How to Visit Copenhagen on a Budget: What I Actually Spent

Howdy! Welcome to another instalment in the accidental series I started, showing how I visit ‘expensive’ places on a budget. Previously, I’ve shared my spending diaries from Iceland and Stockholm, and in October 2019, I took on a place I’ve wanted to go for ages – Copenhagen.

Last time I checked, Copenhagen came in around number ten for expensive cities to visit in Europe – in particular, food and drink has a reputation for being on the pricey side. With that in mind, I grabbed my passport and my Monzo card, and headed off to see how cheaply I could visit Denmark’s capital.

Here’s what I *actually* spent on my trip to Copenhagen on a budget…

[this spending diary was written in 2019 – prices may have changed, but the tips are still relevant!]

Flights and Transfers: £52.98

I flew to Copenhagen with RyanAir, and it cost £41.49 return (no extra baggage charges, as a backpack’s how I roll for these kinda trips!)

It cost £4.31 for the Metro from the airport, and the same again to go back via train.

I also spent £2.87 on a Metro journey across the city on Thursday, when my feet were too tired to walk…

Accommodation: £52.05

I stayed at the Steel House Hostel for two nights in a 4-person female only dorm, total cost was £52.05.

Read more: Steel House Hostel Review

Attractions: £26.23

A lot of my time in Copenhagen was spent walking around, enjoying the atmosphere, with a few affordable paid attractions thrown into the mix. I did take a Copenhagen food tour on the morning of Day 2, which was a complimentary experience in exchange for review.

• I took a two hour Sandeman’s free walking tour upon arrival in the city, and gave the guide a £11.92 tip (100DKK, that is…I’m not a weird penny counter…)
• A one hour Canal Boat Tour cost £11.32
• Entrance for the Rundetarn (Round Tower) was £2.99

Food & Drink: £107

Day 1: The first thing I did after getting into the city centre was hunt down a place to eat, and I had brunch at a cute place called Café Flottenheimer, which cost me £20.34 including an elderflower juice. Later that night, I had dinner at Mother, a margherita pizza and a Mother IPA, which cost a total of £17.35. I also bought some snacks and a bottle of Diet Coke at Netto, which cost £3.23.

Day 2: My second day in Copenhagen was an easy one for food, as breakfast and lunch were pretty covered by the Copenhagen Food Tour I did, which was actually a gifted experience in exchange for coverage. Afterwards, I went to Freetown Christiania where I had a bottle of Carlsberg in Café Nemoland for £2.87, and dinner at Tommi’s Burger, which cost £14.24.

Day 3: I enjoyed a late breakfast of Raspberry Pancakes at the quirky and fun Next Door Café, which cost £6.58 – tap water is free here, unlike a lot of other places I went to. For lunch, I had a daal bowl from GRØD, which was super filling and warming for £8.97. I treated myself to a cake that looked super fancy and cost £5.38 from Cascebel Madhus, and had another Carlsberg at a place called Bar Foss, which was £2.99. Finally, I had a sub-par burrito at the Tivoli Food Hall for £11.31, accompanied by a very good beer for £4.19.

Over the course of the trip, I also spent £9.55 on four pints during happy hour at my hotel.

Budget Travel Tip: If you’re looking to eat in Copenhagen on a budget, and the weather’s nice, a popular thing with locals is ‘the picnic trick’ – grab a takeaway pizza and some drinks from the supermarket, and enjoy some people-watching while you tuck in!

Souvenirs: £11.90

I spent £11.90 on two magnets (!) because I’m an idiot and didn’t buy them until the airport.

Budget Travel Tip: Shop around for souvenirs, and check out places away from the usual tourist haunts. Unlike me, obviously.

Flights and Transfers: £52.98
Accommodation: £52.05
Attractions: £26.23
Food & Drink: £107
Souvenirs: £11.90

Total Spend: £250.16

I’m actually very impressed with what I spent, as my original budget for the trip was actually £250 (the extra 16p, I’ll allow it). Yes, I could have kept things cheaper like I did in Iceland and made my own meals in hostels, but eating local food is one of my travel pleasures, and in a city known for being pricey af, £107 is rather a steal, IMO.

Is it possible to visit Copenhagen on a budget? Totally.