Best time to go to Copenhagen

Copenhagen has its charm all year round, but I recommend you to visit it when the weather is nice, that is, in spring and summer, because in autumn and winter temperatures are very cold.

Choosing the best time to go to Copenhagen is key to be prepared and avoid last minute unforeseen events. For example, many activities are closed on Mondays, so I do not recommend including this day of the week in your itinerary. You can check the official sites of monuments and attractions or even schedule a guided tour, which will save you a lot of logistical problems during your trip.

To enjoy all its attractions, I recommend scheduling your trip between March and May, or between June and August, months corresponding to the spring and summer activities. During the spring the temperatures are pleasant and there are many outdoor activities, plus you will not need to dress warmly to be comfortable.

Meanwhile, the summer in Copenhagen is cool, so it is ideal to book a bike tour and enjoy longer days. Unlike other Scandinavian countries, autumn is not so cold, but the rains star in the weather forecasts and can spoil many of your plans.

As for winter, it is for the bravest, as the days are short and it can snow.

Seasons in Copenhagen

• The high season in Copenhagen corresponds to the months of June, July and August, the influx of tourists is very high and although there are a variety of events, festivals and activities, prices in accommodation, airfare and tickets, are higher.
• The middle season coincides with the months of April and November, prices are more stable and the monuments can be appreciated without so many people in between.
• The low season includes January, February and March, you can enjoy the streets without so many people, airline tickets are cheap, as are accommodations, but many attractions close earlier or are not open to the public.

Spring brings the first rays of sunshine and the streets start to warm up, so it's nice to go on walking tours and, of course, book a tour of Copenhagen.

You can also attend the National Beer Festival, which involves taking a tour of the city's bars and pubs and sampling their local beverage tastings.

The month of May in particular offers a great variety of activities in Copenhagen. In fact, it is considered the best month of spring, as it is close to summer and the city is filled with festivals and fun events. Some of the most entertaining plans that you can't miss during this season are:

• The Copenhagen Carnival which is held Brazilian style during the month of May.
• Sit in a cafe in the historic center and surround yourself with a blanket, while admiring the surrounding streets.
• Participate in the Nykredit Copenhagen Marathon, a marathon characteristic of May, whose route takes in iconic sites of the city.
• Take advantage of the first weeks of April, when the Amalienborg Palace opens its doors to visit the four royal enclosures that preserve the history of the Danish monarchy.

Advantages of visiting Copenhagen in spring

If you want to make plans during the spring in Copenhagen, here are the advantages of visiting the city during this season:

• Climate: Temperatures are mild, ranging from 10° to 15°, so you will not need to wear warm clothes and your suitcase will be light. The absence of wind and rain makes this season the perfect opportunity to explore the city.
• Longer days: You will be able to enjoy the company of the sun for longer, ideal for booking plans at the piers or on the outskirts of the city.
• Clear views: If you want to climb the Rundetaarn tower or other high points in the city, spring is an appropriate time.
• Blossoming: Cherry trees decorate the city, which makes walks more enjoyable and special.
• Outdoor activities: You can visit parks, go cycling, book a canal tour or visit the city's markets.

Disadvantages of visiting Copenhagen in springtime

• Very cold beaches: If you are looking to enjoy the beaches or take a dip, I do not recommend spring.
• Unforeseen: If you are traveling during the first weeks of April, don't be overconfident. Spring is just beginning and you may encounter low temperatures and precipitation.

Summer in Copenhagen is ideal for vacations, as temperatures are pleasant, UV rays are not dangerous and the heat is moderate. July is the month with the most activities, as the season reaches its most exciting point. It is also an ideal time to book a walking tour of Copenhagen or a Segway tour of Copenhagen.

In this season you can wear a bathing suit, cool shirts and summer clothes, however, do not discard a jacket for the walks during the night. In summer I recommend a gondola ride outside the city at Hamlet Castle, a tour of the canals or renting a kayak. Some ideal summer activities include:

• Getting up close to the bonfire lighting that celebrates the summer solstice, held during June.
• Attend the summer festivals, such as the Copenhagen Jazz Festival that enlivens the city with live music, the Roskilde Festival where more than 180 national and international bands perform, or the electronic events such as Distortion Ø and Strøm Festival.
• Take a stroll through the Old Library, to see the art exhibitions available throughout the season.
• Learn more about the Danish monarchy, the Palace of Christian VIII opens its doors from July to August, ideal for touring the royal apartments and the Amalienborg Museum.
• Enter the Rosenborg Castle, to visit the royal halls, gardens and the museum that reviews the history of the monarchy.
• Visit the beaches where hundreds of people sunbathe by the sea, you can be one of them!

Advantages of visiting Copenhagen in summer

Doing things during the summer in Copenhagen is a great option, as it is a season with many opportunities. Among them:

• Temperatures: summer offers you the best of Copenhagen, thanks to its pleasant temperatures you can enjoy outdoor activities, avoid the rains and take a swim at the beach. Generally, it stays between 12° to 26° C.
• Very long days: You can make the most of your visit, as it gets dark later from June to August. Evenings are cool, so you can also take night tours.
• More fun: Many tourist attractions are open later in the summer or open exclusively during these dates, and even offer discounted admission prices. One of the best plans is to take a bus tour with free stops.

