Denmark's capital — a canal-and-harbour city and the home of cycling culture: colourful Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens (1843), the Little Mermaid, the crown jewels at Rosenborg, the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg, Christiania, the CopenHill ski slope on a power plant and the Reffen street-food market. By train you reach Hamlet's Kronborg Castle, the Louisiana museum, and Malmö in Sweden across the Øresund Bridge. A very expensive city. No direct flights from UB — connect via MIAT to Frankfurt, or via Beijing, Seoul or Istanbul. Mongolian citizens need a Schengen visa; for Denmark, applications are taken by the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar (VFS Global).
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 90 days✈ Flight: 13h☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
#Tivoli#Nyhavn#Little Mermaid#cycling#Hamlet's castle#Schengen visa
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Tivoli Gardens
KidsEntry ~DKK 185–210 (age 8+, varies by day), ages 3–7 cheaper, under 3 free; rides extraSeasonal: Apr–Sep, Halloween, and Christmas from mid-Nov to early Jan; usually 11:00–22:00
Opened in 1843, one of the world's oldest amusement parks — right opposite Copenhagen Central Station. A wooden roller coaster, gardens, concerts and evening lights; at Christmas the lights and market are special. The best family stop.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goDenmark has no embassy in Mongolia, so Schengen visas for Denmark are taken by the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar (VFS Global) — no need to go to Beijing. Slots fill up, so start early.+
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Schengen visa: German Embassy, VFS Global
According to Denmark's embassy in Beijing, Mongolian citizens apply for Danish visas at the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. Book a VFS Global appointment and go in person to give fingerprints. Fee €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus the VFS service fee of 100,000₮. Apply between 6 months and 4 weeks before travel; processing takes at least 15 days.
Tip: Follow the German Embassy's document checklist. Residence permits (work, study) are not accepted by the German Embassy — apply via a Danish visa centre in China.
Medical insurance valid in all Schengen states with cover of at least €30,000 is mandatory. Attach the return ticket, hotel bookings, bank statements and employment letter; list any day trip to Malmö (Sweden) in your itinerary. Your passport must be valid for more than 3 months after you leave.
Instead of passport stamps, the EES system records your fingerprints and face at the Schengen border (fully live since 10 April 2026); the first entry may take longer. ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers, so it does not apply to Mongolians with a Schengen visa.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityKastrup airport is close to the city; the metro and trains leave straight from the terminal.+
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By metro M2
Metro line M2 runs 24 hours from beside Terminal 3; Kongens Nytorv (near Nyhavn) is ~15 minutes away. Airport to centre is a 3-zone ticket — DKK 30 (children 50% off). Buy it in the DOT app or from a machine.
Tip: If you'll travel for several days, the City Pass Small (DKK 100 for 1 day) includes the airport.
DSB and Øresundståg trains from the airport station reach Copenhagen Central (København H) in ~15 minutes — better if you're staying near Tivoli. If you land in Frankfurt with MIAT, Schengen passport control happens there.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy and install a travel eSIM from Airalo, Holafly or similar before you leave — it works as soon as you land. A Europe-wide plan also covers Frankfurt and Malmö.
Tip: Download Copenhagen in Google Maps for offline use.
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Danish prepaid SIM
TDC, Telenor, Telia and 3 prepaid SIMs are sold at 7-Eleven, newsagents (Kiosk) and operator shops. EU 'roam like at home' rules mean it works in Sweden and the rest of Europe too.
🚇Getting aroundCopenhagen is a cycling city; the metro, buses and trains share one ticket. The centre is easy to see on foot.+
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Tickets and City Pass
Metro, buses, S-trains and harbour buses share one zone system: a 2-zone ticket is DKK 24, 3 zones DKK 30. The City Pass Small (zones 1–4, airport included) is DKK 100 for 1 day, DKK 220 for 3 days; children 50% off. Buy on your phone in the DOT app.
Bike lanes are everywhere; rent through apps such as Donkey Republic or Bycyklen. Signal with your hand before turning, and never walk in the bike lane. With children, ask your hotel for a bike with a child seat.
From Copenhagen Central, Helsingør (Kronborg) is ~45 minutes, Louisiana (Humlebæk) ~35 minutes, and Malmö across the Øresund Bridge ~35–40 minutes, with Øresundståg every 20 minutes. Always carry your passport to Malmö.
The currency is the Danish krone (DKK), not the euro. Visa, Mastercard and phone payments work everywhere; some cafés and stalls are card-only. You barely need cash. Service is included in restaurant prices; tipping is optional.
Tip: If the card reader offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose kroner.
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An expensive city — ways to save
Hotels and restaurants are among Europe's priciest. Use supermarkets (Netto, Lidl, Rema 1000), Reffen and the Torvehallerne market, the Glyptotek's free Tuesday for its permanent collection and Christiansborg's free tower. Many museums are free for under-18s.
Non-EU visitors who spend above a minimum amount in a shop showing the 'Tax Free' sign can reclaim the VAT. Ask the shop for the form and have it validated by customs at the airport where you leave the EU.
