Denmark, Europe
The best time to visit Copenhagen
A city that swims in its own harbor all summer and turns inward to candlelight all winter, so the season decides the trip.
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Think twice
- No month is a write-off
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit Copenhagen is late May through early September, when the days run 16 to 17 hours long, the harbor baths are open, and Tivoli, the jazz festival, and outdoor dining are all in full swing.
Go between late May and early September. Copenhagen is built around water and bikes, and both come alive in the long northern summer: locals swim in the harbor baths at Islands Brygge, cycle to the beach at Amager Strand, and eat outside until the sun finally sets after 10pm in June.
Summer is also the expensive, busy season, but crowds here never reach Southern European levels. The real downside of peak summer is cost, in an already expensive city. Late May, June, and the first half of September give you most of the summer with a little less pressure on hotel prices.
Winter is the season of hygge: candlelit cafes, Tivoli's Christmas season, and markets at Nyhavn. It is also dark by about 4pm in December, gray, damp, and windy. November through March is good for museums, design, and food, and poor for the outdoor city that makes Copenhagen special.
Copenhagen, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryQuiet valueCold and damp, highs near 36F (2C), about 7 hours of daylightQuiet and cheaper, but dark and gray. Museums, restaurants, and saunas only.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryQuiet valueCold, highs near 37F (3C), windyThe quietest month. Winter jazz festival programs brighten it up.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueCool, highs near 43F (6C)Days lengthen quickly, but spring is late this far north. Still a museum month.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodMild, highs near 52F (11C)Tivoli's summer season opens around Easter or in April. Cherry blossoms at Bispebjerg Cemetery late in the month.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayGoodPleasant, highs near 61F (16C)Outdoor cafe season starts, long evenings, and prices below summer peak. A smart pick.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneBestMild, highs near 67F (19C), light until 10pmThe longest days, Distortion street parties early in the month, and Sankt Hans bonfires on June 23.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyBestWarm, highs near 71F (22C)Copenhagen Jazz Festival and harbor-swimming season. Many Danes take July vacation, so some restaurants close.Hotels for July →CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustBestWarm, highs near 70F (21C), some rainStill full summer, with Copenhagen Pride in mid to late August. The harbor water is at its warmest.Hotels for August →CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberGoodMild, highs near 63F (17C)Early September keeps summer's feel at lower prices. Tivoli's summer season ends mid to late month.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberQuiet valueCool and wet, highs near 54F (12C)Tivoli's Halloween season and Culture Night. Gray, windy days start.CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberQuiet valueDamp and dark, highs near 45F (7C)Tivoli's Christmas season opens mid month. The dreariest weather of the year.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberGoodCold, highs near 39F (4C), dark by 4pmChristmas markets at Tivoli and Nyhavn and candlelit everything. The best of the dark season.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book Copenhagen for June.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for June
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in CopenhagenOpens a hotel search for Copenhagen in June, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in CopenhagenWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in CopenhagenTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Copenhagen for June. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Copenhagen
A city built for bikes
More Copenhageners commute by bike than by car, and the dedicated lanes make it easy for visitors too. A bike is the best way to see the city in any season.
Swimming in the harbor
The harbor water is clean enough to swim in, and free harbor baths at Islands Brygge and elsewhere fill with locals on every warm day.
New Nordic and beyond
Copenhagen made New Nordic cooking famous. Beyond the tasting menus, the smorrebrod open sandwiches, bakeries, and food halls are some of the best everyday eating in Europe.
Design everywhere
From the Designmuseum to the furniture shops and the architecture of the new harbor districts, Danish design is part of the landscape, not just the gift shop.
Things to do, and when to do them
Tivoli Gardens
Opened in 1843, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Best at dusk when the lights come on. Runs in seasons, not year-round.
Rosenborg Castle and the Crown Jewels
A Renaissance castle in the King's Garden holding the Danish crown jewels. Timed tickets in summer.
National Museum of Denmark
Vikings, Bronze Age treasures, and Danish history in one building. A strong rainy-day choice.
SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark
Danish Golden Age painting and a strong modern collection. Evening openings on some weekdays.
