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Copenhagen is pretty much everything you expect it to be. The streets are spotlessly clean, the buildings are beautiful and the people are friendly. As a visitor, it is easy to feel envious of the quality of life that people seemed to be living. It felt like everyone was moving at their own pace, content and carefree. Of course, like anywhere else in the world, you scratch beneath the surface and you realise that problems that exist elsewhere, do so here too. As a visitor, however, scratching beneath the surface isn’t always an easy thing to do and places have to be taken somewhat at face value. Taking Copenhagen at face value, the city is close to perfect. This Copenhagen Travel Guide is designed to keep you entertained and show you the best sights in the city as well as some of the delicious budget-friendly food it has to offer.
Currency Converter – KR 10 = €1.30/$1.50/£1.20
Getting In
By Air
Copenhagen has one airport and it is relatively close to the city. Copenhagen Airport is very easy to manoeuvre through, well signposted and quite modern. Taking public transport from there into the city is very easy. Buses, taxis and in my opinion the best option, the metro all depart from there and will have you in Copenhagen city centre quickly and stress-free. Click here for more information on getting to the city from the airport.
By Land
If you are arriving in Copenhagen by land whether it is by train or by bus, you are likely to arrive at Copenhagen Central Station, the largest railway station in Denmark. Its central location means you could well be in walking distance to your accommodation. If that is not the case, buses and taxis both depart from outside the main door and there is an underground metro station connected.
Where To Stay
Copenhagen is a beautiful city to walk through. Never have I seen a city where the crossroads are so well respected, making manoeuvring here easy. This means that once your accommodation is somewhat close to the area starting at Nyhavn and stretching west as far as Central Station then you are within walking distance to pretty much everything.
Personally I stayed at Generator Hostel Copenhagen. This hostel was huge with a mix of both private and dorm rooms. It was clean, had excellent facilities as well as anything I could have hoped for. As well as just being a hostel, there is a bar that serves very cheap beer during happy hour, an Ice Bar above and multiple supermarkets within a minutes walk. Generator will definitely be my first choice hostel for any future trips to Copenhagen.
When To Go
Like most cities, especially European cities, Copenhagen is best enjoyed when the sun is shining. That is when the parks are full, the atmosphere at bars, especially those with outside seating is at its best and the people are at their most pleasant. This means that a summertime visit will allow you to see Copenhagen in its best light. For the best chance of this, June to August is prime visiting months. However, if you would prefer the city a little less crowded and prices slightly lower, March to May is when you want to be going. The weather can still be a bit unpredictable then but the city tends to be quite dry during the Spring months.
What To Do
Nyhavn
If you have seen one picture of Copenhagen then it is most likely of Nyhavn. Lined with bright colourful buildings looking onto the canal, Nyhavn is filled with restaurants, cafes and bars. This former port has become what could be considered the tourist centre of Copenhagen. For this reason, I would suggest avoiding eating there but be sure to check in for a beer or a coffee, enjoy some music and soak in the atmosphere.
Tivoli Gardens
This old-school amusement park is smack bang in the middle of Copenhagen city. Opening in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is the second oldest amusement park still in operation. With roller-coasts, shows and a host of other rides to keep you entertained, it is no wonder that Tivoli is the most visited attraction of its kind in Denmark. The opening times of Tivoli Gardens is seasonal, summers months, Halloween and the lead up to Christmas only. If you are interested in visiting, tickets can be bought from the official website, here.
Freetown Christiania
This hippie commune really does not fit in with Copenhagens narrative. Christiania was set up in the 1970s by some ideological squatters who were allowed for one reason or another to live by their own rules. Even though Danish law is said to be in operation at Christiania since the beginning of the 2010s, drugs are sold and smoked quite openly there and it is quite clear that police stay away from inside this area. Christiania is one of the busiest ‘attractions’ in Copenhagen but in all honesty, it was not for me.
