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Copenhagen on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Copenhagen on a budget is possible but never cheap. A realistic minimum is about DKK 1,000 (about €140) a day per person sharing a room (about DKK 500 bed, 300 food, 150 sights, 80 transport); a hostel dorm and supermarket meals can bring it down to roughly DKK 650–750.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | DKK500 | DKK1,000 | DKK2,000 |
| Food & drink | DKK300 | DKK600 | DKK1,200 |
| Sights & tickets | DKK150 | DKK350 | DKK600 |
| Local transport | DKK80 | DKK150 | DKK300 |
| Per person, per day | DKK1,030 | DKK2,100 | DKK4,100 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Copenhagen day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Nyhavn, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid on a harbour walk
- The tower of Christiansborg Palace, the tallest viewpoint in the city
- The changing of the guard at Amalienborg, daily at 12:00
- Christiania and the canals of Christianshavn
- The harbour baths at Islands Brygge and Kalvebod Bølge in summer
- Assistens Cemetery in Nørrebro, a park where Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard are buried
Cheap eats
- Danish hot dog from a pølsevogn: DKK 40–60
- Cinnamon swirl or Danish pastry from a bakery: DKK 30–45
- A dish at Reffen street-food market (warmer months): DKK 100–150
- Smørrebrød from a takeaway shop instead of a restaurant: from about DKK 60 a piece
- Æbleskiver at the Christmas markets: DKK 40–70 a portion
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in Vesterbro near the Central Station, in the centre, or in Nørrebro. Dorm beds cost roughly DKK 250–450 a night, more on summer weekends; budget hotels with small doubles start around DKK 800–1,000. Book early for June to August.
Getting around cheaply
Walk or cycle: a rental bike costs about DKK 150–200 a day. The metro runs 24 hours; a central single ticket is about DKK 30, and a 24–72 hour City Pass covers the metro, buses, harbour buses and trains, including the airport. From the airport, the M2 metro reaches the centre in about 15 minutes.
A sample budget day
- Morning: cinnamon swirl and coffee from a bakery (about DKK 75), walk Nyhavn, Amalienborg and Kastellet (free)
- Lunch: Danish hot dog and a soft drink (about DKK 70)
- Afternoon: Christiansborg tower (free) and a walk through Christianshavn and Christiania (free); a harbour swim in summer
- Evening: harbour bus to Reffen (with a City Pass) and one street-food dish (about DKK 120–150), supermarket drinks by the water
- Total: about DKK 300–350 plus transport and your bed (a dorm bed brings it to about DKK 650–800)
More ways to save
- Stay in a hostel with a kitchen and buy breakfast from a supermarket or bakery.
- Use the harbour buses as cheap canal tours: they are part of the public transport network.
- Look for 'dagens ret' (dish of the day) at lunchtime in cafés.
- Visit in shoulder months such as May or September, when rooms are cheaper but days are still long.
- Use the free harbour baths and parks instead of paid attractions on sunny days.
- Carry a refillable bottle: tap water is excellent and bottled water is expensive.
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Common questions
Can you visit Copenhagen on a budget?
Yes, with planning: a hostel dorm (about DKK 250–450), bakeries, hot dogs, street food and free walks keep costs to roughly DKK 650–800 a day. A shared room raises it to about DKK 1,000.
What is the cheapest way from the airport to the city?
The M2 metro, about 15 minutes to the centre, on a normal zone ticket or a City Pass.
What is free in Copenhagen?
Nyhavn, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid, Christiansborg tower, the Amalienborg guard change, Christiania, the harbour baths and Assistens Cemetery. The Glyptotek is free on Tuesdays.