on the street. It is also packed with quirky attractions and a skyline dominated by delicate spires rather than hulking skyscrapers typical of other modern cities.
Most visitors’ first port of call is Nyhavn, where colourful buildings loom over the busy waterfront. But get beyond this honey pot and you’ll find a city teeming with fascinating cultural and culinary highlights.
Rummage around the antique shops in the multicultural Nørrebro neighbourhood, feel the pulse of the city in the Meatpacking District (Vesterbro), take a well-deserved coffee break and people watch in the posh Frederiksberg district, embrace communal living in Freetown Christiania, Copenhagen really has the best to offer.
The fully pedestrianised city centre is a breeze to navigate; else you can easily zip from A to B on a bike – with 350km (217 miles) of cycle tracks throughout the city, hiring your own two wheels is the best way to see Copenhagen if time is short.
Contemporary art and design fans will feel right at home at the stunning Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (39km/ 24 miles north of Copenhagen) or at the Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art in the city centre. For those after some classic fairground fun, Tivoli Gardens is a must for visitors of all ages.
Take in an evening of jazz at La Fontaine (the city’s legendary jazz venue) or sit at a pavement café by the waterfront and watch the world go by. Beautiful, civilised and welcoming, few cities can match the charms of Copenhagen; it is impossible not to fall in love with it.
Copenhagen’s foundation dates back to 1167 when Bishop Absalon built a bastion on the island of Slotsholmen, today the site of Christiansborg Palace and the Danish parliament.
Following the signing of a treaty that began the Kalmar Union among Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the city became the capital of Denmark in 1416 when Eric of Pomerania moved his seat to Copenhagen Castle. As a result, the city boomed and many of Copenhagen’s most impressive buildings were constructed in the years that followed, in particular during the reign of Christian IV (1588-1648). Along with the Børsen, the Rundetårn and the Palace of Rosenborg, Christian IV was also responsible for Copenhagen’s canal network and for the development of Christianshavn.
Like most European nations in the 18th century, Copenhagen’s growth was curtailed by a series of military misadventures, with several sieges, an outbreak of plague and two terrible fires causing much damage.
After wars with the British in the early part of the 19th century, Copenhagen bounced back and flourished, ushering a period of intense cultural creativity known as the Danish Golden Age. In the 20th century, with Denmark remained neutral in WW1, Copenhagen continued to prosper. But it was not so fortunate during WWII when German troops occupied the city from 1 April 1940 to 4 May 1945. After the war, Copenhagen and its surround areas became Denmark’s manufacturing hub.
Today, Copenhagen is one of the world’s most stylish cities and is famous for its cutting-edge design and vibrant gastronomic scene.
Copenhagen has an oceanic climate influenced by low-pressure systems from the Atlantic.
Spring (March to May) sees temperatures climb rapidly from an average high of 5°C (41°F) in March to 16°C (61°F) in May. Late spring is a good time to visit Copenhagen as the weather is drier and prices are lower than summer.
Summer (June to August) is warm but wet. Its northerly latitude also means long daylight – on the summer solstice, the city enjoys 17 hours and 30 minutes of daylight. July is a good time to visit Copenhagen as it hosts a string of festivals. Temperatures wise, the average high is 21°C (70°F) while the average low is 13°C (55°F) in July.
Autumn (September to November) is less hectic as tourists dissipate, but pack a raincoat if you want to visit as the city receives 15 to 19 rainy days a month on the average. Temperatures drop rapidly as the season progresses and by November, the average high dips to 7°C (45°F).
Winter (December to February) is cold but Copenhagen can be quite magical when it snows. In January, the average high is 2°C (36°F) while the average low is -2°C (28°F). February is the driest month, with an average of 15mm (0.6 inches) of rain.
Getting around Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s Metro (
Website:
www.intl.m.dk ) runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, though maintenance may occur from 0100-0125 and 0415-0445 hours. The Metro connects 22 stations and includes a 24×7 service to Copenhagen Airport (journey time 13 minutes). You can buy tickets from the vending machines at the stations or via the ‘DOT Mobilbilletter’ app.