The Little Mermaid Statue
Do you want to fight for a photo opportunity of a statue that you expected to be considerably bigger than it is? If so, pay the Little Mermaid Statue a visit. The bronze sculpture was based on the fairytale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. There are many statues that have become the iconic landmark for the city that are native to, Mannekin Pis in Brussels, the Statue of Liberty in New York, this is what The Little Mermaid is to Copenhagen. This reason along with the picturesque location of the statue is why it is a must-see.
Take a day-trip to Malmo
When time allows, a day-trip from the city you are visiting is always a good idea. Rarely, however, is the easiest and closest day-trip another city in another country. That is the case for Copenhagen though. Just a 30-minute train ride across the Oresund Bridge and you are in Malmo, Swedens third-largest city. Malmo is unlikely to be a city high on your bucket list so using this opportunity to visit is almost too good to turn down. To read more about taking a day-trip to Malmo, click here.
Round Tower
I for one am always looking for a vantage point in every city I visit. Somewhere where I can look out across the building tops or scenery, taking in the magnitude of where I am. It gives me the opportunity to spot buildings in the distance and either curiously walk to them or at least, find out what they are. In Copenhagen, it was the Round Tower that presented me with this opportunity. The journey to the top is what feels like a never-ending ramp spiralling on and on, once at the top though you can see all of Copenhagen as well as a chance to visit the oldest functioning observatory in Europe.
Norrebro Suburb
This multi-cultural neighbourhood not far from the city centre is part of the new-age Copenhagen. Everywhere you look there will be a cafe, a boutique or a bar. This is where the young locals that many would describe as hipsters have come to put down their mark on the city. Second-hand stores next to art galleries next to a new and trendy boutique, Norrebro is an up and coming neighbourhood. Formerly considered by some as a more dangerous side of Copenhagen but with this reputation came lower prices more affordable to the young people and an opportunity to change the place for the better. Visiting Norrebro is a chance to see and experience something different, a part of Copenhagen that many miss out on.
Discover Copenhagen by Walking
Copenhagen is one of the best city’s to do nothing more than walk and see what you find. There is no need to plan every step of your journey in advance. Personally I used maps.me an offline map to find places that looked like an interesting structure or some sort of green area before heading off in that direction. It was because of this that I saw much of what I loved about Copenhagen. I found peace and tranquillity and discovered some of Copenhagens history that I otherwise might not have. My legs may have been aching after my trip there but it was definitely worth it. Kastellet, King’s Garden, Nyboder Plads as well as all along the lakeside were some particular favourites.
Where To Eat
Copenhagen has many fabulous restaurants including the world-renowned Noma. For most, myself included, dining at these sort of restaurants is not viable financially. Along with this Copenhagen Travel Guide, I have also written about some of the city’s budget-friendly places to eat, you can read that by clicking here.
What To Avoid
7/11’s
As someone who has spent a lot of time in South East Asia and Australia, I consider 7/11’s to be the perfect convenience store. Reliable, cheap and full of variety. When I saw one in Copenhagen, a city where things cost more than I am used to, I thought I was about to save myself some money. That was far from the case though. Everything was well above the price you would pay in the city’s supermarkets. Stick to Aldi and the like for the cheapest necessities.
Careless Walking
It is quite easy to see an opportunity to cross the road and jump at it. This is not the Copenhagen way though. Locals will stand and wait for green lights even if there appears to be zero chance of passing traffic. Even cyclists, something I moan about a lot, wait at red lights and respect pedestrians. Take your time in Copenhagen and follow the locals!
It is unlikely that Copenhagen will win the prize for being the most exciting city you ever visit. However, it might very well be one of the cleanest, enjoyable and most beautiful. Life appears to be very, very good in Copenhagen and those who have the privilege to experience that for even just the shortest of times should consider themselves to be very fortunate. This Copenhagen Travel Guide will allow you to see the best of the city in all its glory, dip out to some of its lesser parts which will only give you even more of an appreciation of just how great the best of Copenhagen really is.
Nice post! I haven’t been to Copenhagen for years but you covered all the majors!