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Colorful Nyhavn waterfront with boats and buildings

Denmark travel guide

Easy cycling, coastal towns and long summer evenings across a small, flat country

Best: Jun, Aug

Photo: Pham Ngoc Anh / Pexels

Capital
Copenhagen
Language
Danish
Currency
Danish krone (DKK)
Time zone
UTC-04:00, UTC-03:00 +2
Plugs
Type C, E, F, K · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112
Entry
EU and Schengen area

Why visit Denmark

Denmark suits travellers who like compact trips: short train rides link Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense, and bikes work almost everywhere. June through August is the best stretch, with June standing out for Aarhus, Skagen and Billund too, and September still good for Copenhagen and Odense. The honest limitation is the climate outside those months: Denmark's weather turns grey and windy fast, so plan around the summer window if you want reliable outdoor days.

  • Copenhagen, a capital of 667,099

    Denmark's capital is home to 667,099 people, making it the country's largest city by far. It's best visited in June, July, August or September, when the weather supports long days of walking and cycling around the harbor and old town.

  • Aarhus on the coast

    Aarhus, Denmark's second city with 290,598 residents, sits on the coast and is best visited in June. It offers a smaller, more compact alternative to the capital for travellers who want a coastal city without the scale of Copenhagen.

  • Odense, inland and historic

    Odense, with 185,480 people, is Denmark's third-largest city and one of the few on this list not on the coast. Its best months run from June through August and into September, giving a wide summer window to explore.

  • Skagen's northern light

    Skagen, a small coastal town of just 7,394 people at Denmark's northern tip, is best seen in June or July. Its position where two seas meet has long drawn painters for its particular quality of light.

  • Billund for families

    Billund, home to just 6,194 residents, is best visited in June. As a small inland town, it's a different kind of stop from Denmark's coastal cities, useful for travellers combining a family-focused leg of their trip.

Is Denmark right for you?

Great for

  • Summer city breaks in Copenhagen, with highs of 19-21°C from June to August
  • Swimmers who want the sea near its warmest, around 19°C in July and August
  • Travellers who like long daylight and mild sun hours, peaking at 12-13 hours in June and July
  • Coastal trips to Aarhus or Skagen timed for June, when conditions are mildest

Less ideal for

  • Winter sun seekers, since Copenhagen highs stay at 4-6°C from December to February
  • Beach holidaymakers in winter, as sea temperatures drop to 2.7-3.9°C from February to March
  • Sun-chasers in deep winter, when daily sun hours fall to 2.2-2.9 in December and January
  • Travellers wanting dry weeks, since rain falls on 10-13 days in most months

Denmark right now: October

3.6/10
Avg high
13°C
Avg low
9°C
Rain days
13
Sea
13°C

Averages for Copenhagen.

Weather by month

Based on data for Copenhagen, June to September brings the warmest, sunniest weather, with highs of 18 to 21°C, up to 12.8 hours of summer sun, and sea temperatures reaching 19°C in July and August. December to February is toughest, with highs near 4 to 5°C, barely 3 to 5 hours of sun, and frequent rain on 11 to 13 days a month.

Average highs and lows in Copenhagen by month January: high 4°C, low 1°C , 13 rain days . February: high 5°C, low 1°C , 11 rain days . March: high 7°C, low 1°C , 11 rain days . April: high 10°C, low 4°C , 9 rain days . May: high 15°C, low 9°C , 10 rain days . June: high 20°C, low 13°C , 10 rain days . July: high 20°C, low 14°C , 13 rain days . August: high 21°C, low 15°C , 12 rain days . September: high 18°C, low 13°C , 11 rain days . October: high 13°C, low 9°C , 13 rain days . November: high 8°C, low 5°C , 12 rain days . December: high 6°C, low 3°C , 13 rain days . 4°C 1°C JAN 13d 5°C 1°C FEB 11d 7°C 1°C MAR 11d 10°C 4°C APR 9d 15°C 9°C MAY 10d 20°C 13°C JUN 10d 20°C 14°C JUL 13d 21°C 15°C AUG 12d 18°C 13°C SEP 11d 13°C 9°C OCT 13d 8°C 5°C NOV 12d 6°C 3°C DEC 13d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Copenhagen · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Denmark: month-by-month weather →

Where to go in Denmark

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Copenhagen to Jutland in a week

  1. Day 1–3

    Copenhagen

    Settle into Denmark's capital, home to 667099 people. Walk the harbour, visit Nyhavn, and spend a day cycling between neighbourhoods. June, July, August and September are the best months to visit.

  2. Day 4

    Odense

    Stop in Odense, an inland city of 185480 people. Explore the old town on foot; June, August and September are the best months for mild weather here.

  3. Day 5

    Billund

    Head to Billund, a small town of 6194 people built around its main attraction. June is the best month to visit, with the longest daylight hours of the year.

  4. Day 6–7

    Aarhus

    Finish in Aarhus, a coastal city of 290598 people. Walk the waterfront and harbour district; June is the best month for this leg of the trip.

10 days

Full Denmark loop, coast to coast

  1. Day 1–3

    Copenhagen

    Start in Copenhagen, Denmark's capital with 667099 residents. Spend your first days exploring the harbour and canals. June through September are the best months to be here.

  2. Day 4–5

    Odense

    Travel inland to Odense, a city of 185480 people. Use two days to see the old town at a relaxed pace; June, August and September bring the mildest weather.

  3. Day 6

    Billund

    Spend a day in Billund, a small town of 6194 people. June is the best month, with the longest and brightest days of the year.

