Copenhagen, or København in Danish for those getting used to reading European train boards, is Denmark’s capital city and worth a visit.
Even for a single day.
It’s impossible to condense this city’s history and culture into something as two-dimensional as a blog post, but there are two things you need to know:
#1: A Copenhagen travel guide can take you on an unforgettable city break.
#2: You need only an open mind and a few krone to become BFFs with this Danish city.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Westend61. Image Location: Copenhagen, Denmark.
Trainline’s Copenhagen travel guide
- Language: Danish
- Currency: Danish Krone
- Main train station: Copenhagen Central Station
- Time from airport to Copenhagen city center by rail: 15 min
- Best way to explore Copenhagen: On foot and via metro
- Train time to Hamburg, Germany: 4 to 6 hours
- Train time to Oslo, Norway: 7.5 hours
- Train time to Stockholm, Sweden: 5 hours
Image Credit: Getty Images, zsveta. Image Location: Copenhagen, Denmark.
How cold is Copenhagen? Dressing for Denmark’s weather
Copenhagen ain’t exactly the Canaries, but compared to the rest of Scandinavia, the weather is mild. Winter sees temperatures dip down around 30℉ (-1℃) while summer heats up to 66℉ (19℃). A jacket should always be on your packing list, and with only around two-feet of rainfall throughout the year, staying warm under clear skies is easy.
When is the best time to visit Copenhagen?
With relatively favorable weather year-round, the best time to visit Copenhagen depends on your Danish desires. Want to bum it at the beach or rock with thousands at an outdoor concert? Come during summer. Fewer crowds and ample sun make you happy? Late spring is best. Don’t let cold temperatures turn your collar up to visiting in winter: Copenhagen gets into the holiday spirit with plenty of Christmas markets.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Westend61. Image Location: Rosenborg Castle Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Can you see Copenhagen in 3 days?
Absolutely. Weekend warriors who know how to maximize their PTO can make their coworkers jealous with three days in Copenhagen.
Day 1
First, grab yourself a Copenhagen Card, which gives you free unlimited transportation on the metros and buses, as well as free admission to attractions like Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle, and canal tours. Spend day one checking off the main sites on the tourist trail: eating your way through the TorvehallerneKBH food market, castle hopping, and wandering around Østre Anlæg park. Take a free city walking tour to get your bearings and see about catching a show at the Copenhagen Opera House (bonus points if it’s a Hans Christian Andersen show).
Day 2
On day 2, kick things off with an alternative tour of Copenhagen, whether via a tour company or your own wandering. Freetown Christiania is a vibrant neighborhood with non-judgmental vibes, but if you want a space a little more buttoned up, Christianshavn has a few Michelin-starred restaurants to check out. If you happen to have kids with you, swap both neighborhoods for Frederiksberg and go to the Copenhagen Zoo or Frederiksberg Gardens.
Day 3
One last day in Copenhagen need not be too crazy; even hours spent at Tivoli Gardens will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Museum hoppers should consider more under the radar stops like the Danish War Museum, The Happiness Museum, or the Workers Museum. A visit to the Carlsberg brewery isn’t a daft idea, but if you need a chaser of other local Danish pints, Mikkeller is the place to have one final craft beer before departing Denmark.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Xsandra. Image Location: Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark.
What to see in Copenhagen in just one day
There are infinite ways to see Copenhagen in just one day, so we’ll just pick one that includes the opportunity to see some highlights and hidden gems.
Leave Copenhagen Central Station, taking note of Tivoli Gardens, and head over to Nyhavn to get the iconic photos out of the way. You’ll pass by attractions like the National Museum of Denmark and Christiansborg Palace, any of which make for a worthwhile visit. Find a café on the way that looks inviting and order up rugbrød øllebrød (porridge made with rye bread).
You’re halfway to the Kastellet fortress so go on and sing either “Part of Your World” or “Under The Sea” as you seek out the Little Mermaid statue. Next, take the M3 at Østerport to Nuuks Plads St. in Nørrebro, a hip neighborhood where you can putz around the indie shops, grab a Danish coffee from a café, and see Hans Christian Andersen’s grave at Assistens Cemetery.
Take the M3 down to the M1 or M2 Frederiksberg and head due east to Freetown Christiania. Grab a drink from Café Nemoland, though any bar will do, and settle into a picnic table for a little chit chat with other free-spirited patrons. They’ll point you to the best pølse (Danish hot dog) in town, but should they not, wander over to the Meatpacking District for one. Follow the bright lights back to Tivoli Gardens to ride a few rides then hop your late-night train to another amazing European city.
Download the Trainline app today and find cheap train tickets to Copenhagen.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Dado DanielaImage Location: Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark.