As if being home to some of the happiest people on Earth wasn’t enough, Copenhagen only had to go and make itself one of the most interesting and coolest cities in the world as well. This city is a foodie’s stomping grounds, a cyclist’s dream, an explorer’s playground, and the perfect choice for a European getaway. There’s simply so much to do in this beautiful, world-class city.
While you’re there, you can’t miss the infamous hippie commune of Christiania: a society within a society with its own governing entity outside of Denmark’s regulations. Although residents of this community are protective of their space, they allow visitors to stroll the paths linking cute coffee shops, street art murals, and lines of outdoor vendors.
Canals are a huge part of Copenhagen’s draw, too. Whenever you’re walking beside one, you’ll likely have a smile on your face and a camera in your hand. Don’t put it down! You’ll need it when you scope out the Christiansborg Palace and Rosenborg Castle. Both are so beautiful and well-worth visiting. And of course there’s the famous Little Mermaid statue: it’s iconic, even if it was a lot smaller than I expected!
When it comes time to play like a kid, pencil in some time to visit an amusement park. Tivoli Gardens is one of the biggest attractions in the country while Bakken is the oldest operating theme park in the world. It started in 1583!
And don’t forget that Denmark is the birthplace of hygge, the concept of cosiness and contentment that’s become extremely popular around the world in recent years. One of my favourite activities in Copenhagen was cafe-hopping in the rain, sitting in warm windows with candles on the table, drinking tea, and making full-use of the blankets on offer!
Unsurprisingly, given that Denmark is in Scandinavia, Copenhagen falls on the pricier side when it comes to visiting, but luckily, there are a wide variety of options that fit all budgets even with the post-pandemic travel boom.
If you’re on a tighter budget, you can opt for exploring the city on two wheels and by foot, and hostel-like accommodation is pretty affordable (and high quality). Most likely, your biggest expense will be eating out, but when the food is so spectacular, it’s definitely worth a splurge.
Today, I’m going to be sharing exactly how much you can expect to spend on a trip to Copenhagen. I’ve listed all prices in Danish krone (DKK) and US dollars. Let’s jump in.
How to Save Money on the Cost of Accommodation in Copenhagen
As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.
Couchsurfing exists in Denmark — and, of course, Copenhagen — and allows you to stay with a local for free, sleeping on their sofa and enjoying a local’s insight into life in their country. It’s not the most comfortable of living situations, but if your budget is tight, it’s worth sending out a few requests to hosts to see if anything comes of it. You can search for potential hosts on the Couchsurfing site.
Housesitting is another option. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and usually look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees: you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you do have that freedom, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Trusted Housesitters is one of the best sites for getting started with housesitting.
I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available.
The Cost of Accommodation in Copenhagen
CityHub Copenhagen – $82/563 DKK a night for a double room
Looking for a great budget option but still value things like cleanliness and privacy? CityHub is where you’ll find it. I’ve stayed in a few capsule hotels over the years, and this is by far the best I’ve come across, especially because it has private twin, double, or four-person bunk rooms, not just individual capsules.
Even though the double rooms are only 6m², the clever design makes them feel much bigger. There’s room for your luggage and to hang up clothes, individual climate control, USB charging ports, and even a Bluetooth speaker to play your own music, all in an immaculately clean space that’s very well soundproofed.
CityHub is in a great central location in Vesterbro, walkable to many attractions and a short metro ride to the rest. There’s a shared kitchen and living area, plenty of bathrooms, and even a self-service bar and sauna onsite! Much nicer than most hostels I’ve stayed at but at a similar price, it’s the ideal place for travellers on a budget.
Zoku Copenhagen – $171/1174 DKK a night for a double room
If you’re on a mid-range budget but still want to stay in a place with all the amenities and in a good location, I’d recommend Zoku Copenhagen. Each stylish loft-style room has a double bed (there are a few four-person versions as well), with its own kitchen, bathroom, and plenty of storage space. If you need things like more soap or an extra pillow or towel, there’s a “pantry” on each floor where you can just help yourself: why don’t more hotels have this?!
Zoku is a particularly good place to stay if you need to get a bit of work done while you’re in town: the whole place is designed with that option in mind. The Wi-Fi is super-fast, each room has a four-person table and chairs inside, and there are co-working, social, and event spaces on the top floor as well.
