But don’t give up on your dreams of a Danish getaway just yet. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite budget hotels in Copenhagen. Before you make your reservations, take a look at these highly-rated and affordable accommodations in the center of the city.

Looking to save more money on your trip? Check out our blog with budget-friendly travel tips for Copenhagen.

Best budget hotels in Copenhagen

Here are five cheapo picks from our Copenhagen guide that all get high user ratings and offer low rates, especially when you consider that most hotel rooms in the city soar way above $200 per night.

Rooms at Annex Copenhagen are cheap and colorful. Photo: Booking.com

Annex Copenhagen

Helgolandsgade 15
Neighborhood: Central Station & Tivoli
User rating: 7.7
Doubles from $66

Located just a quarter mile from Tivoli Gardens and the central train station, the rates at this stylish hotel are a steal for Copenhagen. The colorful rooms come with flat-screen TVs, lounge chairs and free Wi-Fi. An included breakfast buffet sweetens the deal and shared (and newly renovated) bathrooms help keep prices low, even in the peak season.

Read our full review of the Annex Copenhagen here.

You’ll be greeted by friendly staff in a stylish reception space at Hotel Bethel. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Bethel

Nyhavn 22
Neighborhood: Near Nyhavn
User rating: 9.0
Doubles from $133

If you want to stay in an area surrounded by picture-perfect postcards and colorful, 17th-century homes, then Hotel Bethel is the hotel for you. With a scenic location, a peaceful courtyard, stylish interiors, and friendly staff, there’s a lot to love about this accommodation.

Read more about the hotel here.

A spacious and sleek room at Hotel Saga. Photo: Booking.com

Saga Hotel

Colbjornsensgade 18-20
Neighborhood: Central Station & Tivoli
User rating: 8.2
Doubles from $94

The two-star Saga Hotel is a clean, comfortable, cheapo pick. Vintage art pieces add character to the rooms, and free Wi-Fi and breakfast are included in the list of amenities. Those looking to save even more money can book a room with a shared bathroom.

Read our full review here.

We recommend requesting a balcony room at 66 Guldsmeden. Photo: Booking.com

66 Guldsmeden

Vesterbrogade 66
Neighborhood: Frederiksberg
User rating: 8.5
Doubles from $108

With eco-friendly amenities and cozily decorated rooms, this is a popular and budget-friendly choice near Central Station. The café lounge is a unique benefit to staying at 66 Guldsmeden. When booking, request a balcony room for a place to kick back and enjoy the city views.

Read our full review here.

Enjoy a stylish stay at the swanky Hotel Tiffany. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Tiffany

Colbjørnsensgade 28
Neighborhood: Central Station & Tivoli
User rating: 8.5
Doubles from $109

The three-star Hotel Tiffany is more of a splurge compared to the typical Cheapo pick, but it’s still a great deal when you keep in mind all the hotel offers. With plush, modern rooms, breakfast delivered to your room, and a courtyard, the Hotel Tiffany is a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, the hotel is powered by wind energy, ideal for climate-conscious Cheapos.

Read our full hotel review here.

More cheap Copenhagen hotels

Interested in seeing more cheapo hotel options? Check out our full list of recommended budget hotels in Copenhagen.

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Another thing Copenhagen is famous for? Very expensive prices on everything from restaurants to taxis. However, you can still find some deals. For example, exploring the city by bike doesn’t have to cost a fortune for a tourist. With the city’s new bike share program, Bycyklen, it’s possible to get around like a local for only a few Danish crowns a day.

Before the new bike share system launched in 2014, visitors could rent bikes for free thanks to a system called Copenhagen City Bikes, the world’s first-ever bike share program that started in 1995. (We took it for a spin back in 2008.) Those freebie days might be long gone, but if you plan on biking more than once during your visit, it’s still possible to keep your bike rental budget in check with the new system.

Related: Keep it cheap with the Copenhagen Card

How it works

Just like other bike share programs, you only need a credit card to get started, and the first step is to create an account online with a username and password. Make sure to write this down, because this is how you will access your bike. You can rent up to two bikes on the same account.

When you are ready to go for a ride, find one of the 30 docking stations, and just use the tablet that’s built into each of the 450 bikes near the handlebars. There’s no kiosk to visit before you hop on a bike like in London, New York’s CitiBike, or Velib in Paris. Simply log in with your information and start pedaling.

