Denmark
Last checked:
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Currency
- DKK · Danish krone
- Languages
- Danish
- Plugs
- Type C, E, F, K · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Nyhavn · Copenhagen
Colourful 17th century harbour front and the starting point for canal tours.
- Tivoli Gardens · Copenhagen
Historic amusement park and gardens in the city centre, busy in summer and at Christmas.
- Kronborg Castle · Helsingør
UNESCO-listed Renaissance castle known as the setting of Hamlet, a short train ride from Copenhagen.
- ARoS Aarhus Art Museum · Aarhus
Large art museum topped by the circular rainbow walkway 'Your Rainbow Panorama'.
- Møns Klint · Møn
White chalk cliffs over the Baltic, with beach walks and a geology centre.
Getting around
Public transport
DOT Mobilbilletter
Official app for tickets on Copenhagen-area buses, metro, S-trains, regional trains and harbour buses. The Copenhagen Card and the City Pass cover unlimited transit for set periods.
Public transport
Rejsekort / Rejseplanen
Rejsekort is the national travel card (now also an app) with cheaper fares than single tickets; Rejseplanen is the national journey planner for trains, buses and ferries.
Trains
DSB trains
National rail operator connecting Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and the airport. Book in the DSB app; Orange fares are cheaper if bought in advance.
Taxi
Licensed taxis (Taxa 4x35, DanTaxi)
Taxis are metered and expensive. Prices include service. Most companies have apps with upfront prices. Licensed taxis have a taxi sign on the roof.
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Uber was effectively banned in 2017 and returned to Copenhagen in early 2025 through licensed taxi partners. Coverage outside Copenhagen is limited (varies). Bolt does not operate in Denmark.
Bike share
Donkey Republic / Lime
App-based bikes and e-bikes all over Copenhagen. Cycling is the fastest way around the city; follow bike lane rules and hand signals.
E-scooters
Lime / Voi
E-scooters are available in Copenhagen and Aarhus but with strict parking zones and no riding on pavements (varies by city).
Money and cash
Currency: DKK · Danish krone
Denmark is close to cashless: cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, including small cafes, buses and market stalls. Locals use MobilePay, which needs a Nordic bank account. Some places add a small surcharge for foreign cards. Euros are not normally accepted. Always choose to pay in DKK when a terminal offers your home currency.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Denmark. By law, prices in restaurants, taxis and similar services must include all service charges, and staff are paid regular wages. Rounding up or leaving around 5-10% for very good service is appreciated but optional.
| Restaurants | Not required. Round up or leave about 5-10% for excellent service if you wish. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Not expected. Some leave small change. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not expected; the fare includes service. Rounding up is fine. |
| Hotels | Not expected for porters or housekeeping. |
| Tours and guides | Optional. Free walking tour guides rely on tips; tip a guide for a good private tour. |
| Food delivery | Not expected; can be added in the app. |
Service charge: what’s true
Danish pricing law requires that menu and fare prices include service, so you will not see a separate service charge added to a normal bill. Receipts may say 'service/drikkepenge inkluderet' (service included), which is a legal disclosure, not a request for more.
Pressure tactics to watch for
No widely reported pressure tactics. Card terminals in some places show a tip screen; you can choose 'no tip' or 0 without any offence. Check the bill for any added extras you did not order.
Useful phrases
- Må jeg få regningen? Can I have the bill?
- Kan jeg betale med kort? Can I pay by card?
- Det er fint, tak. That's fine, thank you (keep the change).
Etiquette
- Danes are informal and use first names; a handshake is the normal greeting.
- Be on time: punctuality is valued for social and business meetings.
- Never walk or stand in bike lanes, and stay right on escalators.
- Say 'skål' and make eye contact when toasting.
- Do not take photos in Christiania, especially around the former Pusher Street area.
- Queue patiently and take a number ticket where one is offered (pharmacies, bakeries, post offices).
- Bargaining is not done except at flea markets.
Scams and how to handle them
Fake plainclothes police
Where: Central Copenhagen, near the station and Strøget
How it works: People posing as police show a fake ID, claim to be checking for drugs or counterfeit money, ask to see your wallet and take cash or cards.
How to avoid it: Real Danish police do not ask for on-the-spot cash. Ask for ID, offer to go to the nearest police station, and call 112 or 114.
Petition or charity clipboard
Where: Strøget, City Hall Square, Nyhavn
How it works: A person asks you to sign a petition or give to a charity while an accomplice picks your pocket, or pressures you for cash.
How to avoid it: Walk on without engaging and keep a hand on your bag.
Distraction pickpocketing
Where: Copenhagen Central Station, Nørreport, buses, trains and the airport
How it works: Thieves work in pairs: one bumps into you, asks for directions or trips you while the other takes your phone or wallet.
How to avoid it: Keep phones out of back pockets and bags zipped, especially on crowded transport.
Bag theft at cafes and on trains
Where: Outdoor cafe tables, airport trains, hotel breakfast rooms
How it works: Bags hung on chairs or phones on tables are lifted while you are distracted.
How to avoid it: Keep bags on your lap or looped around your leg and do not leave phones on tables.
Card skimming and PIN watching
Where: Busy shops, street ATMs
How it works: Thieves watch you enter your PIN and then steal the card, or use skimmers on machines.
How to avoid it: Cover your PIN, use ATMs inside banks, and use contactless or phone pay where possible.
Dynamic currency conversion
Where: ATMs and card terminals
How it works: Machines offer to charge you in your home currency at a poor exchange rate.
How to avoid it: Always choose to be charged in DKK.
Safety
- Crime is generally low, but pickpockets operate at Copenhagen Central Station, Nørreport, Strøget, Nyhavn, Kongens Nytorv, Christiania and the airport.
- Take extra care in Christiania and Nørrebro late at night; there have been gang-related shootings in the past.
- Strøget, City Hall Square and Gothersgade nightlife streets can be rowdy on weekend nights.
- Watch for cyclists when crossing bike lanes; collisions with tourists are common.
- Police non-emergency number is 114; for urgent but non-life-threatening medical help in Copenhagen call 1813.
How widely English is spoken
Very high. Most Danes speak fluent English, so you can get by everywhere with English alone.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Denmark, safety and security
- VisitCopenhagen: Safety
- Wikivoyage: Denmark
- Visit Nordic: A guide to tipping in Denmark
- The Local Denmark: Copenhagen tourists conned by fake officers
- Copenhagen Tourism: Taxi Copenhagen and Uber
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.