The nearby metro station is only three stops from the central city, and the huge Amarmino nature reserve is less than a five minute walk away. It’s a wonderful spot to wander when the sun is out: if you’re planning to walk into the city, I’d highly recommend taking the scenic route!
Charlottehaven – $344/2362 DKK a night for a studio apartment
If you want a high-end experience and plenty of space, this gorgeous aparthotel is where you’ll find it. For a similar price to a high-end hotel, you get everything from a kitchen and washer/dryer to a private balcony and sunny daybed, plus all the onsite amenities you’d expect like a fitness centre (complete with squash courts and exercise classes) and a cafe.
Danish design is rightly famous the world over, and Charlottehaven is a prime example: the rooms are simply beautiful, and feel super-cozy no matter the weather outside. Speaking of the weather, you’ll always know what it’s doing: the rooms have huge floor-to-ceiling windows, and the upper floors have incredible views out over the harbour and downtown Copenhagen.
Located in stylish Østerbro, a quiet and family-friendly part of the city, there are loads of great cafes and restaurants nearby. When it’s time to go further afield, you’re only a two-minute walk from Nordhavn Station, a ten-minute walk to Svanemølle Beach, and a ten-minute bike ride from the central city. Bikes can be rented from reception as well, so that’s a super-convenient way of getting around.
The Cost of Transportation in Copenhagen
Spend two minutes outside in Copenhagen and you can’t help but notice how many people are riding past on bicycles. All I can say is: feel free to join them! This is one of the most cycling-friendly cities in the world: there are over 450km of bike paths that go anywhere you’d want to be, and more bikes on the streets than cars.
Getting hold of a bike during your stay is very easy. Many accommodation owners offer them for free or to rent at a reasonable rate, but if yours doesn’t, just keep an eye out for ride-sharing bikes with the Donkey Republic logo. Chances are you won’t have to look very hard: the bikes seemed to be everywhere on my last visit!
To use them, just download the app, which lets you find and pay for your bike, lock and unlock it, and end your ride once you’re at one of the (many) drop off locations around the city. The longer you ride, the cheaper it is: a one-hour rental costs $6/39 DKK, while four hours costs $13.50/90 DKK. Day rates are available as well, starting at $16/110 DKK. E-bikes cost more: an hour on one of those will set you back $11/75 DKK.
If you’d prefer not to travel under your own steam, public transport is a breeze. It’s an integrated system across buses, trains, “harbour buses” (ferries), and metros, operating on a zone-based system. A single trip costs 22.25 DKK for the smallest two-zone ticket. Day passes are also available: they start at $13.50/90 DKK for a 24-hour pass that covers the inner parts of the city and the airport, which is ideal for most visitors. You can buy tickets in the DOT app, or from machines at train and metro stations.
The Copenhagen Card gives unlimited use of the transportation system along with various discounts and free entry into many city attractions. Tickets cost $70/480 DKK for 24 hours and $102/700 DKK for 48 hours, so make sure you’ll get enough use out of them. They usually work out cheaper if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing at paid attractions, but may not otherwise.
Taxis are plentiful but pricey! You can expect to pay around $45-60/300-400 DKK from the airport to the city center, while a single ticket for the same route on the train only costs $4/26.50 DKK and takes just 20 minutes. The train would always be my choice unless I had a lot of luggage: it was clean, comfortable, and departed right on time when I took it!
The Cost of Food in Copenhagen
Traditional Danish food is built on pork, cabbage, root vegetables, and beets, but although the Danes have kept many original Nordic staples, the cuisine has definitely evolved over time! These days, Copenhagen is a world-class dining destination, and your taste buds are in for a treat.
Breakfast typically consists of a Danish pastry, grød (milk with oats), or a soft-boiled egg with rye bread and butter. Fun fact: what the rest of the world knows as a Danish pastry is called wienerbrød in Denmark, which means Viennese bread! That’s where the pastry originated from, although the Danes have since made the recipe their own.
Expect to pay around $6/40 DKK for a pastry in a cafe, around $7.50/50 DKK for a simple version of grød, and the same for a morgenkomplet, which is a soft-boiled egg on rye bread, often with yoghurt. A good latte will set you back about $5/35 DKK.
