As a newcomer in Copenhagen, I too was confused when I first stepped on Danish land. It’s my first experience abroad it was quite a lot to take in at once: The transport, the food, prices the fact that everything felt so flat because there were no mountains nearby. Thankfully, my brother had lived in Denmark for about 5 years by then. He taught me all that I needed to know to start my journey in Copenhagen.
I realize that not everyone has the comfort of having a sibling abroad that can help you out in a new environment. It can be very confusing to get around in Copenhagen. Knowing how to tackle some of these problems can relieve some stress pretty early on, as well as save some unneeded expenses. Let’s explore some of the topics so as to make you experience in Copenhagen easier and more enjoyable.
It is very easy to get caught up in the comparison of prices of things with your home country and finding that Denmark seemingly very expensive. Budgeting is important but so is realism. Items generally cost more here so unless you can find an alternative source through friends and family or the internet, you need to consider if it’s a necessary purchase. For groceries, Aldi, Lidl, Netto, and Kiwi are great budget supermarkets and typically offer good deals. (Discuss more what the average price for things like eggs, bread, wine, and meat is)
Each week you find your post box full of a pile of promotional pamphlets from local stores. Don’t dismiss this as annoying junk mail. The supermarket brochures will tell you where the bargains are and also give you a good snapshot into the food and consumer culture of Denmark. You can also see which your local supermarkets are and which are in line with your budget.
You may find that the public transport in Copenhagen is quite complex and confusing at first, however, you will find it to be very efficient, safe and practical once you’ve settled in. Transport options in the city include:
Copenhagen is expensive, what I mean by this is that simply getting a coffee can leave a dent in your budged even in the most unassuming of places. With that said, it's also a city that caters incredibly well to lovers of fine food and casual dining, with a real mishmash of cuisines on offer and lots of ways to have a great time without paying too much for it. Keeping that in mind be prepared to spend from at least 100 to over 200 dkk if you sit down at a restaurant. If you look for places for a quick lunch break the city is filled with shawarma shops pizza places selling budged meals for around 80 dkk.
And if you’re looking to spend a night out with colleagues a beer pint typically costs 60 dkk. However bottles of beers in supermarkets are much cheaper prices as low as 2 dkk. And Copenhagen does not have any restrictions as to drinking on the street, at least to my knowledge.
I am more of a bar person and I enjoy sitting around with my friends having great conversations and listening to good music. Therefore, I spend most of my time out in bars. You always find great people to talk to in Copenhagen's bars and they are normally from everywhere and of different ages. If you are more of a party person, I will suggest the Meatpacking District, which is a cluster with a trendy nightlife, where you can find bars and clubs and a broad range of high quality restaurants.
Copenhagen is a city full with parks. All of them are beautiful and the all deserve to be visited. I would definitely advise you to visit the Botanical Garden, its located in the center of Copenhagen. The garden is a park that spans about 10 hectares filled with different paths that let you explore the park and admire the exotic plant life. The Botanical Garden is particularly noted for its impressive historical glass house dating all the way back to 1874.
Other parks that you should visit in Copenhagen are:
