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Airlines that serve Copenhagen directly are Scandanavian Air lines (SAS), Aer Lingus, British Airways and Mærsk Air. The airport is 12 km (7 miles) away from the city; it takes about 15 mins to get to the city by train, or 45 mins by bus (both cost the same). You will also find a taxi rank just outside the airport (terminal 3).

International trains run to and from many European cities, including Hamburg and Berlin. All international trains stop at Hovedbanegården, the city’s main station.

If driving into Copenhagen from Sweden, you can take the Øresund bridge from Malmø. If driving in from Germany and crossing the island of Funen, you can take the Great Belt Bridge to Sjælland, the island on which Copenhagen is situated. Both bridges exact a toll.

You can take a DFDS Seaways ferry to Copenhagen from Poland (Swinoujscie) or Norway (Oslo). Ferries from the UK (Harwich) stop at Esbjerg; from here, you can take a train to Copenhagen or drive 300 km (186 miles) on the E20 motorway.

The bus, local (S) train and metro systems are frequent and efficient. In Greater Copenhagen, you can use a single ticket or discount clip card to transfer between these three systems. These cards are available for 10 journeys and work out cheaper than the basic tickets available.

Harbour buses (901 and 902) run the length of the harbour between Den Sorte Diamant and Gefionspringvandet.

Taxis have a FRI (free) sign on the roof. You can pay by credit card and also get receipts. Catch the cycle rickshaws for short rides at Storkespringvandet, Tivoli, Rådhuspladsen and Nyhavn.

You can drive if you are over 18 and hold a valid licence. Always carry the registration papers and reflecting triangle. Parkering forbudt means no parking within certain time limits. Motoring offences attract on-the-spot fines.

Bicycles offer a great way to enjoy more of Copenhagen in a short period of time. There are cycle paths throughout the city. Free city bikes are available from mid-April to mid-December at 110 special stands around the city.

Summertime is ideal as you can enjoy 16–18 hours of daylight on clear days. Christmas is fun, with fairy lights and celebrations at Tivoli, the open-air ice rink at Kongens Nytorv and plenty of markets, concerts and other entertainment. There is plenty for kids to do on other Danish school holidays as well: week 7, July to mid-August, and week 42. The only time you might want to avoid, due to chilly winds and seven hours of daylight, is Dec–Jan.

EU citizens do not require a visa to enter Denmark and can stay for up to 90 days. Others should check whether their country has reciprocal agreements on waiving visa requirements. Foreign nationals who wish to work in Copenhagen must have a work and residence permit for paid or unpaid work.

Denmark imposes a limit on what can be brought into the country. Do not carry food articles that are not vacuum-packed by the manufacturer. Articles in commercial quantities and presents valued at more than 1,350kr are subject to customs duty. US citizens are liable to pay duty if carrying goods worth over $400. Many shops offer tax-free shopping for non-EU visitors for a minimum purchase of 300kr; remember to collect a Global Refund Tax Free Cheque from the store, so you can apply for a 13–19 per cent refund.

The Wonderful Copenhagen tourist office (just opposite the main station) offers brochures and lets you book hotels. Use It, another tourist organization, offers suggestions for visitors on a low budget. For free tourist information on your mobile, text “woco” to +45 22 90 40 04 (mobile charges apply).

Wonderful Copenhagen

Opening hours for shops are: Mon–Thu 9:30am/10am–5:30pm, Fri 9:30am/10am–7pm/8pm; Sat 9:30am/ 10am–noon/1pm (5pm on the first Saturday of the month). Weekend hours may be extended in tourist areas, especially in summer. Museums are closed on Mondays.

The Copenhagen Post (each Friday) provides a useful guide to events taking place in the city. Danish speakers can check the Friday guide sections of Politiken and Berlingske.

Tourist board websites provide useful information. Other websites are listed below.

Public holidays include New Year’s Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Common Prayer’s Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday and Christmas.

Some museums are always free, others are mostly free on Wednesdays. The Copenhagen Card offers discounts and allows entry to 60 attractions and museums.

