Is Copenhagen expensive? – 4 budget tips to make your money go further

I’ve visited Copenhagen four times now and often get asked “is Copenhagen expensive?” On our recent family holiday in Copenhagen I found that while certain things, notably eating out, are indeed pricy, others are quite affordable and there are ways to keep the costs under control.

While Scandinavia in general has a reputation for being expensive, the joke among the Danes is “If you think it’s expensive here, wait until you get to Norway!” The Icelanders consider Copenhagen a cheap weekend break destination, so I guess it’s all relative.

So if you’re wondering how to enjoy Copenhagen on a budget here are my top tips.

1. Rent an apartment in Copenhagen

Hotel rooms in Copenhagen don’t come cheap (after all it is a capital city) but renting an apartment or staying in a Danish home can be surprisingly affordable and the bonus is that you also get an insight into how the Danes live. Our Air B & B apartment was only 5 minutes from the tourist landmarks of the Stork fountain and Nyhaven, yet the street was quiet and behind the entrance was an enclosed garden and courtyard to park our bikes.

Our relaxed Danish hosts had gone to their out-of-town summer house up the coast and left all their quirky books and artworks, clothes and other possessions behind, giving us a glimpse into their lives. Because we went for a large 3 bedroom apartment with loads of living space in a central location of course it wasn’t rock-bottom prices but still cost much less than accommodating us all in a hotel.

2. Self cater and eat out at lunchtime

Renting an apartment or staying in a hostel where you can self cater really helps to keep the cost down in a city where even a middle range restaurant can set you back £50 per head for a meal with a glass or two of wine.

There are supermarkets dotted around town where the food prices are around the same as in the UK, even for wine or beer. However, beware the 7-eleven convenience stores which have a small selection of emergency food supplies but otherwise sell bakery products and snacks more at takeaway than supermarket prices.

Self catering doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself to some great Danish food, but be selective and keep costs down by eating at lunchtime or in the early evening. Try the Torverhallerne food halls with two market halls where you can buy snacks from many different food vendors or head across the harbour to the Copenhagen Street Food on Paper Island where you can sit on the harbour wall with a beer and buy snacks from the trailers and food stands inside the large industrial hangar to cool DJ sounds.

Around town you can look out for the informal restaurants and cafes run by the top Michelin Star chefs, such as the Claus Meyer Deli in Frederiksberg (that’s Claus Meyer co-owner of Noma), Aroiidee Asian Bistro right by Michelin star Kiin Kiin run by Henrik Yde Andersen or the Manfreds & Vin wine bar opposite the Michelin star Relae run by Christian Puglisi. If you really want to eat out in the evening without spending a fortune, head for the more local neighbourhoods like Vesterbro or Norrebro or the student areas of the Latin quarter near the University.

3. Hire a bike to get around in Copenhagen

For a capital city, Copenhagen is surprisingly walkable and if you only have a couple of days you can easily see most of the sights on foot. Next best is to rent a bike and bomb around town with your head in the air like a local which will give you the greatest freedom at moderate cost – we rented bikes for 100 DKr per day. It’s also worth looking out for accommodation that will loan you bikes as part of the deal or hire at a discounted rate for guests.

The train and metro are also fast and efficient but not exceptionally cheap so I would use them for specific journeys such as the easy 30 minute trip direct from the airport (around 36 Kr). It’s worth knowing that you can take your bike on the train in the specially designated carriages that are clearly marked with a bike symbol.

We found this very useful when we took the coastal train out of Copenhagen to visit the Karen Blixen House and the Louisiania art museum which are much quicker to access at the other end with a bike, or you can cycle along the coast road to find interesting swimming spots.

4. Do your homework to get the best deals

Even if you’re watching your budget, there are some things that are worth the splurge, but by doing your homework you can also get some great deals. For instance the Tivoli amusement park is a magical and un-missable Copenhagen experience, but if you book ahead online you can get the Puls Ticket which includes Park entrance, a multi-ride pass and a snack and drink thrown – it’s a great deal considering you could easily spend a day there.

The Carlsberg Glyptotek museum is free on Sundays and if you like sightseeing check out the Copenhagen Card which includes free transport and admission to 72 attractions from 339 DKK for 24 hours and keep an eye on the Wonderful Copenhagen website for latest events and budget ideas.

Don’t let Copenhagen’s pricy reputation put you off visiting as it’s a super-cool city with loads to see and do – and remember that in the Scandinavian scheme of things Copenhagen is a comparative bargain compared to Norway and Iceland.

More things to enjoy Copenhagen

10 Summertime cool things we did in Copenhagen (and you could too)
How to have a perfect weekend break in Copenhagen
Tips for eating out in Copenhagen on a budget

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com.

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