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DANISH HABITS

How to fake being a local on the Copenhagen Metro

Copenhagen has a modern and efficient Metro system which has been significantly extended in recent years, meaning you are more likely to spend time on it if living in or visiting the capital.

How to fake being a local on the Copenhagen Metro
Public displays of affection are infrequent sights on the Copenhagen Metro. File photo: Linda Kastrup/Ritzau Scanpix

While the Metro has made it easier to get from one place to another, the etiquette might be different compared to other cities in which you might have regularly used an underground train.

Disclaimer: Obviously, we don’t actually recommend any of the antisocial tips listed below. This article has its tongue firmly in cheek and, for context, was written in consultation with a (Danish) recent Copenhagen resident who is currently in the final stages of pregnancy and has an axe to grind with a few of her fellow Metro passengers.

Don’t wait for other passengers to let you on or off 

You might be used to letting alighting passengers get off the train before stepping on board yourself. In some cities, the PA system on the platform reminds you to do this. Not so in Copenhagen.

Although lines on the platforms mark the areas behind which passengers are supposed to stand and wait before boarding, don’t expect them to care whether everyone else has got off before they step forward. If they block your path, they won’t move just because you need to get past before the doors close.

It’s best to look after number one in this situation, whether you’re in the process of getting on or off the train.

The elevator is for everyone 

If you are young, fit and healthy, have no scruples about nipping on to the elevator in front of pregnant or elderly passengers, people with strollers or those who have difficulty walking.

While signage in the Metro does suggest that the elevator should be given over to these groups, it is far from widely respected.

If you’re in the prime of your youth and don’t want to be seen on something as uncool as an escalator, but the elevator is already occupied, don’t hesitate to squeeze in. The pregnant and elderly folk will move up if you give them a light nudge.

Bring your bike

Bicycles are not permitted on the Metro during its busiest periods, between 7am-9am and 3:30pm-5:30pm. Outside of these windows, though, it’s fair game. Feel free to wheel your bike about with abandon and make sure you don’t look where you’re going.

If you bash into someone, simply pretend nothing happened.

Don’t talk to anyone

Ever.

Get your mobile out. But don’t use it to make calls

In extension of the above point, phones should be used for anything except talking, especially if they can help you avoid real-life human contact.

There’s good mobile reception on most of the Copenhagen Metro, but while you’ll see carriages crammed with people streaming music or checking TikTok, it’s taboo to actually talk on the phone, at least not loudly.

Similarly, if you’ve caught the train with a real-life friend, keep your conversation levels down. If you’re with a date or long-term partner, save the public displays of affection for after you’ve got off.

Stand on the right, charge past on the left

Signs on the escalators will ask you to stå til højre (“stand on the right-hand side”). You might deduce that this also means “walk on the left”, but Copenhageners generally interpret it as “hustle past as quickly as you can and shoulder charge anyone who hasn’t seen you”.

The more polite patrons of the Metro might call out a gentle warning such as flyt dig! (“move!”) about half a nanosecond before they go flying by.

In either case, if you are standing, get as far over to that left-hand side as you can.

Make it easy for others to sit down

Some of the above points make the Metro sound like a bit of an inconsiderate place, but passengers also intuitively recognise the presence of others, and you’d be well advised to do the same.

It’s unusual to sit in the seat closest to the aisle if the window seat is unoccupied, or to put a bag down on a seat once the carriage starts to fill up. Passengers will edge into the window seat to make it easier for others to find a space around them.

No-one will actually dare to question your behaviour if you stick around in an inconvenient spot (remember the fear of talking and confrontation), but you might get a silent stare or two if you break this unwritten courtesy.

The flip side of this is that once the seats are taken, they’re taken. If you’re visibly pregnant and hoping some kind stranger will give up their spot, you could be in for an awkward wait.

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For members

FAMILY

Ten great (and free) playgrounds to take your kids in Copenhagen

With more than 140 different playgrounds in Copenhagen, families are spoilt for choice when it comes to free play areas for their children. Here are ten of our favourite options.

Ten great (and free) playgrounds to take your kids in Copenhagen

Nørrebroparken 

One of the unique elements of playgrounds in Copenhagen is that some of them are staffed. This means they have a little indoor area full of activities, led by adults, as is the case at Nørrberoparken. There are tricycles and games for the children to use, areas to grow vegetables and special events held throughout the year.

The playground is easily identified by the big aeroplane in the middle, designed for children to climb on. There’s also a sandpit, slide, swings and large ship to explore.

During the summer, Nørrebroparken is one of the places in the city that have a soppebassin. This is an area filled with water, so that a giant paddling pool is created for children to enjoy. 

Add in the fact the playground is on the trendy Stefansgade with plenty of options to grab good food and coffee, it’s a win-win choice for parents and children.

 
 
 
 
 
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Remiseparken, Sundby

This park includes a farm where children can feed the animals including chickens, rabbits, ponies, pigs and a paddock with lots of goats. Free activities are also run by the staff at the playground such as building insect houses and making birds’ nests. 