Nyhavn
The painted 17th-century harbor front. Photograph it at 8am, then eat elsewhere; the canal-side restaurants are overpriced.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Forty minutes north by train, on the coast. The sculpture garden and sea views make it a summer half day.
Christiansborg Palace
Parliament, royal reception rooms, and the ruins beneath. The tower has one of the best free views in the city.
Harbor baths at Islands Brygge
Free public swimming from roughly June to August, with lifeguards. Bring a towel; the water rarely tops the mid 60s F (about 18C).
Events and seasons worth planning around
Distortion
Several days in early June
Huge free street parties that move neighborhood to neighborhood, ending with a ticketed final party.
Sankt Hans Aften (Midsummer Eve)
June 23 every year
Bonfires on the beaches and in the parks, with the traditional song. The most Danish evening of the year.
Roskilde Festival
About a week in late June to early July
One of Europe's biggest music festivals, 30 minutes west by train.
Copenhagen Jazz Festival
About ten days in early July
Hundreds of concerts in clubs, squares, and parks, many of them free.
Culture Night (Kulturnatten)
One Friday in October
Museums, palaces, and even the parliament open late, with one pass for everything.
Christmas season
Mid November through early January
Tivoli's Christmas season, the market at Nyhavn, and candles in every window.
Beat the crowds
- Visit Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid before 9am in summer. Cruise groups arrive mid morning.
- Rent a bike and head to Norrebro, Vesterbro, or the harbor districts instead of staying in the strip between Stroget and Nyhavn.
- Book popular restaurants and Rosenborg tickets ahead in July and August. Much of the rest of the city works as walk-in.
- For lower prices with summer weather, aim for early June or early September rather than July.
Open or closed
- Tivoli is seasonal: a summer season from around April to September, a Halloween season in October, and a Christmas season from mid November to early January. It is closed in between, including most of late winter.
- July is Denmark's main vacation month, and some independent restaurants and shops close for two to three weeks.
- Many museums close on Mondays. Check before planning around them.
- Harbor baths and beach life are summer only, roughly June to August, with daring locals swimming into September.
- Denmark shuts down on Christmas Eve afternoon, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, as well as around Easter. Book dinners ahead.
With kids in tow
- Tivoli is the obvious win, and the Experimentarium science center, the Blue Planet aquarium, and the Copenhagen Zoo round out a family trip.
- The original LEGOLAND is in Billund, about three hours away by train and bus or car, and the LEGO House is there too. Worth it for LEGO-mad kids as a separate stop.
- Cycling with kids is normal here. Many rental shops offer cargo bikes with child seats.
- Summer's late sunsets can disrupt kids' sleep. Blackout curtains are worth checking for when booking.
Getting there
- Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is the largest hub in the Nordics, with SAS and other carriers flying nonstop from several US cities, including New York.
- The metro reaches the center in about 15 minutes, and trains run to Copenhagen Central Station.
- The Oresund Bridge links Copenhagen to Malmo, Sweden, in about 35 minutes by train, and Stockholm is about five hours by rail or a short flight.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Copenhagen for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Copenhagen makes our ranked list.
Copenhagen timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Copenhagen?
June. The longest days of the year, warm enough for harbor swimming, Sankt Hans bonfires, and slightly lower prices than July.
What is the cheapest time to visit Copenhagen?
January through March. Hotel rates fall, but so does daylight: expect gray skies and about seven to ten hours of daylight.
Is Copenhagen worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for museums, food, and hygge, especially in December when Tivoli's Christmas season and the markets are open. Expect cold, damp weather and early darkness.
When is Tivoli open?
In seasons: summer from around April to September, Halloween in October, and Christmas from mid November to early January. It is closed in between, so check dates before planning around it.
When is Copenhagen rainy?
Rain is spread through the year, with late summer and fall the wettest. July and August can bring short heavy showers; winter tends to be more gray and drizzly.
Can you swim in Copenhagen harbor?
Yes. The harbor baths are free and supervised in summer, usually June to August. Water temperatures are in the 60s F (about 16 to 20C).
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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