According to Bycyklen officials, the program will be expanding soon, and the goal is to have 1,860 bikes at 105 stations by October 2015.

A weather-proof tablet with GPS is built right into the bike. Just log in to check your bike out. Photo: Tony Webster

Pay by the hour or month

There are two pricing options with Bycyklen, and choosing the best one for your needs depends on how long you will be in Copenhagen and how much you want to bike. Checking out the bikes costs 25 kr per hour. At just under $4 per hour (at current exchange rates), it’s not a bad deal for those looking to hop from place to place on a flexible schedule.

However, another option that might just save you money is to get a monthly plan for 70 kr (a little it over $10). Every ride under 30 minutes is free on this plan, so you if think you’ll be using your bike as a main mode of transit for quick trips, this is definitely a better deal than the hourly plan. Note: It’s 6 kr/hour after the free 30-minute period.

If you really want to go for a serious five-hour bike ride around the city, it’s cheaper to rent a bike from a local shop, which costs around $20 for a 24-hour period. There are several shops that offer all kinds of bikes and even tours around the city.

Note: When you first sign up, they take an initial deposit of 200 kr on your credit card that you will get back after a few days. Also, many of the bikes are equipped with electronic locks that let you park it anywhere you please. Again, just use your log-in information to lock and unlock the bike, but be aware that you are still being charged while the bike is parked.

High-Tech bikes with built-in maps

The new system features easy-to-use electric rides from Gobikes. For tourists visiting the city, there is one other big feature that should be very appealing. Built into each bike is a weather-resistant tablet with GPS capability. There’s no need to pull out your iPhone (and maybe rack up charges!) or guidebook to see where you are going.

There’s a map right between your handlebars that tracks your exact location, and it can help guide you to popular landmarks, restaurants, and sights. When you are ready to return your bike, just use the tablet to find the nearest docking station.

Is it worth it?

Even if Bycyklen might not save you a lot from renting a bike from a shop, we think many visitors will find it a great option, because of the convenience. You can explore the city with ease on your own schedule, take spontaneous trips at any time of day or night, and don’t have to worry about where you will lock it. Plus, using the built-in tablet is a fun way to discover new places.

A free alternative

If you are an extreme Cheapo, the most affordable bike rental option in town won’t cost you a single Danish crown. Copenhagen Free Bike Rental is an organization that fixes up broken bikes and rents them out to visitors for no charge.

Participating, however, takes a bit of advance planning. First, fill out a form on their website at least seven days before your bike rental. Next, someone from the organization will meet you in Trianglen Square in Østerbro. They do ask for donations to keep the service going. It may not be as simple as checking out a bike from Bycyklen, but for the intrepid traveler, you can’t beat the price!

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Budget travelers get understandably nervous when visiting Copenhagen. As is the case with many other northern European capitals, prices for food, lodging and shopping can be stunningly steep.

But Cheapos should not steer clear of this city of Danish design, busy bicyclists and curvaceous canals. Visitors on a tight budget can enjoy several days in Copenhagen, made much easier by the credit card-sized Copenhagen Card, the city’s tourism card. When we visited, we clutched ours at all times, which allowed us to stroll about town, into museums, and onto trains.

But is the Copenhagen Card a good fit for your trip? Read on…

The cost of the card

The Copenhagen Card makes sense if you plan to keep busy with the city’s (and area’s) museums and attractions. If you’re the type of traveler who wants to hit all the sights, dash through art museums and castles, and climb high towers overlooking town, the card is clearly a good investment. If, however, you’re content to wander the streets and canals, hang out in coffee shops, and watch the tourists bustle by, it may not be worth all those Kroner.

The pass is available in four types:

24-hours: DKK 359 — about $58
48-hours: DKK 499 — about $80
72-hours: DKK 589 — about $95
120-hour: DKK 799 — about $129

Prices for children aged 10-15 are significantly lower: DKK 189/249/299/399.

While the price might initially seem steep, consider what it offers: free access to more than 70 museums and attractions in and around Copenhagen, discounts at restaurants and other activities, and free transportation on the area’s network of buses, trains, the Metro and even to and from the Copenhagen Airport (zone 4).

When calculating whether or not you should buy a Copenhagen Card, don’t forget to include the savings in transportation costs—or the peace of mind it affords, as you’re free to simply hop on and off buses and trains at will. (Do note that you should always carry the card with you on the city’s transportation, as inspectors do pass frequently and will ask to see your “ticket.”)