Although emergency medical treatment is free, make sure you have suitable travel insurance. EU nationals should bring their European Health Insurance cards. Visitors from Schengen countries (several EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) can carry up to 30 days’ supply of prescribed medication; others must carry no more than 14 days’ supply. Documents stating the need for the medication may be required.

Pharmacies have a green sign saying “A” (Apotek). Prescription medication can only be bought at pharmacies. Credit cards are not accepted; full payment is required.

Tourists are covered by public health services as per the agreement between Denmark and their home country. Emergency hospital treatment is free for all tourists, unless the medical facility determines that the emergency occurred as a result of a pre-existing condition. Refunds for doctor’s fees can be obtained from the nearest municipal or health insurance office before leaving Denmark.

Copenhagen is a safe city, but visitors must take precautions. Make sure your bags are closed securely and your credit cards, mobile and money are kept in a safe place. Also, avoid carrying large amounts of cash. If you are a victim of a crime, contact the police immediately.

To file reports, contact the nearest police station (see Directory). In a crisis, call the emergency services number.

You can ask the staff at Use It for advice about treatment or contact Falck (tel. 70 10 20 30) for reference to a dentist.

Outside office hours, call either Doctor On Call or 24-hour Doctor Watch. If an emergency arises, go to the Accident and Emergency section of any hospital (see Directory).

Report theft at a police station (see Directory) at once; you will be issued a crime report note, which you will need for insurance claims.

Wonderful Copenhagen, or WoCo, has a list of places that offer facilities for the disabled. For wheelchair information, contact DSB Handicap (see Directory).

Danish notes come in denominations of 1,000 kr, 500 kr, 200 kr, 100 kr and 50 kr. Coins come in 20 kr, 10 kr, 5 kr, 2 kr, 1 kr, 50 øre (half a krone) and 25 øre.

Banks are usually open Mon–Wed 10am–10pm; Thu 10am–6pm. Most ATMs are open 24 hours a day, and are usually found outside banks and metro stations. The most popular card is Visa, but finding machines that accept MasterCard or American Express shouldn’t be a problem, either.

There are many exchange bureaux throughout the city. Those open for the longest include Den Danske Bank´s exchange office (6am–10pm) at Copenhagen Airport, and the Forex (8am–9pm) at the Hovedbånegard station. Hotels have foreign exchange services, but the rate is lower than at banks or exchange bureaux.

International credit cards are not always accepted, especially at small outlets. There may also be an extra charge if you pay by credit card. If you lose your credit card, call your credit card company immediately (see Directory).

Post offices are usually open Mon–Fri 9am/ 10am–5.30pm; Sat 9am–noon (or closed). You can arrange for a Poste Restante service at any post office. International mail arrives faster with the Faste Deliver A-mail or Prioritaire mail service.

The international dialling code for Denmark is +45; there are no area codes. To make international calls from Denmark, first dial 00. Public telephones accept coins and pre-paid phone cards. Insert 5–20 kr for international calls; however, you will not receive change. You cannot make collect calls to the US from public phones. For information and directory assistance, call 113.

GSM compatible mobile phones will work. There are three main service providers (see Directory). Roaming is expensive, so check your service provider’s rates for calls from abroad.

There are many internet cafés in the city. Boomtown Netcafé is one of the biggest, with 108 computers. Use It lets you surf, but you can’t make print outs. Most hotels offer internet access, too.

Cable and satellite TV provide easy access to channels in English and other languages. Radio Denmark International (1062 Mz) broadcasts news in English at 10:30 am, 5:05pm and 10pm.

The Danes never jaywalk, even if there is no traffic in either direction. If you can’t resist the urge to do so, don’t be surprised if a grumpy policeman decides to arrest you for breaking the law. Always cross at the pedestrian crossing when the signal turns green. For the benefit of the visually impaired, a beeping sound is emitted for the entire duration when it is safe to cross.

Jaywalking

Exceeding the speed limit is illegal and you can be fined on the spot. If you don’t pay, your car may be impounded. Drinking and driving is strictly prohibited as well. Do not drive if the level of alcohol content in your blood is more than 0.5 (two drinks). For alcohol levels of up to 1.2, a large fine is imposed. If the level is 1.2–2, you could lose your license. Levels above 2 may result in a prison sentence of two weeks or more.

Buying and selling drugs in Denmark is illegal, just as in most other places, and the penalties are severe. Earlier, buying drugs from a booth on Pusher Street in Christiania was almost de rigueur for young visitors. However, Pusher Street has now been shut down and drugs cannot be bought openly.

Always remember to clip your ticket to validate it when you travel on public transport. Clipping machines can be found on buses and on platforms of train and metro stations. If you do not clip your ticket, you can be fined by inspectors.

Most museums are shut on Mondays, though a few are closed on Tuesdays instead. So, check in advance for frustration-free sightseeing.

Visitors who are not used to having cycle lanes in their cities might mistake this area for part of the pavement. However, bikes have right of way here. Remember to treat cycle lanes as you would the rest of the road.

Practically everyone below the age of 70 (and many above) speak excellent English, as they have been watching English and American films and TV for long. So, if you grumble in English, everyone from the bus driver up will know exactly what you are saying.

The Danes and their neighbours, the Swedes, have been at loggerheads for centuries. These days, the Danes continue to be rude about the Swedes, but in a tongue-in-cheek way. However, they often do mean it when they say that the Swedes travel to Copenhagen only to buy alcohol, as it is less expensive here.

The Danes are very respectful of their royal family, especially the present queen. Insulting them is highly inadvisable; it would be similar to (if not a little worse) insulting someone’s favourite sports team. However unintentional it may be, it could damage your relations with your hosts – especially the older generation.

Make your hotel reservations well in advance to get the best deals. The peak season is usually Apr/May–Sept/Oct. Online hotel prices are often cheaper, but it is a good idea to ring the hotel and ask about their best prices and deals.

A well-planned trip can be surprisingly inexpensive. Walking the streets is free and also fascinating. Discount clip cards reduce your expense on public transport. Parks and gardens (except Tivoli) are free, and often host free entertainment, especially in the summer. Several state-run museums are free; others are free on Wednesdays or Sundays. The Danish National Theatre sells unsold tickets at half price after 4pm on the day of the performance. For more information on budget travel, contact Use It .

The Copenhagen Card supplied by the Danish Tourist board is a good investment, offering lots of great discounts for sightseeing and transport. For information, or to buy the Copenhagen Card in advance (minimum of 10 days), visit the Wonderful Copenhagen website.

As in most other places, pizza and pasta dishes are cheap in Copenhagen. Fast food outlets are plentiful, and you can get a sandwich or a burger and chips for under 50 kr. If you want something more substantial for under 150 kr, a main course, bread and a glass of wine or beer in a café will easily fit your budget. Some restaurants, especially Thai, offer reasonably priced buffet lunches.

Although breakfast is a modest affair for most Danes, visitors are spoiled for choice at hotels. Eat-all-you-want breakfasts offer good value for money, even at 100–150 kr – especially if you can fill up for the day. Some hotels include breakfast in the price of the room, so check when you book.

Lunch (Frokost) is served from noon–2pm. Supper (Aftensmad) is usually served from 6pm–9:30pm/10pm, although you can call to check if the kitchen is open after that. Supper often costs more, but you are served larger portions. Late night snacks are limited to hot dogs or kebabs from a stall.

Tips are usually included in bills at restaurants and hotels, so it is not considered rude if you don’t leave one. In cheaper places, rounding the bill up is perfectly acceptable. In more expensive restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip, but it can be as little as 5 per cent of the bill. You don’t have to tip taxi drivers.

Every Wednesday in the spring and summer, students from the Royal Danish Academy of Music perform classical concerts at the Theatre Museum. Look out for the street bands at the summertime jazz festival .

During Christmas, special markets are held with some shops like the Royal Copenhagen , putting up exhibitions. Free skating is on offer at rinks at Kongens Nytorv, Frederiksberg Runddel and Blågårds Plads. Museums conduct free workshops for kids (closed 24–25 Dec).