When to Visit Copenhagen?
May - Early June is the best time to visit Copenhagen as it is during the beginning of the peak season when the city is not as crowded and not as expensive as in late June - August.
The weather during this shoulder season is quite manageable at around 16°C - 20°C, not as extreme as in the Scandinavian neighbors. September is also a good time, but the weather is starting to get colder by the day, so do prepare yourself accordingly and pack some layers.
How to Get to Copenhagen?
You can fly into Copenhagen if you are coming from outside of the EU. For the best possible deal, I always browse the airfare comparison website, Skyscanner or Expedia, to find cheap flights for the trip.
If you are already in Europe and are on a budget, you can also take a bus from anywhere with Flixbus for only a few EUR.
How to Get Around Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is an extremely walkable city with many tourist attractions, all concentrated around the city center, so you do not have to rely on any mode of transportation when visiting Copenhagen.
If you are looking to go further, trains, buses, and the metro are very reliable and punctual, and they can take you everywhere in the city and beyond. A single trip ticket (for traveling within 2 zones) will cost you 24 DKK (3.76 USD), and the ticket can be used on all 3 modes of transportation (trains, buses, and the metro).
You can buy the ticket from the DSB ticket office or the ticket machines at the central train station. If you have small changes, you can buy the ticket directly from the bus driver.
Daily Budget
Traveling here can be quite expensive and isn't necessarily budget-friendly, though there are still options to manage costs. You can expect to spend around $50 - $70 USD per day per person, including food, accommodation, and transportation.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Copenhagen, Denmark?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Denmark:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.