COPENHAGEN.

Copenhagen is the promised land for anyone in love with the Scandinavian charm. Pristine nature, minimalistic architecture and a charming waterfront … It’s hard not to like Copenhagen, given its elegant demeanour. But it offers much more than just relaxing strolls and beautiful architecture. It is the foodie capital of Denmark, with as many as 15 Michelin-starred restaurants, with the famous Noma among them, and plenty other, no less spectacular eateries and bars. The cultural riches of Copenhagen are no less impressive than the restaurants. Be it the Viking treasures or the iconic Danish chairs, Copenhagen offers a plethora of historical treasures and valuable art, with the famous National Museet being a prime example of what you can expect from Danish museums. Once you get your fill of galleries and displays, hop on a bike and marvel at the beauty of one of the cleanest and greenest urban centres in the world. The pristine nature surrounding Copenhagen is as awe-inspiring as any of the sights that you can admire inside the city.

Copenhagen Money Saving Tips

Money Saving Tips

Best Period to Visit Copenhagen

Best Period to Visit Copenhagen

Accomodation Tips for Copenhagen

Accomodation Tips

Getting Around Copenhagen

Getting Around Copenhagen

Top 10 Things to See and Do in Copenhagen

Top 10 Things to See and Do in Copenhagen

Other Things to See and Do

Other Things to See and Do

Money Saving Tips

Book in advance

When planning your trip to Copenhagen, make sure to book at least a couple of weeks, if not months, earlier. Not only are you sure to be guaranteed a free spot in your accommodation, but you are also bound to save some money not only on the hotel but also on your plane ticket.

Don’t over-pack for short trips

If you’re only going on a short trip to Copenhagen, three days or less, you can easily try to fit your luggage in a small bag that you can take with you onboard a plane. If you do that, you can save quite a bit of money on the hold luggage fee, as many airlines offer exorbitant prices for such a service.

Exchange your money before you go

Unless you have a special offer with your bank with a good money exchange value, make sure to exchange your money to Danish crowns. Not only will that save you the hassle of finding a currency exchange kiosk, but you will also save on all of the commission fees you would pay if you were to use an ATM.

Check multiple shops for discounts

An obvious yet very easy way to save money on your vacation is to search through a couple of different shops for the best prices before you finish the shopping. There is a large number of budget supermarkets in Copenhagen, so make sure to look inside shops like Netto, Aldi, and Lidl.

Ask for generic medication

If you happen to catch a cold or just a headache, make sure to ask for generic medication in a drugstore, as those are generally much cheaper than their more recognisable equivalent. Such pills and medications are just as good and are sure to save you more than a couple of crowns.

Make your own coffee

It is a very popular activity among tourists and locals alike to go for a cup of joe to a coffee shop on the corner. Be wary though, as those coffee shops often overcharge you a lot, as they get plenty of customers anyway. If you are on a budget, make sure to stop by a supermarket and buy your own coffee instead.

Look for secondhand items

If you forgot something on your way, look out for secondhand shops where you can find some cheap electrical accessories or furniture or clothes, just to name a few. Those shops often have online websites where you can search through what they offer, saving you some time as you don’t have to go there yourself.

Save on toys

If you are travelling with kids, make sure to visit one of the many flea markets around the city if you are looking for some toys and souvenirs for your children. Through spring to autumn, you can find many cheap kids' toys and baby stuff, often of great quality and at a much more affordable price.

Buy your own beer

Whenever you want to have a can of beer, stay away from the bars and pubs in the centre of the city. To save even more money, you can buy a six-pack of beers in a local supermarket for a low price and then go sit on a bench in a park or at the waterside, as drinking in public is permissible here.

Visit the museums for free

While many of the museums in Copenhagen are free all the time, some can only be visited for free during a certain period of time. These museums are often free during certain hours of a day, and some are available without admission fee only during a single day of each month, so make sure to check before you go.

Best Period to Visit Copenhagen

Tourism

Copenhagen is popular around the year, however, the prime tourist season is late spring and summer. This is both due to the most popular events taking place at this time, as well as the weather. May through September is when Copenhagen comes to life. Naturally, these crowds subside during winter and fall.

