More about Copenhagen
Why go to Copenhagen?
With lots of historic sights, gorgeous public spaces and a number of museums, this city has something for everyone
Copenhagen is an expensive destination, so you'll want to look out for ways to save
This beautiful historic city is an ideal place to indulge while on your cruise
Copenhagen Cruise Port Facilities?
You can take a short walk from Langelinie Pier to see the Little Mermaid statue or Amalienborg Palace. Langelinie's promenade is lined with shops, casual cafes and more.
There's no reason to hang around the Freeport Terminal; the same is true of Ocean Quay.
Good to Know?
Be mindful of bike lines as you walk around the city or board tour buses. Fast-moving cyclists won't necessarily go around you if you're in their way.
Getting Around?
On Foot: Copenhagen is a great walking city, with most of its wondrous sights within a square mile of its center. A good place to begin a city tour is Town Hall Square; the Tivoli Gardens are across the street, and just north of Tivoli is Radhuspladsen, the central city square and the main terminal for the local bus network. To the east is the city's waterfront, including the canal district of Christianshavn.
By Taxi: There are more than 1,700 government-licensed taxis that service Copenhagen, and most accept credit cards for trips of any length. Just make sure you tell the driver at the onset of your journey. Ask in advance to be sure your driver takes a credit card without a pin if you're using a magnetic strip card (common in the U.S.). You can hail taxis easily enough, and most drivers speak English. Taxi fares increase during the evening hours and on holidays. Drivers round up to the next krone, but no other tip is necessary. We recommend that you only ride in metered taxis.
By Bus: From the cruise facility at Langelinie Pier, bus #26, which runs every 20 minutes, will take you to the city center. A waterbus near the polar bear statue at the end of the pier can also get you to the center of the city. (A one-day ticket lets you get on and off all day.) Taxis are plentiful for the 10-minute ride in. If you've disembarked at Freeport Terminal, take bus #27 to Kongens Nytorv or Radhuspladsen (town square). Taxis are generally available, as well. If you're at Ocean Quay, the best bet is to take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of the city. A couple of competing outfits operate these tours, and the cost is roughly $20 to $25 USD. The tour itself lasts about 90 minutes and includes all the major highlights like Amalienborg Palace, Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid, but you can jump off to explore at your leisure and pick up the next bus at the stop. You might also find a taxi at Ocean Quay that will take you to town, but that's not a sure thing, and you might spend almost as much on taxi fare as you would for the narrated bus tour.
By Bike: Copenhagen has more than 1,000 white "City Bikes" that anyone can use within central Copenhagen, year-round, by inserting a coin into the bike's locking mechanism (one hour for 25 DKK). Designated bike lanes snake through town, and you won't be alone -- there are nearly two bikes for every resident of Copenhagen, they say, and it's one of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe.
By Car: Car rental companies like Budget, Hertz and Europcar have offices in the city, as well as at the airport. (Europcar is discounted for holders of the Copenhagen Card.) Check their websites for exact locations and prices. The cost of parking weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. is determined by zones (red, green and blue), and each has its own pricing. The farther away, the cheaper it will be. (The red zone is 35 DKK per hour, the green zone is 19 DKK, and the blue zone is 11 DKK.) Other times are free. Parking away from the city center is free for up to 2 hours. Tickets are purchased from coin-operated meters in the parking areas.
From the Airport: Copenhagen Airport is 6 miles (9 km) from the city's center. Shuttle buses are generally available to cruise ships, but contact your cruise line for more information. If you arrive at Terminal 3, there are trains to town departing every 20 minutes; take the train to Osterport station. A taxi to Langelinie Pier takes about 25 minutes. Ocean Quay is also about 25 minutes from the airport.
For travelers debarking or embarking there, Copenhagen has one of the most convenient rail services between downtown's main terminal (Kobenhavn) and the airport. The ride takes about 15 minutes. For travelers with a day to kill before flying, the rail station offers baggage storage.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money?
Denmark is one of Europe's hold-outs in terms of embracing the euro, so be prepared to master the krone. Beware of sticker shock at restaurants, hotels and shops.
Currency exchange can be made in most banks, post offices and train stations. Banks are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. There are several exchange offices in the central station across from Tivoli Gardens that stay open late. For the best exchange rates, use ATMs, found almost everywhere.
Note: Many European ATMs display only numerals on the keypad. For pin codes that include letters, commit to memory or jot down the translation to numbers.
Language?
Danish, which is a bit difficult to master, is the language spoken. Generally, English is spoken and understood.
Where You're Docked?
Copenhagen offers three port facilities. Langelinie Pier, about 1.5 miles from the city's center, is a delightful port area with a series of shops and cafes, located a short 10-minute walk from the city's center. Taxis are also available. Look for a nearby Copenhagen Information Center with money-changing services and ATMs.
Designed for the largest ships, the newest terminal, Ocean Quay, is in Copenhagen's North Harbour, Nordhavn. This sprawling industrial zone is too far from town to walk, and there are no services nearby. Fortunately, tour bus companies line up there at the cruise dock to take passengers into town to explore. You might also encounter a taxi or two if you're simply looking for a lift.
Another port, Nordre Toldbod, is adjacent to the Copenhagen Kastellet and near the famous Little Mermaid statue.
Note: Don't arrange for a taxi in advance to take you from the airport to the ship if you're arriving in Copenhagen because you'll pay for waiting time, which can run up the fare quickly. Take a taxi that's already waiting instead.