Museums and attractions covered

The 72 sights covered by the Copenhagen Card include most of the city’s most famous and visited attractions. They include:

Amalienborg Palace (DKK 70, without pass)
Arken Museum of Modern Art (DKK 95)
Designmuseum Danmark (DKK 100)
Hans Christian Andersen’s Museum (DKK 95)
Statens Museum for Kunst (DKK 110)
Copenhagen Zoo (DKK 170)
Tivoli Gardens (DKK 99)

…and about 65 more. See the Copenhagen Card’s Web site for a full list of attractions covered by the card.

Out of town, too

The card offers admission to attractions outside the city’s limits, as well, which is especially attractive for those purchasing a three- or five-day pass. For example, you can take a day to explore the celebrated castles (including Kronborg, famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”) in the Kongernes Nordsjaelland area. And again, don’t forget that transportation is covered by the card!

Purchasing the card

For further information about the card’s benefits and to purchase it online, visit the Copenhagen Card’s website. Buying your card before arrival is convenient for those arriving by plane, as the card covers transportation into town from the airport. (If you haven’t bought it ahead of time, you can always purchase it at the service center in Terminal Three of Copenhagen Airport.) Note that there is a postage and handling charge of €8 (about $10) for each card bought online.

You can also buy the card at Central Station (the main train station), at large hotels, and at the Visitor Centre (located across from the entrance to Tivoli Gardens).

Finding affordable hotels

Aside from the admission charges to the city’s top attractions, your hotel bill is going to be a huge part of your trip budget, and accommodation prices can be strikingly high in Copenhagen. Fortunately, our editors have hunted down plenty of one- and two-star central hotels for our Copenhagen hotel guide, many with rates under DKK 650 (about $105 a night).

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Ideal Bar at VEGA
Enghavevej 40, 1674 København

One of the Copenhagen’s most high-profile clubs, VEGA is a mammoth complex of four lounges, bars, and music venues. While VEGA proper regularly hosts international superstars like Kylie Minogue, Moby, and Fatboy Slim (with the price tags to match), the more modest Ideal Bar has plenty of free events.

Stop by the Ideal Bar Wednesday through Saturday, when the lounge offers free admission to DJ sets and parties with different musical themes. Aside from the wonderful perk of free entrance, the spot offers an intimate, low-key vibe that you won’t find in VEGA’s other mega-clubs. Check the Ideal Bar’s calendar to see what’s playing when you’re in town. The lounge is closed Sunday through Tuesday.

Laurits Betjent
Ved Stranden 16, 1061 København K

If you’re looking for a young vibe and student-friendly prices, Laurits Betjent is a good bet. Located on Ved Stranden near the pedestrian-only Stroget, the club hosts a “17+” party every Thursday from 10 PM-5 AM. Entrance costs 60 DKK (about $11), and includes free beer and champagne. (Note that clubbers under 18 will only be served soda and Carlsberg 2.7% beer.)

On other nights of the week, Laurits Betjent offers a similarly cheap cover charge and Cheapo-friendly drinks. Complete with two dance floors and a foosball table, it’s a thoroughly fun place.

Andy’s Bar
Gothersgade 33, 1123 København K

Less scene-y and more retro, Andy’s Bar offers a pub-style atmosphere with cheap beer, to boot. Located near Rosenborg Slot, this watering hole is a favorite of musicians and artist types who congregate over glasses of cheap beer. The bar stays open till 5 AM.

Don’t miss Andy’s wonderfully faded exterior, which is a testament to the bar’s many years of operation.

Copenhagen Nightlife Tips

Make sure you know the age limit before you queue up for a club, as many venues set the bar at age 23.

Also, know that several clubs will require you to check your coat, which costs around $4.

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As a first-time visitor to Copenhagen, what did you find surprising about the city?

I didn’t think it would be so compact! All the main attractions are roughly in the same area, so it’s very easy to cover the city on foot.

Did you walk everywhere?

Nearly. I never needed to take public transportation, aside from getting into the city from the airport. I would have loved to rent a bike, but the weather was pretty miserable and rainy so I opted out.

Did you find Copenhagen easy to visit for budget travelers?

With a bit of effort, it can be. Hotel rates themselves are probably the biggest expense, though there are certainly deals to be had. Dining can be reasonably cheap if you forgo touristy restaurants (especially around Tivoli and Nyhavn) for meals at the pizza and kebab joints popular with the locals.

