Can you fly a drone in Copenhagen? Everything you need to know

Copenhagen is one of the most beautiful cities in Denmark, in Scandinavia, Europe, and the world. It’s such a unique city, which often leads to the question, “Can you fly a drone in Copenhagen?” It seems like the perfect place to fly a drone! I asked Josh to find the answer.

This Guest Post was written by Josh from A Backpacker’s World.

So, can you fly a drone in Copenhagen?

Yes! You can fly a drone in Copenhagen. The Denmark Civil Aviation Administration permits drone flying in Denmark. This is the news we all wanted to hear! Capturing the pretty streets, buildings, people, and landmarks of Copenhagen from above is an opportunity you should not miss. It truly produces some outstanding footage. Take a look at this for a view:

Getting your drone into Denmark

There are no requirements for licenses, certificates, or anything for bringing a drone into Denmark. You can bring your drone to Copenhagen with no problems or requirements, this is a much simpler process than in other countries, for example, Turkey, which makes bringing a drone in quite difficult. 

Please be aware of your airline’s policies for traveling with lithium batteries. Some airlines have strict regulations for how these should be stored. We recommend reading up on your airline’s rules before flying.

Do you need a license to fly your drone in Copenhagen?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes. You can fly your drone in Denmark without a license in the countryside. However, if you fly in cities or built-up areas, you need a Danish Drone License, called a Dronebevis. This is granted by the CAA and you can find out more by clicking here. The license requires you to pass a drone license course, attended in person and you must pass the theory test too. 

Also, you are under the laws of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency too, as Denmark is part of the European Union. You can find out more about EASA by clicking here. 

Cities vs Countryside

You may wonder what is classed as a rural area and what is a built-up area. The CAA considers a city operation to be within the:

• 150 meters (roughly 500 feet) from a residential area, or
• 150 meters (roughly 500 feet) of busy streets and roads, or
• 5 kilometers (roughly 3 miles) from an airport

This means that you cannot fly a drone in Copenhagen without the correct license to do so, which you can find above. Don’t worry if you do not want to apply for the license, capturing Denmark’s countryside makes for some beautiful drone shots too! The Danish landscapes are beautiful and well worth taking advantage of with a drone. 

Rules for flying a drone in the countryside

Flying a drone in the Danish countryside makes for some breathtaking footage. Scandinavia’s countryside is second to none, and capturing them from a birdseye view is indescribable. Whilst flying a drone in the countryside, you must be aware of the CAA’s rules and follow them closely. Failure to do so can lead to fines and confiscation of drones. The most important rules to follow are: 

• You must keep a direct line of sight to the drone
• You may not fly your drone above 100m (roughly 330 feet)
• Drones must not be flown in a way that endangers property, or wildlife and must not harm animals, wild and farm
• Drones must not be operated closer than 50 meters horizontally (roughly 160 feet) to other people not involved in the drone flight
• You must give way to manned aircraft like planes and helicopters
• You must only fly a drone during the day
• Drones should not be flown so close together that risk collisions

The standard rule of staying far away from airports and military bases applied to Denmark too. It is also recommended to have insurance for your drone. It is a requirement to have insurance for drones weighing over 7kg. 

Rules for flying a drone in Copenhagen

Flying a drone in Copenhagen or any city in Denmark comes with additional rules. Again, following these is compulsory. Breaking the rules can lead to hefty fines and confiscation of drones. Remember also, that you can only fly a drone in Copenhagen if you have been granted the appropriate license by the CAA. The most important rules for flying a drone in built-up areas in Denmark are: 

• Drones cannot be flown over 120m (roughly 400 feet) in built-up areas
• The drone operator must be 18 years old or older
• Local authorities should be made aware of flights more than 24 hours before
• You need special permission for night flights
• The information must be submitted in a corresponding document within 24 hours of the flight
• The drone operator should establish a flight path and follow it with the drone, keeping a direct line of sight when possible

If you follow these rules, you are good to go and can capture some beautiful content. Copenhagen is beautiful from above.

Other good photo opportunities in Copenhagen

Since you cannot fly a drone in Copenhagen without an operating license, you may be interested in standard photography opportunities throughout the city. I have compiled a short list of the three best things to do and see in Copenhagen:

1. The Canals

You simply can’t visit Copenhagen without getting a photo in front of the beautiful canals. The boats make for such a picturesque scene, something straight out of a fairy tale! And how about a typical Copenhagen canal cruise to explore the city even better?

2. Amalienborg Palace

Home to the Danish Royal Family, this building and the surrounding area is nothing short of magnificent! The pictures it creates are stunning, take a look!

3. Rosenborg Castle

This 400-year-old castle is another key spot on most people’s Copenhagen bucket list. Built-in the Renaissance era, the architecture is next level, and again, it makes for some great snaps!

Can you fly a drone in Copenhagen: Wrap-Up

Hopefully, my overview of “Can you fly a drone in Copenhagen?” answered your question and helped you understand Denmark’s drone rules. If you are in Copenhagen and you are unable to get a license, make sure to take lots of photos from the ground! They’ll turn out just as beautifully. So get out there and start capturing some Danish content!

Make sure to save this post for your next Copenhagen trip!