DSB Bagagecenter (
Website:
www.hovedbanen.dk ) runs the integrated bus and urban train network in Copenhagen. Fares are calculated on a zone structure indicated on coloured maps at stations and bus stops, with tickets available at ticket offices or at station vending machines.
Buses:
There are two types of buses – those with the letter ‘A’ after their route number run primary routes in central Copenhagen 24 hours a day, seven days a week; whereas those with the letter ‘S’ after their route number connect suburbs with the city and make fewer stops when they are in the city centre.
The S buses run from 0600 to 0100 hours. In addition, the blue and yellow harbour buses (Havnbus) is a cheap alternative to the official canal tours. One of the most popular routes is from the Royal Library (Black Diamond) to The Little Mermaid.
Trains:
Suburban trains known as S-tog, run daily from 05:00 until 00:30 hours. On Friday and Saturday, the trains run once an hour between 01:00 to 05:00 hours. For tourists, it is best to either purchase a Copenhagen Card or a Citypass.
Copenhagen Card (
Website:
www.copenhagencard.com ) gives you unlimited travel in the entire Capital Region (including to/from Copenhagen Airport).
In addition, you get free admission to attractions and museums, as well as discounts on restaurants and sightseeing activities. You can purchase this online and pick it up at the airport upon arrival. Valid for 24, 48, 72 or 120 hours.
Citypass (
Website:
www.dinoffentligetransport.dk ) gives you unlimited access to buses, trains, metro and harbour buses (Havnbus) in zones 1 to 4, which includes the city centre and to/from the airport. You can buy your Citypass online, or at the vending machine at all stations including the airport.
Available taxis have the yellow taxa (taxi) sign lit, and you can book one by telephone or hail on the street. Reputable companies include;
Taxa 4×35
Telephone: +45 3535 3535
DanTaxi
Telephone: +45 4848 4848
It is not customary to tip the driver, but rounding up the fare is usual.
Locals and tourists are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transport in Copenhagen. If you need to drive, beware that priority on roads is given to pedestrians.
As for parking, there four parking zones (red, green, blue and yellow, with red being the most expensive) and some car rental companies may supply you with a parking disc. Multi-storey car parks are also available in the city.
Hire a bicycle from Bycyklen (The City Bike) and see Copenhagen like a true local. The scheme has electric bikes with a touchscreen tablet on the handlebars which can be used for navigation and payment. You must create an account at (
Website:
www.bycyklen.dk ) or use the touchscreen tablet, then you can pick up the bike from and return to any of the 100 plus Bycyklen stations.
Alternatively, you can also rent a bicycle from one of the several bicycle hire companies including
Københavns Cykelbørs (
Website:
www.kastrupcykelboers.dk )
Baisikeli (
Website:
www.baisikeli.dk )
Velorbis (
Website:
www.velorbis.com )
In partnership with Get Your Guide
Book popular activities in Copenhagen
Things to see in Copenhagen
Attractions
Opened in 1843, Tivoli is the second oldest amusement park in the world (after Dyrehavsbakken or Bakken for short, which is also in Denmark) and it still remains a wonderful attraction for visitors of all ages. Every ride is designed to match the park’s architecture and gardens, and the century-old Rutschebanen roller coaster (dates from 1914) still draws large crowds. Music is also high on the agenda with the park hosting a live music event almost every day.
Address:
Vesterbrogade 3, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 3315 1001
Opening times: Daily 11:00-22:00.
Website:
www.tivoli.dk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Amalienborg (Amalienborg Palace)
This formal compound of four identical palaces has been the home of the Danish royal family since 1794. The residencies, each occupied by a different generation of the monarchy, face each other across the octagonal courtyard (Amalienborg Slotsplads), where the changing of the guard takes place each day at noon. A museum, offering you a unique insight into the monarchy’s history over the last 150 years, is open to the public.
