Travel Tips for Copenhagen, Denmark

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

I consider Copenhagen as one of the coolest European cities I have visited. I travelled there twice, staying for 2 days each time (next time I will stay for longer). The Danish capital is buzzing, and is well known for its culture, art, royal history and modern architecture.

The city is very accessible by foot, and I felt very safe there including at night. I definitely recommend Copenhagen for anyone planning a solo trip, however I must warn you that it is a very expensive city.

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin to Copenhagen Airport via Ryanair or Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). The flight is just over 2 hours. 

As I was already visiting Oslo in Norway, I flew via Scandinavian Airlines and the flight took about an hour.

Language, Currency & Weather

Danish is the main language in Copenhagen, however Danes speak English very well. The currency in Denmark is the Danish Kroner.

The weather in Copenhagen can be quite cold during winter (about 0 degrees Celsius), and can reach about 20 degrees Celsius or so in summer.

When I visited in September, I could wear very light clothes as the weather was stunning, however I would recommend bringing warm clothing as it does get chilly at night.

Public Transport

Copenhagen has a very reliable public transport system and the metro, s-trains and buses can all be used with the same ticket. The metro runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which is really useful.

I would advise you to purchase a Copenhagen Card if you are going to be using public transport a lot during your stay. However, I walked most of the city as it’s very easy to get around.

To get between the airport and the city centre, you can travel by train or metro. The journey takes a little over 10 minutes. 

Where To Stay

I did find accommodation in Copenhagen expensive overall, so it is hard to find something comfortable for a decent price.

If you are looking for luxury I would recommend NH Collection Copenhagen in Christianshavn or the Copenhagen Admiral Hotel in the city centre. Manon Les Suites is a beautiful luxury hotel in the city centre, which has a heated indoor swimming pool surrounded by plants.

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, I would advise you to book Wakeup Copenhagen, Borgergade in the city centre (this is where I stayed) or Hotel Nora Copenhagen in Nørrebro.

If you are on a budget, there are lots of hostels, including Generator Copenhagen and Next House Copenhagen, both in the city centre.

Where To Go & What To Do

There is lots to do and see in Copenhagen, and as always I would recommend starting off with a walking or bike tour to really get a feel of the city. Copenhagen is one of the biggest bike cities in the world, and its infrastructure is amazing.

Copenhagen has so many great sights and attractions, including Nyhavn which is the colourful harbour in the city centre. It’s lined with lots of great (yet expensive!) restaurants and bars. From here, you have the option to hop on a boat tour of the city.

Travel from Nyhavn to Amalienborg Palace which is the royal family’s winter residence. The Royal Guard march from here through the streets of Copenhagen to Rosenborg Palace (another beautiful sight to visit).

Pop by the city’s most impressive church, the Marble Church (also known as Frederik’s Church). Its location is in line with Amalienborg Palace and has great views from its green dome.

I would highly recommend visiting the Botanical Gardens (especially the Butterfly House) and Tivoli Gardens (the famous amusement park).

There are many viewpoints in Copenhagen, however my favourite were the Tower at Christiansborg Palace (highest viewpoint and free), the Round Tower or the Tower at the Church of our Saviour in Christianshavn (I found this so scary to climb up!).

One of the most interesting places I visited was Christiania, the famous freetown in Copenhagen. I would recommend booking a guided tour of the area instead of travelling alone.

If you want to see all of Copenhagen’s top attractions, then it’s essential you visit the Little Mermaid statue, located in the water at Langelinie Pier. Some say it is underwhelming, but I found it cute.

For a day trip, it’s also possible to travel to Malmö in Sweden via train. The journey takes about 40 minutes.

What & Where To Eat

There are brilliant food tours in Copenhagen, where you really get a sense of the cuisine in this vibrant city. As well as this, you have the option to book beer tasting and brewery tours. Is Carlsberg the best beer in the world? Probably.

In my opinion, it’s a must to visit Torvehallerne market for a coffee and a Danish pastry, as well as trying the fresh fruit and vegetables.

During my visit to the Tivoli Food Hall, I tried the traditional Danish lunch, the open-faced sandwiches known as smørrebrød, which are delicious.

Restaurant Krebsegaarden has Scandinavian cuisine and has excellent food, wine and service. Ark is also great if you are looking for a healthy option.

I hope you enjoy Copenhagen as much as I did!