Copenhagen at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 18.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,900 h
- Rain a year
- 683 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 14 m
Climate in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 3 °C. With around 1,900 hours of sunshine a year, Copenhagen is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 8.3 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: May – September
What is the weather like in Copenhagen in October?
In October, Copenhagen is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 34 min07:38 – 18:13
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 24 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 71 %on average
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Copenhagen
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %41 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %8 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %40 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Copenhagen
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 11.2 – 13.2 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Copenhagen ranges from 2.6 °C in February to 18.0 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 16.6 and 19.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 3.4° | 2.1° | 4.6° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 2.6° | 1.3° | 3.8° | cold |
| MarchMar | 3.3° | 1.5° | 4.6° | cold |
| AprilApr | 6.0° | 4.8° | 7.1° | cold |
| MayMay | 10.2° | 8.9° | 11.7° | cold |
| JuneJun | 14.6° | 13.2° | 16.3° | cold |
| JulyJul | 17.2° | 15.1° | 19.2° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.0° | 16.6° | 19.4° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 15.8° | 14.4° | 17.3° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 12.2° | 11.2° | 13.2° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 8.8° | 8.0° | 10.2° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 5.5° | 4.0° | 6.7° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Copenhagen
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.5 of 10.6 hours of daylight in Copenhagen, 33 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Copenhagen: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Copenhagen has about 12 rainy days with 66 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 14 | 3° | 0° | 3.4° | 2.2 h | 12 | 52 |
| FebruaryFeb | 19 | 4° | −1° | 2.6° | 3.4 h | 10 | 44 |
| MarchMar | 25 | 6° | 1° | 3.3° | 5.1 h | 10 | 42 |
| AprilApr | 48 | 11° | 4° | 6.0° | 7.3 h | 9 | 39 |
| MayMay | 70 | 16° | 8° | 10.2° | 8.1 h | 11 | 55 |
| JuneJun | 82 | 19° | 12° | 14.6° | 8.3 h | 11 | 70 |
| JulyJul | 77 | 21° | 14° | 17.2° | 7.9 h | 13 | 78 |
| AugustAug | 75 | 21° | 15° | 18.0° | 7.1 h | 13 | 81 |
| SeptemberSep | 73 | 17° | 12° | 15.8° | 5.7 h | 10 | 55 |
| OctoberOct | 34 | 12° | 8° | 12.2° | 3.5 h | 12 | 66 |
| NovemberNov | 15 | 8° | 4° | 8.8° | 2.2 h | 11 | 49 |
| DecemberDec | 13 | 4° | 1° | 5.5° | 1.7 h | 12 | 52 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
55.68° N, 12.57° E · 14 m · Europe/Copenhagen
Best time to visit Copenhagen
The best time to visit Copenhagen is from May to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.0 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to June and in September. Rain is most frequent from July to August and in October; the wettest month is August with 81 mm.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Copenhagen for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Jun, Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug, Oct
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Feb
Snow on 2 or more days
Copenhagen month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
14January3° · Sea 3° · 2 h
In January, Copenhagen is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sea averages 3.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 12 days, totalling 52 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in January19February4° · Sea 3° · 3 h
In February, Copenhagen is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 2.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 44 mm. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in February25March6° · Sea 3° · 5 h
In March, Copenhagen is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 3.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 42 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in March48April11° · Sea 6° · 7 h
In April, Copenhagen is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 39 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in April70May16° · Sea 10° · 8 h
In May, Copenhagen is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 10.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in May82June19° · Sea 15° · 8 h
In June, Copenhagen is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in June77July21° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In July, Copenhagen is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 17.2 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 78 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in July75August21° · Sea 18° · 7 h
In August, Copenhagen is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 18.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 81 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in August73September17° · Sea 16° · 6 h
In September, Copenhagen is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in September34October12° · Sea 12° · 4 h
In October, Copenhagen is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in October15November8° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In November, Copenhagen is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 49 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in November13December4° · Sea 6° · 2 h
In December, Copenhagen is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 5.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 52 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen in DecemberPlanning a trip to Copenhagen
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 40 min
- Distance
- 980 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Copenhagen
When is the best time to visit Copenhagen?
The best time to visit Copenhagen is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Copenhagen?
The sea temperature in Copenhagen ranges from 2.6 °C in February to 18.0 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Copenhagen in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 12.2 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Copenhagen?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 14 °C. January is the coolest month at 3 °C.
When does it rain most in Copenhagen?
Rain is most frequent from July to August and in October; the wettest month is August with 81 mm. The driest month is April with 39 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Copenhagen get?
Copenhagen gets around 1,900 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 8.3 hours a day; in December there are 1.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Copenhagen in?
Copenhagen uses the time zone Europe/Copenhagen: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Copenhagen?
A nonstop flight from London to Copenhagen takes about 1 h 40 min, for a straight-line distance of about 980 km.
Near Copenhagen
Other destinations close by.