Weather

The “hot months” for Copenhagen are between late May and early September. The weather in Copenhagen is never really extreme, with around 20°C highs. Similarly, winter does not bring any extreme lows, with the temperature dipping to around -2°C in January.

Money

As is the case with most tourist destinations, the prices skyrocket during the prime tourist season – which for Copenhagen falls from May to September. For discounts on accommodation and food in Copenhagen, it is best to visit it around fall and winter, when prices are known to drop a good 30%.

Events

Distortion (May-June)
Red Bull Cope’n’waken (June)
Copenhagen Jazz Festival (July)
Roskilde Festival (June-July)
Strøm (August)
Copenhagen Pride (August)
Copenhagen Fashion Week (August)
Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival (August-September)
Copenhagen Blues Festival (September)
Culture Night (October)
MIX Copenhagen LGBTQ Film Festival (October-November)

Accomodation Tips

Apartments

There are a number of reasons for choosing a serviced apartment over a hotel. Especially those travelling with a lot of friends, or large families, should consider this alternative - the rate, when split, may very well be lower, and the higher degree of privacy shouldn't be neglected.

Budget (1-2 star) hotels

If all you need to enjoy Copenhagen is a roof over your head, then budget hotels are the way to go. They are comfortable enough and serve their purpose, and allow you to save a lot of money - what's there not to like? Nightly rates for budget hotels in Copenhagen start around €10, depending on the location and room equipment, as well as the month of your trip.

Standard (3-4 star) hotels

If you value comfort and would like to enjoy a convenient location close to the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen, then 3- and 4-star hotels are the way to go. Their nightly rates start around €60.

Luxury hotels in Copenhagen

Those who settle for nothing but the best should consider staying in one of the luxury hotels in Copenhagen. These boutique hotels guarantee a satisfying stay through the combination of great location, impeccable service and diverse facilities. Nightly rates for luxury hotels in Copenhagen start around €200.

Getting Around Copenhagen

Bicycle

Copenhagen is famous for its great system of bike routes, making it the world's most bike-friendly city. Almost every street in the city has a cycle lane, and there is a great city-wide rental system with state of the art bikes, equipped with a GPS, electric motor, locks, and sturdy tires. The bikes can be carried for free on S-trains, but take notice of the restrictions which are located on the stations and keep your bike behind a designated line. The metro also allows for carrying bikes, but you will be required to buy an additional ticket.

Boat

While not exactly the most efficient method of transportation, the city has a number of ferries, known as Harbor Buses, with two important routes to remember: 991 and 992. There are ten stops along both routes, including Det Kongelige Bibliotek, the Opera House, and Nyhavn. There is also a third route, 993, which rides between Nyhavn and the Opera House.

Bus

The buses are a good way to travel around Copenhagen if the distance is too big to use a bicycle, which is a rare occasion. You can purchase single tickets onboard the buses, but it is a better deal to use a rechargeable card, available at train and metro stations. Remember to put the card close to the sensor when entering a bus, and do so again when leaving.
The most important bus lines have an A after their number, and these run 24/7 every five minutes during the day and every ten minutes at other times.
The S-buses ride between some lesser known spots of the city and run every ten to twenty minutes between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m.
There are also quite a bit of night buses with an N after their number and these service between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Car and motorcycle

While generally traffic in the city is quite good and there are few traffic jams, Copenhagen is small enough to rely on the public transport and using a bike so you might be better off staying away from using your own vehicle. Not only is it less cost-efficient, but you will also have to consider the parking fee.

Metro

Currently, there are two lines of the metro in the city, M1 and M2, and a third one is scheduled for completion in 2019. The metro trains usually run every three or four minutes during the day, and around every ten minutes during the night. The metro lines connect the Nørreport with Kongens Nytorv, and the second line runs to the airport. The same card used for buses may also be used here to save some money.

