3 Excellent Beer Tips for Visitors in Copenhagen
Not only is Copenhagen home to the legendary Carlsberg brewery, but it has a thriving craft beer scene. Beer is a cultural part of the Danish experience, and you should consider incorporating it into your visit. Here are some top beer tips for visitors to Copenhagen:
1. Don't pay for an expensive, basic beer at one of the many tourist cafés along Nyhavn. Get the same experience with better beer!
To enjoy a great craft beer at Nyhavn, you first need to walk down a side street to find Den Gamle Købmand ("The Old Merchant"). It looks like your average city kiosk from the outside, but when you enter you will find a surprisingly extensive craft beer selection. There is an entire refrigerated section dedicated to craft beers, and there are other beverages as well.
Once you have purchased your beer and a snack, walk a few steps back to the canal at Nyhavn and you can freely sit on the canal's edge. Watch the boats, and people watch. If you need the toilet, there are free toilets underground at the north end of the canal (and they are surprisingly nice!).
2. Walk with your beer!
Explore the city with a good beer as it is perfectly legal to have an open beverage in public spaces throughout Denmark. It is not uncommon to see Danes heading home on the train with an open beer in hand after a long day's work. On warm, sunny days you will see people sat in green spaces with a beverage. It's not only legal, but culturally acceptable to drink alcohol in public. Most bars are also happy to serve you draft beer in a to-go cup if you ask.
However, when it comes to alcohol in public, do be responsible:
- Do not cycle while drinking.
- Food and drink are allowed on the trains and metro, but it is not allowed on buses.
- Do not bring a drink you have purchased elsewhere into another bar or restaurant.
3. Donate your empty cans and bottles.
In Denmark, there’s a deposit system (called "pant") for cans and bottles: a small fee is added at purchase and refunded when the container is returned. Beer cans and bottles return 1 DKK each, while plastic soda bottles return between 1.5 and 3 DKK, depending on the size.
Many people collect these containers as a source of income. Instead of throwing your empty can or bottle in the trash, place it next to a trash bin—or use the small baskets attached to bins sometimes found in the city center—so someone can easily collect it. This is an easy way to give a bit of cash to someone in need, while they are also providing a service.
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Check back on our blog and our social media channels for more craft beer suggestions in Copenhagen!
If you are looking for a fun, quality t-shirt that celebrates Danish beer, you may like this vintage cereal box inspired Danish beer t-shirt!
