Copenhagen holidays that won’t break the bank

The image of Denmark as an expensive destination is long gone. A holiday to its capital, Copenhagen, can prove really good value for money, if you plan wisely.

Here are some hints:

After arriving at Copenhagen Airport go straight to the information desk and get yourself a Copenhagen Card. This great-value card gives you free travel on the Metro, bus and trains in the greater Copenhagen area. This can take you as far as Prince Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle in the north, maybe stopping at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art on the way, to the ancient capital of Roskilde in the west, the home of Scandinavia’s most fascinating Viking Ship Museum.

With this card in hand, you also get free entrance to some 60 museums and attractions. Prices start at 199 DKK (£22) for an adult’s 24-hour card. Two children under nine can go free for each holder of an adult Copenhagen Card. Cphcard.com

An extra bonus is that the use of ‘harbour-buses’ are included in the card. This will allow you to use these fun boats to take you from one sight to another along the central harbour area. If you want a guided tour by boat, hop on one of the Netto Boats, whose 60 minute trips cost just 30 DDK (£3.50). Netto-baadene.dk

A great way to explore the city is using one of the hundreds of City Bikes that are available throughout the city. All you do is put a 20 DKK (£2.50) coin in the slot, just like a shopping trolley and off you go. A handy map is already placed on the steering bar and the city is dedicated to offering cyclists a smooth ride with special cycling routes. Bycyklen.dk. This is a fun way to explore a capital.

Where to stay?
What a bout a 5-star Youth Hostel? Danhostel Copenhagen City It is the largest city centre youth hostel in Europe and you do not have to be young to stay there, just young at heart. With its 1020 beds it offers a variety of accommodation from dormitories of 6-8 beds to more private family rooms. Charges start at 130DKK (£15) for a bed, 60DKK (£7) for bedlinen and 47DKK (£5) for breakfast. Not bad for a Copenhagen waterfront location.

In true Danish style, all furniture in common rooms are colourful designer objects. Danhostel.dk

Other good value for money accommodation is provided by Cab Inn City Hotel, cab-inn.dk and Zleephotel, zleep.dk. Hotel chains like Arp-Hansen, arp-hansen.com and Choice, Choicehotels.dk offer really good deals too, particularly at weekends and the summer holiday season.

Where to eat?
A Danish breakfast sets you up for most of the day, not just jam and toast here but herrings, cheeses, hams, sausages, eggs, fruits, yoghurts and a variety of breads including of course Danish pastries. Make sure you include this in your accommodation booking.

Getting hungry around lunchtime, after all that cycling? Do what the Danes do, enjoy a true Danish lunch by ordering a couple of Smorrebrod. These are open sandwiches loaded with toppings of your favourite flavours like beef, prawns or chicken piled up high. An average cost for two Smorrebrod and, you are after all in Denmark, a Carlsberg beer will just set you back around 120-150 DKK (£13-£16) Treat yourself to a taste of Denmark!

Most restaurants also offer a ‘Meal of the Day’ providing really good value.

If this is not enough – do not miss a sausage treat from one of the many ‘Polsevogn’, Hot Dog stands – just try it, tastes great at only a couple of Danish Kroner.

And finally, east on Holmen, across the harbour from Langelinie and the Little Mermaid, is also the Halvandet beach bar. Quite what Hans Christian Andersen's love sick fairy tale figure would make of this chilled out harbour front bar is anyone's guess, but she would certainly be at something of a disadvantage when it came to a game of beach volley ball that draws the crowds here on a summer's day. If the weather turns ugly, Halvandet has an indoor lounge bar where its reasonably priced food and cocktails are served into the night…

Sightseeing for nothing:

The best things in life are free….
See the most famous sight in Denmark – The Little Mermaid resting on a rock along the Langeline harbour walk. Travellers come from all over the world, to have their photos taken together with this small but emotive statue.

Take a seat in Nyhavn, and watch the world go by along this busy Copenhagen canal area, full of local ambiance and once home of Denmark’s greatest son; Hans Christian Andersen.

A walk around the Amalienborg Royal Palace will not cost you a thing, nor will taking in the colourful Changing of the Guards.

Look and learn about superb Danish Designs at George Jensen, Illums Bolighus and Royal Copenhagen porcelain, all located in the main shopping street Stroget, then maybe see if you can find a bargain at one of the Saturday markets at Gamle Strand, Frederiksberg or Israels Plads.

On a hot summers day, nothing is nicer than a cycle trip to the spacious beaches close to the city, for a refreshing dip in the sea.

A variety of concerts are often free too, just take a look at Visitcopenhagen.com/events before you go and just take your pick.

Getting there
SAS Scandinavian Airlines offers frequent and convenient flights from London Heathrow, London City Airport, Birmingham, Manchester and Aberdeen. Flight times are under 2 hours.

For latest special offers and bookings go to: Flysas.co.uk