Shopping is undoubtedly one of the highlights of a visit to
Copenhagen, with a raft of eclectic and original shops, including dozens
of small businesses which offer a refreshing alternative to the usual
selection of bland chain stores. Quality is very high - as are, for that
matter, prices. Exclusive handmade and luxury goods abound, often
bearing witness to Denmark's fine traditions of innovative design,
something which can be seen in products as diverse as clothing,
glassware, stereo equipment and handmade bicycles.
Most of the city's top shops are in Indre By, traversed by Strøget, the
world's longest (and oldest) pedestrianized shopping street - with no
real traffic to dodge or excessive distances to cover, shopping here can
be a real pleasure. Kronsprinsensgade, off Købmagergade, has some of the
city's best designer clothes shops, while for the best selection of
antique shops , take a stroll down Kompagniestræde. Larsbjørnstræde and
Skt Peder Stræde have the broadest selection of cheap secondhand and
ethnic clothes shops, and the area around Nansensgade has become
increasingly popular for its small designer clothes shops, quality
restaurants and quirky businesses such as body-piercing salons.
Away from Indre By, the small street of Værnedamsvej in Vesterbro, lined
with an array of delicatessens, bakeries and colourful fruit and veg
shops, is the place to hunt out gourmet food . When the weather is good,
the city's outdoor Saturday flea markets are well worth a visit, while
the city's galleries and museum shops offer a multitude of shopping
options for the artistically inclined.
Opening hours for most shops are roughly Monday to Friday 9.30am or 10am
to 5.30pm or 7pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm. If you're shopping for wine or
beer, note that shops aren't allowed to sell alcohol after 8pm.
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We've divided our listings into the following categories: clothes and
jewellery, crafts and design, department stores, food and drink,
galleries, markets, museum shops, speciality shops.
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Clothes and jewellery
Bruuns Bazaar Kronprinsensgade 8, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or #43. Mon-Thurs
10am-6pm, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Following a successful debut at
the Paris Fashion Show in 1999, Bruuns is rapidly establishing itself as
one of the city's most fashionable designer clothes shops, catering for
both men and women, though it's as expensive and exclusive as you'd
expect.
Casmose Kjeld Langes Gade 1, Indre By. Bus #5 or #16. Tues-Fri
10am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-2pm. In a basement shop just off Nansensgade,
Casmose sells its own exclusive - and expensive - range of practical but
stylish clothes for all ages.
Figaros Bryllup Store Regnegade 2, Indre By. Bus #1, #6, #9 or #19. Tues-Thurs
11am-5.30pm, Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-2pm. Light, unpolished handmade
jewellery using a variety of different metals including 22-carat gold,
pink gold and platinum.
Heartmade Pilestræde 45, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or #43. Tues & Wed
11am-4pm, Thurs & Fri 11am-5.30pm, Sat 11am-1pm. Featuring sleek and
simple clothes by Julie Fagerholdt, every item here is a uniquely
designed one-off, with everyday garments alongside evening gowns and
wedding dresses, often adorned with elegant embroidery and glass pearls.
Louise Grønlykke Store Standstræde 19, Frederikstad. Bus #1, #6, #19 or
#29. Mon-Fri 11.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-2pm. Beautiful handmade jewellery,
mostly of gold, inspired by Japanese and North African ornamental styles.
Everything is created by Louise Grønlykke herself, a fully trained
goldsmith who has exhibited internationally.
Munthe plus Simonsen Kronprinsensgade 11-12, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or
#43. Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri & Sat 10am-7pm. Hot fashion to burn a hole
in your pocket - the catalogue was photographed by supermodel Helena
Christensen and features Iben Hjejle, one of the stars of the film High
Fidelity . The clothes are by Danish designers Munthe and Simonsen, who
are quickly establishing an international reputation with garments that
blend Far Eastern influences with Scandinavian simplicity.
Museums Kopi Smykker Grønnegade 6, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or #43. Mon-Thurs
10am-6pm, Fri & Sat 10am-7pm. If you've been admiring the amazing Viking
jewellery on display at the National Museum, this excellent, if pricey,
shop produces outstanding handmade copies of these and other jewellery
finds from the Bronze Age onwards. There's another branch on Strøget at
Frederiksberggade 2.
