Your Ultimate Guide to One of Europe’s Forgotten Capitals | Copenhagen

Introduction to Copenhagen

After returning from Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital and largest city, I discovered that many people knew little about my destination.

“Was it cold in Germany?”
“Oh, is that where Mozart is from?”
“Sorry, where?”

These questions highlighted how sharing my travel stories can bridge the gap and help you connect with the world, even its more nontraditional parts.

So let’s explore Copenhagen.

Let’s start with some geographic insights and practical information to help you feel more confident and excited about discovering Copenhagen.

I included an interactive map to help you feel more connected and confident as you explore the city. Feel free to explore it before reading more about Copenhagen.

Flights to Copenhagen

Now that you’re familiar with the location, let’s discuss how to get there. Copenhagen is an expensive city, but you won’t have difficulty finding flights.

Copenhagen Airport (airport code: CPH) is the largest airport serving the Nordic countries and will likely be the one you arrive at when visiting Denmark.

Side Note: All Scandinavian countries are Nordic, but not all Nordic countries are Scandinavian.

Scandinavian: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
Nordic: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Greenland

While it is a decent-sized international airport with some nonstop options to/from the US, you’ll likely connect through another European capital city. This is exactly what I did: London Heathrow on the outbound, Helsinki-Vantaa on the return.

Use Google Flights to find your preferred options, and if you’d like more information, check out this post where I talk more about flights and airline status!

Passport control queues can be quite long, so keep this in mind.

Copenhagen Hotels

As mentioned above, Copenhagen is a pricey city. The hotels, especially in the city center, are quite expensive. The good news is that there are many options to choose from, no matter which hotel brand you’re loyal to.

I lodged at a Marriott property, the Four Points Flex by Sheraton Copenhagen City. I linked it if you want more information. I loved its central location, literally footsteps from Copenhagen Central Station, but it was costly.

If you aren’t loyal to a specific hotel chain, some of the local hotels are much cheaper. Hotel Cabinn is a good example. I also linked it.

Copenhagen Climate

Copenhagen features a temperate oceanic climate, much milder than its northern latitude may initially suggest.

Summer, when I visited, features long daylight hours and comfortable temperatures.

Spring is usually the driest time, especially late spring and early summer.

Winters are cool, chilly, and cloudy.

Whenever you go, keep in mind that weather conditions can change frequently. Be sure to pack appropriately.

I went in August/September and needed a light jacket and an umbrella. It rained nearly daily, sometimes hourly. Always check the weather each day of your trip to stay up to date on the latest conditions.

Getting Around Copenhagen

Copenhagen is an extremely easy city to navigate.

Thanks to its flat, compact layout, world-class cycling and walking infrastructure, and excellent public transit system, getting around Copenhagen is completely stress-free.

It is easy to purchase metro tickets. This is the cheapest way to get around, and every station has red machines where you can buy them.

You can also use the Rejsebillet app to purchase them in advance. They also offer city passes for up to 120 hours of unlimited rides within the zones you need. The machines and the app don’t take cash, so be prepared to use your debit/credit cards.

You don’t need to waste your money on rideshare unless you want to. In addition to the metro and city buses, there’s a great regional train system connecting Copenhagen to its suburbs and other destinations within Europe, which we will talk about more later.

This is actually the way I recommend getting to and from the airport. As you can see on the metro map above, the yellow line terminates at Copenhagen Airport. If you don’t want to sit through all those stops, there are many direct trains between the airport and Copenhagen Central.

My one-way ticket was 30 Danish kroner, which is roughly $4.66. So I opted for public transportation, which I highly recommend. You will never need a car. I promise!

Things to Do in Copenhagen

With Copenhagen being one of the smaller European capital cities, you won’t have any issues exploring.

You can easily explore Copenhagen on a short 2- to 3-day trip because the main sights are close together and easy to reach.

You can explore top attractions like Tivoli Gardens and the colorful 17th-century harborfront of Nyhavn. To get to know the city better and tailor your trip to your preferences, visit here!

I highly recommend using the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus to explore, as well as taking a boat tour. You can buy tickets on the bus itself and at the Nyhavn stations for the boat.

Bonus: Malmö Day Trip from Copenhagen

As mentioned above, Copenhagen has an excellent train system, including regional lines that help you venture outside the city. For more adventurous travelers, you can leave Denmark and explore Sweden on a day trip.

Sweden is separated from Denmark by the Øresund strait. The Øresund Bridge connects Copenhagen (Denmark) to Malmö (Sweden) across the southern part of the strait, and the two cities are only about 40 km (25 mi) apart.

The train ride takes about 30-45 minutes and can be purchased at the stations or on the Skanetrafiken app. It was well worth the visit if you’d like to add another country to your travel resume.

There is an interesting landmark called the “Twisting Torso,” and I think it makes for a great photo.

Final Thoughts on Copenhagen

I tried to keep this as concise as possible so I don’t overwhelm you, since many of you are being introduced to the city for the first time.

With a little planning and an open mind, your visit to Copenhagen can be both seamless and unforgettable.

Whether you’re wandering along the colorful canals, sampling Danish pastries, or taking a quick trip to Sweden, you’ll find that this city offers something for every traveler.

Have you been to Copenhagen? Has this post inspired you to plan a trip there? I would love to hear from you. Talk to me here, because I always love hearing from you.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post.