Flights to Copenhagen from the UK 2026: Cheapest Airlines & Booking Tips

The cheapest flights to Copenhagen from the UK in 2026 are on Ryanair and easyJet, with off-peak returns sometimes from £22-£45 hand-luggage only — while SAS (Scandinavia's flag carrier), Norwegian and British Airways offer fuller-service options. Copenhagen is a superb-value city break in flight terms (short, cheap fares, a 15-minute Metro from the airport), even if the city itself is famously expensive once you arrive.

This guide compares the airlines, tells you which UK airport is cheapest, gives honest price bands by month, covers the fast Metro transfer, and includes the krone money tip. For the official destination view, Visit Copenhagen is the city's tourism site, and the UK government's Denmark travel advice covers entry rules. Already planning where to stay? Our best Copenhagen hotels 2026 guide covers real, bookable stays across the city.

Jump to: Quick answers · Airline comparison · UK airport comparison · Price bands by month · Money: krone not euro · Baggage compared · Booking windows · Entry rules for UK travellers · Airport to the city · Common mistakes · How to search · FAQ

Quick answers

What's the cheapest airline to Copenhagen? Ryanair and easyJet on headline price (from ~£22-£45 off-peak). SAS, Norwegian and BA are fuller-service.

How long is the flight? About 1 hour 50 minutes from the UK.

Which UK airport is cheapest? Usually a London airport on a budget carrier, but Copenhagen flies direct from Edinburgh, Manchester and more — flying local is often cheapest.

When should I book? 4-8 weeks ahead most months; 8-12 weeks for summer, the Christmas season and New Year.

Do I need a visa? No — 90 days visa-free in Schengen. Check ETIAS status before you travel.

Money? Denmark uses the krone, not the euro — pay by card in kroner; the city is pricey.

Airline-by-airline comparison (2026)

Ryanair & easyJet — the price leaders

Typical fare 2026: £22-£55 return off-peak, hand-luggage only. Pros: The lowest headline fares. Ryanair from Stansted; easyJet from Gatwick and its regional bases including strong Edinburgh service. Ideal for a hand-luggage weekend. Cons: Cheapest fares are cabin-only; a larger cabin bag, hold bag and allocated seat all cost extra.

SAS & Norwegian — the Scandinavian carriers

Typical fare 2026: £60-£130 return; standard fares usually include a bag. Pros: SAS is the flag carrier with a full-service product and a bag on standard fares; Norwegian offers a good mid-market option. Both are strong from Edinburgh and London. Cons: Higher headline fare than the budget carriers; cheapest "light" fares are cabin-only, so check the fare type.

British Airways

Typical fare 2026: £70-£140 return; "Basic" fares are cabin-only. Pros: From Heathrow, Avios earning, a bag on standard fares. Cons: Pricier than the budget carriers.

The honest read: hand-luggage only, Ryanair or easyJet win on price. Checking a bag or wanting a fuller service, SAS or Norwegian's standard fares are often good value. BA suits Avios collectors from Heathrow.

UK airport comparison — fly local

Copenhagen is served from a good spread of UK airports, so the cheapest option is often your nearest one. London (Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow) has the most choice, but Edinburgh in particular has strong direct service (easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS), and Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham also fly direct. For regional travellers, always price your local direct flight before assuming a cheap London fare wins once the London trek is added.

Price bands by month for 2026

Round-trip economy, UK to Copenhagen, one adult. Representative ranges to plan against, not live quotes.

The pattern follows the usual UK-holiday shape — see our cheapest month to fly from the UK roundup — with Copenhagen's own spike around the December Christmas and Tivoli Gardens season, when the city is at its most magical and both flights and hotels climb.

Money in Copenhagen: krone, not euro

A quick but important point: Denmark keeps its own currency, the Danish krone (DKK) — it is not in the euro despite being in the EU and Schengen.

• Copenhagen is largely cashless, so a card works almost everywhere — you rarely need cash at all.
• When a card machine offers to charge you in pounds instead of kroner, always choose kroner (declining dynamic currency conversion avoids a hidden markup).
• Avoid airport currency exchange, where rates are worst.
• Budget generously: Copenhagen is one of Europe's more expensive cities for food, drink and going out.

Baggage compared, honestly

The rule that saves the most: add any hold bag at booking, never at the airport, and compare the all-in price. A £30 Ryanair fare plus a £45 return hold bag is £75 — which can match an SAS or BA fare that already includes one. For a weekend, travel hand-luggage only and the budget fare stays low.

The booking windows that actually save money

• Off-peak months (Jan, Feb, Nov): Book 4-8 weeks out.
• Summer (Jul-Aug), Christmas/Tivoli season, New Year: Book 8-12 weeks out — fixed demand, fares only rise.
• Weekend breaks: A Thursday or Saturday departure often undercuts the Friday-evening rush.

Set a price alert for your dates and book when a budget carrier drops a sale fare.

Entry rules for UK travellers in 2026

• No visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
• A passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from Schengen — both enforced at the border.
• ETIAS travel authorisation once the scheme launches in 2026 — check the current status before you travel.
• UK travellers use the e-gates at Copenhagen where available.

Always check the UK government's Denmark travel advice shortly before you fly.

Copenhagen Airport to the city centre

Copenhagen Airport (CPH, Kastrup) has one of the fastest airport transfers in Europe. The Metro (M2 line) runs from the airport to the city centre in about 15 minutes, and trains reach Copenhagen Central Station in around 15 minutes too — both very frequent. A taxi takes 20-25 minutes and costs considerably more, so the Metro or train is the clear best value. Once you've sorted the flight and transfer, our best Copenhagen hotels 2026 guide covers where to base yourself across the city.

Common mistakes UK-Copenhagen travellers make

1. Assuming Denmark uses the euro. It's the krone — pay by card in kroner and decline "pay in pounds."
2. Under-budgeting for the city. Copenhagen is expensive; a cheap flight is only part of the cost.
3. Routing through London unnecessarily. Edinburgh and other UK airports fly direct — your local one may be cheapest.
4. Judging budget fares on the headline price. A £30 Ryanair fare plus a £45 hold bag can match an SAS fare that includes one.
5. Booking the Christmas/Tivoli season late. December is Copenhagen's peak — book 8-12 weeks ahead.
6. Adding baggage at the airport. Always add it online at booking.
7. Assuming an old passport is fine. The Schengen 10-year issue rule catches UK travellers out.

How to find the cheapest UK-Copenhagen fare

Run the search three ways on JetMeAway Flights:

1. Your local airport, specific dates — Copenhagen flies direct from Edinburgh and other UK airports; check yours first.
2. Date range ± 3 days — shifting off a Friday-evening or peak date often drops the fare.
3. Price alerts — set one and book when a budget carrier drops a sale fare.

JetMeAway compares Ryanair, easyJet, SAS, Norwegian and BA from 20+ UK airports on live inventory, with zero markup — the price you see is the price the airline charges. Once your flight is booked, read our best Copenhagen hotels 2026 guide for where to stay, and our cheap flights from the UK guide for the wider booking tricks.

God rejse — safe travels.