What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Copenhagen, Denmark.
Photo: DUCTINH91 / Pixabay
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and a coastal city of 667,099 people. Many classic sights sit close together in Indre By, including Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle and the Round Tower. Tivoli Gardens and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek are in Vesterbro, an area known for food and nightlife. Christianshavn has canal views and Freetown Christiania. The best months to visit are June, July, August and September.
Plan for a few full days. Tivoli Gardens alone takes half a day. The National Museum of Denmark and Christiansborg Palace need 2–3 hours each. Most other main sights take 1–2 hours, so you can see them without rushing.
Vesterbro
A historic amusement park in the city centre with gardens, old-style rides, concert stages and restaurants. Locals and visitors both go, and it is especially atmospheric after dark when the lights come on.
Indre By
A canal lined with brightly painted townhouses, old wooden ships and outdoor cafés. It is the classic Copenhagen view and a starting point for many canal boat tours.
Indre By
A Renaissance royal castle set in the King's Garden, with richly decorated rooms and the Danish crown jewels in its treasury. The surrounding park is a popular spot to relax.
Slotsholmen
The seat of the Danish Parliament, which also holds royal reception rooms, ruins of earlier castles underground and the royal stables. The tower offers wide views over the city.
Frederiksstaden
The Danish royal family's home, made up of four matching palaces around an octagonal square. Visitors come to watch the changing of the guard and to see the nearby Marble Church.
Langelinie
A small bronze statue on the waterfront, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. It is smaller than many expect, so it works best combined with a walk past Kastellet fortress nearby.
Indre By
Denmark's main museum of cultural history, covering the Stone Age, the Vikings and modern Danish life. It is a good choice for understanding the country's past, and a solid option on a rainy day.
Vesterbro
An art museum with ancient sculpture from Egypt, Greece and Rome, plus French and Danish paintings. The glass-roofed winter garden with palm trees is a calm place to sit.
Indre By
A historic tower and observatory in the old town, climbed by a wide spiral ramp instead of stairs. The top gives views across the rooftops of central Copenhagen.
Christianshavn
A self-governing community founded by squatters in former military buildings, with murals, handmade houses, workshops and cafés. Respect the local rules, especially the ban on taking photos in some areas.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C / 1°C | 13 days (58 mm) | 2.9 h/day | 3°C | 1.1/10 |
| February | 5°C / 1°C | 11 days (52 mm) | 4.9 h/day | 3°C | 2.1/10 |
| March | 7°C / 1°C | 11 days (50 mm) | 6.6 h/day | 4°C | 2.4/10 |
| April | 10°C / 4°C | 9 days (44 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 8°C | 4.3/10 |
| May | 15°C / 9°C | 10 days (42 mm) | 12.2 h/day | 13°C | 6.7/10 |
| Best month: June | 20°C / 13°C | 10 days (51 mm) | 12.8 h/day | 17°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: July | 20°C / 14°C | 13 days (71 mm) | 12.1 h/day | 19°C | 7.5/10 |
| Best month: August | 21°C / 15°C | 12 days (68 mm) | 11.0 h/day | 19°C | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: September | 18°C / 13°C | 11 days (57 mm) | 8.9 h/day | 18°C | 7.6/10 |
| October | 13°C / 9°C | 13 days (69 mm) | 5.3 h/day | 13°C | 4.2/10 |
| November | 8°C / 5°C | 12 days (56 mm) | 3.2 h/day | 8°C | 1.5/10 |
| December | 6°C / 3°C | 13 days (61 mm) | 2.2 h/day | 5°C | 0.9/10 |
Cold and dark: highs of 4°C, 13 rain days and only 2.9 sun hours. A score of 1.1 puts it among the weakest months, but quiet for winter city breaks.
Still cold at 4.6°C highs, with 11 rain days and 4.9 sun hours. A low score of 2.1. Dress warmly for grey, damp days.
A slow start to spring: highs of 6.6°C, 11 rain days and 6.6 sun hours. A score of 2.4, as days stay chilly and often grey.
Milder at 10.3°C highs, with the year's fewest rain days at 9.4 and 10.4 sun hours. An ok month with a score of 4.3.
A good month with a score of 6.7: highs of 15.3°C, 10 rain days and 12.2 sun hours. The driest month, at 42 mm of rain.
The top-scoring month at 8: highs of 19.5°C, 10 rain days and 12.8 sun hours, the sunniest month of the year.
Among the best months, with a score of 7.5. Highs of 20.4°C and the sea at 19.1°C, but the wettest month at 71 mm over 13 rain days.
