Copenhagen was not necessarily on my “must-see” list, but I really wanted to visit the Scandinavian Peninsula countries, the northern part of Europe, which I hadn’t had much contact with until then. I admit that I didn’t go with very high expectations because I associated these countries with places like the Netherlands or Germany, where I can’t say I’m eager to return—maybe only to Amsterdam. This is mainly because I generally prefer warm places, beaches, the sun, and a vacation atmosphere, things that contrast sharply with the gloomy weather in the Nordic countries, especially during winter. However, my curiosity to discover as many new places as possible far outweighed any personal preferences, so I took advantage of cheap flight tickets and spent a few days in Copenhagen and Malmö.
I enjoyed the city, especially the fashion style adopted by most of the locals, the interior design, and the architecture. However, I don’t think I would return anytime soon because, in my opinion, 2-3 days are enough to visit Copenhagen. There aren’t that many things to do there, and most of the tourist attractions are located quite close to each other, meaning you can visit them in a short time.
How to Get to Copenhagen from the Airport?
Getting from Copenhagen Airport to the city is very easy, thanks to public transport.
Train or Metro
You can take the train or metro from Terminal 3, which is very close to both Terminal 2 and Terminal 1. A single journey costs around €5. Both the train and metro run non-stop and take just 15 minutes to reach Copenhagen Central Station.
Bus
Bus 5A runs non-stop from the airport to the city center, with a journey costing €5. The advantage is that the bus stops at several stations on the way to the city center, so if your accommodation is not in a central area, taking the bus might be a good idea. However, the trip takes significantly longer than the metro due to traffic, taking about 35 minutes in normal traffic conditions.
Accommodation in Copenhagen
I must tell you that Copenhagen doesn’t offer cheap or very cheap accommodations. It’s a very expensive city, and accommodation is no exception, especially in the spring and summer when prices are at their highest. Even though the central areas of the city tend to be more expensive than the outskirts, I recommend not staying too far from the center because public transportation is also quite expensive in Copenhagen. The money you save on accommodation might end up being spent on transport.
We paid €300 for three nights at ibis Styles Copenhagen Orestad. We really liked the hotel, as it was located right next to the Bella Center metro station, which has a direct connection to the city center, and a mall with many shops and restaurants was just a 10-minute walk away.
Recomandari de cazare in Copenhaga (toate au nota 8+ pe Booking la momentul cautarii, si sunt sortate de la cel mai mic la cel mai mare pret)
Hotel 4⭐️
Hotel 4⭐️
When to Visit Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, one of the northernmost countries in Europe, surrounded by the North Sea and characterized by the climate imposed by this geographical location, meaning a humid climate generally dominated by cold winds. The average temperatures during the summer range from 18-25°C, while in winter, the average is 1-2°C.
I visited Copenhagen in January, and I was prepared for the worst, especially since I’m not a fan of winter. However, it was much better than in Bucharest during the same period. To give you an idea, in Bucharest, the temperature was below freezing, while in Copenhagen, the daily average was 5-7°C. I even felt the temperature difference when we landed in Bucharest.
Before purchasing the tickets, I read a little about what it means to visit Denmark in winter, and the advice wasn’t very encouraging. However, I decided to go, and I don’t regret it, especially since flight tickets and accommodation are much more expensive in the summer, and I’m not sure the investment is necessarily worth it. Therefore, if you want to visit Copenhagen on a lower budget, I suggest considering traveling during the winter months, especially for the Christmas market, but do pack warm clothes. On the other hand, if you prefer sunny days with less gloomy weather, summer is definitely the best season for such an experience.
Public Transportation in Copenhagen
Public transportation is easy to use in Copenhagen, and the fastest and most convenient option is the metro, which covers all the major tourist areas, including the airport.
The city is divided into several zones, and the price of public transport depends on the number of zones you cross to reach your destination. The most important zones are Zone 1, where the city center is located, and Zone 4, where the airport is located. Regardless of your departure point and destination, you will always pay for at least 2 zones and a maximum of 3. For example, if you want to go from the city center (Zone 1) to the airport (Zone 4), you will pay for a ticket covering 3 zones. Although this might seem complicated, the ticket machines allow you to enter your destination, and you will be directed to the appropriate type of ticket.
Copenhagen does not have single-ride tickets; instead, there are tickets valid for a certain period, which can be used for both the metro and the bus. The cheapest ticket is for 90 minutes and covers 2 zones, costing 24 DKK (around €3.5), and can be used unlimitedly within the specified period. There are also 24-hour and 48-hour tickets, which are very useful for a city break when you need to use public transport daily.
A very useful and important thing to know is that the metro runs non-stop in Copenhagen, with a frequency of 2-5 minutes.
How Many Days Do You Need to Visit Copenhagen?
A 2-day city break is enough to discover the most important tourist attractions in Copenhagen. If you want to visit Sweden (Malmö or other nearby cities), allocate 3 days.
What to Visit in Copenhagen
- Nyhavn (The New Harbor)
- Christiania
- Tivoli Gardens
- The Little Mermaid Statue
- Amalienborg Castle
- Christiansborg Palace
- Strøget Street
- City Hall Square – Kobenhavns Radhus
- Rosenborg Castle
- The Round Tower
- Frederick’s Church
- The National Museum
How Much Does a City Break in Copenhagen Cost?
Copenhagen is an expensive city, which is typical for Nordic countries. Prices are high for almost everything, from transportation and accommodation to supermarket purchases. If we also consider restaurants, you might lose all enthusiasm for visiting this city. For a 2-3 day trip, a reasonable budget would be around €450-500, which can increase or decrease depending on your culinary preferences, activities, or the hotel you choose.
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Happy travels!🥰
