What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Copenhagen?
Emergency number
112
Updated July 2026
Good to know
Good to Know
- You don't need to install anything to get located during an emergency call — modern smartphones automatically send your GPS position to responders via AML the moment you dial 112.
- Save 1813 (the Capital Region medical helpline) in your phone — it's the correct first call for urgent-but-not-life-threatening health issues in Copenhagen, and staff can direct you to the right ER if needed.
- 112 operators speak English, so language is not a barrier in a genuine emergency.
- For non-urgent police matters (e.g. reporting a stolen bike or phone), use 114 rather than tying up the 112 line.
- Nationwide warning sirens (audible and, since 2023, also sent to mobiles) are tested every year on the first Wednesday of May at noon — hearing them at that specific time is routine, not cause for alarm.
- For any emergency in Copenhagen, dial 112 for police, fire, or ambulance — it is a free call which will connect you to the police, fire brigade or hospital.
- For non-life-threatening injuries or sudden illness, you're expected to call the medical helpline 1813 first (staffed by nurses/doctors) before going to any hospital emergency department, as they will not admit you otherwise.
- Rigshospitalet is the country's top-level (Level 1) trauma centre for severe, life-threatening injuries, but it is reached only via ambulance or helicopter dispatch — you cannot walk in there for emergency care; walk-in emergency and urgent care is handled at hospitals like Bispebjerg, Frederiksberg, and Amager.
- As a foreign visitor/nomad without Danish residency, medical treatment is not free — bring ID/insurance details, and be prepared that costs may be billed directly to you.
Emergency Numbers
- Fire Service Note
- Fire and rescue response is locally administered by Copenhagen's municipal fire and rescue service, but is always reached by dialling 112 rather than a separate direct number.
Official Safety Apps
- History
- Denmark previously operated a '112 emergency app' allowing people to share GPS coordinates with responders, but it stopped accepting downloads and was fully shut down on 1 January 2021.
- Other Apps
- Third-party apps branded 'Emergency Services Denmark' exist on app stores, but these are not confirmed as official government-run tools, so travelers should rely on dialling 112 directly rather than seeking out an app.
- Current Status
- No dedicated official 112 smartphone app is currently offered in Denmark for the general public.
- Replacement Technology
- Advanced Mobile Location (AML) has replaced the app. AML automatically transmits a caller's precise GPS location to emergency responders the moment 112 is dialled from a supporting smartphone, without any app or manual action needed.
Police Non Emergency
- Number
- 114
- Description
- Non-emergency Danish police service line for reporting minor crimes that don't need urgent police presence, general enquiries, lost property, or questions about an ongoing case.
- Calling Notes
- If calling from a foreign mobile or from abroad, dial the country code first: +45 114.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Description
- Denmark's single emergency number covering police, fire brigade, and ambulance for all life-threatening situations. All calls are free and answered 24/7.
- Calling Notes
- Works from any phone, including mobile. Foreign mobile phones in Denmark do not need to dial the country code — just 112 works, though +45 112 also connects. English-speaking operators are available alongside Danish.
Medical Helpline Capital Region
- Number
- 1813
- Description
- Out-of-hours medical helpline for the Capital Region of Denmark, which includes Copenhagen. Staffed by nurses and physicians who advise when your own GP is unavailable and, in many cases, you're required to call before going to a hospital emergency department.
- Calling Notes
- English-speaking operators are available around the clock. Add +45 if calling with a foreign mobile service.
Hospitals
Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital) – National Trauma Centre
- Phone
- +45 3545 3545
- Hours
- Trauma centre operates 24/7, but only for patients brought by ambulance or helicopter
- Address
- Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø
- Trauma Level
- Level 1 (ACS-certified) national trauma centre
- Notes
- This is Denmark's designated Level 1 trauma facility, described as an ACS certified level 1 unit staffed and equipped to manage all acute severe trauma and medical conditions in a 2.6 million people catchment area. It does not function as a general walk-in emergency room: ordinary emergency department treatment has been relegated to the other hospitals in Copenhagen, and patients with serious injuries are brought here by ambulance or helicopter, where they can receive appropriate treatment; it is not possible to receive walk-in emergency treatment.
