Best Time to VIsit Copenhagen For Weather, Festivals, and More

Weather in Denmark varies by season, so picking the best time to visit Copenhagen is vital! 

I think March, May, July, and August are the best times of the year to visit Copenhagen. 

There’s no blanket answer. We are all different, after all, and your idea of being too cold and rainy might differ from my own. 

Luckily, in the next few minutes, you’ll know the right time to plan your visit! First, things first we are going to break down the weather in Copenhagen, Denmark month by month. We’ll talk about rainfall, temperature, and prices. 

After that will dig a little deeper into what each month to the peak travel seasons, as well as festivals and events. 

Armed with this knowledge, you’ll figure out the best time of the year to visit Copenhagen. Plus we will go over things like the average temperatures by month. So you know when to visit the Nordic countries for mild weather, or during the hottest month of the year. As well as, daylight hours so you can get the most time to check outdoor activities off your bucket list in Denmark’s capital city. 

So get ready to learn the most popular time to visit Copenhagen to enjoy warm weather, street food, cultural events and more. 

Let’s get started. 

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best time to visit Copenhagen 

The Weather Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen weather in January: 

Hate the cold? Then January is the roughest month to visit the Danish capital. The frigid winter weather -is at its peak. 

The average highs and lows are between 35°F – and 28°F, respectively. (1.6ºC – 2ºC). 

Average Rain and snowfall: On average, it rains and snows around 15 -18 days in January. Let’s break that down further. January in Copenhagen gets around 14 days of rain, and 6 days of snow. 

The days are also short with sunrise around 8:30 am, and sunset between 3:30 – 4:00 pm. 

The average daylight in January is around 8 hours. But with a dismal 1 and a half hours of sunshine each day. 

January is not the best time to visit Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen Weather in February: 

Temperature-wise February is like January, with the highest temperature being a little warmer at 38°F and the lows sitting around 30°F ( 3°C -1°C). 

Average Rain and snowfall: The city also gets around 6 – 12 days of rain or snow in February. Although, the average precipitation in inches is much less than compared to January. 

February in Copenhagen gets around 4 days of snow and 11 days of rain.

Compared to January, visitors also get a couple more hours of sunlight, with sunrise taking place between 7 -8 am and the sun setting between 5- 6 pm. 

Average Daylight and Sunshine: The days are around 9 – 10 hours with a little over 2 hours of sunshine per day. 

However, there are more things to do in Copenhagen compared to January, but more on that later. 

Copenhagen Weather in March: 

Is March the best time to visit Copenhagen? I mean, it’s the first month of Spring, right? The days are longer, and the weather is a little warmer! 

Although, not warm enough for those who hate the cold. March highs sit around 43°F (6°C). The lows are just above freezing at 33°F (0.5°C). Rainfall in Copenhagen also picks up in March with around 14 days of light rain. 

In March, the sun comes out early; around 6 – 7 am. And with sunset, taking place between 5:45 – 6:60 pm. 

The average length of daylight is 11.9 hours with almost 4 hours of sunshine. 

Copenhagen Weather in April: 

April is when spring picks up in Copenhagen. Though the weather isn’t “hot”. 

The highs sit around 51°F and the lows at around 40°F. (10°C – 4.4°C).

There’s also less rain with around 11 days during April. Denmark naturally gets a lot of rain, so 11 days in one month is pretty good. There’s also a chance for one or two days of snow in April. 

During April, we see the days getting a lot longer. The sun rises around 5:30 am and sets between 8 – 9 PM. 

With the average daylight lasting over 14 hours. With 6 hours of sunshine! 

The daylight, sunshine, and warmer weather all make April a contender for the best time of the year to visit Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen Weather in May: 

In May the temperatures hit their spring highs with temperatures finally itching the 60s. The nightly lows are in the high 40s (47°F) to low 50s. So expect temperatures around 62°F to 47°F (16°C – 8.3°C)

We get even longer days in late May, with sunrise taking place between 4:30 – 5 am. And with most days, the sunset is between 9 – 10 pm.  