Speaking of grød, while the word itself simply means porridge in Danish, it comes in many more forms than just the standard breakfast dish you might be used to. Curries, risottos, Asian-style congee: they’re all grød! As a result, don’t be surprised to see it on the menu for lunch or dinner as well: you’ll pay around $12.50-$15/80-100 DKK for these more substantial versions.
Smørrebrød is extremely popular, and while this open-faced sandwich concept has spread to many other countries, it’s the Danes that invented and perfected it. Honestly, I’d be amazed if you managed to leave Copenhagen without trying at least one. A slice of thin but dense rye bread is topped with fish or meat and veggies, and sprinkled with a sauce of some kind. While herring is the traditional topping, there’s a near-endless variety of options these days. You’ll find smørrebrød almost anywhere, from fancy gourmet versions at a high-end restaurant that could cost as much as $29/200 DKK to quick and easy sandwiches from a street vendor that go for more like $6/40 DKK.
Speaking of street food, there’s been a real surge in street food markets in the capital in the last few years, making delicious cheap eats more widely available. Locals love them, and you will too: look out for local dishes like frikadeller (meatballs), rød pølse (red sausage), and Æbleskiver (a deep-fried dough ball stuffed with apple), alongside a dizzying array of other quick eats from around the world. You’ll typically pay $5-7/35-50 DKK for these sorts of dishes, making this a very affordable way to eat.
Dinner is likely to be your most expensive meal, although you can try to keep costs down by seeking out restaurant specials on larger lunch dishes and then having something smaller later in the day. In general, though, expect to pay around $30-40/205-275 DKK for dinner at a good mid-range restaurant, and more (often substantially more) once you hit the high-end places.
Alcohol is expensive in Denmark, especially at bars and in restaurants. If you’re trying to save money, opt for water or soft drinks with your meal, and pick up your booze from the supermarket to enjoy at home instead.
At a bar, you’ll typically pay $8-10/55-70 DKK for a pint of local beer, and often a bit more for craft or imported versions. A glass of wine will set you back about $12/80 DKK, while cocktails can get very spendy: it’s not unusual for them to cost $20/135 DKK or more, especially at high-end bars. By contrast, a 500ml can of domestic beer costs about $2/14 DKK at the supermarket, while a bottle (not a glass!) of decent wine is around $10/70 DKK.
In fact, if you are looking to save money during your trip, plan to spend more time in a grocery store than a restaurant. Netto and Lidl are the best budget-friendly options to load up on food for a few days. As an example, here’s what you can expect to pay for basic staples:
- Loaf of bread: $1/7.50 DKK
- Dozen eggs: $3/19 DKK
- Kilogram of tomatoes: $2.20/15 DKK
- Litre of milk: $1.20/8.20 DKK
- Kilogram of potatoes: $0.80/5.60 DKK
- Kilogram of chicken thighs: $7/49 DKK
The takeaway from all this? Have the free breakfast at a hotel (if they offer it!), opt for larger meals at lunch and smaller ones at dinner time, and buy basic items and alcohol from the supermarket instead of eating and drinking out for every meal, and you’ll save a bunch of money on food and drink!
The Cost of Activities in Copenhagen
The capital of Denmark is anything but a sleepy town. In fact, the streets and bike paths are full of people milling about at any given hour, especially during the long summer days where the sun doesn’t set until 10pm. There’s so much to see and do in this city that you’ll be glad of all that extra daylight!
To some, Tivoli Gardens is more of a magnet than the city itself. The famous theme park is full of rides such as loop-de-loop roller coasters, carousels and countless other dizzying rides. A single-day admission starts at $21/140 DKK, which probably sounds quite cheap until you realise that doesn’t include any of the rides! A combo entrance and unlimited ride pass starts at $61/419 DKK. Both of those ticket options cost more at weekends and during the summer months.
The Little Mermaid statue, adjacent to Langelinie Promenade, is easily the most famous landmark in the city. Inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, Edvard Eriksen sculpted the piece in 1913 to honor the Danish author. The statue itself is quite small and honestly unimpressive, but the story behind it makes it worth a quick visit.
