DIS Blog
Affordable activities in Copenhagen with Kathrina
Published
September 6, 2022
Copenhagen
Study Abroad Tips
Kathrina (she/her), compiled a list of her favorite affordable activities while studying abroad with DIS in Copenhagen.
Before coming to Copenhagen, Kathrina did some research and knew that Copenhagen was continuously ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Thinking back on the beginning of her term abroad, she wished had known more about budget-friendly cafes and activities. Read below to get to know her favorite places to go for food, coffee, and sightseeing that won’t completely break the bank.
Starting off with food…
Domhusets Smørrebrød
About a 3-minute walk from the DIS Student Hub, you can find Domhuset Smørrebrød. They swerve traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches for about 37 DKKR (around 6 USD). This place is an easy (and delicious) way to try some Danish cuisine. The open-faced sandwiches usually consist of a piece of buttered rye bread topped with cold cuts, meat, fish, or cheese, and are often elaborately garnished. My favorite ones I have tried are the roasted pork smørrebrød and the beef smørrebrød.
The Living Room
The Living Room is also about a 3-minute walk from the DIS Student Hub. This café is my favorite place to grab a coffee in between classes or to sit in and crank out work at their high-top tables on a Sunday. Not only does this café have coffee on the cheaper side (around 6 USD), it is also a location that has a DIScount for DIS students! I show my DIS student ID card for 10% off an iced caramel coffee anytime I go.
Zaggi’s Cafe
If you want something even cheaper and you are close to Nørreport Station, Zaggi’s Café is the perfect place to visit. Though they only accept cash or Mobile Pay, this café sells all coffee and pastries for 30 DKK (around 4 USD). You can also enjoy a little stroll around the lakes before entering Nørrebro after picking something up from Zaggi’s.
Now onto sightseeing…
The Botanical Garden
As much as I love living in the Inner City, I do miss a lot of the greenery that I see at home. The Botanical Garden is the perfect solution and is about a 5-minute walk from Nørreport Station. In my opinion, it is one of the prettiest places to walk through in Copenhagen. It is a part of the National History Museum of Denmark and houses the Palm House, which only costs 40 DKK (around 6 USD) for entry if you show your student ID. With this ticket, you can enter the Palm House AND the Butterfly House for a quick day trip.
Rosenborg Castle
Which houses the crown jewels and serves as a museum, is only a few blocks down. This castle also has the attached Rosenborg Castle Gardens, which can be another source of greenery if you want a change of scenery from the Botanical Garden. I visited the castle for a Danish class Field Study and received a student discount, only paying 75 DKK (around 11 USD) for a ticket. The castle may be on the more expensive end of this list, but it is easy to visit and so worth it.
This concludes my list, but I do have some honorable mentions!
- DØP – Den Økologiske Pølsemand (stationed all around Inner City)
- Juice and Coffee – Affordable coffee (about a 5-minute walk from the DIS Student Hub)
- Statens Museum for Kunst or The National Gallery of Denmark – Under age 26 ticket for 95 DKK (right next to Rosenborg)
I hope this helped someone, as much as it would’ve helped me!
-Kathrina