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Is solo travel in Copenhagen, Denmark something you’re interested in doing? Maybe you love traveling independently and are choosing your next destination. Or perhaps this chic Danish city is calling your name, but no one is available to come with you.
I’d always kept Copenhagen, with its adorable buildings and safe reputation, in the back of my mind for solo travel. Danish influence in places I’d previously visited, like Iceland and St. John in the US Virgin Islands, also left me intrigued. My opportunity to visit Copenhagen arrived when I found a direct flight from Dublin, which would follow an Ireland road trip I was doing with my husband.
Based on my experience, below I am giving a full rundown on all the things you should know before booking solo travel in Copenhagen. As usual, I’m including both the positive and negative aspects of my trip, and won’t sugarcoat anything.
Solo Travel in Copenhagen: What You Need to Know
Why Travel to Copenhagen?
Of all the possible destinations, why did I choose in Copenhagen? And why did I travel solo?
- I’ve always wanted to learn more about Denmark after years of seeing Danish influence in places like the US Virgin Islands.
- I love pretty harbors and waterfronts, and couldn’t resist the colorful facades and boats of Nyhavn.
- I could catch a direct flight to Copenhagen from Dublin, where I’d just been traveling with my husband.
- Copenhagen is a relatively safe city where English is widely spoken.
- I adore the cozy Danish concept of hygge and wanted to immerse myself in it.
Still wonder why I traveled to Copenhagen alone, when I usually travel with my husband? The simplest answer is that he has limited vacation time, and I have much more flexibility than him as a travel blogger.
Additionally, I had just come out of a difficult winter, and my mental health had been better. Some alone time relying on myself and doing what I love was the rejuvenation I needed.
Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian concept that encompasses coziness and simple pleasures like baking, candles, and warm blankets in front of the fireplace.
Top Attractions in Copenhagen
There is so much to explore in Copenhagen, and it’s a gorgeous city to wander. If I had to narrow it down to just the top five things to do in Copenhagen, it would be these:
1. Nyhavn
2. Rosenborg Castle
3. The Little Mermaid
4. Christiansborg Palace
5. Tivoli Gardens
Copenhagen First Impressions
I was happy to arrive into Copenhagen in daylight so I could get my first look at the city. Immediately, I noticed that Copenhagen has awesome public transportation, as I could take the metro directly from the airport to the city center. The trip only cost about 23 DKK (3 USD) and took ten minutes, followed by a short walk to my hotel.
I checked into Hotel NH Collection Copenhagen, which has an excellent location in Christianshavn, right across the bridge from many of Copenhagen’s best sights. When I got to my room, I could hardly contain my excitement when I opened the curtains and saw a sweeping view of the city’s characteristic orange tile rooftops.
On night one, I kept food simple and ordered a sandwich from a small shop nearby. I noticed that, whereas Iceland readily embraces English, the menus in Denmark were primarily in Danish. It was also an adjustment to get used to the exchange rate of Danish Krones to US Dollars, which is approximately .15.
Meeting Other Travelers
When traveling solo, I always try to book a few tours in order to meet fellow travelers. For my Copenhagen trip, I booked a full day walking tour, which was also partially hygge-themed. Sadly, this tour was cancelled at the last minute due to illness.
Thankfully, the Danish pastry class I’d booked was still on. Since I’d recently taken an interest in French pastry, I was excited to see how Danish pastry was different. I got paired with a family of three, and shared a workstation with the mother in the group.
While the company was just okay, the class was very fun. Best of all, the pastries were delicious and plentiful. I ate about three just sitting in the class, and hardly spent any more money on food that day.
Over my time in Copenhagen, I observed many other solo travelers out and about. This was probably the least weird I’ve ever felt exploring and eating alone on a solo trip.
Staying in a hostel is another great way to meet fellow travelers. While I booked a hotel for my stay, there are plenty of hostel options in Copenhagen if that is your preference.
Copenhagen Likes & Dislikes
What I liked about Copenhagen
- Using the Copenhagen City Card, which covered popular sights and public transportation.
- Eating all the delicious food – especially my lobster roll at the Tivoli Food Hall.
- There are loads of fun shops, like MUJI ILLUM, and some good yarn stores for knitters like me.
- All the colorful buildings along the canals, especially Instaworthy Nyhavn.
- Seeing The Little Mermaid statue during a rainbow, despite getting soaked on the way.
- Touring the amazingly preserved Rosenborg Castle.
What I disliked about Copenhagen
- Having rain for half my stay, and getting caught in a hail storm that almost destroyed my umbrella
- That my hygge tour sadly got cancelled.
- Accidentally catching a bus going in the wrong direction, and having a much longer journey than expected.
- Getting followed by a noisy group of kids during the last part of my visit to the National Museum of Denmark.
- My climb up the super steep wooden stairs at Church of Our Savior, which sometimes felt more like a ladder. When I reached the outdoor portion of the climb, my fear of heights kicked in. I managed a couple shaky photos before heading back down.
Safety in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is generally a safe place for solo travel, but you should always be aware of your surroundings. Below are my observations on safety that I personally dealt with while in Copenhagen. You can read more about safety in Copenhagen here.
- Petty Crime: Although Copenhagen is not a high crime city, it’s always good to take normal precautions with your belongings. I never keep all my cash and cards on me, and I generally wear my small purse in front of my body.
- Walking in Copenhagen after dark: Copenhagen is not known to be dangerous, but it’s still a good practice to avoid walking alone at night. However, there always seems to be one thing I want to do while traveling solo that requires me to walk alone after dark. I did so one time, and made sure to walk with purpose and be aware of my surroundings, including nearby restaurants and people I passed. I also generally keep my husband informed on where I’m planning to be that evening and when.
- Copenhagen Canal Tour: The bridges over the canals are pretty low. If the tide is high, the flat boats will be verryyy close to some of the bridges. Always make sure you pay attention to the tour guide, and heed their instructions to sit when nearing bridges.
Should Solo Female Travelers Visit Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is a great city for solo female travelers. It’s known to be safe and it’s incredibly easy to get around on foot and public transportation. The city is very photogenic and offers fun tours, interesting museums, and castles to explore. I thoroughly enjoyed my time traveling solo in Copenhagen, and found the city simple and charming to explore.
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Solo travel in Copenhagen was a win for me. Despite the messy spring weather, I enjoyed every moment of my trip from start to finish. I may not have done the walking tour, but I was able to experience plenty of hygge on my own.
Would you like to travel solo in Copenhagen?
