Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, a harbour city known for Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens, royal palaces, design, cycling and some of Europe's best restaurants.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Royal Copenhagen porcelain
Hand-painted Blue Fluted mugs, plates and ornaments.
Price: DKK 250-1500 (about USD 39-233)
Where: Royal Copenhagen flagship, Amagertorv 6
Lakrids (Danish liquorice)
Chocolate-coated liquorice balls and salted liquorice sweets from Lakrids by Bülow.
Price: DKK 60-160 (about USD 9-25)
Where: Lakrids by Bülow shops, supermarkets and Copenhagen Airport
Danish butter cookies
Tins of Royal Dansk or Kjeldsens cookies.
Price: DKK 30-100 (about USD 5-16)
Where: Supermarkets, Torvehallerne, Copenhagen Airport
HAY stationery and accessories
Colourful stationery, mugs and textiles from Danish design brands.
Price: DKK 40-500 (about USD 6-78)
Where: HAY House (Østergade 61) and Illums Bolighus (Amagertorv 10)
LEGO sets
LEGO was invented in Billund, Denmark; the Copenhagen store on Strøget stocks sets and a pick-a-brick wall.
Price: DKK 50-2500 (about USD 8-388)
Where: LEGO Store, Vimmelskaftet 37
Craft beer and aquavit
Mikkeller and other Danish craft beer; Aalborg or Linie aquavit.
Price: DKK 25-350 (about USD 4-54)
Where: Torvehallerne and supermarkets
Danish wool knitwear
Scandinavian wool sweaters, hats and scarves in stores around Strøget and Kronprinsensgade.
Price: DKK 300-2500 (about USD 47-388)
Where: Strøget department stores and independent boutiques
Georg Jensen silver and Pandora charms
Danish silver jewellery from two Copenhagen-based brands.
Price: DKK 250-5000 (about USD 39-775)
Where: Georg Jensen flagship, Østergade 40; Pandora shops on Strøget
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Torvehallerne
Two glass halls and open-air stalls around a square next to Nørreport Station, with more than 60 vendors selling produce, fish, meats, bakery goods and ready-to-eat dishes.
Where: Beside Nørreport Station
Hours: Typically Mon-Thu 10:00-19:00, Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-17:00 (hours vary by stall; confirm at torvehallernekbh.dk)
Frederiksberg Flea Market
A weekend flea market with private sellers and dealers offering retro items and Danish ceramics.
Where: Frederiksberg Town Hall area, near Frederiksberg Metro
Hours: Typically Saturdays, around 9:00 AM-3:00 PM, in the spring-autumn season (confirm dates before travel)
Israels Plads Flea Market
A Saturday flea market on a city square next to Torvehallerne, easy to combine with lunch at the food halls.
Where: Square beside Torvehallerne
Hours: Typically Saturdays in the warmer months, around 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (confirm before travel)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Strøget and Amagertorv
One of Europe's longest pedestrian shopping streets, running about 1.1 km from Rådhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv, linking Amagertorv with Royal Copenhagen, Illums Bolighus, Georg Jensen and LEGO.
Pistolstræde and Latin Quarter
Cobbled lanes with independent shops, vintage dealers, concept stores and cafes, quieter than the main pedestrian street.
Kronprinsensgade and Grønnegade
A pedestrian side street with Scandinavian fashion labels, secondhand clothing, record stores and design shops.
Værnedamsvej, Vesterbro
A short, tree-lined street known as Copenhagen's Little Paris, with florists, cheese shops, bakeries and boutique cafes.
Jægersborggade, Nørrebro
A once-rough street transformed into a craft quarter with ceramic studios, a roastery and small galleries.
Bredgade antiques street
The traditional antiques street, with auctioneers, galleries and silver and furniture dealers near the Marble Church.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Illum
A department store on Strøget with fashion, beauty and a food hall, close to Kongens Nytorv.
Hours: Typically Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 11:00-17:00 (confirm hours)
Magasin du Nord
Denmark's oldest and largest department store, on Kongens Nytorv square with a food hall and cafes.
Hours: Typically Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 11:00-18:00 (confirm hours)
Fisketorvet
A large harbour-side shopping centre with fashion chains, supermarkets, a cinema and dining, a short walk from Dybbølsbro Station.
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-20:00 (confirm hours)
Field's
One of Scandinavia's largest shopping centres with over 100 shops, a supermarket and restaurants, linked by the M1 Metro to the city centre.
Hours: Typically daily 10:00-21:00 (confirm hours)
Frederiksberg Centret
A neighbourhood shopping centre near Frederiksberg Metro with fashion chains and a large supermarket.
Hours: Typically Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 11:00-17:00 (confirm hours)
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Prices in shops and department stores are fixed; asking for a discount is considered rude.
At flea markets such as Frederiksberg Loppemarked a polite request for a lower price is acceptable, usually for 10-20 percent off.
Sales (udsalg) run in late June-July and from 26 December to January, with 30-70 percent reductions; look for 'UDSALG' signs.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Say 'hej' when entering a small shop and 'tak, hej hej' when leaving., Most shops accept cards and mobile pay; carry a Visa or Mastercard because some stores do not take cash., Many shops close at 6:00 PM on weekdays and 5:00 PM on Saturdays and are closed or reduced on Sundays; supermarkets such as Netto, Føtex and Irma stay open until 9:00-10:00 PM.