Easily one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Copenhagen is underrated in several ways, but it’s also so remote that it’s hard to incorporate into most tours of the continent. The copper domes and pastel harbor homes are even more lovely in person than they are in photos. Copenhagen isn’t cheap, however, so planning ahead is important.
Visiting Copenhagen is more about experiencing the Danish culture and history than it is about checking off a list of attractions. It doesn’t take long after arrival that you’ll realize why so many are jealous of the Danish (and Swedish) lifestyle, at least if you visit in summer.
| Population | 680,000 |
| Area | 1,900,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Danish kroner |
| Airports | Copenhagen Airport (CPH) |
Tivoli Gardens is a famous historic theme park right in the center of town and it’s worth a look even if you don’t plan on going on any rides.
The Stroget is one of Europe’s earliest pedestrian streets that connects most of Copenhagen’s best shopping areas.
The Carlsberg Brewery is not far out of town and it’s definitely worth a visit for anyone who enjoys a cold beer.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 28.91 - 70.07 |
| 53.28 - 110.66 |
| 84.53 - 160.00 |
| 122.04 - 187.15 |
| 210.22 - 255.62 |
Carlton Hotel Guldsmeden Doubles from €150/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Copenhagen |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 24.09 - 40.15 |
Sleep in Heaven Beds from €22/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Copenhagen |
Food and drinks are also quite expensive, with a cheap meal in a restaurant nearly impossible to find. Self-catering by going to a supermarket can help keep costs down if that’s important. Beer in Copenhagen is quite expensive as well, and wine and spirits are even worse. Again, self-catering for the early part of the evening can really help.
| Budget breakfast | Hopefully your hotel includes breakfast. If not, sandwiches and other bakery items are a good budget choice. | $5.11 - $8.76 |
| Budget lunch | There are many Beer shawarma shops and pizza places selling budget meals. Danish cuisine might cost double or more. | $7.30 - $13.87 |
| Budget dinner | Sitting down a proper restaurant isn't cheap, though often you can get all-you-can-eat for similar prices. | $12.41 - $18.25 |
| Beer (pint) | Carlsberg is the local lager and even that one is very expensive at any bar due to high tax rates. | $7.01 - $10.22 |
| Beer (.33l bottle, retail) | Bottles of beer in supermarkets are much cheaper than bars. | $0.58 - $0.88 |
The free (tips-based) walking tours of Copenhagen are very worthwhile and will give you a great sense of the entire city center area.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36 | 28 | 1.4 |
| February | 36 | 28 | 0.9 |
| March | 41 | 30 | 1.3 |
| April | 50 | 36 | 1.4 |
| May | 59 | 45 | 1.6 |
| June | 66 | 52 | 1.8 |
| July | 68 | 55 | 2.2 |
| August | 68 | 55 | 2.2 |
| September | 63 | 50 | 2.1 |
| October | 54 | 45 | 1.9 |
| November | 45 | 37 | 2.1 |
| December | 39 | 30 | 1.9 |
Considering its latitude, Copenhagen has a fairly mild climate. Summers are typically warm but almost never so hot that you’ll wish your hotel had a pool. There is little rainfall at any time of year, with July and August actually being the wettest months by just a bit.
Winters do get cold, but the city doesn’t spend weeks below freezing like many of cities that are well off the coast do in Europe. Snow does fall during winter, though it’s usually light and doesn’t last very long.
One thing to consider is the amount of daylight you’ll be getting. During late June it doesn’t really get dark until after midnight and then a couple hours later it starts getting light again, while in December you’ll be moving around in the shadows even around noon, and it’s completely dark long before the work day is over.
| 21 Mar | 6:10am | 6:25pm |
| 21 Jun | 4:25am | 9:58pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:53am | 7:12pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:38am | 3:38pm |
The Copenhagen city center is fairly compact and centered at the main town square, so any hotels within walking distance of that will be expensive and also convenient. You can save money by booking a hotel in one of the suburbs, but keep in mind that public transportation is fairly expensive as well and so it might not be worth it if you need to take long rides in and out of town each day.
There are a few hostels, including four run by the government’s Danhostel program, and they can give your budget a break as long as you don’t expect much fun at the same time.
Hotels in Copenhagen are expensive all year, and especially during the high season, which lasts from mid June through the end of August, plus the period around the Christmas holidays. The low season, or cheapest time of year, is from mid January through March, and during this period you’ll have your pick of hotels and you might find a good deal as well.
July and August can really get crowded in Copenhagen so if you want to come then you should book well in advance. Hostels also get full and there aren’t many of them, so it’s best to commit and pick your place early. During most of the year you can definitely find a room once you arrive, but still you might find the best deals by booking online and looking for a discount rather than going door to door.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| 28.91 - 70.07 |
| 53.28 - 110.66 |
| 84.53 - 160.00 |
| 122.04 - 187.15 |
| 210.22 - 255.62 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 24.09 - 40.15 |
Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is by far the largest in the country and where most visitors will arrive. There is a fast and efficient train system that takes you from the airport to the main train station.
The Copenhagen Train Station is in the heart of the city and there you’ll find fast trains that connect the capital with Hamburg to the south and Malmo and Stockholm to the east and north.
Most of central Copenhagen is perfect for walking and is totally flat, which also makes it extremely popular among cyclists. You can rent a bike for a personal tour of the city, although it tends to be an inefficient way of getting between sights because parking can be more challenging than you’d expect.
Copenhagen has a fast metro system that connects the city center with the suburbs. It’s clean and expensive, and usually not as helpful for tourists as you might guess.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 39.42 - 51.09 |
| Train from airport to city center | 5.26 |
| 3km taxi ride in Copenhagen | 8.03 - 10.66 |
| Metro or bus ride in Copenhagen | 3.50 - 15.77 |