Cheap flights to Copenhagen

When to fly?

Peak season

May through August is the most popular time to book flights to Copenhagen. The city is quieter in July when most Danes are on holiday. Roskilde Festival takes place around June/July and is around a 30-minute drive south-west of Copenhagen. The festival sees around 100,000 campers pitch up their tents a couple of days before the actual festival, extending the duration to almost a week, so if you are looking to get a good camping spot it is advisable to travel down in good time. This might also help you find better flight deals to Copenhagen. New and renowned artists travel from around the globe to perform at the festival, resulting in tickets selling out quickly. 

Off season

Winter is, unsurprisingly, the off season, yet those hardy enough to brave the Scandinavian winter can find cheap flights to Copenhagen at this time and will discover a city with uncrowded museums, galleries and restaurants.

Every year Copenhagen Carnival’s festivities are spread out over three days and it has developed into the largest music festival in Denmark, attracting more than 100,000 spectators. Throughout the carnival there are parades of samba and steelpan music along with number other music styles, however the main parade takes place on the Saturday which travels from Kongens Nytory to The City Hall Square along the pedestrian street Stroget.

Why visit?

To paraphrase one of Carlsberg’s taglines, Copenhagen is probably the best city in the world. It’s a staple on the short-break trail with more than enough attractions to fill a weekend including the Carlsberg Visitors Centre where one can sample some of the brewer’s famous beers. Carl Jacobsen, son of the brewery’s founder, provided a couple of other landmarks – he commissioned the Little Mermaid statue and founded the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, one of Denmark’s finest museums.

After a flight to Copenhagen, make sure you visit the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, the most popular tourist attraction in Denmark. It is a fairy tale land with a wooden roller coaster, the world’s tallest carousel and, at Christmas, festive fun with illuminations, market and gift stalls.

One of the best ways to see the city is from the water. Hop on a boat at Nyhavn for a guided tour that will pass the Little Mermaid, Christianshavn, the 17th-century dock area with its beautiful pastel-coloured merchants’ houses, and Christiansborg Palace, home to the Danish Parliament, Prime Minister’s Office and Supreme Court. An alternative sight is Freetown Christiania, a self-governing neighbourhood.

Copenhagen climate

Considering Copenhagen’s northern location, the climate is milder than you may expect. January and February are the coldest months with daytime temperatures typically around freezing. However, the high humidity and cloudy weather can make it feel colder. May to September are comfortable months, with summer temperatures in the mid-teens. The humidity is much more comfortable, but there are some cloudy and rainy days. The heaviest rain falls between July and December.

Getting around Copenhagen

Borrow a bicycle with CityBikes, a free service that lets visitors pedal their way around the city. You will have to leave a small deposit that is fully refundable when you (and your bike) return. The next-cheapest way to get around is by buying a Klippekort, worth ten trips on the metro or bus. To go beyond Copenhagen, you may want to purchase a ScanRail pass, which offers discounts on travel through Denmark and other Scandinavian countries.

Getting from the airport

Copenhagen International Airport (CPH) is sited 8 km southeast of Copenhagen city centre. With metro, trains and buses serving the airport getting to the city shouldn’t pose any problems after your flights land. Taxis are also available.

What is good to know if travelling to Copenhagen?

• If you want to go to a few museums or galleries and use the public transport, buy a CPHCard. It gives you free entry to 65 museums, free transport on the bus, train or metro and discounts on many other attractions. A 24-hour or 72-hour card is available, and you can buy it before you travel from Copenhagen’s tourist site – the card will be posted to your home address so you’ll be able to use it as soon as you arrive in the city.
• The statue of the Little Mermaid has become one of the most famous of Copenhagen’s attractions. The bronze sculpture by Edvard Eriksen, based on the mermaid of the Hans Christian Andersen story, was unveiled in August 1913 and has since become one of the most photographed monuments. For a more unusual view, take a boat tour of the city – the boats travel the canals and the sea and show you most of the major monuments to be found.
• Copenhagen is just half an hour from the Swedish city of Malmo, and the journey there is stunning. Hire a car, or join a tour, and head across the huge Oresund Bridge that joins Denmark and Sweden. At 7.83 km, it is one of the longest bridges in Europe.
• The Guinness World Records Museum, on the main shopping street in Stroget is a popular destination for adults and children. The museum illustrates some of the world records, with a statue of the world’s tallest man at the doorway to welcome you in. Other exhibits include statues of the world’s heaviest man (featured in front of a very large cake) and the man with the longest moustache alongside interactive challenges, such as testing how hard you can punch or discovering what it feels like to accelerate from 0 to 508 km/h in a real dragster.
• The Little Mermaid is a famous landmark that is a must-see when you’re in Copenhagen. It was loved so much it was made again for Canada. Can you spot the difference between the real and the 12 carbon copies of these world-famous landmarks?
• Treat yourself to a session of retail therapy in Stroget, Copenhagen which is said to be one of longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe, attracting up to 80,000 visitors. It definitely makes the top 10 for extreme shopping spots around the world.

What airport do you fly into for flights to Copenhagen?

Booking a flight to Kastrup Copenhagen (CPH) is your only option if you intend on flying to Copenhagen. It is only a 8.1 km journey from Kastrup Copenhagen to Copenhagen’s city centre.