Exploring Copenhagen doesn’t have to be expensive. On one of the days I was in town, for instance, I rented a bike from my hotel for the day and then cycled through through Christiania, visited the Little Mermaid statue and explored Nahavn New Harbour, all in about four hours. That also gave me plenty of time grab a coffee and lunch along the way and everywhere I visited was free to enter!
When you tire of all the sightseeing, head to Strøget and browse at one of the largest pedestrian shopping malls in the world. It’s a busy place, with plenty of high-end shops. If you’re looking for fewer big brands and smaller crowds, head towards the Old City and turn down random small alleways: this is where you’ll find local boutiques, not to mention some of the cheaper bars and restaurants in the city. I found the best-kept secrets in Copenhagen were found down these side streets. Make sure to explore!
If you don’t feel like exploring by yourself, there are several tour operators happy to help you make the most of your time in the city. These are a few of the better options to choose from:
- 3-hour city highlights bike tour– $50/340 DKK
- Best of Copenhagen photo tour– $120/825 DKK
- 3-hour culinary bike tour- $99/680 DKK
- Canal tour from Nyhavn– $21/145 DKK
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill to pay at the end of it.
In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.
Travel insurance will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.
I use SafetyWing as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Denmark. Firstly, they’re one of the few companies out there who will actually cover you if you contract COVID-19. On top of that, they provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. If you’re on a long-term trip, you can pay monthly instead of up-front, and can cancel at any time. Finally, they’re more affordable than the competition, and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.
With SafetyWing, you’ll pay $1.50 a day for travel insurance.
How Much Does It Cost to Travel in Copenhagen?
Wrapping it all up, these are the costs from my last trip to Copenhagen, traveling on a mid-range budget with my partner in shoulder season:
Accommodation: $171/1132 DKK per day between two ($85.50/566 DKK each)
Transportation: $21/145 DKK per day
Food: $52/357 DKK per day
Activities: $37/254 DKK per day
Total amount spent per person per day: $195.50/1342 DKK
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🇩🇰 The Absolute Best Things to do in Copenhagen, Denmark
After such a disheartening time, I’m glad you could see the beauty in everything that was still around you. It’s nice to know that when our travels throw crazy obstacles in our way that we, as humans, have the ability to adjust and enjoy what we are presented with. I can’t wait to make my own trip to Copenhagen and try out the cafe that you stopped in. Thank you for your post. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
This is great advice. I was recently in Yangshuo, China – a place famous for huge limestone-karst hills that are just stunning. Unfortunately I had a couple of days with torrential rainfall and mist that totally obscured the views. I was initially annoyed because it meant my photos ended up sucking. But there was nothing that could be done. All you can do in that situation is enjoy the place for what it is at the time, warts and all – i joked that i was visiting the place when it was hungover and hadn’t had its morning coffee…
Oh man, that’s such a bummer! I’ve always dreamed of visiting Yangshuo, as it looks spectacular, so I can totally understand the disappointment. But it’s true — if you can’t change the situation you’re in, you just have to accept it and make the most of it.
In my opinion, you visited Copenhagen very well. It’s not much of a tourist city so is better experienced in the way that you did – by slowing down and soaking up the atmosphere. Hopefully you will return and experience better weather.
Thanks so much, Danish Dude! :-) I’m hoping to base myself in Copenhagen for a month next year, as two days in the city was just enough to convince me that it would be a wonderful place to live for a little while. I can’t wait to return!
I am so glad you still made the best of your visit even though it seemed like you hit Denmark during the wettest days of the year (so far). As I wrote on fb, next time come to Aarhus ;)
By the way the correct use of the word hygge in this sentence “This café was so hygge” would be ” This café was so hyggelig”, because it is describing the cafe. Well in Danish anyway ;)
Ha! Thank you :-)
I actually laughed out loud at your comments about seeing the Little Mermaid because it mirrors my own sentiments hahaha! I still haven’t seen it yet, but I can’t wait to be underwhelmed! I think your photos of the colorful waterfront are lovely, despite the rain. But you could probably plop a big turd into the photo and spread it across the buildings, and I’d still exclaim “Oh, how charmingly beautiful” because I’ve always wanted to visit Copenhagen. I’m sure my longing and dreaming has distorted my views of reality. For me, the city still sits atop a pedestal of far-to-reach places to which I still haven’t been. Hahaha hopefully someday!! <3
Sorry to hear your Copenhagen trip was ruined by rain, but it sounds like you made the best of the bad weather and really enjoyed the hygge.