Address:
Amalienborg Slotsplads, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 153 286
Opening times: various.
Website:
www.kongernessamling.dk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
On the eastern edge of Christianshavn, situated on the derelict site of a former military barracks, Freetown Christiania is a working experiment in alternative lifestyles and communal living. First occupied in 1971, it is now home to about 1,000 people. Once away from the eco-cafés, the area is seductively rural, with picturesque farmhouses and wooden cabins overlooking the calm waterways of the Stadsgraven. There are guided afternoon tours most days, led by a resident of the commune. Photography within the commune is prohibited.
Address:
Christianshavn, , Copenhagen.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
The Open Air Museum allows guests to visit all of Denmark without ever leaving Copenhagen. This unique outdoor park is heavy on the country’s rural history, with a charming collection of houses, mills and farmhouses dating from the 17th century to recent times. The different styles of architecture that distinguish the Danish provinces can be seen in a stroll through its 86 acres and a visit is a welcome escape from the intensity of the city crowds.
Address:
Lyngby-Taarbaek, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 41 206 455
Opening times: Tue-Sun 10:00-16:00.
Website:
www.natmus.dk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Rundetårn (The Round Tower)
Just 220m (722ft) east from Copenhagen University is the Rundetårn, the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. Commissioned by Christian IV, Danes have been gazing over the night skies here since 1642. An impressive 209m-long (686ft) spiral ramp leads to the top of the tower, some 36m (118ft) above the street, from where there are good views over the city.
Address:
Købmagergade 52A, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 730 373
Opening times: Daily 10:00-20:00.
Website:
www.rundetaarn.dk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Den Blå Planet (The Blue Planet)
Northern Europe’s largest aquarium is conveniently situated just one stop from the airport on the Metro, though you can also get there by hopping on its dedicated shuttle bus from the Central Station. The aquarium is divided into eight sections and features around 50 aquariums and installations, thousands of animals and seven million liters of water.
Address:
Kastrup, Jacob Fortlingsvej 1, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 44 222 244
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website:
www.denblaaplanet.dk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Nationalmuseet (National Museum)
Denmark’s largest museum is just a short walk from Tivoli Gardens. Permanent collections tell the history of the country from the Stone Age to modern Danish History, showing off treasures including the 3,0000 years old Sun Chariot, the Bronze Age Egtved Girl, and an amazing collection of archaeological finds from the Viking Age.
Address:
Ny Vestergade 10, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 134 411
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website:
www.natmus.dk
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark
Located just off of Copenhagen’s Nørreport station, SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is Denmark’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries.
Address:
Sølvgade 48-50, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 748 494
Opening times: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00.
Website:
www.smk.dk
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid)
This bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous aquatic heroine, The Little Mermaid, may be small but it attracts thousands of visitors to its home at Langelinje Pier. The little mermaid has several times been the victim of vandalism – losing her head twice, having her arm sawn off once and been sprayed with paint several times – but every time she is lovingly rescued and restored
Address:
Promenade, Langelinie, Copenhagen.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Playful science for everyone, Experimentarium is Denmark’s only hands-on science centre where visitors of all ages can interact with entertaining and informative exhibits. Spanning three floors with 18 interactive exhibitions about science and technology, an interactive rooftop, science shows, a restaurant – the Experimentarium is huge and, not surprisingly, the place is especially popular with families.
Address:
Hellerup, Tuborg Havnevej 7, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 39 273 333
Opening times: Daily 09:30-17:00.
Website:
www.experimentarium.dk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Guinness World Records Museum
The only Guinness World Records museum in Europe, this is where you come to see some of the most peculiar world records through interactive challenges and displays, from the tallest man to the oldest elephant. Perhaps the most entertaining sight, though, is the spectacle of more than a million dominoes toppling over.
Address: Østergade 16, Copenhagen.
Telephone: +45 33 323 131
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.ripleys.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Copenhagen Tourist Information
Address:
Vesterbro, Vesterbrogade 4A, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 70 222 442
Opening times: Daily 10:00-16:00.
