Copenhagen is a beautiful destination to visit all year round. However, the city with the colourful houses, its many palaces and fairy tales is not necessarily known to be very budget-friendly but one of the most expensive cities in the world. Keep on reading for our tips on how to make the best out of your visit to the Danish capital when budget travelling!

Save on public transport

Are you visiting Copenhagen for only a few days? While the city centre is quite walkable, it can pay off to take advantage of a motorized transport if you visit as many attractions as possible in a short amount of time. In this case, Hop-on Hop-off buses can be a great help! The buses from RED Sightseeing take you to all the must-see attractions in the city, including Amalienborg Palace and the Tivoli Gardens. 

The tickets for the vibrant red double-deckers are valid for 72 hours and can even be combined with a boat tour through Copenhagen’s many canals and harbours to get even more value for your money. This way, you get to explore the Danish capital from a different perspective from the water as well.

Free walking tours

Free walking tours are always a great way to discover a city when travelling on a budget. The tips based tour from New Europe is a walking guided tour that takes you through central Copenhagen for 2,5 hours. You’ll visit the city’s must-see spots such as Nyhavn harbour and the former home of Hans Christian Andersen with a local expert. At the end of tour you decide what it was worth to you.

If you prefer to explore the city by yourself and in your own pace, StoryHunt’s free, self-guided walking tours are a great alternative. In the StoryHunt app, you can choose from many different tours, ranging from tours through specific districts like Nørrebro or Østerbro to historical tours. While walking, the app tracks your location and guides you through the city.

Free museums

Ticket costs for museums can add up quickly in Denmark. Luckily, some of Copenhagen’s best museum offer free admission on one day per week. Depending on the day, you can see different museums for free. The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is home to paintings and sculptures from both ancient and modern times and is on the last Wednesday of the month.

On Wednesday, you can visit the museum for free that’s dedicated to the Danish neoclassicist sculptor and collector Thorvaldsens at the museum with the same name. If you’re interested in contemporary art, the Kunsthal Charlottenborg is the place to be on Wednesdays after 5 pm.

Some of Copenhagen’s museums are even free to visit throughout the whole week, including the David Collection with its impressive collection of Islamic, European and Danish Early Modern art, as well as the DieselHouse Museum, dedicated to Burmeister & Wain, a large established Danish shipyard and leading diesel engine producer.

Discover Copenhagen on a budget

Nyhavn

Once the busy commercial port of the city with ill repute and a hub for sailors, Nyhavn is now Copenhagen’s most photographed and hippest neighbourhood, making it one of the most popular sights here. The waterfront, canals and entertainment district from the 17th century are one of the are a must-see during a visit to Copenhagen.

The picturesque and brightly coloured townhouses from the 17th and 18th century have been renovated and provide a great atmosphere for relaxed evenings and good food. Do it like the locals to save money and grab a beer from the shops and sit down by the water, enjoying a magnificent view.

The Little Mermaid statue

One of the must-see sights in Copenhagen is the statue of the Little Mermaid, Den Lille Havfrue. The iconic bronze statue is located just off the shoreline. The statue created by Edvard Eriksen was unveiled in 1913 and is based in the fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen who used to reside in the Danish capital.

According to Andersen’s story, the Little Mermaid saved the life of a shipwrecked prince. She fell in love with him and gave up her lovely voice and her mermaid’s tale to win his love. Other than in the famous children’s movie, her quest failed and turned to cold sea foam.

Discover Copenhagen on a budget

Christiana

This one-of-a-kind district in Copenhagen is definitely worth a visit. Christiana is actually a small city right in the capital, making it unique in all of Europe, and one of the most visited attractions. Its history dates back to 1971 when the abandoned military area was taken over by squatters, hippies and dropouts.

While Christiana is best known for its ‘green street’ where marijuana is almost freely sold, this area has much more to offer. You can stroll around the district and see alternative architecture and housing culture, colourful street art and unique sculptures. The area is also famous for its unique bars and restaurants, alternative Christmas market and many concerts.

Amalienborg Castle

Amalienborg Palace is the winter residence of the Danish Royal Family. The castle consists of overall four palaces designed by Nicolai Eigtved in the 1750s. Today, they are major works of Danish architecture. Unfortunately, visiting the inside of Amalienborg Palace is not free. However, you can witness a special event here in front of the castle instead.

Every day, you can watch the Changing of the Guards, Den Kongelige Livgarde, in the palace’s court yard. When the Queen is in residence the guards are accompanied by the Royal Guards music band. However, if the Royal Guards are accompanied by drums and flutes, one of the royal princes is residing at the palace in capacity of the regent.

Discover Copenhagen on a budget