What to see and do in Copenhagen
Best time to fly to Copenhagen
Scandinavia's coolest capital has charm in abundance. In recent times, 'Copenhagen style' has become a byword for streamlined design, boundary-pushing food, cool TV dramas, and the healthy worshiping of bicycles.
The best time to fly to Copenhagen really depends on what you want to experience in the city.
For long, warm summer days make sure to book flights between June and August. Or experience Copenhagen’s coziness in the winter months of December to February.
Whenever you decide to go, let Icelandair be your guide to Copenhagen, providing practical information about when to go, what to do and how to get around.
Things to do in Copenhagen
The world has become familiar with hygge, the Danish coziness and good cheer that arrives alongside candles, comfort food and good conversation in the company of dear friends.
Well, you'll experience it everywhere in Copenhagen, alongside art-filled museums and clever architectural creations that combine the old and the new.
For anyone interested in Scandinavian history, they can explore royal castles, canals, copper spires, and the vintage Tivoli Gardens Amusement Park, which was established 1843.
For those wanting to experience a different side of the city, there are cutting-edge art galleries, fantastic street food, canal-side swimming pools and hidden speakeasy bars.
What to eat in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a hotspot for great food, with local restaurants like Noma receiving global attention for bringing Danish food to the world.
We recommend heading to Torvehallerne, where you can browse the city's stylish food hall and market. If street food is your thing, head to Reffen for outdoor dining in the coolest setting.
The traditional cuisine of Denmark gets tasty with smørrebrød, which are open-faced sandwiches with sculptural toppings. And don't miss a chance to visit old-school bakeries and sample local pastry delights.
Grabbing a pølse (hot dog) from a pølsevogn (“hot dog wagon”, or street vendor) is a traveler's rite of passage. Head to Papirøen, a cool waterfront venue housing dozens of street-food stalls primed for street-food sampling.
Shopping the scandinavian style
The strong design aesthetic that permeates Copenhagen is evident in its stores, and shopping here is a pleasure.
Fashion and homewares will call to your credit cards and suitcase space, especially in stores like Illums Bolighus and Magasin du Nord, which are virtually shrines to good taste.
The city also boasts Strøget, one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets. Lined with a heady mix of department stores, design shops and international flagship stores, this is every shop-a-holic’s dream.
And if you’re looking for something to take home with you, there are some excellent homegrown trinkets at your fingertips.
Did you know that Lego, the titan of the toy world, is a Danish product? Meanwhile, Royal Copenhagen makes beautiful porcelain, and Georg Jensen's shiny silverware will dazzle your loved ones back home.
Traveling within Copenhagen
Copenhagen is absolutely a walking city and the best way to get around is on foot or by bike, especially if the weather is good.
There are several bike rental companies (including Donkey Republic and Lime) that have pick-up and drop-off stations around the city. You can rent a bike for a short time, or save money in the long term by renting it for 24 hours or more.
If you want to escape the elements – or give your feet a break – the public transport in the city is excellent. There are metro lines, buses, boats, and an extensive network of train stations.
It’s a city with a healthy network of taxis, but no Uber service. Renting a car is an option but walking, cycling and hopping on public transport is, for most travelers, the best way to get around the city.
Getting from the airport to the city
There are several means by which you can get from the airport to the center of Copenhagen.
Taking a taxi is a popular option - it takes 20-30 minutes depending on the traffic and means you’ll get delivered right to your accommodation door. You'll find that locals will even cycle the distance, and bikes are available to rent outside the airport if you're traveling light.
In terms of public transport, taking the metro or overground train is arguably the easiest way to get from the airport to the heart of downtown Copenhagen. They have 24/7 service and take just 15 minutes.
The journey by bus is a little less convenient as it takes around 35 minutes, though it is the cheapest way to get from Copenhagen Airport to downtown.