Website:
www.visitorservice.kk.dk
Tourist passes
Copenhagen Card
Website:
www.copenhagencard.com gives you unlimited travel in the entire.
Capital Region (including to/from Copenhagen Airport), In addition, you get free admission to attractions and museums, as well as discounts on restaurants and sightseeing activities. You can purchase this online and pick it up at the airport upon arrival.
Things to do in Copenhagen
- Go skateboarding in a converted train depot
Housed in a converted tram depot, Copenhagen Skatepark ideal for gnarly boarders and curious spectators alike. There are plenty of runs and ramps to choose from with skateboard hire available too.
- Swim like a fish at Fisketorvet Harbour Bath
Copenhagen is very proud of its super-clean and super-safe open-air swimming pools. Fisketorvet Harbour Bath has three separate pools: a children’s pool, a diving pool, and swimming pool which are open during summer months.
The leafy Assistens Kirkegård cemetery in the Nørrebro district is the final resting place of famous Danish including fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. It also used by locals as a park and recreation area.
- Wakeboarding at Copenhagen Cable Park
Children, novices or experienced enthusiasts come to wakeboard or water ski and test their skills at Copenhagen Cable Park. Under 12s require adult supervision and all participants must be able to swim at least 200m (656 ft).
Copenhagen tours and excursions
Copenhagen tours
Website: www.visitcopenhagen.com features a few walking tours or visit the Tourist Information Centre for more information.
The blue and yellow harbour buses (Havnbus) is a cheap alternative to the official canal tours.
Copenhagen excursions
Roskilde is a city of kings and Vikings – its Gothic cathedral is the final resting place of about 40 Danish monarchs, and its Viking Ship Museum illustrates how this place was once a thriving hub of the Viking trade routes for centuries. Apart from its immensely rich heritage, Roskilde also hosts an annual rock festival that features a diverse selection of music including rock, metal, hip-hop, dance, house and world music.
Website:
www.redsightseeing.com
- Dyrehavsbakken amusement park (Bakken)
Dyrehavsbakken, or Bakken, is the world’s oldest amusement park which can be accessed by suburban or S-train to Klampenborg from Copenhagen. The park boasts wooded parkland and herds of deer as well as the usual roller-coasters and rides. Open daily from April to August, then open on selected days from September to December.
Website:
www.bakken.dk
- Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Located 39km (24 miles) north of Copenhagen, this museum runs rotating exhibitions showcasing a world-class collection of modern art.
Address: Gl Strandvej 13, Copenhagen.
Telephone: +45 49 190 719
Website: www.louisiana.dk
For more information check:
DSB Hovedbanen
Website:
www.hovedbanen.dkShopping in Copenhagen
Long gone are the days when tourists left satisfied with Little Mermaid ornaments. Today, visitors come for the Scandinavian shopping scene alone, as Copenhagen is packed with cutting-edge fashion houses and contemporary furniture stores.
The main international chains and designer boutiques are located around Strøget. The street Jægersborggade in the Nørrebro neighbourhood has turned from dodgy to hipster-cool with shops selling vintage clothes, ceramics and jewellery.
Flea markets abound in Copenhagen during warmer months. The best ones are:
- Loppemarked i Ravnsborggade (Ravnsborggade)
- Loppemarked i Bella (Bella Center, Center Boulevard 5)
- Onkel Dannys Loppemarked (Onkel Dannys Plads 1)
- Loppetorv på Frederiksberg (Smallegade 1, Frederiksberg)
- Rita Blå’s Lopper (Kbh Volume; Enghavevej 80-82)
- Kongens Nytorv Market (Kongens Nytorv)
Magasin du Nord, the largest department store in Scandinavia, is situated on Kongens Nytorv. Illums Bolighus is the premier centre for contemporary furniture, lamps, kitchen and bathroom items, eramics, porcelain, silver, and glassware.
Most shops catering to tourists open from 10:00-18:00 (Mon-Thurs), 10:00-19:00 (Fri), 10:00-16:00 (Sat) and 12:00-16:00 (Sun). The sale of alcohol from retailers is forbidden after 20:00 hour.
Royal Copenhagen porcelain and Georg Jensen silver make great gifts, while quirkier purchases could include exquisite, hand-made Christmas decorations. Mid-century modern furniture was born in this city, and collectors will want to check out vintage stores in the hope of finding their own little piece of Arne Jacobsen.
VAT of 25% is charged on most goods. Nationals of countries outside the EU and Scandinavia can claim this back at the airport, but only if you purchase goods worth at least Dkk 300 in a single shop, or Dkk 1,200 per item if you are Norwegian. Items must be declared and stamped by customs authorities on departure.
Restaurants in Copenhagen
When Noma was named the world’s best restaurant for the first time in 2010, foodies worldwide suddenly saw how Copenhagen transformed its dining scene from meatballs and smørrebrød (open sandwiches) to Michelin-starred meals in such a short space of time. Today, although meatballs and smørrebrød done the traditional way are still available for those who want them, restaurants of all standings are pushing themselves to deliver outstanding new Nordic cuisine, embracing organic and locally-produced food without compromising on quality. The result is clear, Copenhagen has secured its position as a gourmet’s paradise.
The Copenhagen restaurants below have been hand-picked by our author and grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over Dkk1,000)
Moderate (Dkk500 to Dkk1,00)
Cheap (up to Dkk500)
These Copenhagen restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one person, excluding alcoholic drinks. All include VAT but do not a service charge. Tipping is not a tradition, though most people leave a few kroners.
Expensive
Cuisine: Danish
Copenhagen-based restaurant Jensens Bøfhus seeks to offer a more downto-earth gourmet experience. Guests are invited to view the kitchen’s private garden, where all the vegetables and herbs grown become incorporated into the menu. Over 90% of the ingredients are certified organic.
Address:
Axeltorv 6, 1609 København.
Telephone:
+45 33 121 666
Website:
www.jensens.com
Cuisine: Fine dining
High-concept cooking with multiple course tasting menus, plus panoramic views from the 8th floor. With three Michelin stars to its name, Geranium aims to create meals that challenge and enrich our senses. Expect very clever dishes that will leave you speechless. Needless to say, reservations are a must.
Address:
Per Henrik Links Alle 4,8, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 69 960 020
Website:
www.geranium.dk
Cuisine: Scandinavian
Noma is back. Chef René Redzepi now divides the year into three seasons – from early fall to January is the game and forest season, January to late spring is the seafood season, and summer is the vegetable season (not strictly vegetarians as the dishes may include ants and snails). There are around 20 dishes in each tasting menu priced at DKK 2,250. Wine pairing is separate. Each day, about four students at selected randomly from a waiting list and the cost is only DKK 1,000.
Address:
Refshalevej 96, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 32 963 297
Website:
www.noma.dk
Cuisine:
With a strong focus on local and seasonal produce, Radio delivers exquisite dishes that will leave you wanting more. Reservations are required.
Address:
Julius Thomsens Gade 12, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 25 102 733
Website:
www.restaurantradio.dk
Moderate
Cuisine:
Two food-loving brothers and TV chefs are this successful chain of restaurants named Brdr. Price or Price’s Diner. Expect classic Danish food like
Smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) and brisket of beef (
Website: www.skandibaking.com )
Address:
Vesterbrogade 3, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 38 415 151
Website:
brdr-price.dk
Cuisine: Seafood
Open for lunch every day of the week, guests can choose between á la carte or a 3-course option and enjoy fresh seafood. Weather permitting, you can eat outside in the loveliest evening sun.
Address:
Flæsketorvet 100, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 32 155 656
Website:
www.fiskebaren.dk
Cheap
Cuisine: Takeout
Aamanns Deli is rated as one of the best places for smørrebrød (open-faced sandwich) in Copenhagen and we can clearly see why. When the sun is shinning, get a takeaway and enjoy the delicious sandwich in one of the many parks.