🍜FoodA hub of New Nordic cuisine — but cheap street food and pastries are plentiful too.+
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What to eat
Smørrebrød (open sandwiches on rye), pølse (hot dogs from a cart), wienerbrød and cinnamon kanelsnegl pastries, frikadeller (meatballs) and fried fish. Reffen street-food market has dishes from many countries in summer and suits families with children.
Tip: The restaurants on the Nyhavn quay charge for the view — go one street back for lower prices.
Netto, Lidl and Rema 1000 are cheapest; Irma and Føtex are mid-range. The Torvehallerne food halls have smørrebrød, coffee and fruit. Tap water is safe to drink — carry a bottle.
Ambulance, fire and police — 112 (free, 24 hours, in English). Non-urgent police — 114. In the Copenhagen region, for illness or injury that is not life-threatening, call 1813 for an appointment before going to a hospital.
The biggest danger is the bike lane — look both ways before stepping out and never stand in it. Watch for pickpockets at Central Station, on Strøget, at Nyhavn and around nightclubs. In Christiania, don't take photos on the former Pusher Street.
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Medicines and pharmacies
Pharmacies (apotek) are plentiful, and Steno Apotek (opposite Central Station) is open 24 hours. Most medicines need a prescription — bring regular medicines with their prescription.
Bike lanes are separate from the pavement — don't walk or stand in them. When cycling keep right and raise your hand to stop. On escalators stand on the right and leave the left for people walking.
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Danish 'hygge'
Danes speak quietly, queue patiently and are punctual. Book restaurant tables and ask for the bill. The city is family-friendly: many cafés and museums have children's corners and pram parking.
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Royal palaces and museums
Don't get too close to the Amalienborg guards or stand in their path. Buy timed tickets online for Rosenborg and Kronborg. Some museums close on Mondays — check when planning.
DOT Tickets — metro, bus and train tickets. Rejseplanen — journey planner for all public transport. DSB — trains. Donkey Republic — bike rental. Dantaxi and Uber for taxis.
Buy Tivoli, Rosenborg and Kronborg tickets in advance on their official sites. Visit Copenhagen covers events and the Copenhagen Card. Google Translate's camera translates Danish menus.
Metro M2 from Kongens Nytorv to the airport takes ~15 minutes on a 3-zone ticket of DKK 30. Allow plenty of time for security, the EES exit check and the customs stamp for Tax Free. If you connect to MIAT in Frankfurt, allow for connection delays.
Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically, and an overstay will hurt your next application. Show Tax Free goods to customs before check-in.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
24 hours; boats ~10:00–18:00 (longer in summer)
A 17th-century harbour lined with colourful houses — Copenhagen's most famous view. From here a one-hour canal boat shows the Opera House, Amalienborg, the Little Mermaid and Christiansborg from the water.
A 1913 bronze statue based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale — smaller than people expect (~1.25 m). Go early in the morning to avoid crowds. Combine it with a walk around the star-shaped Kastellet fortress and the Gefion Fountain nearby.
CultureAdults DKK 150 (cheaper online), under 18 free; timed ticketsUsually 10:00–17:00 (closed Mondays in winter, from 09:00 in Jul–Aug)
A 1600s royal summer palace; the Danish crown and the crown jewels are kept in the treasury below. The surrounding King's Garden (Kongens Have) is free, with picnic lawns and a playground.
CultureSquare and guard change free; the palace museum has its own ticketChanging of the Guard daily at 12:00
The Danish royal family's winter residence — four identical palaces around an octagonal square. Every day at noon the Royal Guard marches in from Rosenborg and changes shift; children love it.
CityTower viewing platform free; the royal reception rooms need a ticketTower usually Tue–Sun 11:00–21:00 (earlier on Sunday), closed Monday
One palace housing parliament, the Prime Minister's office and the royal reception rooms. The 106 m tower — the city's tallest — offers a free view over Copenhagen. There is a security check.
A 1642 observatory tower climbed by a spiral ramp instead of stairs. The top overlooks the old town; on winter evenings the telescope opens. Hard going with a pram.
Danish history from the Vikings to today: the Sun Chariot, Viking treasures and Bronze Age finds. The children's museum section lets kids dress up and play.
A self-governing hippie neighbourhood since 1971: painted houses, lakeside paths, art galleries and cafés. Photography is banned on the former Pusher Street, and don't photograph residents without asking; cannabis is illegal in Denmark.
KidsRoof and hiking path free; ski slope 1 h ~DKK 150 plus lift card and insuranceSlope usually Tue–Fri 14:00–19:00, Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun 10:00–17:00; closed Monday
A year-round dry ski slope, climbing wall and hiking path on the roof of a waste-to-energy plant. The rooftop viewpoint over the city and the Øresund Bridge is free.
CultureAdults DKK 150 (DKK 135 online), children freeUsually 10:00–17:00 (shorter in winter, closed Mondays)
The UNESCO castle where Shakespeare set Hamlet — about 45 minutes from Copenhagen by train. In the casemates sleeps the hero Holger Danske; in summer, Hamlet scenes are performed. Combine it with Louisiana in one day.
A world-renowned museum with a seaside sculpture park in Humlebæk. In the three-storey Children's Wing kids make their own art. About 35 minutes from Copenhagen by train.