Yep, sometimes you just have to put aside your plans and do something completely different in order to rescue a trip :-)
My boyfriend is Danish, and grew up in Copenhagen, so I spend a fair amount of time in the city. I’ve yet to visit when it’s sunny! (Winter months are actually less rainy than summer, generally).
Rule #1 – always take an umbrella – AND a light rain jacket. If you do get caught in the rain, H&M is your best bet (there’s one on Strøget (main shopping street) where the prices are reasonable for Denmark.
Cheap food – kanelsnegle/other yummy Danish baked goods, and pølse stands are your best bet. Even Danes don’t eat out much thanks to the astronomical prices. There are also 7/11s everywhere if you’re in a pinch.
In my opinion, the only way to do Copenhagen is at a leisurely pace. It’s not a city teeming with sites, so taking it easy, enjoying the cafe culture and strolling around with friends is the way to go. I don’t think you did Denmark wrong at all.
Hopefully you’ll enjoy the city more next time you visit. If you do go again, let me know and I’d be very happy to give you some local tips :)
G
I love your photos of Copenhagen, even the ones in the rain. And with everything being so hygge, it sounds so appealing to eat warm food and be cozy. That’s what rain and cool weather make me want anyway – to curl up, eat soup, and read a good book.
Thank you for the compliment on my photos! :-) I ended up having such a lovely, cosy time in the city.
We’ve had horrible weather this summer! Last year at this time we had sunny weather and 20 degrees… you never really know about Denmark.
I live in Copenhagen and if I am to give you some advice for your next visit then go to Kastellet for a nice walk instead of the Little Mermaid (its next to each other), if you are looking for cheap places to eat and drink head to Nørrebro – grab a durum and a cold beer from the kiosk (that is the true Copenhagen way). If you visit in the summer, please head to Bakken, which is an old amusement park in the woods of Dyrehaven, it is something really special and from there you can go for a stroll in the forrest along with cute Bambis.
Good luck in the US! May you have some great weather!
Thank you so much for the recommendations, Cecilie! :-) Dave and I were discussing maybe living in Copenhagen for a month next year, as it felt like such a wonderful place to visit for people who work online. Will note down your suggestions for our return!
All of your travels sound miserable. Going in and out of places so fast is short changing yourself. You cannot possibly experience anything other than telling your readers that you were there and adding them to your list of countries visited. For example, I read your French Polynesia posts and there is no way possible to experience those islands in the tiny timeframe you travel in. I cannot believe you do not recognize this after so many years of travel under your belt. My advice to you is slow down and if they means visiting less places, then you and your readers will be better served.
Dude, this was a layover. I was taking advantage of a cheap flight. And for what it’s worth, I actually wrote a post about why I hate fast travel here: https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/why-i-dont-want-to-visit-100-countries-before-im-30/ and how I’ve drastically slowed things down this year — it just so happened on this trip that I literally didn’t have more than two days to spare for my time in Copenhagen. I had to get there for my flight, but couldn’t leave Portugal (where, by the way, I’ve spent over five freaking months this year) before my boyfriend’s birthday.
I run regular reader surveys on my site to check that my travels and writing are in line with what everyone wants, and have yet to have a single person complain about the pace of my travels. Well, apart from you :-) But either way, my travels are wonderful, fun, and fulfilling at the moment, and I couldn’t be happier with the way I live my life, so there’s no need to worry about me — I’m about as far away from miserable as you can get.
Hi Lauren, what a shame the weather spoiled your trip to Copenhagen! I had a similar experience 3 years ago. I too visited the mermaid under the pouring rain but oh was it lovely to find refuge in those cosy cafes! I am always in search of hygge too, especially on dull rainy days like those. I loved the cafes in Copenhagen and went to plenty of them to escape the rain. I also explored Christiania and went to the Tivoli Gardens. It was Halloween time and the Gardens were spectacular. All in all I loved Copenhagen and when I left I decided I would return one day. So I would really recommend you return too, of course at a sunnier time of the year!