Address:
Øster Farimagsgade 10, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 20 805 201
Website:
www.aamanns.dk
Cuisine: Hot dog
Hot dogs are popular fast-food and those in the know will visit John’s hotdog stand at either Axeltorv or by the Copenhagen Central Station. Now John has opened a permanent place at the Meatpacking District. Choose from a staggering array of toppings and garnishes to finish off your high-quality sausage. With extended hours (till 3am) on Friday and Saturday, it is extremely popular with party-goers.
Address:
Bernstorffsgade 18, 1570 København.
Telephone:
+45 31 325 848
Cuisine:
Cakes, pastries and savoury snacks You mustn’t leave Copenhagen without devouring a truly fresh, flaky Danish pastry. With an array of savoury, bread-based snacks as well as delicious cakes, Sole Factory is a popular option and their Christianshavner tærte, aka Danish hazelnut cake with strawberry cream, is one of the best in town. The coffee is good as well.
Address:
Gullfossgade 4, 2300 København.
Telephone:
+45 32 221 500
Website:
www.guldsmedenhotels.comCopenhagen Nightlife
Nightlife in Copenhagen is vibrant as the city’s ever-changing range of clubs and bars caters to all tastes, from pop and dance music to world-class jazz. Copenhagen also offers a number of restaurant-cum-bar ‘hybrids’ that change mood and function over the course of an evening.
There is no one defined nightlife area, although Nyhavn, Vesterbro and Nørrebro are popular. Tickets for most cultural events and performances are sold by Ticketmaster at (
Website:
www.ticketmaster.dk ).
Bars in Copenhagen
An elegant champagne bar at Hotel d’Angleterre, this is where you take bubbly seriously. It also serves signature cocktails and expensive wines.
Address:
Ny Østergade 6, 1101 København.
Telephone:
+45 33 121 262
Website:
www.dangleterre.com
Despite an increasing interest in wine, Copenhagen essentially remains a beer-drinking capital and this is the place to come if you’re looking for something more than Carlsberg. A gipsy-brewer, Mikkeller brews its own beers at different breweries in Denmark, Europe and the United States.
Address:
Viktoriagade 8BC, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 227 997
Website:
www.mikkeller.com
Housed in a Classicist brick building from 1857, Nørrebro Bryghus is Denmark’s first CO2-neutral brewery. Although the production is small-scale, it does have about 10 different types of beer available every day. Quite a few options are made with organic ingredients.
Address:
Ryesgade 3, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 35 300 530
Website:
www.noerrebrobryghus.dk
Clubs in Copenhagen
Just around the corner from Rosenborg Castle is Culture Box with a strong reputation for electronic music and a rotating roster of Danish and international DJs. While all prices are listed in Danish Kroner (Dkk), you can also pay in Euro, US dollars, Sterling, Swedish and Norwegian Kroner (notes only).
Address:
Kronprinsessegade 54, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 325 050
Website:
www.culture-box.com
A legendary jazz haunt in the 1960s, Jazzhus Montmartre was the European home for jazz giants like Stan Getz and Dexter Gordon. Come to experience the best of jazz in a special and cosy atmosphere, and enjoy the music with a good dinner and wine at affordable prices.
Address:
Store Regnegade, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 70 202 096
Website:
www.jazzhusmontmartre.dk
Live music in Copenhagen
This famous outdoor bar in the alternative community of Christiania is a favourite location for summer gigs. Although it allows guests to smoke marijuana, it has a zero-tolerance policy towards hard drugs.
Address:
Christianshavn, Fabriksmradet 52, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 32 958 931
Website:
www.nemoland.dk
- Friday Rock at the Tivoli
Every April to September, Fredagsrock (literally Friday’s Rock) attracts around half a million pop and rock fans of all ages to Tivoli Gardens. Expect a diverse program covering big-name artists and new talents. The concerts are free if you have paid for the entrance to Tivoli.
