Budget · Copenhagen · Denmark
Copenhagen on a budget
What a trip to Copenhagen really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Franklin Heijnen, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Copenhagen is very expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $110–$170 per person per day on a tight budget, $240–$420 mid-range and $550–$1,300 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $110–$170 a day
- Mid-range
- $240–$420 a day
- Luxury
- $550–$1,300 a day
- Local currency
- DKK
- Free sights
- 9
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $110–$170 | $330–$510 | $550–$850 | $770–$1,190 |
| Mid-range | $240–$420 | $720–$1,260 | $1,200–$2,100 | $1,680–$2,940 |
| Luxury | $550–$1,300 | $1,650–$3,900 | $2,750–$6,500 | $3,850–$9,100 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Copenhagen, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro or bus ticket (2 zones) | about 25–30 kr |
| Coffee | about 40–55 kr |
| Cinnamon swirl or pastry | about 30–45 kr |
| Hot dog from a sausage wagon | about 40–60 kr |
| Smørrebrød, per piece | about 60–140 kr |
| Draught beer | about 55–80 kr |
| Tivoli entry (rides extra) | about 150–200 kr |
| Mid-range dinner main course | about 200–300 kr |
Money-saving tips
- Rent a bike instead of taking taxis; it is the fastest way around the centre.
- Make lunch your main meal at Torvehallerne, a bakery or a sausage wagon, and keep dinner simple.
- Buy drinks and snacks at supermarkets and picnic on the harbour front or in the King's Garden.
- SMK's permanent collection, the Christiansborg tower, the harbour baths and the parks are free.
- The Copenhagen Card pays off only if you visit several paid attractions a day and use public transport heavily.
- Travel between January and March for the lowest hotel prices.
Free things to do
- Nyhavn — Dug in the 1670s to bring ships into the city, Nyhavn's canal is lined with 17th- and 18th-century townhouses painted red, yellow and blue, with wooden sailing ships moored along the quay.
- Amalienborg — Four matching rococo palaces around an octagonal square form the Copenhagen home of the Danish royal family, with a museum of royal apartments in one wing.
- The Little Mermaid — Edvard Eriksen's small bronze of Hans Christian Andersen's mermaid has sat on a rock at Langelinie since 1913.
- Strøget — One of Europe's longest pedestrian shopping streets runs about 1.1 km from City Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv, past department stores, Danish design flagships and the squares of Gammeltorv and Amagertorv.
- SMK – National Gallery of Denmark — Denmark's largest art museum covers Danish Golden Age painting, European art from Mantegna to Rubens and a strong 20th-century collection including Matisse, in a 19th-century building joined to a modern extension overlooking the Østre Anlæg park.
- Freetown Christiania — Founded in 1971 when squatters occupied a disused military base, Freetown Christiania is a self-governing community of colourful self-built houses, workshops, galleries, cafés and lakeside paths along the old ramparts.
Where to stay on a budget
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Vesterbro
Old working-class streets turned bars, cafés and the Meatpacking District
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Nørrebro
Diverse streets, Jægersborggade's workshops and Assistens Cemetery
$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Islands Brygge
Harbour-front lawns, a free harbour bath and modern apartments on Amager
Eating well for less
- Danish pastries — Bakeries across the city, many with queues out of the door on weekend mornings.
- Danish hot dog — Sausage wagons on Strøget, City Hall Square and near stations.
- Rugbrød — Bakeries and supermarkets; served with almost every lunch.
Getting around for less
City Pass
Unlimited travel on the metro, buses, harbour buses and trains in the central zones, including the airport, for 24 to 120 hours.
Copenhagen Card
A 24- to 120-hour card with unlimited public transport across the capital region, including the airport, and free entry to many museums and attractions.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Copenhagen cost?
About $1,200–$2,100 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $550–$850 on a tight budget.
+Is Copenhagen expensive?
It is very expensive for international visitors. Rent a bike instead of taking taxis; it is the fastest way around the centre.
+How much money do I need per day in Copenhagen?
Roughly $110–$170 on a budget and $240–$420 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Copenhagen?
Usually in February.