May also see less rain – with around 10 days – and the end of the snow. Listen, there’s always a lot of rain around the area. It’s just a fun fact about Denmark. 

On average, that is over 16 hours of daylight, and 8.5 hours of sunshine each day. 

Copenhagen Weather in June: 

Is the start of summer the best time to visit Copenhagen? Let’s find out. 

In June, temperatures are almost at their warmest, with the highs and lows reaching 68°F and 53°F (20°C – 11.6°C). This makes June the most comfortable time of the year to visit Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen gets an average of 12 days of light rain in June.

June ushers in the longest days of the year. In early June, the sunrise happens promptly at 4:30. And the sunsets between 9:45 – 10:00 pm. Those are some long days! 

I mean, that gives you 17 hours of daylight and over 8 hours of sunshine. This gives you plenty of time to check off your 3 days in Copenhagen Itinerary. Check out some of the city’s primary sites, like Kronborg castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site -, Egeskov castle, and the Viking ship museum.

Copenhagen Weather in July: 

July and August are Copenhagen’s warmest months of the year. Temperatures reach a high of the lower 70s. Nights bring low temperatures in the upper 50s. One average temperature sits between 71°F – 57°F (21°C – 13°C)

Sadly, July’s one of the wettest months as well. On average, July brings 12 days of rain with a rainfall of 51mm. 

The days run similar to June, with sunrise and sunset being at 4:30 am and 9:45 pm, respectively. 

Average that 17 hours of daylight and 8 hours of sunshine. So lots of time to see Amalienborg palace and Christiansburg palace.

You can also check out the beautiful cliffs and beaches at Møns Klint.

Copenhagen Weather in August: 

Temperatures in August are the same as in July. The days remain in the lower 70s and the night in the upper 50s. The average August temperature is 21°C (71°F).

It also rains around 12 days in August. However, in terms of the amount, it is slightly less than in July. 

The days also get shorter in August, with sunrise around 5:30 am and sunset around 8:45 – 9:00 pm. That’s an average of 15 hours of daylight and just under 8 hours of sunshine. 

Copenhagen Weather in September: 

In terms of heat, the summer months were the peak of the rollercoaster. Now it’s time to make our way down the hill. Don’t worry, it’s a slow descent, and September’s still a great time to visit Copenhagen. 

Temperatures are around 63°F / 52°F (17°C / 11°C).

September’s also the rainiest month of the year. Copenhagen gets over 14 days of rain in September with a rainfall of 59mm. 

The days are also declining more with sunrise later – around 6:30 am – and sunset early between 7 -8 pm. September sunshine average is 12.8 hours a day. With 5 hours of sunshine. 

Copenhagen Weather in October: 

In October, the temperatures are sliding. We are now reaching daily highs of 54°F and lows of 45°F. Here comes the cold! (12°C – 7 °C).

And like September, this is one of the rainiest months of the year. It rains around 14 days of the month. There’s also a chance for snow, although it’s unlikely. 

Days are even shorter. Sunrise: 7 – 8 am. Sunset 5-6 pm (4 -5 once the clocks change). You still get an average of 10 hours of daylight. But it’s accompanied by a small 3 hours of sunshine.  

Copenhagen Weather in November: 

Brace yourself, because November and December are cold. 

November temperatures: Highs 40°F, and lows are 30°F (4.5°C – 1.1°C)

During November Copenhagen gets around 10 -15 days of rain. Copenhagen gets an average of 2 days of snow in November. 

The days are much shorter with sunrise between 7 -8 am and sunset around 3:45 – 4:15 pm. Making for 8 hours of daylight. But a dismal number of 2 hours of sunshine. 

Copenhagen Weather in December: 

December is cold but not as cold as January. Whether it’s day or night, the temperatures sit between the 40s and 30s. (between -1°C to -6 °C).

