10 Awesome Things to Do in Copenhagen for $10 or Less
One of the world’s most recognized (and underrated!) cities for fabulous food, fashion and design, Copenhagen is THE place to go for a dream-worthy European vacay or your first solo trip. And though the Danish city has a rap for being a bit more expensive to experience than some other countries, there’s *a ton* to see and do on a budget. To prove that it’s totally true, we’ve put together a list of 10 incredible things you can do with $10 dollars or less. Scroll on for the deets about our faves!
1. Visit the round tower. A popular attraction, Rundetaarn, or the Round Tower, is Europe’s oldest functioning observatory. It’s something you definitely won’t want to miss, and it only costs about $5 per person to go up inside, where you’ll be treated to Insta-worthy views of Copenhagen. Equally photographable? The Round Tower’s wide and flat spiral walkway that takes the place of a typical tower’s stairs.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss the small gallery on the way to the top of the Round Tower — it houses changing art exhibits and has a small shop that’s full of unique souvenirs to bring home.
2. Rent a bicycle for the day. No doubt about it — the best way to see Copenhagen is on a bicycle. Not only can you quickly pedal from museums to castles, but you can take easy detours through some of the city’s super charming neighborhoods too. Since bikes rule in Copenhagen, finding a place to rent one is as easy as doing a quick Google search or looking at a map. You can expect to pay about $10 for an entire day. Yas, girl!
3. Treat yourself to a sweet treat (or several!). Shockingly, the popular “danish” pastry doesn’t actually exist. No worries though — Denmark has tons of other sweet treats that’ll make you forget all about the popular American fave. For a true taste of Danish baking tradition, stop by Lagkagehuset, Andersen Bakery and Cafe or Leckerbaer. You deserve it.
4. Visit Christiania. Wandering around Copenhagen’s “free town” is a super unique experience that won’t cost you anything at all. So much more than just a 420 friendly part of the city, Christiania has art galleries, workshops and a well-known Christmas market.
View this post on InstagramOlufsvej ❤️💛💚💙💜 Another street for your Copenhagen bucket list #copenhagenbucketliststreet
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5. Stroll the city’s most colorful streets. For some serious eye candy, take a walk to admire some of Copenhagen’s most beautiful streets. Olufsveg and Magstraede boast pretty colored houses with picture-perfect facades, while the harbor front view in Nyhavn looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale. Bummed about having to capture Copenhagen on a cloudy day during your trip? Don’t be — some of these bright beauties look even better against a more neutral sky.
View this post on InstagramThe real swans are out there somewhere as well. 📸: @mr_babdellahn #copenhagen
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6. Kayak at Kaffesalonen. For $10, you can rent a kayak for a full hour and enjoy gorgeous views while getting an arm workout on the city’s little lake. For just $5 more you can upgrade to a swan pedal boat, which feels totally T. Swift worthy. Split the price with a traveling companion to stay within your daily budget.
7. Have a picnic in the Rosenborg Castle gardens. Copenhagen has a couple of different castles you can visit. Nestled near the National Gallery and the Round Tower, the Rosenborg Castle and its gardens are positioned perfectly for a picnic lunch during a day of sightseeing. Head to the supermarket to pick up inexpensive snacks or sandwich makings before heading over to eat up your lunch while soaking up the sunshine and a truly royal view.
View this post on InstagramCopenhagen's harbor has rarely looked this good. 📸 by @mr_babdellahn #copenhagen ⚓️⛵️🌊
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8. Catch a sunset at Skuespilhuset. Get an awesome view from one of Copenhagen’s newest architectural wonders! It’s free to admire, and you can chill out in front of the canals or walk along the waterfront. Good to know: Skuespilhuset Theater is a great place to catch a play and has a tasty cafe inside.
View this post on InstagramThere she is! #littlemermaid #mermaid #mermaidlove #passionpassport #cph #copenhagen #visitdenmark
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9. See the Little Mermaid. Find Copenhagen’s world famous Little Mermaid sculpture inside Langelinie, an area that has outlet stores, a drool-worthy deli (Løgismose) and Kastellet, a gorgeous military stronghold. For the best snapshots, visit the Little Mermaid on an afternoon during the week or in the early morning hours to avoid throngs of tourists.
10. Treat yo’self at Paper Island. Two words: heart eyes. Paper Island is Copenhagen’s answer to street food, and it’s nothing less than AMAZING. Choose from global cuisines that range from cheesesteaks to Thai, along with delicious drinks like craft beer or strawberry mojitos in enormous mason jars. If you’re lucky enough to visit Copenhagen when the weather is warm, take your food and drink outside to eat while hanging out inside transformed shipping containers.
Have you been to Copenhagen? Tell us about your fave things to do on a budget @BritandCo on Twitter!
(Featured photo via Getty)