I know exactly how you feel about the weather being able to make you feel negatively about a city you thought you’d love! I spent only one day in Ljubljana this summer, expecting to completely love it because I had read so much good about it. But then it poured so bad that I didn’t have such a great day. Still I’m hoping to return on a nicer day. I think your pictures with grey skies still look good and it must have been a good decision to go in search for some hygge on your second day!
Yes, you should definitely try to return in better weather! Ljubljana is one of my favourite cities :-)
Such a great post. I live in Copenhagen and is so tired of the weather. I always complained about it until I visited Scotland. Haha.
Anyway, thanks for the recommendations on the Pho place. Will definitely try. It’s fun though, I looked up the prices and thought to myself, well that’s not too expensive. Gives you an idea of how normal it is for us to pay way to much for eating outing – and not thinking about it.
Next time, try smørrebrød! It’s inexpensive (most places) and is so delicious.
Oh man, I visited Edinburgh for the first time earlier this year and it rained every day while I was there. In August, haha.
Hi Lauren,
Thank you for all of your posts you are so great! I started following you awhile ago and you and you are one of my favorite bloggers. We are traveling for the next 10 months as we start our family travel business and it can be taxing on the kids, but rewarding at the same time. We are paying for everything giving real reviews of where we stay etc. Since we are paying for everything we had to look for deals and cheap flights to Europe the Points Guy wrote about Norwegian Air. So we took a chance and we booked our flights. Our Europe leg is the first part of December returning mid April, but we were able to plan a trip using Southwest and Norwegian Air for a family of 4 from Austin to New York to London for about $2500.00 US
I know Norwegian Air flys to Los Angeles and should have good deals
How did you score a flight from Copenhagen to LA for $120?! I know you’ve written before the different sites you use but I’m wondering how this specific deal worked out. Kudos to you!
Just by going to Norwegian’s site. There wasn’t a sale on — they’re just pretty typical prices for that route. Checking now, if you were booking a few months out, it’s currently around $200 for the same flight.
Such a good post. I’m glad you found some hygge to enjoy Copenhagen, even in the rain. It is such a wonderful city. I spent a month studying there in college and absolutely fell in love with it (but that was in May, so the weather was much nicer :) )
I need to return in a sunnier month!
Oh no! How awful!
I’ve never had rain threaten to ruin one of my trips ‘cos being British like yourself. Ha! I’m always prepared, because in my case, what threatens to ruin my trip, has always been snow!
About 15 years ago, I went to Krakow in October, and when I arrived, the airport was knee-deep in snow! I was wearing only a thin cardigan and a summer dress!
2 years ago, we went to Lithuania. At Easter. In April! It was snowing! I had to use my socks. As gloves!
Many years ago, I used to live in Prague, but now I live in Berlin and just popped over for Xmas, and it snowed! It doesn’t snow at Xmas in Berlin anymore, so I didn’t take my winter gloves and when I tried to make a telephone call, my hand froze so much that I cried!
ps. Copenhagen is such a lovely city even though when we went last year, I missed my Deutsche Bahn bus that cost just €58.00 and had to buy another one for €126.00! Here’s that story. Oops! https://thebritishberliner.wordpress.com/2016/08/01/how-to-visit-copenhagen-on-a-budget-even-though-i-missed-my-last-connection-again/
Looks like you had a similar time in Copenhagen as me; I was pretty underwhelmed by the place – but I mainly blame the weather. I did however, travel in December, so the Xmas Markets could keep my spirts up, but MY GOD did it rain. And it was EXPENSIVE and I couldn’t afford anything! haha!
SO expensive! I was really surprised by the prices.
Noooo rain! Rain can ruin any fun trip and make every place look horrible and gloomy! It’s good you didn’t let yourself be distraught by it too much. It sounds like you had a nice stay, regardless of the weather and your photos of Nyhavn look beautiful!
It’s funny — back when I first started to travel, rain was my greatest fear! I was so concerned I wouldn’t be able to make the most of a place if it rained while I was there, and then I might never make it back again, that I used to google advice for travelling in the rain all the time. The best thing to do is to not let it upset you, although I know that’s easier said than done, as rain nearly always makes a place look pretty ugly!
You’re such a great storyteller!
This brought back a few great memories of my own travel mishaps :D
And, what a great deal on a ticket..
