Stunning sights for no cost at all

Scandinavia may be a tad expensive when compared to the rest of Europe, but Copenhagen, the Danish capital and the land of Hans Christian Andersen has plenty for a budget traveller. A visit to The Little Mermaid museum is free and so is the Nyhavn — a 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district — where you can just stroll around and watch life pass you by.Here are some tips to make the most of your trip if you are travelling on a shoestring budget.
Tower of the Christianborg
Standing tall at 106 metres, this is the erstwhile royal residence of the Danish kings which now houses the Danish Parliament. Access to the tower of this magnificent palace is free – standing there you can lose yourself in the pristine views of the city’s skyline. An alternative is the climb up the Rundetarn or the Round Tower which comes at a fee but if you have a Copenhagen Card, you won’t need to pay.
Change of the Royal Guards
Copenhagen is filled with palaces and castles and if you are looking for a regal experience at no extra cost, then head to Amalienborg, which is still the home of the Danish royalty The traditional ceremony called Den Kongelige Livgarde or the Changing of the Royal Guards takes place at noon every day and you do not have to pay anything to watch it.
Get a Copenhagen card
With entry to over 60 museums and 85 sights for free and a free ride in all public transport systems in the city, the Copenhagen card is the best companion for a budget traveller. You can either buy the card for 24 hours at 54 Euros or for 72 hours at 93 Euros. It also includes access for two kids under 10 for free. Buy it online before your trip or at the airport so that you can avail the metro ride to the city.
Yellow Harbour Bus tour
You cannot visit Copenhagen and miss the canal tour. While most of the sightseeing tours may be expensive, you can opt for the bright yellow barges cruising down the canal. The local harbour bus can take you to the Little Mermaid while you sail down Nyhavn, losing yourself in the sights and sounds of the city. Having a Copenhagen card will give you free access to the bus.

Amusement Parks
The oldest amusement park awaits you at Bakken. Located in a dense forest with 400-year-old trees, here you have herds of deer for company. While entry to the amusement park is free, there is a fee for the rides, especially if you fancy one of the oldest roller coaster ones. If you would like to head to Tivoli Gardens, you may still have to pay an entrance fee but there is a free concert waiting for you at Friday Rock.
Bike away
Bikes are the cheapest way to explore the city. While there are several biking tours at a price, you can rent a bike and explore the city at your own pace. You can also create a Bycyklen account online and get access to electric bikes which come with a touchscreen tablet with all relevant information. There are biking stations all over and you can drop your bike at any of them. The hourly rates are around DKK 30 (around 4 euros) but there are other package rates as well.
Museums for free
If you love exploring museums then you need to do a little planning to avail the free entry on certain days of the week. The Museum of Copenhagen is free on Fridays, the Hirschsprung Collection, the Thorvaldsen Museum, the Royal Danish Naval Museum are free on Wednesdays. If you want to visit the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Museum for its art collection or Danish Museum of Art and Design, then Sunday is the day for you. Various museums like Post and Telegraph Museum offer free entry on all days. You can opt for the Copenhagen Card that gives you access to several museums besides the Worker’s Museum and Hans Christian Andersen Fairytale House for free.

A trip to Copenhagen is not complete if you do not visit Christiania, the famous free town. The essence of this neighbourhood is captured in its free spirit, music, galleries, restaurants, street art and graffiti. While entry is free, there are several free walking tours as well. It is important to maintain some ground rules, however, by not taking photos here.
STREET FOOD NORDIC STYLE
Organic hot dogs or the smorrebrod, the Danish open sandwich served near Nyhavn is the favourite of the Danes. Street food takes a different avtaar with cuisines from all over the world sold in stalls and trucks at Reffen, a creative space for “food craftsmen.” Community dining at Absalom or visiting a Dane’s house for dinner are some of the local experiences in Copenhagen.
Create a cycling account online and get access to electric bikes which come with a touchscreen tablet. There are biking stations all over and you can drop your bike at any one of them
(Clockwise from top) Nyhavn is the old harbor of Copenhagen; pedestrians at central square; the famous Mermaid statue