Does it snow in Copenhagen? Copenhagen in Winter
Wondering whether it snows in Copenhagen?
You’ve come to the right place as I’ve visited Copenhagen in winter.
Copenhagen is found in Scandinavia, a part of the world known for its snowy weather and cold winters.
But does it snow in Copenhagen?
This is a common question people have before visiting Denmark. Just imagine how beautiful Nyhavn would look covered in snow!
As a full-time traveller, and having visited Copenhagen in January, I am here to provide the answer to your question.
Does it snow in Copenhagen?
To answer your question in one sentence: Yes, it does snow in Copenhagen, but not as often as you might think.
When I pictured Copenhagen’s winters, I imagined snow every single day, like in parts of Canada. While this is true further north in Scandinavia, it’s not quite true for Copenhagen.
There are on average, 31 snow days a year in Copenhagen, which is still definitely a lot of snow days. As a snow lover, I wish I lived in Denmark!
Seeing Copenhagen covered in snow is a beautiful sight, and anyone who experiences it during a trip to the Danish capital should feel lucky. Winters in Copenhagen are really special, in my opinion, it’s the best time to visit the city.
Unfortunately, due to climate change and other factors, Denmark experiences less snow now than it did in decades previous.
But to answer the question “does it snow in Copenhagen?”, yes, yes it does.
When does it snow in Copenhagen?
Copenhagen’s snow window is pretty large. There’s a chance of snow pretty much anytime between November and April.
The winters in Copenhagen are really long, meaning there’s a big window of opportunity for snow. But as I said, it doesn’t snow as much as you might think.
Due to the close proximity to the sea, Copenhagen is affected by the thermal inertia effect from the sea. This means that even when Copenhagen feels cold, snow isn’t guaranteed to form.
The highest chances of snow in Copenhagen are in the months of January and February. So if you are a snow lover like me, make sure to visit Copenhagen in January or February.
But of course, it’s not a guarantee. Snow can happen at any point during the Winter in Copenhagen which is from mid-November until early April.
How cold is Copenhagen in Winter?
As you know by now, Copenhagen’s winters are really cold! I personally hate wearing hats and gloves, I prefer to just bear the cold, but in Copenhagen, I had to wear both a hat and gloves.
I would describe the weather in the winter as “grey”. Most days the sky is grey all day and it’s pretty dark even in the daytime. But it definitely gets colder in the mornings and evenings.
Here is an overview of the temperatures in Copenhagen throughout the winter season.
| Month | Average Daily Temperature |
|---|---|
| November | 5.5°C / 41.9°F |
| December | 3°C / 37.4°F |
| January | 1°C / 33.8°F |
| February | 1°C / 33.8°F |
| March | 3.5°C / 38.3°F |
As you can see, it’s pretty nippy throughout all the months when the possibility of snow in Copenhagen is at its highest.
It is a Scandinavian city at the end of the day!
Copenhagen Weather in November
As you can see from the table above, November is the warmest of the winter months in Copenhagen.
The days are the longest of the 5 winter months too, as the weather and days are transitioning from autumn (fall) into winter.
This is why snow isn’t that likely in November, although it has happened before, of course.
Copenhagen Weather in December
Copenhagen in December starts to get really chilly, particularly as you go further into the month.
The days start to get shorter and the skies get greyer and darker. You start to feel the reality of winter in Scandinavia.
But if you are planning on spending Christmas in Copenhagen, you are in for a treat. It’s a really special place and in my opinion, it’s one of the best places to spend Christmas in the world. Copenhagen is so festive!
Tivoli Gardens at this time of the year makes Copenhagen worth visiting just to see Tivoli alone.
Copenhagen Weather in January
The weather in January is when the chance of snow rapidly rises. As you can see from the table above, the daily average temperature is just above freezing. This is the average across 24 hours, so at points of the day, temperatures will drop below freezing and snow is possible.
I visited Copenhagen in January and even though it was cold, it was bearable. The cold is a dry cold. It’s not very wet or windy compared to the cold in the UK, for example. It’s also a great time to visit Copenhagen on a budget as prices are cheaper.
