Jump to:
Looking to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark? This city deserves a spot on your itinerary! Copenhagen has tons of things to do and sights to see. You’ll experience the best this city has to offer when you know the best time to visit Copenhagen.
What season is best? What months work better for fewer crowds? We’ll cover the best time to visit Copenhagen, including the cheapest time to go and the least busy time of year to visit.
Discover the worst time to visit Copenhagen and what kinds of activities you won’t want to miss while you’re here. Ready to learn more about the glorious Copenhagen city and when to head there? Let’s get started!
Why You Should Visit Copenhagen
Andrij Vatsyk/Shutterstock
Copenhagen has been ranked multiple times as one of the happiest places on the planet! If you want to see what all the fuss is about, let’s talk about why you should visit Copenhagen.
You’ll adore the diverse and lively culture here, including the history, art, and architecture throughout the city. Don’t miss the Round Tower and City Hall! You can’t pass up on the delicious food in Copenhagen.
One of the most popular culinary cuisines includes the Danish smørrebrød. It’s a dish of rye bread with tons of toppings like fish, meat, cheese, and vegetables.
You’ll also find funky street food and classic wine and beer stores here. Make sure to grab a tasty Danish pastry with your coffee for breakfast! When you’re visiting, you can check out the first amusement park on the planet right here in Copenhagen.
The Tivoli amusement park has beautiful gardens, rides for children of all ages, cafes, and restaurants. Visit the Copenhagen Zoo to see cute pandas or the National Aquarium of Denmark to check out the sharks and sea otters.
Copenhagen is a truly cozy and comfortable place to visit. The city has blankets over cafe chairs in all restaurants for a comfier experience during the winter and cooler temperatures.
You’ll also see table lamps and candles all over Copenhagen’s streets. You won’t want to leave the cozy city once you’ve embraced all it has to offer!
Overall Best Time to Visit Copenhagen
Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock
The best time to visit Copenhagen is usually in the spring and summer, specifically the months of March through August.
The springtime brings milder weather and fewer crowds. If that’s what you prefer, make sure to visit the city from March to May. If you don’t mind crowds and want more sunshine, visit Copenhagen in the summer.
Vacation here from June to August if you like being among more tourists and in the midst of busy streets. The summertime brings more festivals and music, with people dancing in the streets.
June to August provides very comfortable temperatures in Copenhagen. You will enjoy the summer temperatures hitting the high 60s. July and August may bring rainy weather, so make sure to pack an umbrella.
The springtime temperatures, however, range from the low 40s to the high 50s, so you’ll need warm clothes at this time of year.
The cooler temperatures mean you’ll see fewer crowds and less tourism during the spring. That means you’ll find more affordable airfare and lodging.
Cheapest Time to Visit Copenhagen
Moab Republic/Shutterstock
The winter months from December to February are the cheapest time to visit Copenhagen. Prices take a dip when tourism numbers fall with the colder temperatures.
You’ll find the most affordable accommodations, including hotels, travel, and airfare during the winter. You can save plenty of money by visiting Copenhagen in the winter while still enjoying indoor activities!
You’ll love the cozy environment of the winter with blankets thrown over chairs. During the off-season, you can enjoy checking out museums, cafes, restaurants, and the many shops around the city.
Pack warm clothes for the winter as temperatures hit the mid-30s or slightly higher. That’s much chillier than during the spring and summer months.
If you travel at Christmastime, you will love the beautifully decorated streets and shops. Be prepared for a brief uptick in prices if traveling around the holidays, though!
If you’re solely looking to save money, choose to travel in January, February, or early March. When looking for good deals on flights, you should try to book travel at least a few months in advance.
Least Busy Time to Visit Copenhagen
Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock
The spring months from March to May see fewer visitors and are generally the least busy time to visit Copenhagen.
It may end up less busy during the spring because the weather is cooler than 60°F. Also, tourists won’t find any major festivals in the spring as compared to the summer months.
Travelers looking for fewer crowds and cheaper rates should consider going to Copenhagen in the spring. It’s a little warmer than the winter but still delightfully less crowded than summer.
With less demand from March to May, likely, you can easily score good deals on flights and accommodations during these months. The off-season for Copenhagen usually includes the winter and spring.
Worst Time to Visit Copenhagen
The Little Mermaid frozen on February 28, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark/Macca Sherifi/Shutterstock
Chilly February may be one of the worst times to vacation in Copenhagen. If you’re not into cold temperatures, you should avoid visiting Copenhagen at this time.
Generally, you can expect temperatures as low as 34°F in January and February — the coldest period of the year in Copenhagen. You won’t see too much rain in the winter compared to the summer months.
It also gets dark earlier in the winter and you won’t see as much sunshine. With shorter days, there’s less time to enjoy activities before nightfall in February.
If you like being around people, the winter months tend to have the fewest visitors. It’s the off-season for tourism, so you may not enjoy the merrier aspects of the spring and summer months.
Since it’s the off-season, the months of January and February do have good deals on travel and lodging. If you do decide to travel in the winter, make sure to pack warm clothes, a winter coat, and boots.
Things to Consider
f11photo/Shutterstock
When taking a trip to Copenhagen, there are a few things you’ll need to consider to make your trip seamless and memorable. Here’s what you should keep in mind!
- Wear Scandinavian designer clothes, such as H&M or Ganni, if you want to blend in with the locals
- To save money, you can take the metro to get to your hotel from the airport
- You will only need about three days to visit and enjoy the sights of Copenhagen, as it is a relatively small city
- The people of Denmark use a knife and fork to eat all of their foods, including burgers and pizza
- Danes like to cheer at dinnertime and clink their glasses before taking a sip of alcohol
- Locals tend to avoid the Nyhavn neighborhood with its colorful houses since it has many tourists
- Danes are very prompt and punctual, so showing up late is considered rude
- Bicycling is the primary mode of transportation among locals in Copenhagen
Frequently Asked Questions
ESB Professional/Shutterstock
Want to learn more about the glorious city of Copenhagen? Check out our answers to some common questions about when to visit Copenhagen below.
Is Copenhagen better in the summer or winter?
Copenhagen tends to have better weather in the summertime than in the winter. You can enjoy temperatures in the high 60s in the summer as opposed to temperatures in the mid-30s in the winter.
Summer is rainier, livelier, with more events and happenings than the winter. But winter is a cheaper time of year to visit with lots of lights and indoor activities to keep you busy!
How many days do you need in Copenhagen?
Plan on spending about three days in Copenhagen to see the most important and attractive sites. The city isn’t too huge, so you won’t necessarily need a week or longer to stay here on your vacation.
You can also likely get a good feel of the city in two days and see the main sites. Three days, however, will let you see more of the gorgeous region.
What is the best month to go to Denmark?
Generally, the summertime is the best for seeing Denmark. Try to visit the country in June, July, or August. You’ll enjoy the warm temperatures between 59°F and 68°F.
It’s the perfect time to go hiking. You’ll also enjoy the coast in the summer and love the music festivals available at this time. Daylight hours are much longer in the summer, so enjoy the sunshine!
Is Copenhagen better than Amsterdam?
Amsterdam, the capital of Denmark, generally has less expensive accommodations than Copenhagen. However, both cities are beautiful and popular travel destinations.
Amsterdam does tend to have more visitors, but that means you will likely see fewer crowds in Copenhagen.
Both cities have a vibrant bicycling culture and beautiful architecture. If warm temperatures are important to you, Copenhagen does have warmer summers than Amsterdam.
What's the nicest part of Copenhagen?
Indre By is a very picturesque part of Copenhagen and has numerous historic areas. You’ll love the colorful houses here as well as St. Paul’s Church, the Museum of the Resistance, and many lovely restaurants.
Nørrebro is the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the city, with Middle Eastern grocery stores, West African clothing shops, and Thai restaurants.
Østerbro is a neighborhood populated by the wealthy and diplomats, while Carlsberg Byen has unique architecture, including a clocktower, a lighthouse, and granite elephants.
Amager is a lively neighborhood with kebab restaurants, tanning salons, and fun wine bars. Vesterbro also has the perfect nightlife with bars and lovely restaurants.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen?
To recap, the best time to visit Copenhagen is usually in the springtime or summertime. The summer brings the best temperatures above 60°F while the spring is less crowded with more affordable lodging and travel.
You may also enjoy the music and festivals common to Copenhagen in the summer. But if cheap prices are what you’re after, you’ve got to visit during the winter from December to February.
Winter is cold here, so fewer visitors arrive and prices take a nosedive. A good compromise if you want fewer crowds and lower prices than peak season is springtime from March to May.
Just try to avoid visiting during the coldest month of the year – February – and you’re sure to have a blast on your trip. Copenhagen has so much for you to explore and take in. It’s always amazing, especially if you go at the best time of year!