In Copenhagen you can get maximum enjoyment without spending extra
COPENHAGEN is rightfully considered the most bicycle-friendly city in the world. Local residents actively use this mode of transport all year round. A tourist can rent a bike, for example, at a hostel (from 60 kroner per day). But it is cheaper to rent a white city bike. It makes sense to get a monthly pass (70 kroner), then the first half hour at each parking is free.
However, you can also get around in Copenhagen without a bicycle. The city is very compact, there are no skyscrapers or faceless office buildings, so even just walking, you feel incredibly comfortable.
IF YOU ARE GOING to Copenhagen with a large group for several days, it is best to look for accommodation via Airbnb. A solo traveler should consider staying in a hostel. As a rule, many of them offer additional services to guests for free.
For example, guests of the Down town hostel, located in the city center near the main station, are provided with an iPad for free use, and twice a day a special hostel guide conducts free city tours. Breakfast is not included in the price, but at 6:30 pm they offer a free dinner, which allows you to save significantly. Also, the local bar has a “happy hour” with great discounts on alcohol during the day. The downsides include an additional fee for luggage storage.
The WooDah hostel is a bit more expensive, but it is positioned as “green.” Here everything is made from organic materials and products – from towels to breakfasts, which, by the way, are provided for free. The bonuses also include morning yoga classes. The only major drawback of the hostel is that it is closed from November to March.
IT IS BEST TO START getting to know the city from Strøget street, which is considered the longest pedestrian street in Europe. True, you won’t find it on the map, because it actually consists of five streets running from Town Hall Square to Nyhavn. This promenade, almost two kilometers long, has many boutiques, shops, cafes, restaurants and stalls.
In Nyhavn there are several houses associated with the name of Hans Christian Andersen. The great storyteller lived in house No. 67 for almost 20 years. In house No. 20 in 1835 he wrote his first fairy tales. And in house No. 18 he spent the last years of his life.
Sightseeing boats depart from the harbor. A tour in English will cost 40 kroner. The last trip departs at 4:45 pm.
Continuing along Bredgade Street, you can reach the famous Marble Church (Marmorkirken). Actually, it is only partly marble. It is said that when the builders ran out of money for the expensive material, they used wood painted to look like marble. The church is interesting for its huge dome, which even surpasses the dome of the famous St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Directly opposite the church is the Amalienborg Palace, where the queen lives. Every day at 1:30 pm, the changing of the guard takes place at the central gate, and many tourists gather to watch this spectacle. And a little further along the embankment is the famous Andersen’s Little Mermaid – one of the most photographed women on the planet.
The next day can start with climbing the 106-meter tower of Christiansborg Palace. From the top, a wonderful view of the city opens up. Access to the observation deck is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Then you can explore the parliament building. The tour is free, but advance registration is required.
Every day at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, free tours for city guests start from Town Hall Square. The landmark for those interested is the guide in a red T-shirt.
A ten-minute walk from the square is the National Museum with a rich historical and ethnographic collection. Admission is free.
SANDWICHES are extremely popular in Denmark. They are even served at the queen’s table. More than 250 types of this dish at very moderate prices are offered at the restaurant “Ida Devidsen.”
In the Vesterbro district, you can have a cheap and tasty breakfast on weekends at “Mother” (Høkerboderne, 9). From morning until three in the afternoon, they make excellent pizza here. At the Greek café “Samosa” (Nørre Voldgade, 25), they offer a lunch menu (49 kroner) and evening menu (79 kroner). A very popular place in the city center is the café “Dalle Valle” (Fiolstræde, 3-5). From 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, they have a morning and evening buffet, for 80 and 119 kroner respectively.
Very often, locals and students eat at so-called Community kitchens, where you can not only save significantly but also make new friends.
IN ANY SUPERMARKET you can buy salty candies or licorice jelly – a very popular and absolutely authentic gift for friends and colleagues. Among other specialties, you should pay attention to local aquavit, local cheeses, and, of course, Danish butter cookies in tin boxes.
And be sure to visit one of the many Copenhagen flea markets. There you can find amazing things, including brand new ones, at bargain prices. All the necessary information about the location and opening hours of flea markets can be found on a special website. Keep in mind that some markets charge an entrance fee.
Useful tips
• Do not ride without a ticket on public transport. The fine will be about 100 euros.
• By buying water, beer, or soda in a store, you can later return the deposit for the bottle.
• For cyclists, traffic rules are as strict as for any other type of transport.
• In Denmark, it is not customary to leave tips.
• Many paid museums have days or hours of free admission.