Danish
Danish krone (DKK)
+45
Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Due to the warm Gulf stream, Denmark is much warmer than its chilly Nordic neighbors. May, early June and September are the best times to visit Copenhagen, although you'll find lots to do here throughout the year. July and August are the wettest months, so if you’re coming then pack an umbrella or two. Bargain travelers should think about a Christmas visit when prices are cheaper. Besides: Danish Christmas markets are magical.
Copenhagen dining can be pricey, but put aside some budget to try some of the local delicacies, like the famed open sandwich known as smørrebrød! Originally a farmer’s lunch, they come topped with everything from cold meat, to egg, to shrimp and some of the best can be found at Selma in Vesterbro. And don’t miss the Danish meatballs known as frikadeller, available everywhere. Wanna be a real local? Snack publicly on pickled herring.
Right in the middle of Copenhagen, the alternative community of Christiania is thriving. Founded by hippies in the 1970s, the old military barracks are now home to funky bars and music venues, organic eateries, art galleries, and piles of very Instagrammable graffiti. Christiania is also home to the Gay House, located (naturally) in the Gay Garden. This autonomous ‘freetown’ is a trip, so take some time to chill out and people-watch.
Bang in the heart of buzzing Copenhagen is a wonderland of rides and childhood nostalgia that is not to be missed – they don’t make parks like Tivoli anymore. Tivoli Gardens opened its doors in 1843, so the locals have been coming here for 200 years. Stuff yourself with candy, ride adrenaline-charged rollercoasters, kiss your dates on the gentle waltzers and soak up panoramic views from the Star Flyer. Combining fairground classics with cutting-edge tech, it’s a must!
Join a guide and see where famously mighty Viking kings Harald Bluetooth and Sweyn Forkbeard are buried. Get the gossip on almost 40 Danish kings and queens at the UNESCO-listed Roskilde Cathedral, and even taste some mead – the traditional alcoholic drink much-loved and much-drunk by the bloodthirsty battlers of old. See a burial chamber dating back to around 3,000 BC at the Lejre Museum. And at the Viking Ship Museum you’ll get to see five original Viking ships!
Save money and live large by eating and browsing the markets. You can try all sorts of Danish delicacies at once. Head to Amager, on Paper Island, for some of the world’s finest street food. Hit up the huge indoor Loppemarkedet, held at Tap 1 in the Carlsberg Brewery District, and browse over 400 stalls – plus separate areas for clothes and furniture. The somewhat 'hidden' Nørrebrogade flea market, Saturdays from March to October, is brimming with art and antiques.
Did you know that the UN World Happiness Report has rated the Danes as the happiest people on Earth, two years running? Soak up some of those smiles and make them your own as you cruise around Copenhagen’s scenic charms on a boat. See castles, old churches, the colorful Nyhavn and pretty, winding canals. Wave at locals going about their business and get the fascinating city history from a guide as you go. We guarantee you at least a few smiles on your nautical miles.
