{"id":63430,"date":"2020-05-12T14:32:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T14:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/?p=63430"},"modified":"2021-11-23T11:38:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T11:38:56","slug":"copenhagen-the-five-minute-spare-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/copenhagen-the-five-minute-spare-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Copenhagen: The Five Minute Spare Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whenever surveys are conducted on the happiest places to live, Denmark invariably tops the charts. This suggests that Copenhagen must be a joyous place to visit. After all, the locals must be so content for a reason, right?<\/p>\n

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In truth, Copenhagen is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe. It blends ancient history with contemporary flair, coupled with some of the friendly locals you could hope to meet. Copenhagen should race to the top of any intrepid travellers bucket list.<\/p>\n

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Before<\/strong> You Fly<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning a trip to Copenhagen from the UK, you\u2019ll need to make a checklist of your requirements.<\/p>\n

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Visas and\u00a0Entry Restrictions<\/h3>\n

At the time of writing, UK citizens still enjoy the freedom of movement to Copenhagen. Denmark is part of the EU, so you can cross the country\u2019s borders without the need for a Visa, and without restriction as to how long you can stay.<\/p>\n

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If your passport was issued elsewhere, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa before you can enter Denmark. Take a look<\/a> to see if this applies to your country of citizenship. If you can\u2019t find your nationality on the list, it\u2019s worth double-checking any travel restrictions with your country\u2019s Danish embassy.<\/p>\n

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A Schengen visa allows unrestricted movement within 26 European countries that make up the Schengen Area. This territory includes all the Nordic nations, in addition to other popular destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal and Germany.<\/p>\n

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The rules and restrictions of a Schengen follow the same pattern as most similar documents. You\u2019ll be free to remain in the country for up to 89 days, on the proviso that you remain a tourist. That means not applying for permanent work or looking to take out a long-term residency agreement. If you want to exceed this time in Copenhagen, you\u2019ll need a residency permit.<\/p>\n

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Currency<\/h3>\n

Denmark does not officially recognize the Euro. A handful of locations, such as hotels, shops and restaurants in the tourist hotspots, may choose to accept Euros as payment. This is purely at a proprietor\u2019s choice, though.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s better to play the game and use the official currency \u2013 Danish Krone (DKK). This is also the currency of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, just in case you plan to expand your travelling horizons. Consistency in exchange rates is hard to come by, expect to receive around DKK8.50 for every GBP\u00a31 that you change up.<\/p>\n

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Copenhagen has a reputation as an expensive city. That\u2019s well earned, but it\u2019s all relative. If you\u2019re visiting from London, used to spending West End prices on food, drink and entertainment, you may find Copenhagen pretty much on par \u2013 maybe even cheaper. It\u2019s also generally more affordable than neighbouring Oslo. Recreational goods, such as alcohol and tobacco, are slightly cheaper and Denmark has a strong drinking culture. All the same, Copenhagen is probably best avoided for a stag weekend.<\/p>\n

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Restaurants and hotels, in particular, are priced at a premium in Denmark. Going self-catering will not save as much as you might think, as basic consumer shopping prices are also at the top of the scale for Europe. You\u2019ll find more budget-friendly ways to amuse yourself if you\u2019re prepared to head off the beaten track, but there is no way around it \u2013 you\u2019ll need to steel yourself to spend some money while in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

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Climate<\/h3>\n

As Copenhagen is located in the Oceanic climate zone, the temperatures and conditions can be unpredictable. When packing for a trip to Denmark, it\u2019s best to hedge your bets. Whenever you visit, bring more than just shorts and flip-flops. You\u2019ll never be far from the beach, but it will still be potentially chilly and you could face a downpour at any moment.<\/p>\n

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Overall, Copenhagen tends to be comfortably cool all year round. The city rarely reaches heatwave status in the summer, but equally, it tends not to become a land of ice and snow in the winter. A typical Copenhagen summer\u2019s day will see temperatures peak in the 20s, but you\u2019ll also feel a cool sea breeze from the sea and the skies may be overcast. July is usually the hottest month.<\/p>\n

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During the winter, the ambient temperature will often drop to around freezing. That\u2019s not quite as bracing as you might fear. Most people will be comparatively comfortable strolling a Christmas market, as long as appropriate attire is chosen. Temperatures plunge further in January though. You\u2019ll really feel the sea breeze when it\u2019s coupled with a cold climate.<\/p>\n

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Language<\/h3>\n

While Danish is unsurprisingly the native language of Copenhagen, Denmark leads the world in terms of foreign English speakers. Many Danes also speak a third and fourth language, with German being particularly popular.<\/p>\n

