Who doesn’t want to visit one of the happiest countries in the world? We’re guessing no one, that’s who. Luckily, Denmark is just the ticket if happiness floats your boat.
According to the World Happiness Report, it ranks near the very top – and has been named the happiest on several occasions.
Other cool facts about Denmark include that it boasts the oldest flag in the world. That’s right, the Dannebrog (its official name) was first given its noble status in 1219.
But while it is a bit less economical than visiting its cousins Sweden or Norway, it’s worth it both for its inimitable charm and its proximity to the European mainland, which you might want to visit while you’re there.
So, what does a trip to Denmark cost? We’ll break down what you can expect to spend, including airfare, transportation, accommodations, and more.
Average Trip to Denmark Cost in 2024
An average one-week trip to Denmark for two people will cost around $3,900:
- Average Accommodation Cost: $100 per night
- Average Flight Cost: $750 per person
- Food, Drink & Activities: $100 per person, per day
- Transportation: $250 total
- Total Cost: $3,900
While Denmark is not as cheap as Sweden, you can make it a relatively affordable country to visit if you work at it. It’s one of the most expensive countries in Europe, however, so you’ll have to be careful and give yourself a budget ahead of time.
Otherwise, you’ll find yourself paying through the nose to eat, drink, and be merry. General cost-of-living goods are high in Denmark.
That means eating out at restaurants, buying drinks in bars, and shopping – all things the Danish people are also doing – will carry a big price tag. If you can avoid it, “live” there as inexpensively as possible.
The best places to spend your money are on lodging, which is surprisingly affordable compared to dining, and activities, which are also reasonably priced. We’ll take a closer look at all of the above, as well as flights and transportation, below.
Denmark Trip Cost: Average by Item
Copenhagen, Denmark – August 26, 2019: Facade of the Scandic Palace Hotel located opposite the town hall square (Rådhuspladsen) with people around in Copenhagen, Denmark/J2R/Shutterstock
Averaging out the costs of a trip is always difficult, because your exact tastes will dictate how much you spend on various aspects of the trip.
We recommend perusing the estimates below to give you a good starting figure, then making a list of your high priorities. That way, you can spend more in one area and save in another.
For instance, many travelers choose to skimp on lodgings and spend their money on activities. Others love a lush room, but don’t mind eating from the grocery store every day. It’s up to you what works best, just make sure to think it through.
Accommodation Costs
Although plenty of rentals in Denmark can be expensive, they don’t have to be. In fact, if you do your price shopping and book ahead of time, you can get an entire cottage for eight people, by the beach, for only $250 a night.
In other words, it’s quite reasonable if you know where to look. Assuming you’re a couple that only wants a room or a small apartment, you’ll pay much less, of course.
Hotels in Denmark run around $75 to $125 for a room with the typical hotel amenities: free breakfast, WiFi, pool and hot tub, a fitness center, and parking.
And don’t be afraid to lowball this budget, either: in Denmark, the 2- and 3-star locations are clean, friendly, and safe. This applies generally to most of the cities and towns.
You will pay more to be near city centers, popular attractions, and festivals of any kind, so keep that in mind. Generally, though, you can find a nice place to stay for about $100 a night for two people.
Flight Costs
Flying to Denmark is not as spendy as one might assume. From New York City, you’ll pay about $500 round trip to get to Copenhagen, and from LA, the cost is closer to $800.
It’s much more expensive to fly straight to other cities in Denmark, such as Billund or Aarhus, adding hundreds of dollars to your ticket. Instead, you can book a domestic flight once there for better prices, or you can take the train for only about $60.
That’s just one example, but it applies to most cities in Denmark, so it’s smart to plan your flight to Copenhagen if at all possible.
Another way to save money on flight costs is to book your domestic flights closer to your departure date. If you are, for instance, flying from Billings to Chicago to catch your international flight, you can rest assured there will be tickets when you need them.
This is a great time to get deals, because airlines are trying to fill up flights. Just know you won’t have your pick of the litter, so you’d better make your peace with redeyes. Budget in an extra $100 to $200 for this leg.
Lastly, you can usually save money on international tickets by searching for them in incognito mode. That way, the travel sites can’t log your interest and return more expensive results next time.
Find your ticket in “secret,” then log in as yourself to buy it with saved credit card info. Overall, you should plan to spend an average of $750 per ticket to Denmark, including domestic hops.
Food, Drink & Activity Costs
COPENHAGEN – MARCH 9: Fisken Pub view on March 9, 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark’s capital city Copenhagen has about 2,000 pubs, cafes and restaurants./Tupungato/Shutterstock
Although Denmark is noted as being a spendy place, it’s not that hard to find good cheap food. Street vendors, small cafes, and pubs all offer fare that’s much less expensive than restaurants, and you’ll enjoy eating like a Dane for a week.
You can dine well on about $40 a day per person.
Make sure you go to a restaurant where you can get smørrebrød, a sandwich unlike any you’ve experienced before. This open-faced delicacy can be made with a huge variety of ingredients, from lox to lunchmeat, cress to tomatoes, cucumbers, and more.
