Best places for currency exchange in Copenhagen: A complete travel guide

Denmark's capital is a brilliant mix of colorful harbors, cutting-edge design, and a café culture that runs on card payments — and getting your money sorted before you wander Nyhavn is one of the easiest ways to make the trip smoother.

The good news for US visitors is that Copenhagen is one of the most cashless cities in the world. The catch is the fees: Airport kiosks, train station counters, and even your own card can quietly add markups that chip away at your travel budget.

This guide walks through everything you need to know about currency exchange that Copenhagen visitors rely on — from Danish krone basics to the top physical exchange locations, the card-versus-cash question, and our app-based alternative that lets you hold and spend in kroner without the usual hassle.

Revolut is not a bank, banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Fees may apply. The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa and Prepaid Mastercard are issued by Lead Bank pursuant to licensing by Visa® U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See revolut.com/en-us/ for more details.

18+, Terms and Conditions apply. Exchange fees, fair-usage limits, and weekend fees may apply.

Quick answer: Where to exchange currency in Copenhagen, Denmark?

It's a good idea to withdraw your Danish kroner from a local bank ATM and pay by card wherever possible, rather than using airport exchange bureaus.

For a smooth experience, open a multicurrency account like ours before you travel, exchange USD to DKK in-app at the Revolut rate, and use a virtual or physical card to tap and pay across the city. This lets you skip the airport counters and get competitive rates on your currency exchange.¹

Understanding Danish currency: Danish kroner (DKK) basics

Before you change a single dollar, it helps to know what you're actually spending. Copenhagen uses the Danish krone, and the details matter — especially if you've heard that Denmark is "basically Europe" and might use the euro. It doesn't.

What currency does Denmark use?

Denmark's official currency is the Danish krone, issued by Danmarks Nationalbank, the country's central bank. Denmark is a member of the EU but negotiated an opt-out from the euro, so it's kept the krone as its sole legal tender. Some tourist businesses will let you pay in euros, but they apply their own conversion rate and give change in DKK, which rarely works in your favor.

Some quick facts about DKK:

• Currency name: Danish krone (plural: kroner)
• Currency code: DKK (ISO 4217)
• Symbol: kr.
• Subunit: 1 krone = 100 øre
• Banknotes in circulation: 50, 100, 200, and 500 kroner
• Coins in circulation: 50-øre, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 kroner
• Issued by: Danmarks Nationalbank

What does DKK stand for?

DKK is the ISO 4217 currency code for the Danish krone — "kr." is the everyday symbol you'll see on price tags and receipts across Copenhagen. When you see DKK on a currency converter or on a menu, that's the Danish krone. One krone is divided into 100 øre, though øre coins are now rarely used.

Best locations for physical currency exchange in Copenhagen

If you'd rather handle physical cash in person, Copenhagen has a few reliable options. The 2 most common are the FOREX Bank counters and specialist exchange bureaus near the Central Station. Below is a quick comparison to help you choose where to exchange currency in Copenhagen.

Rates change daily, so it's a good idea to check the current rate on a currency converter before visiting any bureau. You'll also need to bring a passport or government-issued photo ID, as Danish exchange offices require identification for transactions over a certain amount.

Currency exchange at Copenhagen Airport (CPH) kiosks

Copenhagen Airport offers currency exchange services through FOREX and Prosegur Change, with branches before and after security. There are also Euronet-operated ATMs throughout the terminal.

Airport counters and Euronet machines tend to offer less competitive rates than downtown exchange offices or bank ATMs, so it's a good idea to exchange only DKK200–300 at most at the airport and get the rest in the city

A better option at the airport is a Danske Bank or Nordea ATM, which dispense DKK at more competitive rates, with no operator surcharge of their own.

Copenhagen Central Station and downtown exchange offices

The FOREX Bank counter inside Copenhagen Central Station (Hovedbanegården) is one of the most accessible currency exchange spots in the city center, with long opening hours and a wide range of currencies. Just 270 meters away, Tavex offers competitive market rates and is a solid choice for larger amounts.

For a more local option, Dan Exchange on Nørrebrogade handles currency exchange and international money transfers with weekday and Saturday hours.

Cash vs card in Copenhagen: What should you use?

Copenhagen is one of the most cashless cities in the world, and many businesses are card-only and no longer accept physical money at all.

Contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere — restaurants, shops, public transit, taxis, and even many market stalls. You can comfortably spend an entire trip without touching a single krone note. That said, carrying a small amount of cash is still smart for smaller independent vendors or emergencies. It's a good idea to carry around DKK200–500 (roughly $30–75) as a backup.

Actionable ATM tips for Copenhagen

• Use bank ATMs, not private ones: Stick to machines inside or attached to major Danish banks like Danske Bank, Nordea, Jyske Bank, or Sydbank, which offer competitive rates and no operator surcharge.
• Always choose DKK, never USD: If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in US dollars, decline. That's dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and it uses a rate that's typically much less competitive than your card provider's.
• Avoid Euronet machines: The Euronet ATMs clustered around Nyhavn, Strøget, and Tivoli Gardens add operator fees and push DCC — walk to a Danske Bank or Nordea branch instead.
• Use a debit card for withdrawals: Credit card cash withdrawals come with high fees from both your issuer and the ATM operator.

Using US debit and credit cards in Denmark

US-issued Visa and Mastercard cards are widely accepted across Copenhagen, and contactless payments are the norm. The main thing to watch is your card's foreign transaction fee — many US cards charge a 2–3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase made abroad, on top of an exchange rate that's rarely in your favor. A Revolut card handles foreign spending at competitive rates.

For ATM withdrawals, use a debit card rather than a credit card, since credit card cash advances come with high fees and often start accruing interest immediately.

ATM withdrawals and dynamic currency conversion (DCC) for Danish kroner

When you insert a US card into a Danish ATM or present it at a card terminal, the machine may ask whether you'd like to complete the transaction in DKK or USD. The USD option is framed as helpful — "know the exact dollar amount debited" — but it uses a rate that's typically much less competitive than your card provider's. Always opt to pay in the local currency to get your provider's rate.

Delivery fees may apply.

Pay and convert money with Revolut

With a Revolut multicurrency account, you can hold and exchange US dollars to Danish kroner in-app at the Revolut rate, then spend at the checkout with a virtual or physical card.¹

We exchange currency at the competitive Revolut exchange rate, and there are no additional currency exchange fees on weekdays during foreign exchange market hours, as long as you stay within your plan's fair usage limit. You can create a virtual card right away in-app for secure online spending, and your physical card works for payments across Denmark.

You can also withdraw kroner from ATMs across Denmark at competitive exchange rates with no fees from us during market hours and within your plan limits,² so you always have the right cash for tips and local spots that don't take cards.

How to open a Revolut account for Copenhagen currency exchange

If you'd like to skip the exchange offices and manage your foreign currency from your phone, here's how to get set up with Revolut before your trip. The whole process takes a few minutes, and you can hold other currencies and order a card without leaving the house. For more on getting set up, see our guide to getting a Revolut card in the US.

1. Download the Revolut app and sign up for an account. You'll need to be 18 or older and verify your identity with a government-issued ID and your SSN or a supported visa.
2. Add money to your account in USD via bank transfer, debit card, or another supported method.
3. Open a DKK currency space in-app and exchange USD to DKK at the Revolut rate. You'll see the rate and any applicable fees before you confirm.
4. Order a physical card for in-store spending (delivery fees may apply), or get a virtual one to start spending right away.
5. Use your card anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted. When you tap to pay in kroner, we'll first use your DKK balance. If you don't have enough kroner to cover the payment, or you're paying in another currency you don't hold, we'll automatically convert the amount from your USD balance at the Revolut exchange rate, so your transaction goes through without you needing to do anything.
6. You'll see the rate and any applicable fees in-app before the payment settles, and you can track your spending in real-time.

Want to learn more about spending in Europe with Revolut? Check out our guide to currency in Europe.

¹Exchange and global transfer fees, fair usage limits, and Terms and Conditions apply.

²No ATM withdrawal fees within plan limits on a monthly basis. Out-of-network ATM withdrawals are subject to a 2% fee for Standard customers, and a 2% fee for Premium and Metal customers once their plan limits are exceeded. Third-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee. Currency and ATM fair-usage fees apply. Weekend markups on currency exchange will apply. Foreign exchange market hours begin at 6pm ET on Sunday and end at 5pm ET on Friday.

The information provided is accurate as of September 7, 2026. The content of this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut is not a financial advisor.