Copenhagen

2015

Cost: ££ – flights and accommodation can be reasonable but it’s expensive when there
Rating: 6/10 – lovely place for a mini break but I wouldn’t rush to go back
Trip length: 2 nights is all you really need

This trip was in 2015 so:

1. The photos are not the best quality – copied from an old Facebook album.
2. I wasn’t as good at planning so likely missed a lot.

I really liked Copenhagen – it’s a pretty city and everyone is so friendly. If you’re on a budget, best to grab breakfast / lunch from bakeries as eating in restaurants is expensive. Lots of the things to see are free of charge so you won’t spend a massive amount on sightseeing. I can’t remember exactly but my friend and I were on a tight budget and I can’t imagine we would have spent more than £150 each!!!

Flights – I don’t have exact details but just checked SkyScanner – for a Friday to Sunday trip in March (which is when we went) you can book flights for as little as £60 with EasyJet.

Accommodation
Again, no record / memory of the hotel (although it was nothing to shout about)! Had a quick browse on AirBnb – there are some lovely places for around £80+ per night.

Currency in Copenhagen is the Danish Krone – another hard one to work out. £10 is roughly 84 DKK! Eating / drinking is expensive so if you’re on a budget, double check the conversion before you order so you know what you’re paying in normal money.

Transport
There is a metro which has 2 lines (one running from the airport) and each journey is around £3.50. If you’re planning on travelling by metro a lot, it might be worth investing in a CityPass which is just DKK 150 / £18 for 48 hours!
Copenhagen isn’t massive so if the weather is nice and you are able, I would say walking is the best way to take it all in as well as being the cheapest mode of transport.

1 – Nyhavn
Brightly coloured waterfront buildings are one of the most well-known parts of the city!

There is a working canal which runs alongside bustling shops and restaurants. Food and drinks are more expensive than in other areas, but generally the food is very good. We enjoyed a delicious Smørrebrød (open sandwich) which are famous in Denmark.
One evening we bought drinks from a local shop and sat on the edge of the canal with many others enjoying the area without paying restaurant prices… clever 🙂

2 – The Little Mermaid

Take a stroll along the waterfront (Langelinie promenade) and you will find The Little Mermaid. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting, but I must admit it was a little disappointing! It’s one of the top things to do in Copenhagen and I guess it’s worth seeing for a photo, but don’t plan on spending too much time in the area as there’s not much to see.

3 – Copenhagen Botanical Gardens

We had a lovely afternoon walking around the botanical gardens. They boast 10 hectares and 27 glasshouses in the centre of Copenhagen.

4 – Rundetaarn
This is a 17th century round lookout tower and you get to take in a panoramic view of the city when you reach the top! It only costs DKK 25 / £3 to go inside and the climb is very gentle so you don’t need to be super fit.

Other things…

Frederik’s Church (centre in collage below) – 18th-century Lutheran church with the largest dome in Scandinavia.
Happy Wall (left in collage below) – we stumbled upon a Happy Wall which many people were interacting with and posing for photos next to (so of course, we joined in!) I just googled and I’m not sure it’s there anymore.
Copenhagen Opera-house (left in collage above) – impressive, interesting building on harbour front.

There are many pretty buildings you see as you walk around – not entirely sure what the above are – potentially the City Hall??

Freetown Christiania (left in collage above) – we walked quite a way to Christiania which is a very alternative neighbourhood. Once a former military base, hippies took it over in 1971 and now it’s a commune with 850 – 1000 people living there. It’s known for its free cannabis trade which was legal until 2004. It is a quirky, unusual place and definitely worth a short trip!

We didn’t make it to the Tivoli Gardens but they come top on most Copenhagen ‘to do’ lists and they are the second oldest amusement park in the world (opened in 1843!)

Estimated cost per person
Flights – £60
Accommodation – £90
Spend – £150
Total for 2 nights – £300