Copenhagen Travel Guide: Costs, What to Do, Nightlife & More

Copenhagen (Denmark) is a city filled with vibrancy and has so much to offer to all visitors. It’s the home to the world’s oldest amusement parks and has some of the trendiest nightspots. Not to mention, there are historic buildings, museums, and cultural relics that leave no details untouched. By using this Copenhagen travel guide, you’ll take the stress out of your planning. Here is what you need to know before you kick-start your Copenhagen vacation.

Best time to go

The best time to visit this beautiful city is during the summer season (June, July, August) when the days are relatively warm. You can explore the sidewalk cafes and festivals. Beginning mid-September, the city goes into hibernation for winter. On the plus side, the accommodation is cheaper.

Needless to say, the weeks leading up to Christmas are uniquely magical. The city looks like the royal kingdom when the streets are covered with ice. If you plan to visit the city during this period, it’s advisable that you bring your rain gear. The prices are lower the rest of the season.

Travel Costs and Budget

While Copenhagen is famous for a lot of things, it has one of the highest paid prices when it comes to restaurants and alcohol. Thankfully, you can get a taste of the high-quality life without breaking your bank.

Food

Since most of the food has to be imported, the cost is a bit higher than on mainland USA. There are a lot of food options in $8-$12 range (85-115DDK). But, dinner time meals will be closer to 135-205DDK. The local restaurants run everything from sandwiches, Mexican food, and the like.

On average, you should plan to spend $30 on food which translates to $420 in two weeks.

Accommodation

Guesthouses are spread throughout the city. A furnished apartment costs around 800DDK per night. However, you can get budget hotels at a cost of 300DDK or less. You can also use the hotels outside the city which cost as low as 450DDK.

Make sure you read the fine print because some hotelss will charge extra money for Wi-Fi and other facilities. The average cost of accommodation is $40 per day which is equivalent to $560 in two weeks.

Transportation

The major form of transport from the airport to the city center is via train or buses. The trains and buses charge 24DDK for a 2-zone ticket. While it’s very easy to go around the city on foot, you can rent a bike- this is what most locals use. Bike rentals cost around 130DDK every 24-hour period. You should plan for at least $8 a day ($112 for 2 weeks).

Activities

There are a number of activities you can do in Copenhagen. Most of them involve exploring the beautiful countryside. It will cost you 70DDK to see the museums while most day trips will cost 350DDK. If you want to enjoy your trip without blowing your travel budget, there are plenty of free parks to visit like the Kings Gardens, Frederiksberg, and the Botanical Gardens.

Roundtrip flight fare

From Copenhagen, you can take nonstop flights to take you across Europe. If you’re looking for below average price roundtrip tickets to Copenhagen, be sure to book three weeks before departure.

Here are a few sample ticket prices from:

  • Chicago $429
  • New York $374
  • Los Angeles $461

Total Costs

Your daily costs in Copenhagen will be around $100 per day. Here’s a quick breakdown of how much money you need depending on your trip duration:

  • 3 Days: $300
  • 1 Week: $700
  • 2 Weeks: $1400

How Much Money Do You Need for a 2 Week Trip to Copenhagen?

You need around $2,000 dollars for a 2 week trip to Copenhagen for your roundtrip airfare and travel costs.

Copenhagen isn’t cheap; It’s one of the most expensive cities to visit in Europe so be sure to bring a good chunk of cash to enjoy your stay.

Top Things to Do in Copenhagen

The city is full of museums, historical landmarks, royal castles, and interesting insights. Here is a rundown of the best things to do in this beautiful city.

Visit Nyhavn

Nyhavn is one of the iconic places in the city. Originally, the area was a commercial port where ships all over the world could dock. It was parked with pubs, alehouses, sailors, and ladies of pleasure. Today, there are thousands of restaurants that dominate the old port. Most people enjoy great food, jazz music, and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s hard to believe that these houses existed in the 1600s and 1700s. Hans Christian Anderson, a famous fairy-tale writer, lived in house number 20. The restaurants and cafes offer breathtaking Christmas delicacies.

Take a tour of the Nationalmuseet

National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum of Denmark features a huge exhibition – from the Stone Age, Viking age, renaissance, and Danish Modern History. It was built in 1744 and is located in Price’s house. Although it’s no longer used by the royal family, it’s still elegant. If you’re into cultural history, the exhibitions are quite comprehensive. There is plenty of space for exquisite handicrafts. Additionally, the oak parquet floor and stucco in the ceiling are thought to be original. The national museum also boasts of classical antiquities and medal collection.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

The Louisana Museum of Art is located 40 km north of Copenhagen and has gained a reputation for modern art. With more than 3000 works, the museum has over 12 exhibitions annually. It mostly exhibits modern art from the mid-20th century to date.

Other places you should visit include:

  • Christiana
  • Rosenberg castle
  • Bakken Amusement park

Nightlife: Best Nightclubs & Bars

Copenhagen has numerous nightclubs and nightlife to suit your taste and preference. Whether you’re looking for an underground music avenue or a high-end nightclub, the options won’t disappoint you.

The nightlife promises a wide range of entertainment to cater for people of all ages- from young to people in their 40s and 50s. Being a small city, it’s easy to jump from one pub to another. If you’re planning to visit the city for the first time, a bodega is a great way to start.

Nightclubs

  • Penthouse club (ørregade 1, 1165 København, Denmark)
  • Culture box (Kronprinsessegade 54, 1306 København, Denmark)
  • Rust (Guldbergsgade 8, 2200 København, Denmark)

Bars

  • Zoo bar (Sværtegade 6, 1118 København, Denmark)
  • The Jane (Gråbrødretorv 8, 1154 København, Denmark)
  • Jolene bar
  • Ideal bar
  • Panama CPH

Tips on meeting Danish women

Image Credit: mellbin/Flickr

When dating a Danish woman, the battlefield can be fierce. Since there are some unwritten rules in the land, here are some few tips that will help you stand out from the crowd.

You’ll rarely find girls alone

If you end up talking to girls in bars or nightclubs, there is a high probability that they are alone. While this also happens in other countries, other girlfriends will grab her back and start gossiping you in Danish.

Don’t talk about the importance of your job

Although most Danish men are well-employed, they don’t go out talking how wonderful it is. Women don’t like men who are too busy with their jobs that there is no time for family and friends.

A one-night-stand is a big thing here

Because most women are feminists, they are very open to experimentation. If you ask her out to somewhere romantic, chances are that you’ll end up in the bedroom.

Flex your Danish language skills

While Danish language is ridiculously difficult, a little try goes a long way. Badly pronounced word sends them wild.

Just pay for a few things

Although most women in Europe expect the man to whip his wallet after an expensive meal, Denmark has a track record of gender equality. Women will insist on splitting the bill.

Try Online Dating

Online dating is popular in Copenhagen and here’s a list of the best Denmark dating sites & apps:

Final thoughts

Copenhagen is a green city full of world-class experiences. It’s beautiful, welcoming, and most importantly one of the civilized places in Europe. We recommend that you follow the above Copenhagen travel guide to help you explore the hidden treasures. Of course, you can always exchange your American dollar.

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