European Travel Series

Hello everyone!

It’s been just over a week since I flew home from Denmark. Where has the time gone? I had the nicest weekend with my friend and fellow blogger Fifi. Copenhagen has been a city on my travel bucket list for quite a while so I could not wait for this city break. I think you will agree that there is nothing better than a short flight and a new city to explore.

Planning a trip over in the next few months? Here is a low down on all you need to know about Copenhagen. From travel tips to top things to do and see. Have a read through and if you have any questions feel free to comment below! 🙂

THE WEATHER

If cold weather doesn’t bother you then planning a trip over between November – April is a must. The temperature can average from -5 degrees to +5 degrees, and so going to Copenhagen in the Winter months will mean packing a few extra jumpers.

Note: if you’re planning a budget getaway, bear in mind that extra layers in your suitcase can add weight so you have two choices; wear a lot of layers on board your flight or pay to check in an additional bag.

GETTING AROUND

In my opinion, there are only two true ways to properly explore Copenhagen – walk and cycle everywhere. BUT, if you’re more of a bus, train, metro person then the Copenhagen Card is definitely worth looking into. You can get free admission to a lot of tours and museums with this card too which is great. For more on the Copenhagen Card click here.

We decided to opt for walking and cycling and managed to find free entry into a lot of places either way – Copenhagen is a small place and it is easy to find your way around.

HIRE A BIKE

It cost us €15 to rent bikes for a full day from our hotel.
In my opinion grabbing a bike for a day and exploring on wheels is the way to go. So much fun!

CANAL TOURS

Similar to Amsterdam there are a few canals running through this beautiful city. A canal tour is a great way to get your bearings and eye out spots to explore during your stay. Canal tours allow you to see cities from a unique perspective so this should be a must on your trip. Click here for tours on offer.

Travel Tip: Canal Tours Grand Tour of Copenhagen is FREE with the Copenhagen Card.

VISIT NYHAVN

Nyhavn was by far my favourite place in Copenhagen. Back in the day it was originally a busy commercial port where ships from all over the world would dock. The area was packed with sailors, pubs and alehouses.

Today the beautifully bright old houses have been renovated and classy restaurants dominate the old port. Nyhavn is filled with people enjoying the relaxed atmosphere by the canal, the coffee spots and the great food.

SHOPPING

If you are a shopaholic then a browse through the shops is a must when you are visiting this city. You can walk from Torvehallerne to Strøget and make sure not to miss the small side streets along the way. Strøget is about a 1km stretch of car free, pedestrian friendly street that is filled with a wealth of well-known shops from budget friendly stores to luxury shopping experiences. From Chanel to Zara – you will be spoilt for choice. You will also have plenty of opportunities to pick up souvenirs, grab a coffee or listen to talented buskers along the way.

MUSEUMS

One of the great things about Copenhagen is that you can walk to almost everything. It really is a great way to explore the city. You should definitely visit some of the most visited museums in Copenhagen, The National Gallery of Denmark or The National Museum are two I would recommend.

THE ROUND TOWER

The Round Tower is a must if you want a great view of the city. While the observatory deck was freezing the views made it worthwhile. Fun fact – this is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. The entry fee was only about €2.

THE TIVOLI GARDENS

The Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen is a must for all visitors to the city, (both young and old). Tivoli is located just a few minutes walk from the City Hall, and with the Copenhagen Central Station as its nearest neighbour it is very easy to get to. This was on our to do list but unfortunately it wasn’t open. We have heard great things about it so definitely do go if you can.

CHRISTIANSBORG PALACE

The Christiansborg Palace tower is the highest tower in Copenhagen (with its 106 metres), and it offers a magnificent view of the city’s rooftops. There is free entry to the tower and if you go there around lunch time you can dine in The Tower’s restaurant.

FOODIE SPOTS

There are plenty of eateries around Nyhavn both along the canal and down the streets pouring off it. I would recommend going for a coffee and a danish pastry breakfast along the canal and definitely grab a traditional hot dog with all the trimmings for lunch from a hot dog stand – a cheap enough snack on the run but 100% worth it.

If you’re a fan of churros and waffles then make sure you stop off at a waffle house or vendor. It was particularly cold one of the evenings so this with melted nutella really topped off our day. Nothing quite beats hot churros or waffles on an icy day.

– Foodie Tips –

Eating along the canal in Nyhavn can be relatively pricey, you can expect to pay 130-270 DKK (€13-€27) for a main course on the canal. Copenhagen is renowned for being one of the most expensive cities in Europe, so combine that with being in the most popular tourist attraction here, Nyhavn, it’s clear to understand why the prices are that bit higher.

However, the canal is beautiful so if you aren’t on a strict budget – it’s a perfect addition to your trip.

A Danish cuisine you are guaranteed to run across during your stay is a ‘Smørrebrød’, (which translates to butter and bread) this is an open sandwich with a dark Rye base. Popular toppings include pieces of meat / fish, cheeses, chutneys and pickles. YUM!

FREETOWN CHRISTIANIA

Christiania is a green and car free neighbourhood that has its own set of rules and is completely independent from the Danish government. It consists of art galleries, workshops, homemade houses and organic eateries, it is certainly a unique place to visit.

TIP: When you enter into Christiana you will see a set of ‘do’s and dont’s’ which you are highly advised to follow for your own safety and include rules such as ‘no photos’, which is mainly due to the existence of hash dealing.

THE LITTLE MERMAID

At Langelinje Pier you will find one of Copenhagen’s most famous tourist attractions: The sculpture of The Little Mermaid. On our last day we cycled here from Nyhavn. It only took us 6-8 minutes. There was a small crowd of people there when we arrived but we got our photos eventually so happy out! On 23 August 2013 she turned 100 years old. Definitely worth a visit if you’re a fan of mermaids! 😛

THE AMALIENBORG PALACE

Amalienborg Palace is a must for anyone with a taste for royal history and the life of Denmark’s royal family who still resides inside the palace. You can experience the royal history at the museum and sense the present of the world’s oldest monarchy from the beautiful palace square where you can watch the changing of the guards. We passed through the palace on our way to The Little Mermaid just in time to see the changing of the guards. Such a beautiful square so definitely another place to add to the list.

The changing of the guard takes place at 12:00 noon.

There you have it – all you need to know about travelling to Copenhagen on a budget! I am working on my next European Travel Series blog post which will be all about Munich so keep an eye out if you’re considering booking a city break there soon.

If there is anything in particular you’d like me to blog about let me know. You can catch me on Snapchat: duffyloikes, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Until next time…

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2 Replies to “A Weekend in Copenhagen”

Emily says:
7th February 2017 at 8:02 pm

Great post! It’s nice to read about Copenhagen being possible on a budget and cheap things to do since it has such a reputation!
lornaduffy says:
7th February 2017 at 8:11 pm

Thanks Emily! It’s 100% possible on a budget. Plenty to do and see! 🙂

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