In Copenhagen there are more bicycles than cars, and the city is built entirely around that. The cycle lanes are wide, have their own traffic lights and reach everywhere. Rent a bicycle for a day and you will see the city in a completely different way. The Danish capital is expensive, but if you build the route properly it fits comfortably into three days.
Nyhavn, the palaces and the Little Mermaid
Nyhavn is the old harbour canal and, with its coloured houses, is the city’s calling card. The canal boat tours start there and take an hour. Amalienborg palace is the royal family’s residence, and the changing of the guard takes place at midday.
One has to be honest about the Little Mermaid statue: it is very small and there is always a crowd around it, so it is not worth more than five minutes. Rosenborg castle, on the other hand, holds the crown jewels and its garden is free. Climbing the tower of Christiansborg palace is also free, and the view is among the best in the city.
Tivoli and Christiania
The Tivoli gardens have been working since 1843 and are one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Entry and the rides are separate tickets; for a simple walk around, the entry ticket is enough. There is lighting and there are concerts in the evening. At Christmas and around Halloween it is decorated to a theme.
Christiania is a free community set up on a former military site and has its own rules — photography is forbidden in some places, so follow the signs. The island of Refshaleøen is a street food and gallery centre built in an old shipyard, and you get there by boat.
Bicycles and transport in Copenhagen
Bicycle hire is 15–25 euros a day. Keep to the right, signal your turn with your hand, and raise your hand before stopping — that is the local rule. The metro runs around the clock and is driverless. From the airport to the centre the metro takes fifteen minutes. There is no direct flight from Baku, so to choose by connection time look at the prices on bilet.az’s Copenhagen page.
The city of Malmö is joined by the Øresund bridge and is thirty-five minutes by train, meaning you can cross into Sweden for a day. Compare the train tickets on one screen. Cards are accepted everywhere and cash is all but unnecessary.
Read more: A Denmark travel guide: Copenhagen, Legoland, a bicycle city and a hygge budget
Food and prices in Copenhagen
The open sandwich called smørrebrød is the national dish, with fish or meat laid on rye bread. At markets like Reffen and Torvehallerne prices are below the restaurants’. Hot dog stands are an old tradition in the city and the cheapest option there is.
A three-star hotel is 130–200 euros and dinner in a restaurant 35–60 a head. Looking at options with a kitchen brings the budget down seriously. The Tivoli entry ticket is around 20 euros. Official information is on the Visit Copenhagen site.
The season in Copenhagen
May to September is the best period, with 17–23 degrees and long days. The wind is strong all year round, and on a bicycle you feel it. Winter is not cold, but it is dark and wet. In December the Tivoli Christmas market is the city’s main draw.
Conclusion
Copenhagen is expensive, but thanks to the free towers, the gardens and the bicycles it can be seen for a reasonable sum. Rent a bicycle for a day, climb the Christiansborg tower free, and eat at the markets. For a visa and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices in this article are those at the time of publication and may change with the season.
