Weekend Spending Insights in Copenhagen
In our A Total Trip series, writers document what they spent on a recent getaway. In this edition, Chamidae Ford shows us how far her money went on a long weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark.
I recently spent a sunny weekend in Copenhagen, a city renowned for its stunning architecture, signature design, and burgeoning food scene. During this trip, my friend and coworker, Ann Douglas, and I focused on experiencing the city’s vibrant offerings, from delicious cuisine to unique shopping opportunities.
Living in New York, my perception of cost is somewhat skewed, so I aimed to provide an honest depiction of what a weekend in this beautiful city may cost when indulging in its delights rather than merely comparing prices on a currency conversion app.
Pre-trip Spending
A goal was set to minimize pre-trip expenses. Traveling from Dublin for work, I secured a short flight for only 679kr to Copenhagen. For accommodation, I selected the 25 Hours Hotel in Indre By, known for its youthful design and central location. For three nights, the cost was 5408kr, making my share 2704kr, which I paid using credit card points I had accumulated over time.
Pre-trip spending: 697kr
On-the-ground Spending
Friday
Airport Transfer: Upon landing at 4:30pm, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get from the airport to the city. In comparison to other major cities like London, Paris, or New York, this transfer was both affordable (only 30kr) and quick, taking around 20 minutes.
Activities: With an 8pm dinner reservation, we spent the early evening wandering through Copenhagen’s charming streets, making note of places to explore the next day.
Apertivo: A stop at Little Green Door, a canal-side cocktail bar, yielded a pre-dinner drink costing 131kr for a gin and tonic. This marked the point where I recognized that my weekend would be pricier than expected.
Dinner: We dined at the intimate Lilo Vinoria. The meal included a split burrata appetizer and individual servings of pea and asparagus risotto, all washed down with a very dry martini. My portion of the bill was 471.85kr.
Total: 632.85kr
Saturday
Breakfast: On Saturday, the sun was shining as we sat down for a hearty breakfast at Coffee Room, where I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, avocado, freshly squeezed juice, and an Americano for a total of 237kr.
Activities: Shopping took priority; I visited Mads Nørgaard for a cozy striped shirt costing 299kr, then shopped at O-S-V Second Hand, where I bought a chic brown top and skirt for 599kr. A visit to Studio Arhoj resulted in an additional 599kr for unique glassware.
Later, we purchased a Copenhagen Card for 746kr, granting access to public transport and many attractions, including a boat tour showcasing the city’s famous Little Mermaid statue.
Lunch: A quick bite at a hot dog stand set me back just 45kr.
Dinner: The day concluded at Mirabelle Spisería, where we shared various Italian dishes. My share of the bill was 536kr.
Total: 3061kr
Sunday
Breakfast: At Lagkagehuset, I enjoyed a kanelsnegl and Americano for 90kr.
Activities: We ventured to the Lousiana Museum of Modern Art, an hour from the city, where I delighted in various exhibits. I left with a print by Firelei Báez for 350kr.
Lunch: Returning, we visited Gasoline Grill for their renowned cheeseburger at a mere 100kr.
Dinner: Our final meal at Delphine featured Mediterranean cuisine, with my share coming to 490kr.
Total: 1030kr
Monday
Breakfast: I grabbed coffee and a pastry at Holms Bager for 63kr, then made final purchases of another shirt and items from Studio Arhoj totaling 334kr.
Airport Transport: Our journey back to the airport was covered by the Copenhagen Card.
Lunch: Before boarding the return flight, I purchased a sandwich from Joe & the Juice for 85kr.
The Final Tally: 5902.85kr
Overall, it was an expensive weekend, largely driven by my cravings for fine dining and shopping. Having drinks only with dinner significantly cut my overall costs.
Though the Copenhagen Card is valuable for extensive sightseeing, I feel my experiences leaned more towards wandering and shopping than maximizing its full potential.
