Copenhagen in October (A Fall Travel Guide to Denmark’s Capital)

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october in copenhagen

If you’re searching for a European fall travel destination that has all the cozy vibes of Autumn set against an art and culture-filled city, look no further than the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen.

Our first (and currently only) visit to Copenhagen was in October, where the city was drenched in Autumn foliage, we spent many mornings and afternoons cozied up in a cafe and enjoyed wandering the colorful streets of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is a wonderful Europe Fall destination if you’re looking for a new city to explore in October, offering crisp weather, cozy days and plenty to explore both inside and outside.

things to do in copenhagen in october

I am by no means a local Copenhagener, so my short list of things to do in Copenhagen in October will simply be based on what we had time to do during our travels there for four nights.

We were also visiting Copenhagen with our toddler (an additional reason we chose to visit), so we did not have a jam packed schedule of seeing and doing all there is in Copenhagen.

Nonetheless, below are the ways we enjoyed our October days in Copenhagen and things you could expect to do on an October trip there.

Stroll along nyhaven

When you search for images of Copenhagen, it is likely that you’ve seen pictures of Nyhaven. Nyhaven sits along the water, with wooden boats and a line of iconic colorful houses to stroll along. It is THE spot to take your photo in Copenhagen, so don’t miss the opportunity to capture yourself with the famous houses behind you.

climb the round tower

For views over the Copenhagen skyline and its red roofs, pay a visit to the Round Tower, a historic monument in the city of Copenhagen. To access the views of the city, you climb the beautiful spiraling tower in a ramp like fashion (with only a few stairs) all the way to the top. As you climb, you can peek out the windows lining the tower for different views over Copenhagen.

Once at the top, you get stunning 360 degree views over all of Copenhagen. And for great lighting, time your visit towards the end of the day to capture the golden glow over the Copenhagen rooftops.

You don’t need long to visit the Round Tower, so allot 30-45 minutes in your Copenhagen itinerary for your visit. Tickets are purchased onsite.

spend the day at tivoli gardens

If spooky season and theme parks are your thing, you won’t want to miss visiting Copenhagen’s historic theme park, Tivoli Gardens, in October. From the beginning of October to the beginning of November, Tivoli Gardens is decked out in all things fall and Halloween, with jack-o-lantern pumpkins glowing over head, giant pumpkins on display, and seasonal foods and gifts throughout the park.

Opening in 1843, Tivoli Gardens is the second oldest theme park in the world, so even if an amusement park doesn’t sound like your form of entertainment, it is historically interesting. Not to mention, Tivoli Gardens is in Copenhagen’s center, so you don’t have to go majorly outside of the city to visit the gardens, we simply walked.

Buy your regular Tivoli Gardens entry tickets, or Tivoli Gardens entry tickets with ride pass. You can also purchase tickets onsite.

enjoy Copenhagen’s colorful streets

Copenhagen’s colorful architecture and streets basically reflect the natural colors of Autumn, with facades painted warm yellows, rustic reds and warm oranges. Simply wander through Copenhagen’s streets and admire all of the colorful buildings and facades. You can find some of the more famous colorful areas on the streets below.

• Magstraede

• Kompagnistaede

• Grabrodretorv

• Krusemyntegade

• Gernersgade

You can also easily discover these neighborhoods by booking a guided tour, like this Copenhagen Hygge and Happiness Culture Walking Tour.

soak up fall foliage in the king’s garden

The King’s Garden, also known as Rosenborg Castle Garden, is a large park and green space in the center of Copenhagen The green space was once the grounds for Rosenborg Castle (which is in the garden’s perimeters), but is now a lovely space open to the public.

Similar to Paris’ Luxembourg Gardens, the King’s Gardens is a lovely part of the city to break away from the hustle and bustle and have a car and bike-free leisurely time. We especially loved coming here each day to let our toddler run around in freedom and enjoy all the leaves and beautiful trees.

find warmth in copenhagen’s Botanical Garden

The largest botanical garden in Denmark, the Botanical Garden is a lovely way to spend an October day in Copenhagen. The grounds of the gardens are covered in beautiful trees and plants, and you can also visit the historic greenhouses on the property.
Inside the Botanical Garden greenhouses you will find tropical plants as well as a dedicated butterfly space. The greenhouses are especially nice as the temperatures start to drop in Copenhagen, as they are warm and cozy on the inside!

Visit one of copenhagen’s musuems

If you’re a museum-lover or simply looking for a way to beat the rainy cold weather, Copenhagen has no shortage of museums. Whether you’re interested in art and design, Danish history, Vikings or architecture, there is a museum in Copenhagen for you.

We had a handful of museums we hoped to visit during our travels to Copenhagen, but knew realistically that we might have to pick only a few (or even one) since our toddler would be traveling with us. We opted for a visit to the design museum, Designmuseum Danmark and spent a wonderful morning strolling through the fiber arts and interior design within the musuem.

The Designmuseum Danmark doesn’t take long to explore and has a lovely closed-in courtyard in the center (which is perfect if you do have a toddler in tow), to enjoy a coffee or lunch once you’ve finished exploring the museum.

Other Copenhagen museums we hope to visit in future travels are:

• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (outside the city)

• National Museum of Denmark

• Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

drink coffee at one of copenhagen’s many coffee shops

There’s nothing cozier in October than finding a local coffee shop and spending an hour or so drinking on your favorite caffeinated (or decaf) beverage. Copenhagen’s coffee scene is one of the best we’ve experienced in our travels (up there next to the endless cool coffee shops you’ll find in Paris), and we enjoyed discovering as many Danish coffee shops we could during our short stay in Copenhagen.

Pictured below is HANS Coffee which we really enjoyed, but you can see all of the coffee spots we loved in our Copenhagen Coffee Guide.

visit the food hall, TorvehallerneKBH

If your October day in Copenhagen has rain in the forecast and you’re ready to grab a bite to eat, head to Copenhagen’s indoor food hall, TorvehallerneKBH. The food hall consists of two buildings that house restaurants of all caliber.

We went straight to GRØD to try their delicious traditional Danish porridge which did not dissapoint. There is a variety of breakfast porridge options you can try, and GRØD also offers savory dishes if you’re craving more of a salty, filling meal.

What to Pack for copenhagen in October

Packing for Copenhagen in October is mostly what you expect for a Northern Europe Autumn trip, with maybe a few slightly warmer layers than you’d expect. Here’s what to pack for Copenhagen in October:

• Light long sleeve tops (that can be layered)

• A few cozy sweaters

• A light-weight scarf

• Boots with good grip

• Good tennis shoes (especially if you plan to hop on a bike)

• A waterproof coat for the potential rainy days

• Warm socks

• A warm transitional coat (doesn’t need to be your heavy winter coat, unless you are cool temps sensitive)

where we stayed in copenhagen

Copenhagen has a lot of cool options when it comes to hotels and accommodations. We personally booked our four nights at Apēron Apartment Hotel in the center of historic Copenhagen, just steps from the Round Tower and other main streets in the center.

This Copenhagen accommodation was most convenient for us thanks to its baby and toddler friendly amenities and kitchen area we could utilize if needed.

image from tripadvisor.com and not my own

traveling to europe in october

October is an amazing month to explore Europe, with crisp temperatures, beautiful foliage and less crowds. If you’re interested in other great destinations in October, we think you’ll love our October in Paris Guide, and our Amsterdam Travel Guide. Or if you want to go a bit further, discover Morocco in our Marrakech Travel Guide.

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