Walking

This is probably the best way to get around Copenhagen since it is of quite a compact size. Not only is it free, but will allow you to see some of the hidden sights of the city that you would otherwise have skipped if you used the public transport, and there are not many interesting spots more than twenty minutes from the city centre.

Tickets and Passes

One-hour tickets – these cover the two most popular zones of Copenhagen and allow you unlimited transfers for one hour. These tickets cost 24kr for adults and 12kr for children up to the age of fifteen. If you are with younger kids, you can take up to two children under the age of twelve for free.
Daily ticket – If you plan on visiting the outskirts of the city or just, in general, a lot of travelling, make sure to get the daily ticket which is a far better deal than buying individual one-hour tickets. These tickets cost 130kr for adults and 65kr for kids.
Rejsekort – a smart card which is valid for all zones of the city and all methods of public transport in Denmark. You can get this card at machines at metro and train stations, and the card itself costs 180kr and comes with 100kr in credit. The card then can be recharged if you require more credit than that.
The Copenhagen Card – this one gives you unlimited public transport throughout most of the Copenhagen, as well as free entrances to seventy-nine different attractions and museums. On top of that, the card gives you discounts to some restaurants, hotels, attractions, and more.
City Pass – while this card does not provide free entrances and discounts, it does cover all zones of the city and is considerably cheaper. It also allows you to travel using buses, trains, metro, and harbour buses as well.

Top 10 Things to See and Do in Copenhagen

Grand Day Trip around Copenhagen

If you are interested in learning a thing or two about the Danish history, this tour is just for you. The trip will take you along four important historical sites of Denmark, including the most popular castles and a cathedral. A small group of sixteen people will allow the guide to pay you plenty of personal attention.

Castles Tour from Copenhagen

This day trip will take you through some of the gorgeous castles of the North Zealand region. You will be able to see the town of Elsinore, which was made famous by Shakespeare's Hamlet. Next, you will see the Kronborg Castle, the setting of Hamlet, as well as the Fredensborg Palace which is a home of the royal family.

Copenhagen Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Allowing you to freely discover the city of Copenhagen on your own, this tour provides you with plenty of buses and boats, which you can use at any time to travel from one attraction to another. The ticket is valid for two days, and, moreover, provides you with a free audio commentary regarding the sites.

Copenhagen Food Tour

This tour will provide you with an insight on Copenhagen's traditional and modern food, as it takes half-a-day to teach you the recipes. A guide who is also a chef will show you the delicacies of Danish cuisine, as you taste and prepare your own contemporary and old-fashioned treats, from cheese to smørrebrød.

Copenhagen Small Group Bike Tour

Saving you the trouble of walking on foot, this tour provides you with a free bike to travel the streets with a guide. The guide will take you along such sites as Amalienborg Palace and Kastellet fortress, as you skip the traffic of the city with a small group limited to ten people for the best, personalised experience.

Grand Walking Tour of Copenhagen

With an affordable price and a well-accustomed guide to show you around the highlights of Copenhagen, this tour allows you to see some of the city’s sights in a slow-paced manner. This walking tour allows you to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city as you travel along the narrow streets.

Danish Hygge Culture and Historical Copenhagen Walking Tour

This tour will show you some of the preferred spots by locals, with an in-depth explanation of the word hygge. Free coffee and pastry from a local coffee shop are included with the ticket, as well as a suggestion of places to visit afterwards from the local guide.

Grand Inner City Tour of Copenhagen

Not only will this tour provide you with an interesting commentary given by a professional local guide, but you will also be provided with an air-conditioned minibus to travel through the city. The size of the group is limited to sixteen people or less, allowing you to freely ask questions to the guide.

Copenhagen Small Group Walking Tour

Taking only three hours of your time, this tour will allow you to see some of the most prominent sights of the city of Copenhagen. A local guide with a lot of experience will show you around the city as you visit such monuments and sights as the medieval square of Amagertorv, Christiansborg Palace, and more.

Alternative Tour Copenhagen

This tour will show you some of the lesser known attractions of Copenhagen, which you probably would not find on your own. A guide will give you detailed information on the underground culture of the city as you see for yourself the neighbourhood of Vesterbro, a homeless shelter, and the red-light district.