The playground opposite includes a large castle with a dragon slide, play houses, bonfire area, ball field, table tennis and much more.

Another highlight is the Thomas Dambo creation of the pacifier troll called Sanka. Similar to the pacifier tree (suttetræ), toddlers can take their pacifiers here when they are ready to stop using them. Thomas Dambo is a Danish artist who creates sculptures from recycled materials, including the Six Forgotten Giants.

 
 
 
 
 
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De Skæve Huse, Østerbro

Hidden away in the district of Østerbro is this creative playground designed by architect group Monstrum.

The Brumleby playground consists of three houses, a baker’s shop, and an ice-cream booth. Described as the ‘dizzy playground’, it is full of quirky fixtures to turn the world upside down and let children’s imaginations run free.

 
 
 
 
 
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Trafiklegepladsen, Østerbro

The Traffic Playground in Fælledparken, Østerbro is where many little Danes learn to ride a bike.

There are traffic lights, road signs, road markers, bike paths and pavements for children to practice their cycling skills. On weekdays you can hire bikes but at the weekend you need to bring your own.

There’s even staff on hand if you want your child to have a cycling lesson, or you need some advice about bikes.

Next to the Traffic Playground is a play area with swings, slide and sandpit. There are toilets, benches and plenty of trees providing shade. Afterwards, you can explore the rest of Fælledparken, Copenhagen’s largest park, where there are a further two playgrounds, flower gardens, lake and plenty of space to run and cycle.

 
 
 
 
 
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Enghaveparken, Vesterbro

Dating back to 1929, this park was designed to be a green space of calm in the middle of a busy Copenhagen. The well known Danish architect Arne Jacobsen was involved in its design, which has undergone a recent renovation in 2019. Part of the renovation includes a closed underground reservoir, where the equivalent of 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water can be retained. 

This playground is staffed at week days so children can freely borrow toys, balls, play cars and bikes. There’s a small ball court, a large spider web to climb, trampolines and a tunnel tube. There is also a fire pit and small bike lanes that wind around the playground.

There are also ongoing theatre shows and musical performances in the playground which can be found through the playground Facebook group.

Naturlegepladsen in Valbyparken

This is Denmark’s largest natural playground at 25,000 m2. The area is used by schools and parents alike and is staffed, with plenty of opportunities to learn and explore through nature.

The circular walkway connects the playground’s hilled landscape, with five towers representing the themes of light, wind, birds, change and green. Around the playground there are green paths, climbing trees and caves to explore. There’s a sandpit, tennis courts, beach volleyball court, hockey and table tennis, and it is possible to borrow tricycles, balls and other equipment from the playground staff, who also hold various activities. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Konditaget Lüders

It’s not where you’d naturally look for a playground but this one is worth climbing to the top of a multi-storey car park for. 

24-metres high lies a recreational space with trampolines, a climbing spiral, swings and an area of adults to exercise. With views across the city and harbour, this is a unique playground to experience.

The area of Nordhavn has undergone a huge transformation over recent years, from an industrial port area to an independent neighbourhood with a Metro line, new Scandinavian architecture, modern apartments and amenities.

 
 
 
 
 
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Christianshavns Vold, Christianshavn

A visit to this playground can be combined with a scenic walk around this historic area, where you can enjoy views of the Church of Our Saviour. The vold is a former rampart which was part of the old fortification that surrounded Copenhagen.

The staffed playground has plenty for all ages: Swings, a playhouse, slide and sand pit for younger children and a zip wire and climbing frame for older children, where there is a nice view of the rampart.

There are fields to play football, badminton, hockey, basketball, table tennis and you can borrow balls, bats, rackets, hockey sticks and bikes when staff are on site. 

The playground also has a focus on nature and biodiversity, so there are on-going staff-led activities around this topic.

Toddling around Christianshavns Vold. Photo: Michael Barrett

Skydebanehaven, Vesterbro

Also called the Parrot playground, this is a little green gem in the middle of urban Vesterbro. It’s been on of Vesterbro’s most popular playgrounds since it opened in 1946.

The playground is staffed so there are often creative and fun activities inside and outside. Every Friday for example they hold football training. There are also bikes and tricycles that can be used. Inside there is table tennis toys, games and books.

There’s also a large sandpit, nature corner, playhouses, climbing net, see-saws, zip wire, swings and an area for ball games. In the summer they have a paddling area (soppebassin).

 
 
 
 
 
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Guldberg School Playground, Nørrebro

This playground on Prinsesse Charlottes Gade in Nørrebro is actually part of Guldberg School. But as is the case in Denmark, it is free for the public to use outside of school hours and is a good example of being able to find playgrounds around almost every corner in Copenhagen.

Here children can enjoy the huge slide and trampolines while parents hang out on benches in the square in front of Simeons Church and also take in the view of Assistens Kirkegård, the cemetery where famous Danes like Hans Christian Andersen, are buried. 

 
 
 
 
 
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