KEA is situated at Nørrebro, which is very close to the city centre. Nørrebro is one of Copenhagen's most vibrant and creative neighbourhoods.
Living in Copenhagen
When living in Copenhagen you will experience:
- A low crime rate
- A high quality education system
- Publicly funded health care
- High income per citizen
- Low levels of unemployment
- Social equality
- A high quality bicycle infrastructure
Want to know more?
Do you want to know more about studying and living in Denmark? On Study in Denmark and Ny i Danmark you can find information on health insurance, residence permit, working while studying etc.
Transportation
Cycling
The most common means of transport in Copenhagen is a bicycle. We recommend to buy one as soon as possible as public transportation can be very expensive. Remember to also buy a helmet and bike lights. A good lock is also important, since bicycles are unfortunately often stolen if not locked to a fence or similar.
Make sure to practice cycling in Copenhagen in the middle of the day, before starting out. When school starts, thousands and thousands of other cyclists roam the bike lanes at 8 am in the morning and it can get overwhelming. If you don’t know how to ride a bicycle yet, you can sign up for free cycling courses offered by the RED CROSS in Copenhagen or get your new friends to teach you.
Avoid accidents by:
- Stopping at all red lights and indicating that you are stopping by lifting your hand and elbow.
- Always keep to the right.
- Always indicate when you are turning by stretching out your arm in the direction you are turning.
- Never assume that cars and lorries notice you on the bike lane.
There are many places in Nørrebro where you can buy a used bike. Just look into any bike shop on Nørrebrogade to see. You can also buy used bicycles at www.buddhabikes.dk or in www.dba.dk (here, be careful not to buy a stolen bike). Or rent a bicycle from a rental service e.g. Swapfiets.
Public Transportation
The public transportation system in Copenhagen is very good and combines underground Metro, overground S-Trains, and buses – most of which run both day and night. All KEA campuses are located close to public transportation.
You can plan your trips within Copenhagen by using www.rejseplanen.dk (choose English).
For information about ticket types and prices see the regional traffic organisation's website.
Leisure activities
-
Sports
Sparta Running Club
Free long-distance group training every SundayNBRO Running
Running club based on Nørrebro. Very youthful, hip, social and always free of charge. #youllneverrunaloneSports centers around Copenhagen
Fitness, swimming, yoga, skating, ice skating, dancing etc.DoYoga
3 yoga centers in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen K and Vesterbro – cheap monthly membershipAbsalon
Cheap Yoga and Pilates classes in this cultural center with an incredible variety of leisure possibilities (you might want to grab community dinner after your class). Absalon offers activities for all interests from Crosquis, clay classes to yoga, zumba to Bingo-Banko NightsMeetup / Adventure Group
Join this meetup group if you’re interested in adventure sports like hiking, climbing, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking etc. and join Danes as well as internationals on various trips and events.Elstudio
A dance studio offering a great variety of dance classes as Dancehall, Reggaeton, K-Pop, Afrodance among others. You can book one trial for 60 DKK, and sign for monthly membership as wellSwingshoes Dancing / Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop and Swing Dance scene in CPH is growing rapidly, and we think you should join this movement at SwingShoes!Planet Nusa Events
If you're looking to meet other young women, Planet Nusa is the perfect place for you! It's one of the trendiest clothing brands right now in Denmark, and they also have a strong community with free events.Mad & Kaffe
Mad & Kaffe is a chain of cafes situated across various locations in Denmark. They initiated a running club with a focus on mental and physical well-being. -
Music
Pumpehuset Byhaven
Pumpehuset is an outdoor scenary, café and bar offering open air concerts and other music experiences. On their webpage you can find a calendar and link to buy tickets for the events of interest.Bands in town
Keep track of concerts and events in Copenhagen.Roskilde Festival
Like music and festivals? Become part of a team of 30.000 volunteers contributing to this world-famous festival in the name of music. There’s a need for both all-year volunteers and for the festival itself only. And of course you get the entrance for free + other perks.Distortion Festival
Do you want to be a part of an amazing volunteer crew and make a difference, then you should join us at Distortion. It is fun and you get the chance to meet more than 1,000 other fantastic volunteers and experience both the street parties and Distortion Ø behind the scenes.CBS International Choir
Join this international choir at CBS, which is open to anyone. This is a social choir that often goes for a beer after practice. Songs are often from artists like David Bowie, The Beatles and the like.Amager Gospel Choir
This huge gospel choir practices every Tuesday at 19.00 in Købnerkirken in Amager – join them and bring about that happy day ;)Copenhagen Gospel Choir
Yet another gospel choir open to anyone interested – practice every Thursday in Valby!Stengade 30
Stengade 30 is a popular music venue with a looong history. Join as a volunteer and get involved in an exciting live music environement in Nørrebro.Copenhell
Copenhell is Denmark's greatest rock and metal festival, which has drawn metal fans from both within and outside the country's borders to Copenhagen since the beginning of 2010. Every year there's a need for volunteers, who of course get a free entrance. If you want to be a volunteer, check their crew page.Dortheavej 61 - Ungdomshuset