Other Things to See and Do

Amalienborg

If you have some spare time in your daily schedule, make sure to come to Amalienborg to see the changing of the guard ceremony. Moreover, the square located in front of the Queen's house fills with soldiers from the Danish Royal Guard, who play music, wear funky hats, and march loudly as they change their colleagues.

Frederiks Kirke

Among locals known as the marble church, the Frederiks Kirke was built in 1894 and looks like a miniature version of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Still, the church is quite huge and is the biggest church in all of Scandinavia, famous for its copper-clad dome and a gorgeous tower.

Assistens Cemetery

While the park around the cemetery provides a lush, tranquil spot for an afternoon walk, there is also a second reason to visit Assistens Cemetery. Inside the cemetery, there are a bunch of graves of famous people from Denmark, such as Hans Christian Andersen, best known for his fairy tales.

Nyboder

Located just a bit south from the Østerport train station, there is a bright yellow row of houses in Nyboder district. The district itself was made in the 1600s in order to house the local sailors, and its buildings are lined in a straight row of colourful buildings, which are to this day used by the city's sailors.

Bakken

To visit Dyrehavsbakken you will have to take a twenty-minute train from the centre of the city, but it is definitely worth it. The world's oldest amusement park, of course, requires a ticket to enjoy the old-fashioned rides among its premises, but it still free to wander around, admiring the sights of the retro rollercoasters.

Trinitatis Kirke

Being a gorgeous 17th-century church in itself, the Trinitatis Kirke is also widely known as a place where you can listen to some free classical music. While the church itself presents a marvellous, gilded interior, it also puts on concerts which are free to attend on Fridays and Wednesdays but make sure to check the schedule.

Zulu Sommerbio

If you have a free evening and a night ahead of you, take a walk to the Zulu Sommerbio, located in the Fælledparken. Take some drinks and snacks with you, as you will probably be staying up late watching movies under the stars on a huge screen, usually taking place on six consecutive nights in August.

Royal Danish Theater

While you are surely required to pay a lot for tickets to the most famous performance of the Royal Danish Theater, you can still discover its chambers and hallways for free, admiring their architecture. Moreover, there tend to be some free shows, so make sure to check the online calendar for current info.

Statens Museum for Kunst

Searching for a place to marvel at some of the local art? Take a hike to the Statens Museum for Kunst, one of Denmark’s national galleries. The gallery showcases a grand collection of Nordic art from seven centuries and of numerous styles, but check the museum’s website to find out when it is free to visit.

National Museum of Denmark

With a collection of international artifacts from all over the globe, the National Museum of Denmark sure is a place worth visiting. With a couple of days each month when the admission is free, the museum will show you antique pieces from the Egypt, Greece, as well as remnants of the Vikings of Denmark.

Glyptoteket

This museum has a unique theme and approach to its content, as it showcases the history and intricacies of beer making. The museum contains a huge collection of art and antiquities connected to beer, collected by one of the early directors of the Carlsberg brewery. Make sure to come on Tuesdays when it’s free.

Hirschsprung Museum

Located near the Statens Museum of Kunst, this museum showcases some of the masterpieces of art from the Danish Golden Age. The museum houses a vast collection of Danish art from the 19th and early 20th century, with representatives of Skagen Painters as well as the Modern Breakthrough movement.

Thorvaldsens Museum

Dedicated to a famous Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen, this museum shows exactly why the artist gained international recognition and even made sculptures for the Pope himself. The museum is located near the Christiansborg Palace and is generally free to visit on each Wednesday.

Royal Danish Arsenal Museum

Showcasing the history of Denmark’s military and conflicts across the ages, both old and more recent, the Royal Danish Arsenal Museum hosts a great collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the times of violence in Denmark, along with weapons and recollections of stories from people who lived in such times.

Brede Værk

While nowadays it’s a museum dedicated to the industrial development of Denmark, the Brede Værk was once a textile factory located in the countryside of Denmark. While the museum is worth to visit if you want to learn some history, take notice that you will most likely have to use a train to get there.