Bispebjerg Hospital
- Phone
- +45 3531 3531
- Hours
- 24-hour emergency ward
- Address
- Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen NV
- Trauma Level
- General acute emergency department (not the designated Level 1 trauma centre)
- Notes
- Listed as one of the hospitals with a 24-hour emergency ward serving central Copenhagen; you must call the national medical helpline 1813 before going, as staff will not admit walk-ins who haven't called first.
Frederiksberg Hospital
- Phone
- +45 3816 3816
- Hours
- Urgent/emergency ward open 07:00–22:00 daily
- Address
- Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg
- Trauma Level
- Urgent care centre (minor injuries only, no trauma centre designation)
- Notes
- One of the region's urgent care centres; these six hospitals have urgent care centers that are open 7 days a week from 07:00 to 22:00, treating minor injuries such as cuts, wounds, minor burns and sprains. Callers must phone the 1813 helpline first.
Amager Hospital
- Phone
- +45 3234 3500
- Hours
- Emergency ward open 07:00–22:00 daily
- Address
- Italiensvej 1, 2300 Copenhagen S
- Trauma Level
- Urgent care centre (minor injuries only, no trauma centre designation)
- Notes
- Serves the Amager/southern city area for non-critical emergency care during daytime/evening hours; call 1813 before attending.
Healthcare
- Coverage
- Universal healthcare funded primarily through taxes; free at point of use for registered residents including GP visits, specialist care (with referral), hospital treatment, emergency care. Exceptions: dentistry (adults), physiotherapy, optical treatment.
Setup Steps
- Register at local Citizen Service (Borgerservice) with proof of residence to obtain CPR number
- Yellow health card will be posted to registered address (ensure name on mailbox)
- Receive card within ~4 weeks; card is valid for use immediately after CPR registration
Emergency Numbers
- Emergency Rooms
- Four Copenhagen hospitals with 24-hour emergency admissions available
- Urgent Emergency
- 112 (ambulance, fire, police—multilingual operators available)
- Non Emergency Health Helpline
- +45 1813
Eligibility And Access
- Health Card
- Yellow sundhedskort (health insurance card) automatically issued within 4 weeks of CPR registration; card is valid immediately after CPR registration with local Citizen Service.
- CPR Requirement
- Required to access public healthcare. Issued to EU/EEA nationals staying over 6 months and non-EU/EEA nationals staying over 3 months.
- EU EEA Non EU Residents
- Expats staying more than 3 months with a valid residence permit gain automatic enrolment in Denmark's public healthcare system upon CPR registration; those staying less than 3 months can use EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or must arrange private insurance.
Pharmacies
- English Support
- Urban Copenhagen pharmacies typically have English-speaking staff; pharmacy staff qualified to advise on medicine use and reimbursement.
- Price Regulation
- Prescription-only and pharmacy-only OTC medicines sold at identical prices across all Danish pharmacies; herbal and supermarket-available OTC products vary by retailer.
- After Hours Access
- On-call pharmacy (vagtapotek) system and designated duty pharmacies operate evenings, weekends, and holidays throughout Copenhagen; find current duty rotation on apoteket.dk or Lægevagten website.
Operating Hours
- Standard
- Monday–Friday 09:00–17:30, Saturday shorter hours, most closed Sundays and public holidays
- 24 7 Option
- One 24-hour pharmacy: Københavns Steno Apotek, Vesterbrogade 6C, 1620 Copenhagen V, +45 33 14 82 66
Over The Counter Fee
- Off Hours Fee
- DKK 21
- Note
- Charged when buying OTC products or prescriptions outside regular hours
Prescription Coverage
- Sliding Scale Copay
- For residents with CPR: pay 100% up to DKK 890, then 50% up to DKK 1,450, then 25% up to DKK 3,130, then 15% for amounts over DKK 3,130 during any 12-month period (children under 18 pay 60% up to DKK 1,450, then same rates apply).
- Deferred Payment Option
- High-cost medicine users can arrange annual co-payment deferred across months through pharmacies
Notable Central Locations
- Københavns Steno Apotek (24/7, Vesterbrogade 6C, 1620 Copenhagen V)
- Central Station Pharmacy (Hovedbanen, Hall entrance, Monday–Friday 08:00–19:00, Saturday 09:00–15:00, Sunday/holidays 10:00–16:00)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.