Among the best, with a score of 7.6. The warmest month, with highs of 20.6°C and the sea at 19°C. Expect 12 rain days and 68 mm.
Still among the best, with a score of 7.6. Highs of 17.7°C, the sea at 17.8°C and 11 rain days, with sun falling to 8.9 hours.
An ok month with a score of 4.2. Highs drop to 12.8°C, with 12.5 rain days, 69 mm of rain and 5.3 sun hours.
Tough weather: highs of 8.2°C, 12 rain days and just 3.2 sun hours make days dark and damp. A low score of 1.5.
The lowest score of the year at 0.9. Highs of 5.7°C, 13 rain days and only 2.2 sun hours make it the darkest month.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Denmark →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
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.
Good for food lovers, nightlife
A former working-class district west of Central Station, now full of cafés, bars and the Meatpacking District's restaurants. It is close to the station, which helps with airport and day-trip travel. Parts near the station feel scruffy, and bar streets stay loud late at night.
Good for couples, canal views
A canal-lined island district across the harbour from the centre, with old warehouses, houseboats and Christiania nearby. It feels calmer than the centre but is one metro stop away. Choice of places to stay is smaller than in the central areas.
Good for young travellers, budget-minded
A lively, mixed area north-west of the lakes, known for Jægersborggade, Assistens Cemetery and many small bars and ethnic eateries. It gives a local feel and good value for eating out. It is a longer walk to the main sights, and some streets are busy with traffic.
Good for families, quiet
A leafy residential district north of the centre, with parks, the lakes and an easy walk to The Little Mermaid. It is calm and safe-feeling, good for families and longer stays. Evenings are quiet, with less nightlife than other areas.
Good for families, relaxed stays
Technically its own municipality surrounded by Copenhagen, with elegant streets, Frederiksberg Gardens and the zoo. It is green and peaceful, with metro links to the centre. Distances to the old town are longer, so you will rely more on the metro or a bike.
Open sandwiches on dense rye bread, topped with things like pickled herring, roast beef, egg and shrimp, or liver pâté. Locals eat them at lunch, often in traditional lunch restaurants or from home.
Flaky, buttery pastries such as the cinnamon swirl called kanelsnegl. Danes buy them from neighbourhood bakeries for breakfast, a weekend treat or with afternoon coffee.
Danish sausages, often the bright red 'rød pølse', served in a bun with remoulade, mustard, ketchup, crispy onions and pickles. Locals grab one from street stands as a quick snack.
Crispy fried pork belly with boiled potatoes and a creamy parsley sauce. It is often called Denmark's national dish and is a classic home-style meal in traditional restaurants.
Round, fluffy pancake balls dusted with powdered sugar and dipped in jam. Danes eat them mainly in the Christmas season, often with gløgg, a warm spiced wine.
A cold, sweet buttermilk soup flavoured with lemon and vanilla, served with small crunchy biscuits called kammerjunkere. It is a typical summer dessert or snack, often with fresh strawberries.
June to September is the best time to visit Copenhagen. June scores highest at 8, with August and September at 7.6 and July at 7.5. Daytime highs are 19.5–20.6°C and you get 11–12.8 hours of sun a day from June to August. Rain does not stop in summer, though. July is the wettest month, with 71 mm on 12.7 days.
December and January suit travellers who like a cold, dark and quiet city. They are not the months for long days outdoors. December has highs of 5.7°C, only 2.2 hours of sun a day and rain on 13.1 days. January is colder, with highs of 4°C and lows of 0.7°C. It gets 2.9 hours of sun and also has rain on 13.1 days.
April and October are mixed months, with scores of 4.3 and 4.2. April is cool, with highs of 10.3°C, but it has 10.4 hours of sun a day and only 44 mm of rain. October is a little warmer, with highs of 12.8°C. It is much darker and wetter, though, with 5.3 hours of sun and 69 mm of rain on 12.5 days.
Yes, but the water is cool even at its warmest. The sea peaks at 19.1°C in July and 19°C in August. It is 16.8°C in June and 17.8°C in September. From November to April it stays at 8.3°C or below, and it drops to 2.7°C in February.
Plan for several days if you want to see the main sights. Tivoli Gardens takes half a day. Christiansborg Palace and the National Museum of Denmark need 2–3 hours each, and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek needs 2 hours. Plan 1–2 hours each for Rosenborg Castle, Nyhavn and Freetown Christiania. Many of these sights are in Indre By, so you can group them by area.
Enter to search · Esc to close