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Copenhagen has been on my travel list for years, but I’d always heard the same thing about it being “so expensive.” So when we finally booked a 3-day trip, I was curious (and a little nervous) to see just how much we’d actually end up spending.
In this post, I’ll break down exactly how much we spent in 3 days, what things really cost in Copenhagen right now and a few tips we picked up along the way.
If you're planning your first visit and wondering how much to budget, this should give you an idea based on our own experience.
Trip Overview
We visited Copenhagen in mid-November, during the Christmas season - this meant festive activities and christmas markets, but also cold weather and shorter days.
Prices in the city can vary quite a bit depending on when you go, so it’s worth keeping that in mind as you’re planning.
There were two of us and we typically travel mid-range, but with a few splurges on food and activities. For this trip, our goal was to explore a lot of the city on foot, eat at a mix of local spots and casual restaurants and fit in a few classic attractions.
Below, i'll break down the cost of our trip in both GBP and USD.
Total Cost of Our 3-Day Trip
So, how much did our 3-day trip to Copenhagen actually cost?
- Total Cost: £620 ($830)
- Split between 2 people: £310 ($415)
In total, we spent £620 for 3 days/nights in the city (£310 per person). This includes everything: accommodation, food, drinks, transport and activities.
For context, we didn’t hold back on the things we really wanted to do, but we were mindful about where we spent. We walked whenever we could, mixed sit-down meals with cheaper bites and chose experiences that felt worth the price.
Below, I’ll break down each category (accommodation, food and drink, transport and activities) so you can see exactly where our money went and what you can expect to pay in 2025.
Accommodation Costs
- Hotel: Go Hotel City
- Total: £75 ($100) per night × 3 nights = £225 ($300)
We spent three nights at Go Hotel City, a budget-mid range hotel in Amager East. At £75 a night it wasn’t the cheapest option, especially for a 2-star hotel, but we booked just a week before travelling so most of the lower-priced places had already sold out.
The hotel itself was clean, modern and comfortable - a lot better than we expected for the price! The room was small and didn’t have a kettle, but as we weren’t spending much time there it did the job perfectly.
The location in Amager East worked well: a quiet residential area with cafés nearby and only a 5-minute walk to the metro, making it easy to get around the city.
Copenhagen hotels are generally pricey, even in the off seasons, so booking early or staying slightly outside the centre can save a lot.
If you’re travelling on a budget, neighbourhoods like Nørrebro, Vesterbro and Østerbro tend to offer better value, and hostels here are surprisingly stylish. I have area and hotel recommendations for every budget in my where to stay guide!
Chloe Butcher
Average accommodation prices in Copenhagen:
- Budget: £15-£30 ($20-$40) dorms, £50-£85 ($67-$114) simple doubles
- Mid-range: £100-£150 ($134-$200)
- Luxury: £150-£200+ ($200-$300+)
Food & Drink Costs
Copenhagen has a reputation for being pricey when it comes to food and honestly, it’s true. Eating out quickly adds up and it was definitely our biggest expense, but you can keep things reasonable with a mix of café breakfasts, casual lunches and a couple of nicer dinners.
Over our 3 days, we spent £273 ($365) on food and drinks - though technically we only ate in Copenhagen for about 2.5 days, since we left at 3pm on the final afternoon.
Overall, we felt this was pretty reasonable for Copenhagen. We also unintentionally kept costs down by having a big brunch around 10-11am, which kept us full until dinner.
Aside from the occasional pastry stop (because how could we not?), we skipped lunch on two of the days without really planning to and that definitely helped our food budget.
Here’s what we found typical during our trip:
- Coffee: £4-£6 ($5-$8)
- Pastries: £4-£6 ($5-$8)
- Casual lunch (street food, sandwiches): £10-£15 ($15-$20)
- Sit-down dinner: £20-£30+ per person ($30-$50)
- Beer & wine: £6-£8 ($8-$10)
- Water: £2-£3 ($2-$4 - tap water isn't very common)
One of the best-value meals we had was at Palazzo Diner, which runs a Pasta Club menu from Sunday to Wednesday. They offer a 3-course set menu for DKK 199 (around £23 / $30) and the food was genuinely delicious!
Overall, food is where we spent a decent chunk of our budget, but the quality was consistently high and Copenhagen’s café culture is so good it’s hard not to indulge.
Transport Costs
During our trip, we spent £41 ($54) on transport in total. We only used the metro to get from our hotel to the city centre and airport, as we just walked once we were in the centre.
Most journeys on the metro cost DKK 20-30 (£2-£3.50/ $2-$5) depending on the zones you cross. From the airport to the city centre, we paid £7 ($9) for two, and the journey took under 15 minutes.
If you’re planning to use public transport often, a City Pass can be good value - you can buy a 24, 48 or 72-hour pass that covers buses, metro and trains within selected zones.
We opted to just use single tickets since we found that walking was the easiest (and nicest) way to explore.
Activities & Attractions Costs
Over the trip, we spent £81 on activities and attractions. Here's everything we did and what it cost per person:
- Rosenborg Castle: £17 ($23)
- National Museum of Denmark: £16.50 ($22)
- The Round Tower: £7 ($9)
- Christiansborg Tower: Free
- Nyhavn: Free
- Museum of Copenhagen: Free (only on wednesdays)
We didn’t do many paid activities in Copenhagen because there were plenty of great free things to do, but this might be different if you stay longer, have bad weather or prefer to pack in more attractions.
We had planned to visit Tivoli Gardens, but it only opened for Christmas on our last day, and with limited time and no chance to see the lights after dark, the entry fee didn’t feel worth it.
If you plan to pack in a lot of paid attractions, the Copenhagen Card can be worth considering. It includes unlimited public transport and entry to 80+ attractions, but it only makes sense if you’re visiting several paid sites a day.
Rory Watson
Is Copenhagen Worth the Cost?
So, is Copenhagen actually worth the money? In our opinion - yes, absolutely.
While it is one of the more expensive cities in Europe, the experience more than makes up for it. The city is clean, safe, beautiful and incredibly easy to get around.
We loved the mix of cosy cafés, colourful streets, great food, scandi design shops and interesting attractions to explore.
If you're someone who appreciates design, culture, food, or simply exploring beautiful cities, Copenhagen is absolutely worth the spend.
Final Thoughts
Copenhagen might have a reputation for being expensive, but our 3-day trip showed that it doesn’t have to blow your entire travel budget.
With a bit of planning, we kept our costs reasonable while still enjoying everything we wanted to see (and eat).
If you're planning a visit, hopefully our breakdown gives you a clearer idea of what things really cost in 2025 and helps you budget with confidence.
👋 We hope that you found this guide helpful! Before you go - don't forget to read our other Copenhagen travel guides for more tips, suggestions & advice.