The weather isn’t the be-all and end-all of a trip to Copenhagen. I much prefer the heat to the cold (even though I love the snow) but my trip to Copenhagen was still really enjoyable and I didn’t find the cold too bad.
Copenhagen Weather in February
In February, the weather is more or less the same as in January. You can expect short, dark days and low temperatures. Particularly in the morning and the evening.
Again, having similar temperatures to January is why the first two months of the year are when snow is most likely to occur in Copenhagen.
If you are dreaming of seeing a snow-covered Copenhagen, visit for a week at least in January or February and hedge your bets and count your lucky stars. But as I have said throughout this article, snow isn’t as common in Copenhagen as you might think.
Copenhagen Weather in March
As Denmark approaches the end of the Winter and the days get longer, the weather begins to get warmer as it transitions into spring weather.
There’s a possibility of snow in March but it’s a slim one. If you visit Copenhagen in March, you might even get to see a bit of sun!
But as with all the winter months, it’s tolerable during the day with just a coat, but in the mornings and the evenings, I definitely recommend wearing a hat and gloves.
What to wear in Copenhagen in Winter
If you are visiting Copenhagen in winter, my best advice to you is to wear layers. Layering up is best practice when visiting anywhere that offers colder temperatures.
As the temperatures during the day aren’t too bad but get colder in the mornings and evenings, you want more layers than you need.
It’s easy to take layers off if you are too warm. But if you don’t wear enough layers, you can’t magic more layers if you are too cold.
That’s why I suggest wearing layers, usually more than you think you need, as it’s easier to take layers off (and put them back on when needed) than to add layers if you are too cold while out and about in the city.
During my trip, every time I left my hostel, I left with 4 layers on:
- T-shirt
- Base layer
- Fleece
- Coat
I also carried a hat and gloves everywhere. This allowed me to stay warm at any time no matter how cold it got!
3 Fun Things to do in Copenhagen in Winter
A trip to Copenhagen in winter is a really special trip, and you’re going to want to fill your trip with some fun winter-themed things to do. So here are 3 things to do in Copenhagen, specifically in Winter.
1. Have fun at Tivoli Gardens
The winter or Christmas season in Tivoli Gardens runs from mid-November until early January. If you are visiting in this time frame, you HAVE to spend some time in Tivoli Gardens. The park is transformed into a winter wonderland, the only word I can think of to describe it is “magical”. It’s an unforgettable experience.
2. Go ice skating in Frederiksberg Runddel
A trip to Copenhagen in winter wouldn’t be complete without some outdoor ice skating. Frederiksberg Runddel is transformed into an open-air ice rink each winter. It’s right beside Copenhagen Zoo and the palace itself is beautiful so being able to ice skate in the area is incredible. It’s an absolute must-do in Copenhagen’s winter months.
3. Explore the Christmas markets
As a country that borders Germany, Denmark naturally has outstanding Christmas markets. And there’s no better place to find them than in Copenhagen. In my opinion, the Christmas markets are some of the best in the world. They rival some of Germany’s finest. The festivities and Christmas spirit are indescribable, and it’s a key part of any Copenhagen November or December trip.
Copenhagen Snow: FAQ
Below are some questions related to Copenhagen snow along with my answers.
There are no snowy mountains in Copenhagen so it’s not possible to ski there. There are however some artificial ski slopes, most notably CopenHill where you have the opportunity to ski with a beautiful view over Copenhagen.
December weather in Copenhagen is cold with dark, short days. But there isn’t as much snow as you might imagine. Copenhagen doesn’t get as much snow as other parts of Scandinavia. And its snowiest months are January and February.
Copenhagen gets approximately 31 snowy days each year, on average. The months with the most snow are January and February.
Yes, Copenhagen is amazing at Christmas. Spending the festive season in Copenhagen is both special and magical. It’s unforgettable. Tivoli Gardens at Christmas is the most incredible experience ever. It’s truly a winter wonderland.
Copenhagen Snow: Conclusion
And there you have it, a complete guide to “Does it snow in Copenhagen?“.
Remember, the answer is yes, but not as much as people often think.
There are on average 31 snow days each year, with January and February being the snowiest months.
If you are visiting Copenhagen in winter, I hope you have an amazing trip. 🙂
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