Thank you so much, Dee! That means the world to me :-)
Just found your blog and am really enjoying your writing! Your candor and self-deprecating charm set you apart from most cookie-cutter travel bloggers. I would, however, recommend investing in a solid, lightweight travel umbrella. ;) Mine is so small I barely notice it at the bottom of my shoulder bag, but it’s saved the day — not to mention my my mood — dozens of times!
Thank you so much, Eric! That really does mean a lot :-) I’ll confess I struggle to justify carrying an umbrella when I use it so rarely, but on times when it’s wet outside, I sure do wish I was carrying one.
I hope you end up enjoying Copenhagen?
I wanted to visit it soon but after this articles im hesitating wether or not to wait for spring.
x
Yes! I loved it and can’t wait to return.
Your story reminds me of my first visit to Reykjavik – an opportunity thanks to cheap flights. I stopped there on my way to Canada and I was a bit better prepared in terms of clothing… but also got wet and cold on my first day of site seeing. And also paid ridiculous money for a cup of tea to warm up a bit (in a wonderfully cozy place) :) And the worst part? Because of mistake in backup-ing my photos, I lost all the photos from that day.. *sigh*
I’ve never been to Denmark, haven’t had a chance just yet. I love the way Nyhavn – truly charming :)
Happy travels!
Ioanna
A Woman Afoot
It’s too bad that it rained so much during your visit to Copenhagen. I’m going there for a couple of days in November, and I’m hoping it won’t be too rainy (though I live in Ireland so I’m a bit used to the rain).
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Alouise!
Hahaha. That mantra of ‘because it’s there’ makes us do the craziest things. There have been so many times I’ve forced myself through terrible weather or illness/exhaustion just to go somewhere because it’s a known landmark and I think I’ll regret it later if I don’t. Actually, some of my more memorable days have been when I just wander and find places by myself that aren’t on the obvious tourist trail – and because I actually felt like having a walk it’s a lot more enjoyable too!
Hi Lauren,
Could you suggest a website for checking out weather before planning a visit to Europe.
Thanks in advance.
Ajit Dhavale ( India )…
B.t.w – you seem to be travelling all over the world but not India..I suggest you must make a trip to India sometime..you will be amazed at what India has to offer..
I don’t have a specific weather site recommendation — I just google temperature averages for certain months to get a good idea. But no specific site.
I love India! I have tons of articles about my travels in India here: https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/india/
I never understood the hype around the Little Mermaid. Not that it’s an ugly statue or something like that but….I guess you would expect more. Probably that’s why it seems so underwhelming.
Yeah, I really don’t know how it’s become known as a major tourist attraction!
Love how colourful the old town is. And thanks for the tips on how to make the most of the rain there. I’m loving your optimism and positive attitude that you never had in your older posts.
Oh, haha! Thank you!
I was there in pouring rain. Me and a friend went into a small bar/restaurant thing which had a beer garden (with awnings) and an outdoor fireplace. It was the coziest place I’ve ever been to. If you find those hidden gems, rainfall can have a way of making it even better. :)
Copenhagen does cosy SO well!
Thanks for the tip! Yeah some trips are ruined by bad weather but still there are some ways not to be upset and just enjoy everything. :D I love this post of yours and your positive attitude towards the situation.
Thanks!
Very true!
What specific area would you recommend?
I am coming to copenhagen next month, and am wondering what the best location for me to stay would be.
I am looking to see the city, but don’t really have all that much in mind, just yet. The ideal place would give me a “feel” for the city and its
history and be close to the most important tourist attractions.
What specific area would you recommend?
Thanks,
Vesterbro! I loved that neighbourhood :-)
Hi, Lauren! I`m sorry that weather god didn’t work in your favor, but I`m glad that you liked the city still. You just had a different experience that you thought you would and get to know the side of a city you may not in a sunny and warm. :) After this experience, what time of year do you think is the best for visiting Copenhagen?
Any time in the summer! June, July, August?
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for your reports.
We’ve also gone off Airbnb – not always easy co-ordinating arrival/checkin.
We’ve noticed that airbnb style places are now advertisng on booking.com. However they don’t always detail the checkin details on booking.com. This was our experience recently in Mendoza, Argentina. Now we try to find places with 24hr reception.
Regards
Julie