There’s an average of 16 days of rain and 4 days of snow in December.

Sunrise takes place around 8:15 – 8:30. With an early sunset around 3:30 – 3:45 pm. Those are some short days. If you decided that the best time to visit Copenhagen is in December expect 7 hours of daylight, and around 1 hour of sunshine a day. 

Best Time to Visit Copenhagen: Tourist Seasons

Another thing we have to think about when choosing the best time to visit Copenhagen is other travelers. Not only does this affect crowds and lines but also prices for hotels, and hours of operation for many sites. 

Let’s take a quick look at the different tourist seasons to travel to Copenhagen! 

Best Time to Visit Denmark | Peak Season 

Like many countries in Europe; Copenhagen’s peak tourist season is during the summer months. July and August are the busiest months of the year. But the summer season is the busiest time to visit the city. The city center and central station are more packed with travelers. 

This means you’ll have to deal with larger crowds. However, Copenhagen never draws long lines like other countries in Europe, like Italy or France. You can easily get around Copenhagen during its peak tourist season without fighting massive crowds. 

Tourism also picks up for the Christmas Season. Which is a mystery to me after experiencing frigid December weather. 

This is when you will have long lines for top Copenhagen Denmark attractions like Christiansborg Palace, Tivoli Garden, the Round Tower, and more. 

Plus places like Freetown Christiania, Central Copenhagen, and the Copenhagen City Hall – City Hall Square are busier. 

Best Time to Visit Denmark | Shoulder Season

Shoulder Season: It’s the little gasps of breath between the low tourist season and peak season. You’ll see some tourism, but not much. Prices are also cheaper compared to peak season, and it’s you have a better chance of getting a table at a Michelin-rated restaurant. 

Shoulder Season months in Copenhagen are March, April, September, and October.

And a great time to visit Copenhagen as the Danish capital is less crowded making it more enjoyable to visit places like the Copenhagen Opera house, the National Museum, or go on a road trip. And plan an epic day trip from Copenhagen. 

Best Time to Visit Denmark | Low Season

Low Season: Just look at the weather above and it is pretty obvious that most people want to avoid Copenhagen during the winter months when the days are short, the weather is freezing, and they’re a good chance of snow. 

Many of the things to do in Copenhagen have reduced hours during the winter as there aren’t many tourists. Of course, less tourism means lower prices. Hotel prices in Copenhagen are lower in the winter months. 

Best Time to Visit Copenhagen: Festivals and Events by Month

This is another key factor in planning the best time to visit Copenhagen. We need to know what’s going on! 

Is January the Best Time to Visit Denmark 

Because of the cold temperatures, January doesn’t have a lot going on. But if you’re a fan of Christmas Markets and Christmas Fairs, then head to The Christmas Fair in Tivoli Gardens, which ends Jan 5th. 

If you want to see the northern lights, then this is the time to visit. Just like the best time to visit Iceland. Sadly, You can’t see them from Denmark, but head over to the nearby Scandinavian Country, Sweden, to see them. This is perhaps the coldest month to visit Denmark. But you can stay at the best hostels in Copenhagen for a cheaper price. And not as packed.

And if you head to Sweden, make sure to check out some of the things that Sweden is famous for!

Is February the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen 

Early to mid-February brings the Vinterjazz festival (or Winter Jazz festival) This takes place across the entire country. However, it’s heavily celebrated in Copenhagen. 

Late February brings Fastelavn. This celebration marks the beginning of the end of winter. It’s still celebrated anciently, and the celebration revolves around the children. Kids wear costumes and go around the town asking for candy or money. Along the way, they sing, parade, and dance from door to door.  

Is March the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen

March is a busy month for festivals in Copenhagen. And if they pique your interest, then it might just be the best time of the year to visit Copenhagen. 

Starting in late February to early March is the Copenhagen Light Festival. Using the dark of their winter months to their advantage, the Danes light up the town with bright and artistic exhibitions and installations. These lights illuminate the entire downtown, in a wild and wacky festival. It’s cool. 

