Money & Payments in Copenhagen (2026)

Copenhagen is genuinely cashless—you can comfortably spend weeks paying only with cards. Over 90% of retail transactions use cards or mobile payments.
When asked for currency conversion at terminals or ATMs, always decline and choose DKK instead. Your bank's exchange rate is better than the ATM or merchant's rate.
Contactless payments are the norm; card terminals at most venues support tap-to-pay with a 350 DKK limit before PIN is required.
No pressure to tip. Service staff earn living wages and receive benefits (maternity leave, childcare, vacation) built into their salaries—tips are genuinely optional.
If you choose to tip, round up casually or leave small change; large percentages (15–20%) are not expected and may surprise servers.
MobilePay (a Nordic mobile payment app) is very common but not available outside the region. Cards are your safest bet as a visitor.

Key Insight: Service workers in Denmark earn fair wages and do not depend on tips; tipping is seen as appreciation, not obligation
When To Tip: Only for genuinely exceptional service; entirely optional
Cultural Norm: Not expected or customary
Service Charge Included: Yes—service fees are legally required to be included in restaurant, hotel, and taxi bills by Danish law

Casual Meal: DKK 100
Round to nearest convenient amount or small additional percentage if impressed
Restaurant Fine Dining: DKK 200
A few percent added for exceptional evening

Overall Need: Minimal—Copenhagen is highly cashless; cards accepted everywhere including small vendors
Late Night Purchases: Card preferred; Danish law allows businesses to opt out of cash acceptance between 22:00–06:00
Flea Markets Street Vendors: Small vendors may prefer cash but will accept cards

Availability: Extremely widespread in city center, shopping malls, supermarkets, and bank branches
Bank Networks: Danske Bank, Nykredit Bank, and Arbejdernes Landsbank are common and foreigner-friendly
ATM Operator Fees: Vary by bank and ATM; always check on-screen prompt before completing withdrawal
Foreign Bank Fees: Your home bank may charge withdrawal fees—verify before travel
Transaction Limit: DKK 2,000
Dynamic Currency Conversion: Offered at some ATMs; costs extra. Always decline and choose 'DKK' to get your bank's exchange rate instead

Amex Diners: Accepted but less common than Visa/Mastercard
Visa Mastercard: Nearly universally accepted across Copenhagen
Contactless Limit: DKK 350
Foreign Card Fees: Some retailers may charge 0.9–2% fee for non-EU issued cards; required to disclose at point of sale
Notes: Always choose DKK at card terminals rather than currency conversion option to avoid markup. Dankort (Danish debit card) is most common locally. Some venues accept dynamic currency conversion but charge extra fees.

Eligibility: Only residents (staying 3+ months with valid residence permit) can open bank accounts. CPR number is mandatory for all Danish banks.
Banking Hours: Monday–Friday 10:00–16:00 (many branches open until 17:00 on Thursdays); most offer 24/7 online banking
Additional Setup: After opening account, apply for NemID (digital ID for secure online banking) at Citizen Service or via bank. NemKonto (designated account for public sector payments like tax refunds) can be set up through your bank.
Basic Account Types: EU/EEA residents have a right to a basic deposit account (cash deposits/withdrawals, transfers, debit card with balance control) or basic payment account (no credit cards, overdrafts, or loans).
Account Opening Process: First-time accounts typically opened in-branch (some banks allow online pre-registration but require in-person verification). Some banks may accept CPR document instead of yellow health card if waiting for card delivery.

CPR number (issued by Borgerservice after residency registration)
Photo ID (passport or national ID card)
Proof of address (utility bill no older than 3 months, rental contract, or health insurance card)
Proof of employment or university enrollment (if applicable)

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Copenhagen

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.