Address:
Vesterbrogade 3, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 151 001
Website:
www.fredagsrock.dk
Divided into two areas – Store VEGA and Lille VEGA nightclub, this place hosts about 250 concerts a year, covering nearly all genres from pop to electronic.
Address:
Enghavevej 40, Copenhagen.
Telephone:
+45 33 257 011
Website:
www.vega.dkCopenhagen Food And Drink
Food In Copenhagen
The open sandwich is one of Denmark’s national dishes, and in Copenhagen, you will find a wealth of shops and restaurants offering open sandwiches, representing both modern and traditional cuisine. Traditional open sandwiches with tall stacks of filling often consist of a piece of rye bread with meat or fish, beautifully garnished with orange or lemon twists, salad leaves and vegetables as well as herbs. Modern open sandwiches are often more untraditional, with different preparation of meat and fish, including meat rillettes and cured fish, and with alternative garnish such as veggie crisps and crispy skin from poultry and fish.
Some people certainly prefer a couple of flat sandwiches, and you can usually find those in the open sandwich shops, which sell flat sandwiches with rolled meat sausage, liver paste, salami, etc., either as a packed lunch or as takeaway.
The hotdog has many names, and a Danish hotdog has lots! However, the Danish hotdog tastes best at a hotdog stand on the street, with the bustle of the city around you. You can get a hotdog with a red or regular sausage, and it can come straight from the water or from the pan. If you want it with “everything”, then it gets ketchup, mustard, remoulade, toasted and raw onions as well as cucumber salad, or you can just choose what you like.
Several restaurants and cafés also serve hotdogs, often in a modern version with sausages made from gourmet meat, fish or vegetables and with alternative toppings. Both the gourmet and classic hotdog will certainly fall under the 10 most popular foods in Copenhagen.
- Spaghetti with meat sauce
There are as many variations and recipes for spaghetti Bolognese as there are Italian mamas, and the same applies to Danish spaghetti and meat sauce. This is to say that every family has their own variation of the famous dish, and it is probably consumed more in Danish homes than in Danish restaurants. However, you will find this classic dish at many Italian restaurants in Copenhagen in one form or another – often served in nice, deep plates and with freshly-grated parmesan on top. If you are into classic dishes, you can’t go wrong in Copenhagen choosing spaghetti and meat sauce.
The first pizzeria is believed to have opened in Naples in Italy around 1830, but in reality, the Italians have been eating pizza or bread with toppings perhaps for a millennium. However, the pizza came to Denmark with the foreign workers in the 60s and 70s, and since then it has won its place in Danish homes. Now, the pizza is just as popular if not more so than Danish classics like fried pork, meatballs and minced beef patties. In Copenhagen, you will find an Italian restaurant or a pizzeria on almost every street, and if you feel like pizza, you rarely need to go far before you find a restaurant with a large and varied selection of freshly-baked pizza.
- Danish meatballs with onion, potatos and gravy
The Danish meatball is one of Denmark’s most popular dishes, although this heavenly food was not named Denmark’s national dish at the official vote in 2014. Danish meatballs are made from minced pork or a mixture of minced pork and veal. The mince is mixed with lots of chopped onion and often served with boiled potatoes and gravy as well as pickles.
The pickles could consist of gherkins, cucumbers or beetroot, while some people like to eat red cabbage with their Danish meatballs. If you want a great Danish meatball with sauce and potatoes in Copenhagen, you need to look for restaurants serving traditional Danish food. Other cafés and restaurants often serve Danish meatballs with potato salad or similar.
Almost every café in Copenhagen with a decent menu serves one or more kinds of burgers. So, if you want to enjoy this classic, you won’t have to go far to find a café or restaurant with this divine treat on the menu. In Denmark, burgers are often served in big burger buns and with a large selection of vegetables, such as salad, tomato, cucumber and dressing. Often, a Danish burger can NOT be eaten by hand as is the custom in the US, the official homeland of the burger.
