16 Things To Avoid In Copenhagen

Planning a visit to Copenhagen? Aside from things to do and places to visit, you should also know about the things to avoid in Copenhagen. It’s important to learn about the common mistakes that tourists make in the city. Copenhagen is a lively city and a paradise for tourists in Denmark. But a small mistake or mishap can ruin your trip to this beautiful city. So, make your plan perfect by knowing everything about the city.

Every tourist plans about the things to do in the city where they are going, but doesn’t care about the things to avoid there. As a result, they face problems and can’t enjoy their trip as they desire. Copenhagen is a tourist-friendly city, but like other destinations, there are some precautions that every tourist should adopt.

You should be prepared for certain conditions and requirements to visit Copenhagen. It’s a historical city and a cultural and business hub of Denmark. Tourists come here to spend quality time and explore the scenic beauty of Denmark. They have a lot of things to do in Copenhagen and make their trip memorable. But they should also be careful of some things that may cause problems for them. As a traveler, I’m discussing some things to avoid in Copenhagen to make your visit perfect as planned.

1- Unfollowing the Visa Rules

Following visa rules is crucial for visiting a foreign country. Denmark has separate visa requirements for every country. Citizens of Europe and some other countries can travel to Copenhagen without a visa. People from the rest of the world need a visa to come out from the airport and transfer to the City Center.

A traveler should respect the visa rules to make their trip memorable, especially when they are visiting Copenhagen with their kids. Coming to Copenhagen without a visa (if needed), overstaying, and any other tampering with visa requirements can ruin your visit.

2- Get Local Currency Before Arrival

Many tourists don’t buy Danish Krone before arrival. They think they would buy the local currency from the Copenhagen Airport, but it could be their big mistake. Buying local currency from the airport is very expensive. Also, you may struggle in shifting from the airport to your hotel if you couldn’t buy local currency for any reason. So, it’s important to buy Denmark’s currency before traveling here.

3- Avoid Crowded Places

One of the important things to avoid in Copenhagen is staying more time in crowded places. Make sure to stay away from crowded places like metro stations and bus stops. Visit such places only when it’s necessary. Tourist attractions like City Hall Square, Stroget, and Tivoli Gardens are also crowded on weekends. Try to visit these places on any day other than a weekend or holiday.

4- Be Careful of Pickpockets

Pickpocketing is a big issue for tourists in Copenhagen. You may even encounter pickpockets at the airport. You should be aware of pickpockets, especially at metro and bus stations, and other crowded places. Take necessary steps to avoid pickpockets in Copenhagen. Consider the following measures to protect yourself from the problems caused by pickpockets:

Keep only your required money in your pockets.
Don’t keep all the money in a single pocket.
Ensure your important documents, like your visa and passport, are safe.
Prefer to use the Copenhagen Card.

5- Using Public Transport without buying a Ticket

Copenhagen offers you a very comfortable public transport system. You may observe that there is no barrier at the entrance of the metro stations. It doesn’t mean you can travel free of cost anywhere in the city. Make sure to buy a ticket before boarding a train or metro. Many people, especially first-time visitors, make the mistake of riding on public transport without buying a ticket. They face trouble when caught by the Ticket Checker.

6- Walking in Bike Lanes

One of the big things to avoid in Copenhagen is walking in the bike lanes. Copenhagen has separate lanes for bikes, and walking in the bike lane may cause a problem for you. While walking on the road, it could be difficult for first-time visitors to identify where the bike lane starts and when it ends. Make sure to take care of the bike lanes for cycling in Copenhagen because locals strictly follow the rules.

7- Be Aware of Local Traffic Rules

Copenhagen is a tourist hub of Denmark and offers many travelling facilities to tourists. Prefer to use public transport or hire a taxi to go anywhere in the city. But if you are renting a car or going by bike, make sure you are well aware of local traffic rules. Drive according to the rules and avoid violations. Any violation of local traffic rules may cause a problem for you.

8- Overrating Some Tourist Attractions

There are many tourist attractions in the city, and tourists try to explore everything when they visit Copenhagen. Some locations are very popular among tourists, but they are not very important to visit. Many tourists waste their precious time and money exploring these overrated tourist spots. You can skip such locations, especially when you are here for a short time. It allows you to spend more time exploring the city and its important places. The overrated tourist spots that you can skip are:

The Little Mermaid Statue
Stroget
Christiana
Nyhavn Harbor

9- Be Careful in Christiania

Christiana is a place in Copenhagen where Denmark’s law isn’t applicable. That’s why it’s also known as Freetown. It’s a separate community, and tourists come here for shopping and to explore the lifestyle of locals. There are many things to do here, but you should be aware of illegal activities in the area. Many activities, including drug dealing, that are illegal in Denmark, take place here openly. Denmark’s authorities couldn’t help you if you get stuck here in any difficulty. So, you should include a visit to Christiania in your things to avoid in Copenhagen list if you are coming here for the first time.