March brings the CPH: DOX, which is an international documentary festival. It’s the largest International doc festival in the world. Most of the time, the festival takes place in mid-march. 

Is April and May the Best Time to Visit Denmark 

There are a lot of Easter Celebrations in Denmark.

 In May, there is one big celebration.

May Day. May first bring huge celebrations in Copenhagen. It’s Mayday! And this means big parties and parades. 

Is the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen June, July, and August

Spring festival: An international children’s festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. The festival emphasizes theatre and performance. And contains shows from around the world. The festival lasts for a week. 

June 5th is also Denmark’s independence day. 

And the summer is when the famous Roskilde festival takes place. One of the things that Denmark is known for!

Distortions: This pub crawl, festival, and block party. It travels through the different districts of the city throwing street parties. They set up distortion clubs around the city and host bands and DJs.

Copenhagen Cooking and Food Festivals: Foodies won’t want to miss these festivals. It’s 10 days of Danish food, cooking classes, music, and more. There are chefs, lessons, and tastes from all over the world. 

Other summer festivals

Jazz Festival

Red Bull Copenwakem

Fashion Week

Copenhagen Pride

Strøm 

September, October, November, and December

Blue Festivals: in Late September. This is 4 -5 days of Blues celebrated throughout the city. With various blues artists from around the world. 

Mis Copenhagen: The oldest film festival in Copenhagen. Also, one of the oldest LGBTQ film festivals in the world. 

October 9th: Culture Night. The entire city works together to highlight the city’s history and danish culture. Over 250 museums, churches, parks, and libraries take part. 

September is when the Copenhagen blues festival and Copenhagen jazz festival.

Wettest Month to visit Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a beautiful city to visit any time of year, but if you’re looking to avoid the rain, there are a few months you’ll want to avoid. The wettest month in Copenhagen is August, with an average of 2.1 inches of rain. July and September are also quite wet, with average rainfall of 1.7 inches and 1.5 inches, respectively. If you can, it’s best to visit Copenhagen in the spring (April-May) or fall (September-October), when the weather is mild and there’s less rain. The average rainfall in April is 1.1 inches, and in October it’s 1.3 inches.

Copenhagen has an average annual rainfall of 26 inches. The rainiest months are August, July, and September, while the driest months are April and May.

The Windiest Month to Visit Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a beautiful city to visit any time of year, but if you’re looking to avoid the wind, there are a few months you’ll want to avoid. The windiest month in Copenhagen is December, with an average wind speed of 20.7 mph. January and February are also quite windy, with average wind speeds of 17.7 mph and 16.7 mph, respectively. If you can, it’s best to visit Copenhagen in the summer, when the weather is mild and the wind is at its calmest. The average wind speed in July is just 14.9 mph. So you have cold winds and chilly breezes making it a bad time to visit the Copenhagen.

So when is the best time to visit Copenhagen? When we consider the weather, festivals, hours of daylight, and hours the sites are open, there is no doubt. Late spring through summer is the best time to visit Copenhagen. You will pay a little more in the summer, but the sheer amount of things to do makes it worth it.

So when is the best time to visit Copenhagen? When we consider the weather, festivals, hours of daylight, and hours the sites are open, there is no doubt. Late spring through summer is the best time to visit Copenhagen. You will pay a little more in the summer, but the sheer amount of things to do makes it worth it. 

The peak of winter is the worst time to visit Copenhagen as the days are shorter, fewer things are open, and it’s freezing. So you don’t have a lot of chances to explore the best places in Denmark. Including the Scandinavian country side and sites like Rosenborg Castle. Although you’ll pay slightly less for hotels during this time of the year. 

Overall, Denmark is one of the best countries in Northern Europe. And great deals like the Copenhagen Card make it a great place to visit from the United States, South Africa, New Zealand, or anywhere else in the world. So pick the best time to visit Denmark and pack your bags!