10 Things to Do in Copenhagen in January

If you want to visit Copenhagen at a time of year with fewer tourists and better prices, plus plenty of festivals and plenty of snow, you might want to plan your itinerary for January, which is one of the coldest months of the Scandinavian winter but also one of the quietest for touring the Danish capital.

Some of the best things to see and do in Copenhagen during your January visit include taking part in the Viking Age Festival at the National Museum, attending Winter Fashion Week, making the most of seasonal discounts on the popular Strøget Street and experiencing the traditional winter festival Skt. Hans Aften.

The Viking Age Festival is an annual event held in January at the National Museum of Denmark. During this festival, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Viking culture and learn more about Viking life during the winter season.

There is a wide variety of activities including Viking craft demonstrations, board games, traditional music and dancing, as well as activities for the little ones, such as clay workshops and shield painting, making it an ideal alternative if you plan to visit Copenhagen with children. The highlight of the festival is the burning of a Viking ship, a tradition that dates back to the Viking era and is believed to have had ceremonial significance.

This festival is a great way to experience Viking culture and history in a fun and interactive environment, as well as visiting one of Copenhagen's best museums.

And beyond the National Museum

A great plan for January in Copenhagen if you want to escape the winter cold is to visit one of the main museums in the Danish capital. You have several options:

• Danish Resistance Museum in Copenhagen, which will show you the history of the Danish resistance during the German occupation of 1940-1945.
• And finally, my personal favourite, the Danish Architecture Centre in Copenhagen, which will allow you to interact with leading Danish architects and studios. Note that Copenhagen has been chosen as the capital of architecture in 2023.
• Danish War Museum in Copenhagen, where you'll delve into 500 years of Danish war history.

Strøget Street is one of the city's main tourist attractions and is known for being one of the largest shopping areas in Europe. In January, visitors can enjoy the incredible discounts offered in the shops along this famous thoroughfare.

In January, coinciding with the beginning of winter in Copenhagen, many shops offer discounts of up to 50% and even up to 70% in some cases, making it a unique opportunity to buy high quality goods at attractive prices. Strøget Street also has a wide variety of shops to suit all tastes and budgets, from luxury brands to more affordable fashion shops.

On this street you can also enjoy the beautiful architecture of the city, as it is home to some of Copenhagen's finest buildings. In addition, there are many cafes and restaurants that are often included in food tours of the city.

The winter festival Skt. Hans Aften is a traditional Danish celebration that takes place in Copenhagen on 13 January each year. The festival is a tribute to St. John the Baptist, patron saint of Denmark, and is celebrated on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

During Skt. Hans Aften, people gather around bonfires in the streets, parks and beaches to sing songs, dance and enjoy food and drink. The bonfire tradition goes back to the ancient belief that lighting fires on the longest night of the year drives away evil spirits and attracts good luck and prosperity.

In Copenhagen, the celebration of Skt. Hans Aften is especially lively in the Christianshavn neighbourhood, where a large bonfire on the beach attracts thousands of people and features live music, food and a festive atmosphere, especially in Christiania. A chance to experience Danish culture.

If you are a film lover and want to experience an event that brings together the best in the discipline, you can participate in the International Documentary Film Festival, which brings together a wide variety of filmmakers and documentary filmmakers from all over the world to share their stories and points of view through documentary film each January in Copenhagen.

This festival offers a unique experience for film lovers and those interested in social and cultural issues. Documentaries ranging from politics and human rights to the environment and pop culture are screened. In addition to screenings, it offers a wide range of activities and events: talks and debates with filmmakers, workshops and seminars, and special presentations.

The festival is also an opportunity to discover new talent and to connect with filmmakers and documentary experts from around the world. In addition, this celebration promotes dialogue and the exchange of ideas, and encourages engagement with today's most pressing social and cultural issues. During this event public transport remains open and you can also choose to book your tickets for the Copenhagen sightseeing bus.

Copenhagen is known for its vibrant and varied culinary scene. Beyond booking a food tour in Copenhagen, the winter food festivals in January offer a unique opportunity to sample traditional dishes from Denmark and beyond, and experience innovative flavours.

• One of the most prominent festivals is the Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival, which takes place in different locations around the city throughout the month of January. The festival features some of the Scandinavian region's most renowned chefs.
• Another notable winter food festival is Winter Dining Week, which takes place in January in many restaurants in Copenhagen. For one week, restaurants offer special menus at affordable prices, allowing you to sample a variety of dishes and flavours in a cosy and intimate atmosphere.
• The Kbh Mad & Kultur festival is also an outstanding culinary event that takes place in January at different locations in Copenhagen. This event offers a unique culinary experience, featuring local and international chefs, and a variety of activities including tastings, workshops and cooking competitions.

The Copenhagen Festival of Lights transforms the city into a stunning stage of light and art that offers a unique visual experience for visitors, held every year in January.

The event features a wide variety of light installations, designed by national and international artists, spread throughout the capital, including historic buildings, parks, public squares and Copenhagen's finest palaces. Make sure to book tickets for Christiansborg Palace, now the Danish parliament, one of the most beautiful places to see the festival.

