How to save money while visiting Copenhagen | 7 tips on a budget in this expensive city
- Gem
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Copenhagen,the ca pital of Denmark, is a very expensive city to visit. In 2023, Forbes even listed Copenhagen as the 8th most expensive city to live in the world. But even though this city is expensive, this fact should not keep you from visiting the beautiful city of Copenhagen. There are some hacks and tips to save money while on holiday in Copenhagen.
My 7 personal tried-and-true tips are compiled in this quick post. Hopefully it will help you with planning your visit to Copenhagen.
Table of Contents
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1. Avoid eating and drinking in touristy areas
Food and drinks are a lot more expensive in touristy areas like Nyhavn, or Strøget street.
Instead, go to Blågårds Plads or just walk a couple of streets further before settling down somewhere. Another thing I recommend is ordering food from vendors outside. The food is great every time and this way you are definitely supporting a local business. You can typically find these types of vendors on small squares.
2. Download a currency calculator app
One mistake I made was not downloading a currency calculator app. While in a souvenir shop I had no service, so I guessed the converted prices of the things that I wanted to buy. After buying them and checking the payment on my bank account statement, I noticed that this shop was actually a lot more expensive than I thought. With the calculator app I would have been able to avoid this mistake, but now I can at least inform other people about it.
3. Take the metro or train - even from the airport
The connection between Copenhagen and its airport is amazing and easy to take advantage of. It does not matter where you are staying in Copenhagen, with the train and the metro you can get anywhere in the city in just 15-20 minutes!
So, there is definitely no need for a taxi, just take the metro or train. Once you are in Copenhagen itself, the metro system is very easy to navigate and will take you anywhere you want to be.
4. Rent a bike to discover the city
Another way to explore Copenhagen cheaply is by renting a bike. Copenhagen is a great city to bike in and in this way you will not miss any part of Copenhagen as compared to taking public transport.
You will see much of the city and get a sense of its layout by just biking.
5. See if the Copenhagen Card is worth it for you (It probably is)
If you are planning to visit many sights and museums and use the public transport (in and outside of Copenhagen), I highly recommend buying the Copenhagen Card. For most people with these types of plans in the city, the total of all activities and public transport trips will be more than what they have paid for the Copenhagen Card. If you are not sure yet if this will be the case for you as well, you can check out and use their savings calculator! (https://copenhagencard.com/attractions)
If you want to know more about my experience with the Copenhagen Card and if it would be worth it for you as well. Check out my experience in this blog post. (Not sponsored)
6. Visit between February and may or between September and November
Copenhagen's tourist high season is during the summer months (June, July and August) and during the holidays (December and January) due to the amazing Christmas decorations and Christmas markets.
7. Stay in a hostel or lesser known neigbourhoods
One of the things everyone should know when traveling on a budget is to know how to find cheap accommodation. If you are solo travelling or travelling with friends, you can always choose a hostel. I recommend staying at Urban Camper Hostel for a unique stay in the Nørrebro neighbourhood. Check out my review here.
If you do want to stay in a hotel, check out the options further from the touristic attractions using the maps on hotel booking websites.
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