ParaDigm Klarebodrene 10, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or #43. Tues-Fri
11am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm. Sustainable design is the popular new concept
developed by the three women behind ParaDigm. They only produce clothes
made from recyclable materials - anything from organic linen to old
plastic bottles - which are transformed into a surprisingly light and
elegant range of women's fashions, featuring eco-friendly everyday wear
and party gear.
Pisces Nansensgade 53, Indre By. Bus #5 or #16. Mon-Thurs 11am-7pm, Fri
11am-8pm, Sat 11am-4pm. Small boutique run by three women who produce
their own clothes and jewellery. The light and comfortable clothes use
unusual fabrics like plastic and hemp; the simple jewellery is mostly
silver, but also features copper, gold and a variety of semi-precious
and precious stones. They also make clothes to order.
Bookshops
There are dozens of good bookshops in Copenhagen, mainly in Indre By,
most of which stock at least a few English-language paperbacks. Many of
the city's bookstores are in the area around Fiolstræde (opposite
Nørreport Station) and Købmagergade in Indre By. The Book Trader,
Skindergade 23, has a varied selection of old and new books in English;
Kupeen DIS Rejser, Skindergade 28, has guidebooks and maps for budget
travellers. Chief places for new books are GAD, on Strøget at
Vimmelskaftet 32 and inside Central Station; Arnold Busck, Købmagergade
49 (with a discount branch at Østergade 16); and Boghallen i Politikens
Hus, Rådhuspladsen 37.
Crafts and design
Butik til Borddækning Møntergade 5, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or #43. Tues-Fri
noon-6pm, Sat 11am-2pm. Dedicated to the important Danish tradition of
table setting - it's believed that elegantly served food actually tastes
better - Butik til Borddækning serves up a unique selection of table-top
items, most of them made by the shop owner herself from a combination of
tin, glass, wood and porcelain.
Illums Bolighus Amagertorv 10, Indre By. Bus #5 or #29. Mon-Thurs
10am-6pm, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Two elegant floors overflowing
with an eye-catching assortment of Danish design, from fabulous
kitchenware to slimline PH lamps and the famously simple Kaare Klint
furniture, though none of it's cheap.
Keramik- & Glasværkstedet Kronprinsessegade 38, Frederikstad. Bus #10.
Tues-Fri noon-6pm, Sat noon-3pm. One of Kronprinsensgade's many
delightful small shops, offering a beautiful selection of simple,
functional ceramics and glassware for the dining table. Everything's
made in the workshop out the back: you may be lucky enough to be invited
in to see the four owners - three potters and a glass blower - in action.
Kvindesmedien Christiania, Christianshavn. Bus #8. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat
11am-3pm. One of Christiania's many cottage industries: here you can
watch the owners creating a variety of handmade and moderately priced
steel and iron objects such as mirrors, candlesticks, tables and
sculptures to their own unique designs. They also make pieces to order.
Department stores
Illums Østergade 52, Indre By. Bus #1 or #6. Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri
10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5pm. The city's most exclusive department store, with
elegant displays of top-of-the-range consumer desirables - everything
from men's underwear to quirky bottle openers - at equally top-of-the-range
prices. There's also a delightful café on the top floor.
Magasin du Nord Kongens Nytorv 13, Indre By. Bus #1, #6, #9, #10 or #29.
Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-5am. Dating back to 1871, the
redoubtable Magasin du Nord on fashionable Kongens Nytorv is the oldest
department store in the city, running Illums a close second in both
exclusivity and price.
Food and drink
A.C. Perch's Thehandel Kronprinsensgade 5, Indre By. Bus #31, #42 or
#43. Mon-Thurs 9am-5.30pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9.30am-2.30pm. One of
Europe's oldest tea shops, founded in 1835, Perch's retains much of its
delightful original wooden interior, around which waft the wonderful
aromas of specially imported teas from around the globe.
Boyesen Værnedamsvej 10, Frederiksberg. Bus #1, #14 or #28. Mon-Fri &
Sun noon-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm. Delicatessen and restaurant known for its
eccentric range of chocolates flavoured using ingredients as outlandish
as thyme, vervain, nutmeg and curry powder - they're tastier than you'd
think.
Circus Rosenvængets Allé 7a, Østerbro. Bus #6. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat &
Sun 10am-6pm. One of the most original shops in town, Circus triples up
as a great restaurant, decent hairdressers and wonderful delicatessen
stocking a great array of Danish and foreign sausages, cheeses and wines.
Frederiksberg Chocolade Frederiksberg Allé 64, Frederiksberg. Bus #28.
Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm. Mouthwatering homemade chocolates and
truffles created without artificial colourings or preservatives.
J. Chr. Andersens Efterfølger Købmagergade 32, Indre By. Bus #5. Mon-Thurs
10am-5.30pm, Fri 10am-6.30pm, Sat 10am-2pm. Follow the pungent odours
emanating from Andersens' shop to discover Copenhagen's finest selection
of cheeses, alongside some delicious homemade salads and an array of
exotic fresh fruit.
Kana Vin Nansensgade 24, Indre By. Bus #5 or #16. Mon-Thurs 3.30-7pm,
Fri noon-7pm, Sat 10.30am-3pm. A labour of love for its friendly owners,
this shop offers a fantastic selection of Italian wines, with most of
that country's regions and grapes represented. If you're lucky you may
coincide with an impromptu free wine tasting.
Props Wine Shop Vesterbrogade 114, Vesterbro. Bus #6. Thurs 3-6pm, Fri
4-8pm, Sat 11am-2pm. Possibly Copenhagen's smallest wine shop, but it
crams in an incredibly wide selection of excellent vintages and often
has cheap special offers too. Also has hand-rolled cigars - if you're
feeling flash you can even have your name inscribed on each tube.
Shark House Deli Blågårdsgade 3, Nørrebro. Bus #5 or #16. Mon-Fri
11am-8pm, Sat 11am-4pm. Great Italian, French and Danish homemade fare
such as pesto, sausages, jam and bread. There's also a small selection
of Italian- and French-inspired takeaway meals, usually including a
vegetarian option.
Sømods Bolscher Nørregade 36, Indre By. Bus #5 or Nørreport Station. Mon-Thurs
9.15am-5.30pm, Fri 9.15am-6pm, Sat 10am-2.30pm. Using century-old
recipes - no chemical additives - this shop makes a range of flavoursome
traditional boiled sweets; you can also watch the elaborate sweet-making
process during which millimetre-thin strands of multicoloured mixture
are coiled together to make the rainbow-coloured candy.
Galleries
Den Frie Udstilling Oslo Plads 1, Østerbro. Bus #1, #6, #9 or Østerport
S-Tog. Daily mid-Aug to May 10am-5pm. Opened in 1898, this is one of
Copenhagen's oldest galleries and usually displays a smattering of
contemporary Danish art, most of it for sale.
Galleri Nicolai Wallner Building 15, Njalsgade 21, Amager. Bus #12, #13,
#34 or #40. Tues-Fri noon-5pm, Sat & Sun noon-3pm. In an old red
warehouse on Islands Brygge on Amager, this gallery gives promising
younger Danish and international artists an opportunity to display and
sell their work in a congenial atmosphere.
Starving Artistz Elmegade17, Nørrebro. Bus #5 or #16. Mon-Fri
2pm-6.30pm, Sat noon-5pm. Set up on the principle that all artists
should be able to sell their work, and everybody should be able to
afford to buy it, this eclectic and original gallery just off Skt Hans
Torv offers a variable bunch of work, with pieces by established artists
alongside those by students and amateurs.
Markets
Det Blå Pakhus Holmbladsgade 113, Amager. Bus #5 or #37. Sat & Sun
10am-5pm. A year-round weekend fixture, Copenhagen's largest indoor flea
market boasts four-and-a-half-thousand square metres of uninhibited
clutter, featuring objects of every conceivable size, shape, form and
value.
Christiania Christmas market Christiania, Christianshavn. Bus #8. Second
Mon in Dec until Dec 20: Mon-Fri 2-8pm, Sat & Sun noon-8pm. Held at
Christiania's Grå Hal, this is where Copenhagen's more alternative
shoppers fill up their Christmas stockings. You can find some great
stuff here, including many items created in the Free City's workshops -
cast-iron candlesticks, colourful batik clothes and much more.
Frederiksberg Rådhus Gammel Kongevej, Frederiksberg. Bus #1 or #14. Sat
mid-April to mid-Oct 8am-2pm. Popular trading place for locals of all
ages - and thanks to this prosperous neighbourhood's wealthier residents,
you might turn up a few better-than-usual wares, anything from antique
jewellery to train sets.
