

Read on for my suggestions of places to go in Copenhagen in winter, what you can expect for the weather, what to pack, information on getting around, as well as about money and the Copenhagen Card.
Being from California, I was pretty nervous to plan a trip to a notably colder destination like Copenhagen. And in JANUARY nonetheless! And then to call it a VACATION?!
Like what was I thinking???

And to my somewhat surprise I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
Psssst…Are you from California like me and clueless what to pack for winter travel? Check out my packing list for Europe in winter!

It did get darker earlier, but I don’t think it really got DARK DARK until about 3 or 4 (we went in the latter half of January, though). It really wasn’t a big deal for either of us – we just got out during the day, and by the time it was dark, we were having dinner anyway! So it wasn’t all that much different from winter in the states, to be honest. It was very relaxing.


So, here’s what I think you should do in Copenhagen in January:
THE ROUND TOWER HAS PERFECT VIEWS



And, expect to walk – it’s mostly a spiral ramp all the way up with a few stairs at the end. There can be a line at the stairs if it gets crowded, but it most likely won’t be if you’re visiting in winter!

STRØGET – GET READY TO DROP ALL YOUR MONEY

But it’s also located where the Round Tower is, so might as well walk through it if you go there. There’s a really cool bookstore right across from the tower, and it was busy with performing street artists and the like.
NYHAVN IS AN ACTUAL FAIRYTALE



Expect restaurants to be a little more expensive around here since it’s probably the most popular place for tourists.
FREETOWN CHRISTIANA IS FASCINATING

The government tried to shut it down, but the civilians were like nooooope. And so, it still exists, as long as everything stays there and doesn’t spread to the surrounding city.

It’s also recommended that you leave before dark. It was really interesting, though, and my friend and I (also a female) visited during the day and felt totally safe.
THE CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR

TORVEHALLERNE MARKET IS AMAZEBALLS


In winter, it opens every day at 10AM, and closes at 7PM M-T, 8PM on Friday, and 6PM on Saturday and Sunday.
THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS (& GET BRUNCH!)

I got brunch twice and kinda regret the hole in my wallet but it was soooo good. They give you a variety of food and that’s what makes it so fun! My favorite brunch was at Neighbourhood (or NBH for short; normally, they do pizza), pictured above.

We got lazy a lot and went to WestMarket (although it seems like it’s closed for the time being). I can tell you though that I had the best veggie pita Souvlaki there, and such good juices! But let’s be real, there are good juices everywhere. If you’re a health nut Copenhagen is literally perfect. We also had so many mozzarella/pesto/tomato sandwiches, those were so popular both there and in Sweden haha.
I honestly don’t think we had a bad meal in Scandinavia. Everything we ate was GOOD.
BARS & NIGHTLIFE ARE FANTASTIC

WHO AM I???? Although, to be fair, the first night we went to Duck and Cover which was a very chill speakeasy and just got one drink each. They were expensive AF but damn, they really know how to make a cocktail – probably one of the best I’ve ever had. I got the lime thing and my friend got a drink with fig in it. GET THE FIG DRINK IF THEY HAVE IT!!! It was literally the best thing I’ve ever had. I have no idea what it was called, even after scouring the internet for hours.
Next night we went to Lidkoeb – they asked us if we were at least 24 before entering? Not sure if that’s standard, but we did notice that it seemed to be a bit of an older crowd! The drinks were pretty good though, and we chatted with the bartender who was nice.
Our last night we went to Brass Monkey, a super fun tiki bar! Get The Zombie because they light it on fire (although don’t get your hair in it, like one girl did! We felt so bad for her and it smelled like burnt hair the rest of the night lol), and their other drinks were pretty good, too. They also had limbo when we were there (not sure if they do it every night?), which was very very entertaining to watch!
WHAT WE MISSED (SAD FACE)

- We couldn’t go Tivoli Gardens (basically like a giant adult theme park) because it was closed for renovations, sadly. I think it was only for about 2 weeks, though, and then it would reopen. I don’t see any upcoming closures listed on their site, but you may want to check before your trip just to be sure!
- We also missed out on all the castles due to lack of time – but if I do go back, you best bet I’ll immediately run to Rosenborg Castle, and maybe Christiansborg Palace (apparently also has a great view), or Amalienborg Palace.
- I skipped the Little Mermaid statue, because honestly, I didn’t understand why it was so amazing. To me, it’s just a statue? Like I can just look at pictures on the internet and it’s basically the same…I’d rather spend my time finding cute little parks and hole in the wall places to eat. But that’s just me!
We were also only there for 2 full days and kindaaa got late starts, since we’d gone out the previous nights haha. Next time, I definitely want to add these places to the list!
WEATHER IN JANUARY


It also only rained a little bit – not sure if we just got lucky, but it stayed pretty dry. There was rain in the forecast every day, but it always only rained a litttttle. I don’t even remember being cold walking to bars at night (and trust me, I am not one of those people that stays warm from drinking).
WHAT TO WEAR IN COPENHAGEN IN JANUARY

People definitely wear sneakers, but don’t expect to see anyone wearing leggings or sweats, you know what I’m sayin’. They seem to favor neutrals, too. Of course, you do you boo, but just giving ya a heads up!

- Cozy knit sweater
- Stylish leather jacket or coat
- Leggings under jeans bc I’m a baby
- Lace up black boots
- Stylish gloves
- Warm, wool socks

SHOULD YOU TAKE MONEY OUT FROM AN ATM?
We didn’t even have to take out cash because they accept card EVERYWHERE. Some places ONLY accept card, and won’t take cash!
But, don’t hate me if you stumble upon a cash-only place.
And I think we all already know this, but Copenhagen is not a CHEAP place. Did it make us broke? No, not really. But did our bank accounts dwindle? Yep, they sure did. But it’s such a cool city that it’s worth it – I’m not usually a big city lover but I LOVED Copenhagen.
IS THE COPENHAGEN CARD WORTH IT?

For us, most of our activities were free aside from food and the Round Tower, and we walked everywhere so it didn’t make sense. But for you, it might!
The prices for 2020 are:
- €54 for 24 hours
- €80 for 48 hours
- €99 for 72 hours
- €133 for 120 hours
So, take a look at the activities you want to do and see if it’s worth it for you!
GETTING AROUND COPENHAGEN (TRANSPORTATION)

But, if you’d rather not, here’s more info about Copenhagen’s public transportation.
Looking for more winter getaways? I braved the cold in Stockholm, Abisko (the Arctic!!!), and Switzerland, too!
WANT TO SAVE IT FOR LATER? PIN IT!
I’m going in December and really looking forward to it. I’m pinning to save your recommendations!
Oooh I hope you love it (I’m sure you will!) It’s such a pretty city. And I’m sure it will be the perfect amount of cozy for Christmas!
I’m going in January for a friends wedding but also a solo trip and I’m really excited. So reading this was really helpful! Do you have any other tips or recomendations?
That sounds like it’ll be an awesome trip! Copenhagen felt so safe and is such a great place for solo travel. My biggest tips: LAYER, start exploring early since it’ll get dark so early, bring a waterproof jacket and boots, and if you want to meet other travelers try going to free walking tours (great to go to on the first day since it’ll help give you a better idea of the city, plus you might meet friends to explore with) or seeing if there are any events in Facebook groups (I love Girl Gone International, and looks like they have a Copenhagen branch). Let me know if you have any other specific questions and I’d be happy to help!