Mmmmm… Pizza and kebabs. Did you have any memorable meals?

In an effort to keep expenses down, I ate meal after meal of falafel schawarma sandwiches. With good reason, too—they’re delicious and cost around DKK 20 (about $4). After my last day of visiting hotels, however, I did splurge on some tasty Japanese fare at Kung Fu Izakaya Bar in Vesterbro.

You deserved it, after visiting dozens of hotels in the city. Which hotel was your favorite?

It’s a tough call, but the Avenue Hotel in Frederiksberg won me over with its lovely rooms and warm hospitality. Hotel Alexandra, which boasts guestrooms outfitted with the work of famed Danish designers, is a close second. However, these are just two of many hotels boasting sleek Danish design and central locations.

Where did you stay?

I stayed at the Absalon Hotel. I had booked a room at the Absalon Annex (which I reviewed), but upon arrival was upgraded to a room at the hotel’s three-star sister property.

Really? Did they know you were reviewing them?

No! Of course not. I told them during check out–and then asked to see a bunch of rooms!

—

Thanks for the great job, Sarah. To read her work, check out her Copenhagen hotel reviews and city guide articles.

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There are many reasons I’m excited to visit Copenhagen: the smorrebrod, the bicycling, the Danish design! But I’m particularly looking forward to stopping by the Little Mermaid for a visit. The iconic statue is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations, and, with a harbor-side location, it’s absolutely free.

The Little Mermaid: A brief history

It’s well known that the Little Mermaid is inspired this was years before Disney’s red-headed “The Little Mermaid” was released!)

The poor Mermaid’s head was sawed off on April 24, 1964 by artists affiliated with the revolutionary Situationist movement.

On September 11, 2003, the Little Mermaid was blasted off her rock, apparently with dynamite.

On March 3, 2007, the statue was yet again covered in paint—this time pink.

The statue was found draped in a Muslim dress and hijab on May 20, 2008.

The Little Mermaid has had company since September, 2006. A “genetically modified” version of the statue was created as part of the sculpture group Genetically Modified Paradise and sits just a few hundred meters away from the original.

The Little Mermaid seems to be sitting safe and pretty for now, but she will be making waves in China in 2010, when she travels to the World EXPO in Shanghai.

Getting there: How close can you get?

The statue is located in the Copenhagen harbor at Langelinie 1. Take Bus 26 to Langelinie.

I’m all set to sidle up to the statue for a snapshot. So Cheapos, how close do you think I can get to the Little Mermaid? Tom said I should pack a swimsuit if I really want to get a photo right next to her. I’m not sure I’m ready to brave the water with the cold Copenhagen temperatures, so perhaps I’ll have to settle for some tricky camera angles!

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Cheapo-gourmets have no fear. Here are a few local secrets – and budget eats – to keep you satiated:

Hit the streets!

A new concept has literally ‘hit the streets’ of Copenhagen: mobile street food. Several bikes and mopeds today circuit the busiest thoroughfares offering affordable and satisfying food. A local favorite is “fish-to-go,” run by French chef Bernard Chesneau. Here you’ll find delicious and homemade seafood dishes, served and prepared out of his own camper.

If you get it to-go: Try the tasty fish cakes with tartar sauce  (1 for €2.75, €3 for €6.75) or the fish of the day (€8). Fish to-go is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM.

National cuisine – for less!

While you’re eating your way through Copenhagen why not stop for some Danish national cuisine? Small businesses are scattered around Copenhagen selling smørrebrød (open-faced rye-bread sandwiches), at varying prices. Expect to spend  12 to 30 kroners (€.60 to €4), depending on which take-away joint you pick.

For good value, I recommend the traditional Frederiksberg Smørrebrød, on Gl. Kongevej. Ask for a “stjerneskud”: two fried fish topped with lettuce, mayo, shrimp and caviar (€5) or the “tatar”: raw minced beef with capers, onions, horseradish, and a raw egg yolk (€7).

Coffee on-the-go!

The Danes are among the most coffee-coveting people in the world, and wandering around our pretty streets you’ll notice one café after the other. Though prices in City (Midtown) can get as high as 52 kroner (€7) for a latte, cheap gourmet coffee is available nearby.

Try Ole Skram, or “the espressoman,” as he calls himself. He has equipped his personal bicycle with a gas-driven espresso machine and rides the streets of City each day selling low-priced gourmet coffee. You can typically track him down around Nørreport station, Østerport Station, and along Strøget. He charges around 20 kroners (€2.50) for a latte.

