Copenhagen, Denmark: When to Go and Weather

Weather: When it comes to Copenhagen weather, forget about temperature and rainfall: the most important factor is daylight hours. The city is located on the coast of Zealand, the largest island on Denmark's archipelago, so far north that winter days are extremely short. During the cold depths of December and January, daylight hours dwindle to just one hour, but by June and July, Copenhagen experiences 8 daylight hours. The North Atlantic warms the region to an extent, preventing extreme weather in winter and cooling off the city in summer.

Summer: Copenhagen weather is warm and occasionally rainy in summer. But the rainstorms don't last long, and mainly serve to refresh the city's gorgeous greenery. The average temperature is 72 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 2.5 inches.

Fall: Crisp weather and sunshine make fall a popular season with visitors. September begins with 5 daylight hours, but the average is down to 3 by October. The average temperature is 55 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 2 inches.

Winter: Days are short and cold, though snow is rare, in Copenhagen's winter. You'll only see an hour or two of sunlight, and the skies are perpetually gray. The average temperature is 35 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 1.7 inches.

Spring: Copenhagen weather can be brisk at the start of spring. But temperatures rise, and daylight hours increase, heading into April and May (which feature 5 and 8 hours of sun, respectively.) The average temperature is 52 degrees F and the average monthly rainfall is 1.8 inches.

Looking for local weather reports? Try www.copenhagen.com/weather.

When to Go: Peak Season
In summer, Copenhagen is joyful. The city is an explosion of fresh, brightly colored flowers, bicycles rolling down cobblestone streets, and locals and tourists alike sitting in outdoor cafes watching the people go by. This is Denmark's peak season, and for good reason: the temperatures never climb into an uncomfortable range, setting an ideal stage for outdoor concerts and festivals. Museums extend their hours and restaurants have long lines wrapped around the corner on weekend evenings: be sure to reserve ahead for hotel rooms and dinners. Many locals leave the city in July and head to their country homes, which frees up some space in the city.

When to Go: Off Season
Wintertime doesn't get extremely cold in Copenhagen, but the days are very short, and fewer visitors travel here in January and February. Christmas and New Years festivities bring larger numbers to the city, causing a spike in hotel prices, but in general, you'll save money if you travel in this chilly off season. Overcast skies and snow flurries are standard - though you won't see much accumulation - and you'll want to bundle up in heavy winter clothes to brave the city streets. A steaming hot mug of spice red wine helps the locals handle the winter chill - the specialty is sold at vendors' stands throughout the city's downtown areas.

When to Go: Shoulder Season
Spring and fall are, as you'd expect, the Danish shoulder seasons. Weekends can be hectic with tourist crowds in September and May, closer to the summer peak, but October and April are ideal for exploring Tivoli or renting a bike for a citywide cruise. Hotel rooms can go for their regular rates on weekends, but they're cheaper during the week. Frequent music festivals and outdoor celebrations occur in these months, though the weather starts to get noticeably chillier in November - and the daylight hours diminish significantly so that you'll only see an hour or two of sunshine.

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Get more information on Copenhagen weather.