Despite the fact that Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark, it's far from what you'd expect it to be. Sure, it can be as busy as London, you can argue it's just as if not more beautiful than Paris, and the city's historic value can rival even that of Rome's. However, Copenhagen is its own city, and what you do in other destinations may not have the same effect here. Simply put, you'd do well in following a few travel tips to ensure that your stay in Copenhagen will be as pleasant as possible.
Go Here in Summer
Thanks to its geographical location and the fact that it's a coastal city, Copenhagen is generally a cold place. It has mild summers yet extreme winters, with the latter having an average temperature of about 0°C (32°F). And during summer, though Copenhagen still gets lots of sunlight, it's warm enough to require light clothing but not so hot that it can rival the Mediterranean countries. So in terms of the best time to visit the Danish capital, do it in summer. You might see a ton of tourists during this time, but the mild weather conditions more than make up for it!
Learn Some Danish
If you can, try to learn some Danish before going to Copenhagen or to Denmark in general. Although the city's international communities continue to grow, Danish remains the dominant language here. And as such, it'd help you a lot more if you understood and knew how to speak it. Even just learning the basics can help you go far! But if for some reason you can't learn Danish before getting here, there's no need to worry. The city has
a handful of excellent language schools that can still help you out. You'd do well to enroll in them when you have the time!
Always Follow The Rules
As far as
Danish social customs go, your best bet is to follow the rules. The Danish are sticklers for rules, so much so that when they see others breaking them, they won't hesitate to call them out. Generally, the Danes are reserved and conservative, so much so that even speaking at a higher than mid-range volume would be considered rude. So when these normally quiet people speak out and single out the rule-breakers, this should prove how much they respect rules. Ultimately, to avoid getting unwanted attention in Copenhagen, simply follow the rules.
While
Copenhagen's public transport is still more organized than those in bigger metropolises, it still gets crowded at times. Whether it's during the peak season for tourists or the rush hour for locals, sometimes, commuting in the Danish capital can be such a hassle. That's why it's better to get a travel pass, particularly the Copenhagen Card. This one-stop all-access card gives you unlimited access to the city's public transport systems for a certain time period. Just think how easy it'd be to no longer have to line up to buy tickets and simply go straight to the train, bus, and the like. This is the privilege that the Copenhagen Card will give you!
Rent A Bike
As already mentioned, the public transport in Copenhagen is efficient enough that it gets busy at times. And while the Copenhagen Card can help you commute with less hassle than before, if you simply want to roam around the city while you explore its
many districts, rent a bike instead. These days, you can even easily do it
with an app! Beyond its role as another form of public transport, cycling is also a great way to see the city at your own pace. If you have the will and the tenacity, what's stopping you from going from one tourist attraction to another on a two-wheeler? Not to mention the fact that it's a great way to exercise too!
New Visitors Should Avoid Freetown Christiana
When it comes to cannabis, Freetown Christiana is its own haven in Copenhagen. In fact, this area is even referred to as the 'green light district' because of the notorious plant and its psychoactive drug. And while the selling and purchasing of cannabis are legal in this part of the city, it still comes with a lot of conditions and other important sub-rules. If you're not that familiar with them, it's best to avoid this area altogether. Freetown Christiana itself is still a fun place to visit in the city, yes, but since the
crime rates indicate the drug dealing remains a huge problem, you never know what kind of trouble you can get into if you're a new visitor here!
Source: Flickr.com/ camilo castro
Copenhagen may seem like a pleasant and peaceful place but you never know what might happen here! Just to be on the safe side, follow these helpful travel tips to ensure that you get to have the best time here as much as possible!
