Copenhagen When To Go

The return of the sunshine inspires a kind of euphoria in the Danes. Summers are simply idyllic, with extremely long days (it stays light well past midnight, and is never fully dark in June). Temperatures typically range between the high 50s to the low 70s, though as with all of northern Europe the rain can be unpredictable.

Unless you’re a fan of long, dark nights, avoid winter in general, though in the run up to Christmas the city gets a new burst of life as Danes take their children to the funfair, Tivoli, and do their shopping. Sometimes all the hotels in the city will be fully booked in December, mainly by visiting Danes. Copenhagen is the mildest of the Nordic capitals, with winter temperatures usually hovering just above freezing.

Autumn can be extremely beautiful in Scandinavia, with clear blue skies and invigoratingly chilly air. Spring is less charming, and late winter seems to turn into summer quite abruptly. However, bear in mind that there’s a mid-summer lull in July, when many Danish businesses close for the month and the locals escape the city. Hotels that rely mainly on business travelers lower their prices considerably.