The festival also includes a number of events and activities, such as art workshops, children's activities, concerts and live performances, as well as guided night tours, making it one of the best ways to get to know Copenhagen by night. It will also allow you to discover the beauty of Copenhagen in a different and original way, and enjoy the city in a completely different way.

The Jazz Festival is an annual event held in Copenhagen that brings together some of the best jazz artists from Denmark and around the world. During the event, you can attend performances at various venues around the city, including concert halls, jazz clubs, bars and theatres. The programme includes a wide variety of jazz styles, from traditional jazz to contemporary and experimental jazz.

In addition to the concerts, the festival also features workshops and masterclasses for musicians and music students. These workshops are an opportunity to learn from some of the world's best jazz performers and to hone musical skills and techniques. You can also take a tour of Copenhagen and see the sights and sounds of the city.

This festival is a popular event in the Danish capital, both for jazz lovers and those looking for a unique cultural experience. It is an opportunity to discover new talent in the world of jazz, to enjoy live music and to immerse yourself in Copenhagen's rich cultural scene.

Copenhagen Fashion Week is an event held twice a year in the Danish capital. The winter version takes place in January, while the summer version is held in August. During the event, designers from all over the world present their collections on catwalks and at events throughout the city.

Fashion Week has become one of the most important fashion events in Europe and is a showcase for sustainable and avant-garde fashion. The event focuses on sustainable fashion and environmental responsibility. In fact, Copenhagen has become a centre for sustainable fashion and is recognised as one of the leading cities in promoting green fashion.

Fashion Week is an opportunity for designers to present their new collections and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. In addition to the fashion shows, the event features a number of parallel programmes, such as design presentations, art exhibitions and fashion pop-ups. The event attracts an international audience of journalists, buyers and fashion lovers.

The Tønder Festival is a folk music festival held annually in the town of Tønder in southern Denmark. Although it takes place in a town 2 hours away from Copenhagen, it is one of the largest and most popular festivals in Denmark and is well worth a visit.

The Tønder Festival has been held since 1975 and attracts a large number of musicians and artists from all over the world, who perform on the festival's various stages. The festival takes place over four days in January and features more than 100 live concerts, including traditional music, Celtic music and bluegrass music.

In addition, there are a variety of activities and events related to music and culture. There are music and dance workshops, a craft fair and a children's play area. You can also visit Tønder, one of the best places to explore on a full day trip from Copenhagen. It's certainly an important event for the city, attracting thousands of visitors each year. A chance to enjoy live music and experience Danish culture.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is one of the leading musical ensembles in the Scandinavian region, renowned for its excellence and versatility in performing different musical genres. During the month of January, the ensemble performs at the Royal Danish Theatre, offering a repertoire that includes classical and contemporary music.

The Royal Danish Theatre is a landmark in Copenhagen, known for its architectural beauty and its history in Danish culture and the arts. Here, the orchestra presents concerts that attract music lovers from all over the world and rival the popularity of the Copenhagen Opera's performances.

The repertoire is varied and includes pieces by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms, as well as contemporary works by Danish composers and composers from around the world. The acoustics of the theatre are also very striking, which makes the music sound even more spectacular and exciting. In addition, the atmosphere is cosy and elegant, creating an unforgettable experience for the audience.

In January Copenhagen is in the middle of winter, which means that temperatures are quite cold. On average, daytime temperatures range between 0°C and 4°C, while night-time temperatures can drop below 0°C. It is common for the city to experience snowfall and cloudy days, which makes the wind chill even lower.

Even so, Copenhagen has plenty of things to see and do. It is therefore important to be prepared for the cold temperatures in January, so dress warmly in layers and bring a thick coat, scarf, gloves and hat. I also advise you to wear footwear suitable for snow and ice on the streets.

The city experiences a decrease in the number of tourists compared to the high season months, which is summer in Copenhagen. Due to the cooler temperatures and shorter days, many people choose to travel to warmer and sunnier destinations during this time of year.

Although the number of tourists decreases, this does not mean that Copenhagen is empty in January. In fact, many visitors choose this time of year to explore the city because of its wintry charm and the many events and festivals that take place during this month. During this time of year you'll queue less and wait less at the city's main attractions.

Copenhagen is a city known for its high cost, however, in January you can find more affordable prices for accommodation and excursions. During this month, many hotels and hostels offer discounts and special promotions to attract visitors looking for a cheaper trip.

In addition, prices in restaurants and cafés can also be lower. Many establishments offer special winter menus with comforting dishes at lower prices than at other times of the year. You can also find seasonal dishes at low prices at food festivals.

January is one of the coldest months of the year in Copenhagen, so I recommend you pack the following:

• Woollen jumper.
• Warm socks.
• Waterproof shoes.
• Waterproof coat.
• Woollen scarf.
• Woollen hat.
• Mackintosh.
• Thermal T-shirt.
• Umbrella.
• Tactile gloves.
• Warm trousers.