Israels Plads Israels Plads, Indre By. Bus #5 or #16. Sat May-Sept
8am-2pm. On the children's playground behind the fruit and veg market
just off Frederiksborggade, this Saturday flea market is rumoured to be
the place where Copenhagen's high-street shops get rid of stuff they
can't sell, and is a good spot to hunt out unused clothes and jewellery.
Nørrebro market Along the wall of Assistens Kirkegården, Nørrebro. Bus
#5 or #16. Sat May-Sept 8am-2pm. This is the city flea market that most
resembles a traditional car-boot sale - search patiently and you may
unearth some real bargains.
Museum shops
Arken Ishøj S-Tog, and then bus #128 or a 25-minute walk. Tues-Sun
10am-5pm. Excellent selection of art books, with a large section on
special offer - some real bargains can be had - along with a variety of
designer items ranging from umbrellas to ashtrays, some handmade
specially for the museum.
Botanisk Have Bus #5, #7, #14, #16, #24, #40, #43, #84, #384 or
Nørreport S-Tog. Summer daily 8.30am-6pm; winter daily 8.30am-4pm.
Situated in a small building near the botanic gardens' main gate on
Øster Farimagsgade, with orchids and other exotic cuttings alongside
assorted cacti and a vast array of seeds.
Danish Design Centre H.C. Andersens Boulevard, Indre By. Bus #1, #2, #5,
#8, #10, #16, #28, #29 or Central Station. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun
11am-4pm. The best part of the otherwise disappointing Design Centre and
a good place to acquire some chic but affordable Danish designs of
everyday objects including bags, T-shirts and pens. There's also a good
selection of books and postcards.
Danish Museum of Decorative Art Bus #1, #6, #9, #19, #29 or Østerport S-Tog.
Daily 1pm-4pm. Good selection of excellent books on Danish and
international design, as well as scale models of design classics and
various other desirable ornaments.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Bus #1, #2, #5, #8, #10, #16, #28, #29 or Central
Station. Tues-Sun 10am-4pm. Bag a memento of the magical Ny Carlsberg
Glyptotek here from its shop's collection of postcards, posters and
reproductions of the museum's finest busts and sculptures. There are
also in-depth catalogues of the Glyptotek's massive collection, plus a
plethora of art books.
Louisiana Gamle Strandvej 13, Humlebæk. Local train to Humlebæk every
20min from Central Station, then a seven-minute signposted walk. Daily
10am-5pm, Wed until 10pm. One of the best art bookshops in the
Copenhagen area, and also stocks high-quality reproductions of classic
works - Warhol's Marilyn literally flies off the shelves. Like the
museum, it's always packed, with eager shoppers snapping up Louisiana
bags and T-shirts, but don't come looking for bargains, as it's rather
pricey.
Speciality shops
Bang & Olufsen Østergade 3-5, Indre By. Bus #1, #6, #9, #10 or #29.
Mon-Thurs 9.30am-5pm, Fri 9.30am-7pm, Sat 10am-2pm. On Strøget, just
around the corner from Kongens Nytorv, this is a shrine to Denmark's
famous makers of chic hi-fi.
Christiania Cykler Christiania, Christianshavn. Bus #8. Mon-Fri
10am-5pm. Next door to the Månefiskeren music café and bar, the
Christiania bicycle workshop is the home of the well-known (at least to
bicycle enthusiasts) Pedersen bike, an age-old design created to make
cycling on cobbled streets more comfortable, which is produced and sold
here.
Games Jorcks Passage, Indre By. Bus #5. Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri
10am-7pm, Sat 10am-3pm. All kinds of traditional board games and toys,
ranging from functional pocket chess sets to suave Italian leather
backgammon boards.
Sögreni of Copenhagen Skt Peders Stræde 30, Indre By. Bus #14 or #16.
Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Beautiful handmade
bicycles are produced here; they can also make bikes to your own
specifications.
Zübeil Body Piercing Nansengade 42, Indre By. Bus #5 or #16. Mon-Fri
noon-7pm, Sat noon-4pm. If in a moment of terrible clarity you decide
that a navel- or tongue-piercing is what is needed to make your visit to
Copenhagen complete, then this is the place to get clean, professional
holes made in you.
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