Denmark / Northern Europe
Copenhagen
Expensive, and worth budgeting for
Best time
May - September
How long
3-4 days
Best for
Design, food, summer city breaks
Perfect for
Design / Food / Couples / Summer
Why go to Copenhagen
Copenhagen is not a monuments city. There is a small mermaid statue people photograph out of obligation and a palace or two, but the reason to come is how the place functions: harbour baths you can swim in, bike lanes wider than car lanes, bakeries that take pastry seriously and a food scene that runs from hot dog stands to the most ambitious restaurants in Europe.
It is expensive, and pretending otherwise ruins trips. Budget for it, eat one very good meal instead of three average ones, and use the free things, which are many.
What to do
Rent a bike for the whole stay
The city is built for it, and it is the cheapest and fastest way to get around.
Swim in the harbour
Islands Brygge and Kalvebod Bolge are free public baths in clean water in the middle of the city.
Eat at a food hall
Reffen or Torvehallerne. Good quality without restaurant prices.
Walk Christianshavn and Christiania
Canals, houseboats and an unusual self governed quarter. Respect the photography rules.
Visit one design museum
Designmuseum Danmark explains most of what you will see in the shops and cafes.
Take the train to Louisiana
A coastal modern art museum 35 minutes north. One of the best in Europe, and worth a full afternoon.
Where to stay
Indre By
Central and walkable to most sights, at the highest prices.
Vesterbro
Former meatpacking district, now the best area for food and bars, and better value.
Norrebro
Diverse, younger and cheaper, with good restaurants and a short bike ride to the centre.
Getting there and around
- Kastrup (CPH) is 15 minutes from the centre by metro, running around the clock.
- Trains connect Sweden and Germany directly, including Malmo in about 35 minutes.
- The airport is compact and easy, which makes short trips practical.
Bike or metro. Both are excellent. Walking works in the centre, but the city is more spread out than it first appears.
What it costs
Budget: Bakeries, food halls, free harbour baths and a bike. Accommodation remains the main expense.
Mid range: Hotel in Vesterbro, a museum or two, one good dinner and casual eating otherwise.
Higher end: Design hotels and tasting menus. This is where Copenhagen genuinely excels.
Related
You might also like
Netherlands
Amsterdam
A compact capital of canals, museums and bicycles. Simple to navigate, good in any season, and best explored on foot.
Austria
Vienna
Imperial architecture, serious coffee houses and public transport that works. Vienna is the easy option, in the best sense.
Czech Republic
Prague
A compact old city that looks like an illustration. Step two streets off the main route and it also gets quiet and affordable.
Thinking about Copenhagen?
Send us your dates and we will tell you whether it is the right call, and what to book first.