Disadvantages of visiting Copenhagen in summer

• Humidity: Some days can be humid and sticky, it is unusual, but I recommend you go prepared for anything. Humidity sets in for a few days in the city at the end of July.
• High accommodation: While you can get discounts for attractions, accommodation is likely to be exorbitantly priced, especially in the more central areas.
• Tourist influx: Copenhagen is crowded during the summer, queues are longer and attractions can be overcrowded. One solution is to purchase the Copenhagen Card for free admission to monuments, discounts at restaurants and free transportation.

As autumn approaches, you should once again include warm clothing for your trips to Copenhagen. You can still go on bike tours without freezing. The leaves on the trees say goodbye to the city and the colors of the Botanical Garden are worth admiring.

In mid-October, I recommend you look for plans in covered areas or buy an umbrella to defend you from freezing rain. In the last weeks of September you can enjoy open-air concerts in Tivoli Gardens on Fridays, and movie lovers can't miss the Copenhagen Film Festival. The most fun plans in autumn include:

• Celebrate Halloween at Tivoli Gardens, you can wear your spookiest costume and enjoy the zombie dance, enter the haunted hotel or have your picture taken with the pumpkin decorations. Be sure to book your ticket for the Tivoli Gardens.
• Visit Copenhagen's best museums including Frilandsmuseet, one of the oldest open-air museums in the world, open exclusively during this season. You can tour houses built between 1650 and 1940, or visit more than 50 farms.
• The essential night of culture, better known as kulturnatten, open from 5 pm to 5 am. It is celebrated during October and offers history, culture and art, the best thing is that on this day transportation in Copenhagen is completely free.

Advantages of visiting Copenhagen in autumn

Autumn offers many things to do such as booking a tour of Copenhagen, plus it is a time with variety of attractive advantages, among them:

• Vibrant colors: The colorful streets of Copenhagen, become more charming with the arrival of the autumn brown color to the city's trees.
• Halloween: The best plan for the scariest time of the year can be found in the historic center of Copenhagen, in addition to Tivoli, there are many parties and entertaining activities.
• Bearable temperatures: The good weather begins to leave Copenhagen in the last months of the year, so take advantage of September before the arrival of the rains. Temperatures start to drop from 17° to 4° C.
• Avoid the crowds: The tourist influx in autumn is moderate, you can get a privileged view of the palaces and monuments.

Disadvantages of visiting Copenhagen in autumn

• Short days: The sun sets early and the days are cloudy, I do not recommend climbing the towers, as the cloudiness will not allow you to enjoy the most.
• Rains: Rainfall is inevitable and you should go out with protection. Visiting the canals of Copenhagen, is a plan with complications at this time.

During the winter, Christmas activities make the season more cozy. I recommend you go in search of a glögg, considered the best mulled wine in the region, and try to make the most of the light, as it usually gets dark very early. Also, it is an ideal time to book the Copenhagen bus or visit some of the major museums such as the National Museum of Denmark.

Festivals and celebrations also take center stage in the winter, some ideal activities are:

• The Nutcracker re-enactment at Tivoli Amusement Park, where a variety of markets also unfold from November to December.
• Seeing the snow, the chances of seeing a real snowfall, are higher in February.
• Participate in the procession in kayaks for St. Lucia's Day, people light candles and illuminate the Nyhavn canal, this is part of the best activities during the month of December.
• Visit the Christmas Markets, you can get many with Christmas theme, the most popular are the one in the Christiania neighborhood where you can taste the local beer, or the one in the Nyhavn canal that offers shows in front of the sea.
• Taste the typical Danish Christmas food in the Meatpacking District.
• Ice skating, there are many indoor rinks, but you can also look for natural options, such as the Peblinge Sø lake that usually freezes at this time of the year.
• Welcome the New Year, take advantage of the fact that all the attractions are open, as it is their last working day until spring.

Advantages of visiting Copenhagen in winter

In winter there are many things to do in Copenhagen, which offer several advantages including:

• Nordic Christmas: Christmas events in Copenhagen are magical, the Danes make sure it is an unparalleled time.
• Last days: Many activities offer discounts and special events, as they will be closed for the season.
• Low season: In the winter there is little influx of tourists, except for Christmas and New Year, which usually have extra visitors.

Disadvantages of visiting Copenhagen in winter

• Very short days: At this time the sun rises at approximately 9 am in the morning and sets at 3 pm in the afternoon.
• Extreme temperatures: Copenhagen's cold during the winter is not for everyone. However, they can go down from 5° to -1°, thermal protective clothing is a must in your suitcase for these dates.
• Little luggage space: The amount of thick jackets you will need to cover yourself from the cold will take up a lot of space in your suitcase.