The Youth House is a place with a lot of history, where you can check out concerts and other activities for cheap/free. -
Geeky and creative
FOF
All kinds of weekly evening classes at a low cost (from painting, drawing, sewing and photography to floristry, jewellery and ceramics). See their flyer here.Shooting Copenhagen
Passionate about photography? Here’s your chance to join a photography or editing course!FabLab Nordvest
Fablab Nordvest is a non-profit community workshop run by volunteers, where you can get cheap access to a broad range of tools and digital production machinery.They have CNC-machines, laser cutters, 3D printers, a 6-axis robot arm, vinyl cutter, silk screen printing workshop and much more. Check out their FB Page for info on upcoming workshops.Workshop at KEA Maker Lab
Check out the workshops offered on a continuous basis at KEA Maker LabBastard Café
Bastard Café is a café for board games, card games, coffee and 'hygge' in Copenhagen.SMYKBAR
At SMYKBAR, you can create your own unique jewelry together with your loved ones in Copenhagen. -
Arts
SMK
Working on projects in close collaboration with museum staff – with the common vision: art should feel relevant to young people, and creativity should be part of their everyday lives. Check out SMK Fridays too.Nikolaj Kunsthal
Nikolaj Kunsthal welcomes young people to explore the world of contemporary art. The exhibitions address current issues like social, ethical, technological and aesthetic relationships, providing the basis for meaningful experiences – wonder, thought and fascination.Danish Arts Foundation
Keep track of a bunch of performing arts events and festivals around Copenhagen and DenmarkDanish Design Center (DAC)
Danish Design Center is an International Cultural Attraction located in the heart of Copenhagen. The center has exhibitions in innovative art, design and urban planning including events and guided tours. -
Film fanatics
Cinematheque, DFI
You can watch films, explore the bookshop, or relish an appetizer in the café.Meetup / Cinema Club
Join this meetup group and find friends amongst many other film aficionados! -
Volunteer work
Huset
Become a volunteer at Huset and a part of an amazing international network! Help with a multitude of cool events such as concerts, film screenings, parties, etc.GAME
Become a Playmaker at GAME and help organize events, coach street basket, street soccer, street dance or parkour to kids in less advantaged neighborhoods.KraftWerket
An ideation and project lab / “embassy” for Copenhagen youth. A place to start and get support with new projects, events, and political activities.Red Cross
Keep an eye on job postings in English – they always need extra hands!'Trampoline House
Become a volunteer in the house and help the many refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Denmark get a better start.Studenterhuset
Community kitchen, Bar & Café, Events, Films, Sports, even Repairing BikesESN (Erasmus student network)
ESN members of all the network countries - are working to make exchange better and to create a welcoming atmosphere for foreign students. ESN is both for full-degree and exchange students.Café Cadeau
Community created by sharing and embracing cultures.Mellemrummet café
Become a volunteer in this socially responsible and social hub. Mellemrummet is a café in which you might volunteer in the bar, in the HR department, as event planner, in the PR/comm. team or the like. Contact them and let them know if you’re interested!Stengade 30
Stengade 30 is a popular music venue with a looong history. Join as a volunteer and get involved in an exciting live music environement in Nørrebro.Dotheavej 61 - Ungdomshuset
The Youth house (Ungdomshuset) has different daily activities, from yoga, book café, thaiboxing to vegan community kitchen and concerts. It's mainly run by volunteers, so if you're interested, reach out to them! -
Mixed social activities
Mig og København
Keep yourself updated with the most upcoming activities in Copenhagen using this webpage. The events are usually accessible in Facebook and Instagram as well (MIGOGKBH)Meetup / Language exchange
Join one of these meetup groups and meet Danes as well as internationals interested in language exchange in a social context.Absalon
Absalon is a church turned into a cultural center with a multitude of fun social events, ranging from daily cheap community dinners (50 kr/person), theme parties, bingo, table tennis, backgammon tournaments, and Yoga + Pilates classes, to movie screenings, ceramics classes, linocut classes etc.
Weather and Clothing
The weather in Denmark is very unsteady. It’s often windy and even though it’s raining in the morning, the sun can be shining in the afternoon. In winter, temperatures drop to minus 5 degrees Celsius or so. It rarely gets colder. We do not have much snow either. Bring warm clothes for winter, also gloves, a beanie and a warm, waterproof winter jacket.
In summer, it can get relatively warm, up to 25-30 degrees Celsius on the good days.
Fun facts about Copenhagen
Cycling
36% of all trips are made on bicycle. Copenhagen city council provides high quality bicycle paths separated from other traffic.
36% of all citizens commute to work, school or university by bicycle, resulting in 1.3 million km travelled on bike every day.
Walking
6% of all trips are made on foot. Copenhagen is also known as a ‘walking-friendly’ city.
Don't worry
The Global Peace Index rates Denmark as one of the world’s most peaceful countries and in 2011 Transparency International named Denmark the World’s Least Corrupt Country.
Happy city
Mercer Quality of Living Report has ranked Copenhagen among its "World’s Best Cities to Live In".
Language
Danes speak Danish, but Danes were recently named best non-native English speakers in the world by the European Commission.