You can enjoy your burger at all times of the day, and many places serve it with alternative fill, such as chicken or vegetarian patties, or with pork roast with crispy rind.
Sushi is popular all over the world, and in Copenhagen you will find fashionable sushi restaurants and more price-friendly cafés and takeaway places, where you can get a box of sushi to enjoy in the park, on a bench or home in your hotel room. Sushi comes in many different variants, and it generally consists of boiled rice, some kind of raw fish and something green. If you do not like raw fish, there are often variants with chicken or vegetables. If the weather is good, take a box of sushi to the park or to the seaside, or you can enjoy the dish at one of the many sushi restaurants in Copenhagen.
Danish pastry, called wienerbrød, has little to do with Vienna, but it does hint that Austrian bakers brought the tradition to Denmark, where Danish bakers evolved the pastry into what we know today. The Danes like to eat Danish pastry at any time of day, and you can get some kind of Danish pastry at many of the coffee bars and cafés.
This freshly-baked delicacy tastes particularly good with a strong cup of coffee. Many Danes eat the smaller versions of the Danish pastry with their coffee, which refers to pastry such as the spandauer (pastry with custard or jam fill), cinnamon roll and chocolate bun. If several people are sharing, you could order a weinerstang, wienerkrans or a wienerkringle from a bakery.
- Minced beef patty with soft onions
The minced beef patty is often served with boiled potatoes, gravy and soft fried onions. You can get a traditional minced beef patty served at one of Copenhagen’s restaurants specialising in traditional Danish food. However, the open sandwich restaurants often have minced beef patty with soft onions on the menu. Here, the minced beef patty is often served on a piece of rye bread and accompanied by some kind of pickle. This could be cucumber salad or pickled cucumbers, gherkins or beetroot. At the open sandwich shops, the patty is sometimes covered in sauce, while other times it is served with a fried egg on top. Regardless of how it is served, it tastes divine, and it is one of the classic Danish dishes.
- Roast pork with caramelised potatoes
Another classic is Danish roast pork with crispy rind, caramelised and white potatoes and a good sauce as well as boiled, warm red cabbage. This dish is often served in Danish homes on Christmas Eve, as a Sunday dinner or at round-number birthday parties and other celebrations. If you want to eat roast pork in Copenhagen, you should go to restaurants serving Danish classics. Cafés usually serve roast pork in a burger bun. However, then you won’t get the traditional caramelised potatoes, which are prepared by frying small, peeled potatoes in a mixture of sugar and butter.
Drink In Copenhagen
Copenhagen is home to a string of restaurants boasting Michelin stars or ‘rising star’ status, among the Gastronomic heavyweights are Geranium, Noma, AOC, Kadeau, to name but a few. Denmark is known for its Carlsberg and Tuborg beers and for its akvavit, but craft breweries also thrive in recent years.
In August 2009, Cherry Heering, a liqueur from Copenhagen, challenged local bartenders to create a signature cocktail for their city. This winning recipe was created by Gromit Eduardsen at Bar 1105 in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1.5 oz Old Simon Genever. ¾ oz Chery Heering. ¾ oz Lime Juice.½ oz Simple Syrup. 3 dashes Angostura Bitters.
Beer is a very popular drink throughout Denmark with world-famous brews such as Carlsberg and Tuberg available internationally. The most popular type of beer in the country is pilsner, which is a lager. Things to know: Usually, hotels and restaurants include a tip in the bill.
There are two giant Copenhagen-based engines, that has formed the beer culture in Denmark and actually also in the rest of the world: Carlsberg and Mikkeller. They are very different – to say the least. Carlsberg, founded in 1847, is in all respect brewing in the league of Heineken, Budweiser, etc.
Tuborg is a bottom-fermented lager beer. It’s brewed on lager malt, a slightly roasted, bright type of malt which results in the well-known mild, fresh taste and aroma of flowers and grain.