Starting with dense Danish bread, layered with butter or spreadable cheese, and topped with meats, fish, and veggies, these are a true delight. The entire point is to combine art with cuisine, and it works – especially in the country of its origin!
Denmark is so beautiful and has such rich architecture and such lovely countryside vistas that you don’t need to take tours or plan special activities to love your time there.
If you choose to take, say, a welcome tour of Copenhagen, plan to spend about $50. For a tour of Sweden and Kronborg Castle (immortalized in Shakespeare’s Hamlet), you’ll pay more like $120.
Overall, plan on spending about $100 a day per person. This will give you plenty for food and several tours or museum entrance fees.
Transportation Costs
People who live in Denmark or who have visited before will all tell you the same thing: biking is the way to go. It’s inexpensive at about $25 for a 24-hour rental, and you can cover dozens of miles in a single day.
Whether you want to see the city or the countryside, this is a great way to go. If you’re looking to travel between cities, you can either rent a car for about $15 a day for a compact vehicle, or you can take a train.
As discussed above, $60 is a good estimate for the cost of a train ticket between cities that are about 3 hours away. If you like walking and biking and are only going to a few cities, you can skip a car altogether.
Just remember you have to get back to your city of departure unless you intentionally plan to leave from a different airport. Overall, plan for about $250 in transportation and you should be fine.
Things to Consider
COPENHAGEN; DENMARK – MAY 03; 2018: People riding bicycles in old city center. Man sitting in front cart of wheelbarrow cargo bike. Movement in both directions, road markings cycle lane. Street style/olgagorovenko/Shutterstock
Here are a few other things to consider when planning your trip to Denmark:
- Denmark is quite windy. Make sure you pack appropriate clothing to withstand the gusts!
- Many places in Denmark don’t like to take cards, especially in the smaller towns or on the street. Make sure to have cash on hand in the local currency, krone.
- Biking is the best way to get around. It is the perfect balance of cheap, well-accommodated, and safe, and it lets you see some of the best sites without paying for taxis or trains.
- Consider a visit to Freetown Christiana, often referred to simply as Christiana. It’s a commune that started on a squatted military base. Today, it’s people by around 1,000 residents who live that good old hippie lifestyle, and visiting is a real hoot and a half. Plus, true to its name, it’s free to have a wander.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wesam Taleb/Shutterstock
Here are some frequently asked questions about budgeting your trip to Denmark:
Is Denmark expensive?
We’re not going to beat around the bush: yes, Denmark is an expensive country to visit. However, you don’t need to break the bank to plan a trip there.
Not only are tickets pretty reasonable for a European country, you can keep food costs down by avoiding restaurants and spendy drinks. There are also many reasonable places to stay in this Nordic country, so don’t be afraid to plan that visit.
Do I need a visa to travel to Denmark?
You can enter Denmark and stay for up to 90 days without a visa. It belongs to the Schengen States, which are European countries that don’t have borders between them.
You can learn more on the Schengen site if you’re curious about traveling to countries other than Denmark while you’re there.
Is it safe in Denmark?
“The Global Peace Index ranks Denmark as one of the 13 countries in the safety category ‘Very high,’” according to research. (And, in case you just needed a general boost, “the report finds that the world overall became more peaceful for the first time in five years.” Yay!)
You should practice basic safety sense no matter where in the world you’re traveling. Keep your belongings close to you at all times, leave expensive jewelry at home, and take care when walking at night. If you’re alone, take a cab instead.
How can I save money on currency exchanges?
Exchanging money is a common source of wasted funds when people are traveling. You can slow the bleed while on vacation by getting cash from your own bank at home before you leave, which will cut out many of those pesky international fees.
Dollars are not usually accepted in Denmark, though you may see exceptions in hotel chains, so you’ll need to exchange currency in order to spend cash. The best places to do this are at airports or official currency exchanges; other places may charge you a stiff fee or take advantage of you.
When is the best time to visit Denmark?
Denmark has a much kinder climate than the rest of Scandinavia, so there’s no need to fear traveling there during the winter. Indeed, it has some adorable holiday markets (the one in Aarhus can’t be beat).
You will pay more for the experience, of course, since many travelers want to come this time of year.
June through August are the most popular times to visit for international travelers, and the Danes themselves typically head out on break during the month of July. If you’re looking for fine weather, travel at this time.
However, if you’re looking to save money, avoid the holidays and the summer months. Instead, travel in late fall or early spring for the best prices, and mid-fall and mid-spring for the best balance of costs and climate.
Wrapping It Up: Over to You!
| 🛎️ Average Accommodation Cost | $100 per night |
| ✈️ Average Flight Cost | $750 per person |
| 🍽️ Food, Drink & Activities | $100 per person, per day |
| 🚕 Transportation | $250 total |
| 💲 Total Cost | $3,900 |
The average cost of a one-week trip to Denmark is around $3,900 for two people. Keep this guide in your back pocket and get ready for the trip of a lifetime on a budget!