Copenhagen Shopping

Copenhagen Shopping information

Best Areas

There is one place to shop in Copenhagen, and that's the Strøget - an impressive 3.2km-long pedestrianised thoroughfare made up of five streets. It is here where the main stores of Copenhagen are located, along with plenty of cafés for the foot-weary. At the top end of the Strøget you'll find the designer stores including Prada, Chanel and Gianni Versace among others. It is towards this end too that the massive edifice of Magasin is to be found, Northern Europe's biggest department store. Towards the harbour lies the Royal District, an area of exclusive antique and furniture shops where only the rich can go with anything other than window shopping in mind. The area makes for extremely pleasant wandering however, as long as your wallet stays firmly in your pocket. More exclusivity can be found off the Strøget in the Grønnegade quarter. Unique and quaint little stores abound, with the emphasis on clothing. Although generally expensive it's worth looking as you might find something unique, and well worth treating yourself to. It's here you'll find the more pleasant locations to take some refreshment, a coffee or something stronger in one of the many street cafés that have squeezed amongst the winding streets.

Markets

The Tivoli Christmas Market is Copenhagen's most famous. For a whole month in the holiday season the gardens are turned into a massive festive market selling all manner of items. Coal braziers keep the shoppers warm as they wander round stalls selling tree ornaments, candle sticks and assorted Christmas knick-knacks.

What to Buy

There's just so much. The shopping in Denmark is all about Scandinavian style and it's not so much that there are specific Danish souvenirs that you must take home with you, as finding yourself in a shopping zone imbued with good taste and clean lines. If you're after something specifically from Copenhagen, you should consider one or more of the following: Royal Copenhagen porcelain, Scandinavian Crystal and handknitted clothing. Sweater Market is a good place to find handknitted Scandinavian style jumpers at knockdown prices and further along the Strøget there is more than one outlet selling both crystal and porcelain. The other thing Denmark is famous for is the silver jewellery of Georg Jensen. The designer inspired a whole style of silvercraft and the shop that bears his name is the most famous silversmiths in the world. Unless you really want to splash out, it might be better to check out the museum display at the rear rather than the cabinets at the front of the store. If you're taking home for the kids it's a good time to stock up on Lego, one of Denmark's most famous exports but still not too cheap, even in its homeland.

Opening Hours

Shops are generally open from 09h30/10h00-17h30/19h00, 09h00-16h00/17h00 Sat. Be aware that it is forbidden to sell alcohol after 20h00.

Tax Refund

A hefty value added tax (MOMS in Denmark) of 25% is added on to the price of all consumer goods and services. When leaving Denmark, non-European Union tourists can apply for a tax refund on goods bought. Most countries offering a tax refund specify a minimum amount that must be spent in a particular shop to claim a refund. In Denmark, the minimum purchase to qualify for a refund is DKK300 spent in one store. To reclaim tax you need to request a VAT refund form, indicating the item, price and amount of tax. On departure from Denmark, take the items and invoice to the customs office to be stamped. Once home, send the stamped invoice to the store where you purchased the items who will then send the tax refund to you. Alternatively, you can purchase goods from shops participating in the Global Refund shopping programme (look out for the Global Refund logo displayed in the window). Simply show your passport when you make a purchase and you will be given a Global Refund cheque showing the refund you are owed. Before you leave the country, you must get customs officials to stamp your cheques. You can then claim your refund immediately from the Global Refund desk at the point of departure or have it sent to you.