Best time to visit · Copenhagen · Denmark
The best time to visit Copenhagen
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Julian Herzog ( Website ), CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Copenhagen is May to September, when days are long, café terraces and harbour baths are open and Tivoli runs its summer season; June to August are the warmest and busiest months. November and December are dark and cold but festive, with Tivoli's Christmas season, while January to March is the quietest and lowest-priced period.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September
- Shoulder season
- April, October and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 22°C (72°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 3°C (37°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~10 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- February
Seasons
Copenhagen has a mild maritime climate: cool summers that rarely pass 25°C, grey winters hovering around freezing, and rain and wind spread across the year. Daylight swings widely, from about 17.5 hours in June to around 7 hours in December.
March–May
Spring
Cherry blossom, Tivoli reopening and rapidly lengthening days; still cool, with crisp mornings.
June–August
Summer
Long, light evenings, harbour swimming, the Jazz Festival and outdoor dining; the busiest and most expensive season.
September–November
Autumn
A mild early autumn, Culture Night and Tivoli's Halloween season, turning dark and damp by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold and dark, with Christmas markets, gløgg and hygge in December, then the quietest and lowest-priced weeks of the year.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C | -1°C | 10 | 4°C | 7.6 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 3°C | -1°C | 8 | 3°C | 9.5 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| March | 6°C | 0°C | 8 | 3°C | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 11°C | 3°C | 7 | 6°C | 14.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 16°C | 7°C | 8 | 10°C | 16.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 19°C | 11°C | 8 | 15°C | 17.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 22°C | 14°C | 9 | 18°C | 17 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 21°C | 13°C | 9 | 18°C | 15 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 17°C | 11°C | 9 | 16°C | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 12°C | 7°C | 10 | 12°C | 10.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 8°C | 4°C | 10 | 9°C | 8.2 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 5°C | 1°C | 10 | 6°C | 7.1 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Winter sales in the shops (January) |
| February | Fastelavn — children's carnival with costumes and cream buns (February or early March) |
| April | Cherry blossom at Bispebjerg Cemetery (usually late April); Tivoli summer season opens (usually April) |
| May | Copenhagen Marathon (usually May) |
| June | Sankt Hans Aften — midsummer bonfires on beaches and lakes (23 June); Roskilde Festival, 35 km away (usually late June to early July) |
| July | Copenhagen Jazz Festival — concerts across the city (usually early July) |
| August | Copenhagen Pride (usually August) |
| October | Culture Night (Kulturnatten) — late openings across the city (usually October); Halloween at Tivoli (usually October) |
| November | J-Dag — release of the Tuborg Christmas beer (first Friday in November); Tivoli Christmas season opens (usually mid-November) |
| December | Christmas markets at Nyhavn, Højbro Plads and Tivoli (usually late November to December); New Year's Eve fireworks across the city |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in February, and the sights are quietest in January–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Copenhagen?
The best time to visit Copenhagen is May to September, when days are long, café terraces and harbour baths are open and Tivoli runs its summer season; June to August are the warmest and busiest months. November and December are dark and cold but festive, with Tivoli's Christmas season, while January to March is the quietest and lowest-priced period.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Copenhagen?
Usually in February. Often the coldest month, with occasional snow; one of the lowest-priced times to visit.
+What is the rainiest month in Copenhagen?
January, with about 10 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Copenhagen get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 22°C (72°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).