  4. Day 7–8

    Aarhus

    Continue to Aarhus, a coastal city of 290598 people. Walk the harbour and spend an extra day exploring the waterfront area. June is the best month to visit.

  5. Day 9–10

    Skagen

    End the trip in Skagen, a small coastal town of 7394 people at Denmark's northern tip. June and July are the best months, with long daylight and calm coastal weather.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Indre By

Copenhagen

Good for first-timers, sightseeing

The old city centre holds Strøget, Nyhavn, the main museums and Tivoli on its edge, so most sights are a short walk away. It is the easiest base for a first visit, with good metro and train links. Streets around Nyhavn and Strøget get crowded and noisy, especially on summer evenings.

Indre By

Aarhus

Good for first-timers, short stays, sightseeing

The city centre is close to the train station, the main shopping streets and the ARoS art museum, with cafés and bars along the Aarhus River. You can walk to most sights from here. Weekend nights by the river can be loud.

Indre By

Odense

Good for first-timers, short stays, food and shopping

Odense's compact city centre has the cathedral, pedestrian shopping streets and most cafés, bars and museums within walking distance. It is the easiest base for a first visit, and the train station is close by. Weekend evenings can be noisy near the bars on and around the main streets.

Skagen Town Centre

Skagen

Good for first-timers, no car

The pedestrian streets around Sankt Laurentii Vej hold most of the shops, cafés and the main museums, with the train station close by. You can walk to the harbour and cycle to Grenen from here. In summer it gets crowded, and rooms book up early.

Billund Centre

Billund

Good for first-timers, walkers

The small town centre is home to LEGO House, a few shops and cafés, and it sits between the airport and LEGOLAND. Staying here lets you walk to LEGO House and take a short trip to the theme parks. Evenings are quiet, with only a few places open late.

Food to try in Denmark

Smørrebrød

Open sandwiches on dark rye bread, topped with things like pickled herring, egg, shrimp or roast beef. Danes usually eat them at lunch, and many traditional restaurants in Copenhagen serve them.

Rugbrød

A dense, sour rye bread full of seeds and grains. It is the base of smørrebrød and part of everyday Danish meals, from packed lunches to breakfast.

Frikadeller

Pan-fried meatballs, usually made with minced pork. They are classic home cooking, served hot with potatoes and gravy for dinner or cold on rye bread at lunch.

Stegt flæsk med persillesovs

Crispy fried pork belly with boiled potatoes and a creamy parsley sauce. It is a heavy, traditional dinner dish found in homes and old-style Danish restaurants.

Wienerbrød

The flaky, buttery pastry known abroad as a Danish pastry. Look for it in local bakeries, where people buy it for breakfast or with afternoon coffee.

Æbleskiver and gløgg

Æbleskiver are round, fluffy pancake balls served with jam and powdered sugar. They are a Christmas season treat, often eaten with gløgg, a hot spiced wine.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Denmark uses plug types C, E, F and K, and the voltage is 230 V. Most European two-pin plugs fit. Visitors from the UK or North America will need an adapter. Check that your devices accept 230 V.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 for police, fire or an ambulance. It is free to call from any phone. Denmark's international calling code is +45.
  • Currency: The currency is the Danish krone (DKK). Denmark does not use the euro, so check prices in DKK and change money or use a card that works abroad.
  • Language: The official language is Danish. English is widely spoken, especially in Copenhagen and other cities, so most visitors can manage without learning Danish.
  • Time zones: Mainland Denmark uses UTC+01:00. The country's other time zones cover Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Check local time if you travel there.
  • Tipping: Service is normally included in bills, so tipping is not expected. You can round up or leave a little extra for good service, but nobody will mind if you don't.
  • Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink across Denmark. You do not need to buy bottled water, so bring a refillable bottle.

Denmark: frequently asked questions

Is Denmark good to visit in August?

Yes. August scores 6.7 out of 10 and counts as a good month. Copenhagen highs reach 20.6°C and the sea warms to 19°C, the warmest of the year. There are 12.1 rain days and 68 mm of rain, so pack a light jacket, but sunshine still averages 11 hours a day.

What is the best month to visit Denmark?

June and August are the top-rated months, both flagged as best months in the data. June has the highest score at 7 out of 10, with highs of 19.5°C, 12.8 hours of sunshine and sea temperatures reaching 16.8°C. August follows closely with warmer seas at 19°C but slightly more rain.

Is Denmark cold in January?

Yes. January is the coldest month, with a high of just 4°C and a low of 0.7°C. Sea temperature drops to 3.2°C and sunshine averages only 2.9 hours a day. The month scores 1 out of 10 in our rating, reflecting the dark, cold conditions typical of Danish winter.

When should I avoid rainy weather in Denmark?

October has the most rain alongside July, with 69 mm and 12.5 rain days. Combined with cooler highs of 12.8°C and just 5.3 hours of sunshine, October scores only 3.6 out of 10. July also brings 71 mm of rain, but warmer temperatures around 20.4°C offset the wetter days.

Is Copenhagen warm enough to swim in summer?

Sea temperatures peak in July and August at 19.1°C and 19°C. These are the only months the sea gets close to comfortable for swimming without a wetsuit. By September it drops to 17.8°C, and from October onward it falls below 12.5°C, getting progressively colder into winter.

How sunny is Denmark compared across the year?

Sunshine peaks in June at 12.8 hours a day and stays high through July (12.1 hours) and August (11 hours). Winter is the opposite extreme: December has only 2.2 hours of sun and January just 2.9 hours, making late spring through summer the clearest stretch of the year.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Denmark.