Copenhagen for groups on a budget

It’s one of the most visited cities in Scandinavia, so why not treat your group to a budget break in Copenhagen to find out what all the fuss is about?

Here’s a guide to Denmark’s capital city and how to fit an abundance of things to do into an itinerary that won’t cost you the earth.

Traversing the streets on foot or by bicycle

For an easy way to familiarise your group with the city, book everyone onto a Copenhagen walking tour.

There is a choice of free tours in the city, organised by Copenhagen Free Walking Tours. The choice include a three hour guided walk starting on the steps of the city hall and finishing near the Royal Palace.

A bike is another mode of transport for hassle-free exploring; groups can rent them from several companies, including Baisikeli and the Bicycle Innovation Lab.

Pictured: Visitors explore Copenhagen by bicycle. (Photo credit: VisitDenmark.)

There is an extensive network of cycle paths around the city, including the 190 metre long Bryggebroen Bridge (known as the bike snake) which links Havneholmen to the Islands Brygge.

Views worth pausing for

There are lots of places worth visiting with a camera in Cophenhagen, and some of them won’t cost you a penny to visit.

The Little Mermaid statue, Christiania (a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood), Børsen – which is the old stock exchange building – and The Botanical Garden are all free to enter.

Numerous public parks, colourful flower beds at Rosenborg Castle, and the Assistens Cemetary in Nørrebro are also free to visit. The cemetery is the resting place of several famous Danes, such as fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.

Pictured: Rosenborg Castle. (Photo credit: VisitDenmark).

If you’ve got a few pennies to spare and fancy a bird’s eye view of Copenhagen, make your way to the top of the 17th century Round Tower. Visitors are charged to enter, but it’ll be worth it upon stepping out on to the outdoor viewing platform for a panoramic view of the old town.

Water in the city

Copenhagen has four outdoor swimming areas at its heart, the newest of which is the Coral Baths at Sluseholmen that is designed to look like a coral reef. This, and the Harbour Bath Fisketorvet are free to enter.

The Copenhagen lakes are also a popular hangout also, while Dronning Louise's Bridge is close to a selection of coffee shops as well as some vintage and second hand shops.

Smaller groups might like to rent a GoBoat on the canals, although there is a charge for doing so. Seating up to eight people, the solar cell powered boats are equipped with a table in the centre for a group picnic on the water.

Pictured: Tourists sunbath on Paper Island. (Photo credit: Copenhagen Street Food).

Attractions and museums 

There are plenty of museums with free access, like the National Museum, which charts Danish history from the Stone Age and the Vikings to the modern day.

As well, a visit to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum on a Tuesday provides free access to the museum's winter garden and over 10,000 pieces of artwork.

This museum is said to have Scandinavia's largest collection of ancient art and French impressionist pieces.

Places to eat

When it comes to eating out, Copenhagen has variety of reasonably priced eating options for groups on a budget.

The Copenhagen Street Food Market on Paper Island serves cheap street food from all over the world at food trucks and stalls, while a covered food market is open each day at Torvehallerne.

More street food can also be sampled each weekend throughout the summer in the city's meatpacking district where up to 70 stalls serve diners at communal tables.

Pictured: The covered food market at Torvehallerne. (Photo credit: VisitDenmark).

Festivals and music

Music lovers can pick and choose from numerous festivals and music events taking place throughout the year.

These include the street festival Distortion in June, and the Friday Rock in Tivoli concerts held every Friday from April to September. Both of these are free to enjoy.

Other festivals worth visiting include the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, which takes place during the first week of July each year, and the Vanguard Festival, which entertains with the sounds of hip hop, soul, R&B, funk and reggae.

Flights from the UK to Copenhagen

SAS (flysas.co.uk) operates flights to Copenhagen from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Newcastle and Manchester.

Alternatives include British Airways (ba.com) from Heathrow; EasyJet (easyjet.com) from Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester; and Norwegian (norwegian.com) from Edinburgh and Gatwick.

From the airport, take the Metro to Kongens Nytorv or Nørreport Station, or the train to Copenhagen Central Station. Both take approximately 15 minutes.