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Although some pieces of Danish ingenuity can be very pricey, many smaller, easy-to-pack items won’t cost all of your kroners. Modest vases, picture frames, and jewelry boxes travel well, and are useful and stylish souvenirs.

Danish house wares: Tasteful and practical

Take a trip to the Danish Design Center and the fancy shops on Amagertorv for inspiration, then head over to Magasin du Nord, Scandanavia’s first department store, at Kongens Nytorv 13. There you will find similar kitchenware and home furnishings available for much less.

If you’re planning to enjoy low-priced meals from the grocery store or will be picnicking in the Ørsteds Parken, why not dress it up with some trendy utensils? Collapsible cups and bowls and two-in-one salt and pepper shakers are simply elegant, and will be a hit back home. These pieces can be found for DKK 100 (about US $20).

While you’re at it…

Keep some Danish kroner. Hearts, swirls, and depictions of lions and crowns surrounded by a curvy typeface make for creative coinage. Not only is the fancy money fun to hand out to friends, but you can save it for your next trip. Danes have repeatedly rejected the adoption of the euro, although the government is still committed to its eventual adoption.

Also see: Our list of recommended budget hotels in Copenhagen.

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Things can get pricy pretty quickly in Copenhagen, but you can still grab some wheels for free. The city’s free bike program, called “Bycyklen Kobenhavn,” was a pioneer in the urban bike program phenomenon. The city provides 1,300 free bicycles to anyone to zip around the city center.

The program is popular with visitors and residents alike, doubles as a rehabilitation program for locals, and is environmentally progressive. (The city even gave a city bike to Bill Clinton, when he visited in 1997.) In short, the program is just another example of why the Danes are so cool.

It’s a straight-forward system:

1) Find your way to one of the city’s 125 bike parking areas. They’re all located in the city center.

2) Leave a small deposit (a DKK 20 coin, worth about $3) and ride off with your bike.

3) Stay in the city center. The bikes are easy to identify, and you might get some looks if you’re outside the central zone. According to the official website, “If you ride on a city bike outside the zone, you might get fined by the police.” Also, remember not to ride on any of the city’s pedestrian-only streets (you can walk the bike, however).

4) When you’re finished, return the bike to one of the 125 bike parking areas, whereupon you’ll get back your deposit.

The free-bike zone.

For more information on the program, visit the city’s official website for the free bike program.

So simple.

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All this happiness, in spite of high taxes and hefty price tags? After all, according to the Big Mac Index, a Happy Meal must cost at least $5 in Copenhagen! Yet we agree: Denmark is a happy (and happening) place!

Here are five of our favorite and free ways to boost your serotonin in Copenhagen:

1) Get cultured

In 2006, the National Museum and the Statens Museum of Kunst became free to the public. And, every Wednesday, a number of other major museums and galleries open their doors without a charge. We suggest the Tøjhusmuseet, where the relics of the Royal Danish Arsenal are housed, and the Hirschsprungske and Ordrupgaard Collections, two museums with some of the best French and Danish art from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. For more info and to browse current exhibitions, go to the Copenhagen Tourism’s art museum page.

2) Park yourself

Copenhagen has some of the most expansive and pretty parks in Europe. Retreats like Orsteds Park, Frederiksberg Garden or Vondelpark are free to enter and stroll. Both have incredible sculptures and fountains and a host of traveling street performers. We also recommend the Botanical Gardens.

3) Get thee to church

Seriously, not only are Copenhagen’s many religious establishments architectural marvels, but they’re free to visit, and often host free concerts. Some charge a nominal fee for truly spectacular shows, like the Danish boys choir Christmas concert at the Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), founded in 1209.

4) Grab a bike without paying

Yes, it’s that easy. You see a bike. You need a bike? You take the bike and ride it. A minimal deposit (about $3) gets returned when you bring the bike back to any number of designated spots. The promotion runs annually from May 1st to December 15th. More info can be found here.

5) See the statues

Go for a walk near the Copenhagen harbor, and spend some time gazing at the Little Mermaid. (She can’t charge you a krone to check out her scales.) Near City Hall, visit with Hans Christian Andersen. Later, walk the stone path at the Thorvaldsens museum in Slotsholmen.

Whatever you do, take lots of photos… or take brochures. After all, they’re free!

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