10- Don’t Swin Everewhere

Another one of the things to avoid in Copenhagen is swimming anywhere you want. Copenhagen has many beautiful beaches and seaside areas where tourists love to go and enjoy. Remember that you can’t swim in Copenhagen anywhere you want. There are specific areas where locals and tourists are allowed to swim, including the Amager Beach Park, Svanemollen Beach, and Bellevue Beach. Safety measures are also taken at these places. You can be fined by the police if found swimming in a restricted area.

11- Don’t Cross the Road When the Person Is Red

A common mistake that tourists make in Copenhagen is crossing the road when the signal is red. It’s a thing not to do in Copenhagen, and you might have to pay a fine if you are found violating the rules. Copenhageners don’t like people violating rules on the road. They strictly follow the rules and expect the same from others. So, make sure to cross the road only at designated places when the signal is green.

12- Find the Best Areas for a Certain Activity

There are a lot of things to do in Copenhagen, but many tourists do certain activities in the wrong places. Some locations in Copenhagen are famous for specific activities, such as Raffen is famous for street food, and Strøget is for shopping. You may face trouble in doing a specific activity in the wrong place, and also, you would not be able to get a good experience. So, try to find the best place for a specific activity you want to do in Copenhagen.

13- Don’t Pay Extra for Services

One of the important things to avoid in Copenhagen is paying extra for services. A tip for waiters in restaurants is normal, but don’t pay them more than they deserve. Some tourists pay an extra amount to taxi drivers. Don’t do this, as they may ask for extra money from other tourists. Remember that your money is precious to you in a country you don’t belong to. Keep it safe and don’t waste it on paying extra for services. It’s a must thing not to do in Copenhagen.

14- Avoid Booking Hotels in Remote Areas

A big mistake made by tourists in Copenhagen is that they book hotels in remote areas. As a result, they have difficulties exploring the city and have to spend more money to get to any tourist spot. Always book a hotel in Central Copenhagen or any other area near tourist attractions so that you can enjoy your trip to the lively city of Denmark. Booking a hotel in the remote areas is one of the important things to avoid in Copenhagen.

Read more about the best areas to stay in Copenhagen.

15- Limiting Yourself to a Specific Area

Don’t limit yourself to a specific area of Copenhagen, especially when you are here for tourism. It’s a big city full of tourist attractions. Explore the hidden gems of Copenhagen by traveling all around the city. Some tourists come here without research and spend most of their time in unrelated areas. You shouldn’t spoil your trip to Copenhagen by limiting yourself to a specific area.

16- Don’t Complain Loudly about Restaurant Services

Are you feeling that the waiters at restaurants are rude? Don’t worry about it because it’s their way to work as opposed to other countries. They serve you meals and drinks without being friendly to you. So, don’t make a spectacle of yourself by complaining loudly about their behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There are a few things to avoid in Copenhagen. You can put yourself in trouble if you do an activity that is not allowed in the city. Avoid metro, bus, and train stations during busy hours. Don’t go to unnecessary places if you are here for a short time.

Copenhagen isn’t as safe at night as during the day. There are chances of being robbed and bags being snatched. So, must include the city exploration at midnight in your things to avoid in Copenhagen list.

Yes, Copenhagen is an international city, and you can wear anything in the city. You may find locals wearing classic blue jeans.

Always do research and come to Copenhagen with a plan. You should know about the local traffic rules and other necessary things. Get some know-how about the things to do and things not to do in the city to make your visit perfect.

Yes, it’s one of the safest cities for Muslims in Europe. Local authorities and citizens treat everyone equally, including Muslims. Many Turkish, Arabian, and Indian restaurants offer halal food to Muslims. The Grand Mosque of Copenhagen and some other Mosques offer Muslims perform their prayers.

Conclusion

It’s important to know about the dos and don’ts in the city you are traveling to. There are a few things that a tourist shouldn’t do in Copenhagen. Keeping in mind such things makes your trip more memorable. Copenhagen is a tourist-friendly city where people from around the world come every year and enjoy their holidays. Some of them make mistakes that ruin their trip and put them in trouble. I have shared my personal experience about the things to avoid in Copenhagen. Keep in mind the above-mentioned things to make your trip memorable.

Things to Avoid in Copenhagen