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Danish can be a tough language to learn but give it a shot. Most residents of Copenhagen will communicate in English without complaint, but it can grow frustrating when visitors simply assume this is the case. Attempting to speak the native tongue, even if you mangle the language, will raise a smile.<\/p>\n

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Insurance<\/h3>\n

Denmark has one of the most celebrated healthcare systems in the world. Unfortunately, free treatment is restricted to citizens and employees of the country. It\u2019s not quite the same as the NHS, but more like the American system of Medicare \u2013 co-pays are taken from a monthly salary of Danish employees.<\/p>\n

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A Danish hospital will never refuse emergency medical care, but you should really take out a travel insurance policy and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the NHS before you visit. The latter will drastically reduce any expenses pertaining to a healthcare emergency, while the former will take care of anything else.<\/p>\n

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Getting to Copenhagen<\/h2>\n

You can access Copenhagen by air, rail or sea from the UK. Obviously flying is much faster. You can take a more scenic route if that\u2019s your preference and you have a spare 24 hours, though.<\/p>\n

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Flying typically takes less than two hours. There is a wide range of British airports and airlines that service Copenhagen, so you\u2019ll have the choice of luxury or a no-frills budget option.<\/p>\n

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The Eurostar rail service covers Copenhagen, but not directly from London or Kent. You\u2019ll need to carve out two days for travel, as an overnight stay will be required in another European city. It\u2019s logistically impossible to make the trip on the same day.<\/p>\n

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Start your journey at London St. Pancras and book a train to Brussels. From here, take a train to Germany. You can pick Cologne or Hamburg \u2013 the choice is yours. From Germany, you can take the train straight to Copenhagen. As discussed though, you\u2019ll need to spend the night in Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg before continuing an onward journey in the morning.<\/p>\n

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If you prefer to take a leisurely boat cruise, you\u2019ll need to head to the Lincolnshire town of Immingham. From here, DFDS Seaways operates six weekly cruises to Esbjerg that take roughly eighteen hours. This large seaport town is around three hours away from Denmark.<\/p>\n

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Where to Stay in Copenhagen?<\/h2>\n

Copenhagen is packed with interesting nooks and crannies to explore. It\u2019s also an easy city to negotiate. Don\u2019t limit yourself to staying in the very heart of the city centre. You\u2019ll pay a small fortune for the privilege, and potentially miss out on some fascinating local culture.<\/p>\n

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Vesterbro should be the first place anybody looks for accommodation in Copenhagen. This used to be Copenhagen\u2019s red-light district, but it has long since cleaned up its act. Nowadays, Vesterbro is at the beating heart of Copenhagen\u2019s creative industries. It\u2019s just outside the city centre, so you\u2019ll have easy access to travel, but it\u2019s also packed with markets, galleries and restaurants. If you shop around you\u2019ll also find a cost-effective hotel in this part of the city.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re really looking to cut down on your spending, however, station yourself in Copenhagen\u2019s Latin Quarter. This location is still pretty central, and it’s home to the University of Copenhagen. Where there are students there are deals to be found, and the Latin Quarter is no exception. It\u2019s also close to Indre By, aka Old Town. This is the beating heart of Copenhagen, where you\u2019ll find the majority of tourist attractions and nightspots. You could save money by staying in the Latin Quarter, spending it instead in Indre By.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re prepared to spend a little more, and you\u2019re looking for a cultural holiday, consider Frederiksberg. This is actually its own municipality, hosting most of the city\u2019s major theatre productions. There are also plenty of places to eat. For a more mainstream experience, switch Frederiksberg for Nyhavn. This family-friendly locale is highly picturesque and contains countless entertainment options for travellers of all ages. It\u2019s arguably the best location for anybody visiting Copenhagen with children in tow.<\/p>\n

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Getting Around Copenhagen<\/h2>\n

Driving is not the default method of transport in Copenhagen. You could hire a car, but parking spaces are limited and costly. Similarly, taxis are fairly plentiful but are expensive.<\/p>\n

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You will be better served by hiring a bike, walking on foot, or learning the plentiful public transport options. Don\u2019t panic. Even though Copenhagen is the capital city, it is not hugely spaced out. You\u2019ll be surprised at much ground you can cover by pounding the pavement.<\/p>\n

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However, when you arrive in the city, pick up a Copenhagen Card. This is an all-access pass to Copenhagen\u2019s entire public transport system. Price points for a Copenhagen Card are:<\/p>\n

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