Rosenborg Castle Gardens

For a romantic afternoon stroll, stop by the Rosenborg Castle Gardens, located around the four-centuries-old castle. The gardens are always kept neatly clipped and well-maintained, creating a cosy place for a picnic and general sightseeing, and, of course, they are free to visit at any time.

Jægersborg Dyrehave

If you have some spare time and are looking for a workout, make sure to rent a bike and come to the Jægersborg Dyrehave Park, which has more than a thousand hectares and is home to plenty of bike routes. Moreover, there are more than two thousand free-roaming deer around the premises of the park.

Amager Strand

If you happen to visit Copenhagen during the hot summer months, make sure to stop by one of the beaches. The Amager Strand is especially popular among the locals, as it is a frequent place they attend to sunbathe and swim, whenever it is warm enough, or even kiteboard.

Frilandsmuseet

Allowing you to gain an insight on the life of poor farmers and peasants of medieval Denmark, this open-air museum hosts quite a number of historic buildings which are dedicated to the history of the land. While some of the buildings require a fee to enter, there is still quite a few free exhibitions to see.

Fælledparken workout

During the summer months on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a gym chain called Friskis & Svettis organises free outdoor workout sessions in the Fælledparken. Many personal trainers attend the event to show the locals and tourists alike how to keep fit and healthy, all with funky music in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the best hotels for Copenhagen city break?

    Our list of the best hotels in Copenhagen are: Tivoli Hotel Copenhagen, AC Hotel by Marriott Bella Sky Copenhagen, Admiral Hotel Copenhagen, Ascot Hotel and Scandic Copenhagen. Discover the full list of best hotels in Copenhagen.

  • What are the luxury hotels in Copenhagen?

    The finest examples of luxury hotels in Copenhagen include Clarion Hotel Copenhagen, Radisson Collection Royal Hotel Copenhagen, Copenhagen Marriott Hotel, Hotel Skt Petri, , and . Discover the full list of luxury hotels in Copenhagen.

  • What are the cheap hotels in Copenhagen?

    Those trying to visit Copenhagen on a tight budget will find everything they need in hotels such as Good Morning City Copenhagen Star, Ansgar Hotel Copenhagen, Comfort Hotel Vesterbro, Best Western Plus Hotel Copenhagen, Park Inn by Radisson Copenhagen, Copenhagen Mercur Hotel and DGI-byens Hotel. Discover the full list of Cheap hotels in Copenhagen.

  • What is the best period to visit Copenhagen for a city break?

    Taking factors such as weather, crowds and prices, the best months to visit Copenhagen for a city break are February, May, August and November.

  • What are top 5 things to see and do in Copenhagen?

    Copenhagen offers plenty of exciting attractions and things to do. Must-sees in Copenhagen include: Grand Day Trip around Copenhagen, Castles Tour from Copenhagen, Copenhagen Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, Copenhagen Food Tour and Copenhagen Small Group Bike Tour.

  • How much does an Copenhagen city pass cost?

    A city pass in Copenhagen costs around €27.

  • How much does public transport in Copenhagen cost?

    24-hour ticket for public transport in Copenhagen costs around €17.40.

  • What are the best night clubs in Copenhagen?

    The best night clubs in Copenhagen include: Jolene Bar, Culture Box, The Jane, NOHO and ARCH Copenhagen.

  • What are the best bars in Copenhagen?

    Judging on the reviews and customer opinions, the best bars in Copenhagen are: Holmens Kanal, Jazzhouse, Lidkoeb, Mikkeller & Friends and Vinhanen.

  • What are the best places to eat in Copenhagen?

    Your choice of the best restaurants in Copenhagen may vary depending on your taste, however, Juno the Bakery, Geranium, Mikkeller & Friends and Manfreds are some of the most popular choices.

  • What are the top 5 best restaurants in Copenhagen?

    Top 5 restaurants in Copenhagen include: Barr, Bæst, Noma, Restaurant Alouette and AOC.