The verdict
Amsterdam wins for 10 of 16 traveller profiles. Check your own row though: for some people the other city is still the right call.
Who wins, profile by profile
| Travelling as | Copenhagen | Amsterdam | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyone | 71 | 73 | Amsterdam |
| Solo woman | 77 | 78 | Amsterdam |
| Solo man | 68 | 70 | Amsterdam |
| Gay man | 76 | 74 | Copenhagen |
| Lesbian woman | 79 | 77 | Copenhagen |
| Bi/pan person | 76 | 74 | Copenhagen |
| Trans person | 85 | 71 | Copenhagen |
| Non-binary person | 85 | 71 | Copenhagen |
| Over 50 | 73 | 76 | Amsterdam |
| First time | 78 | 80 | Amsterdam |
| On a budget | 52 | 58 | Amsterdam |
| High end | 82 | 82 | = |
| Digital nomad | 68 | 71 | Amsterdam |
| After a breakup | 74 | 76 | Amsterdam |
| On my own | 78 | 80 | Amsterdam |
| Single parent | 75 | 77 | Amsterdam |
The nine components
- Safety
- 94 · 90
- Safety for women
- 100 · 96
- LGBTQ+ inclusivity
- 90 · 79
- Trans recognition
- 95 · 55
- Social life
- 46 · 54
- Ease
- 95 · 100
- Cost for one
- 0 · 16
- Nightlife and events
- 90 · 90
- Singles demographics
- 100 · 86
Money and seasons
| Mid budget per day | ~241 € | ~190 € |
|---|---|---|
| Best season | May–Sept | May–Sept |
| Month | Copenhagen | Amsterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4° | 7° |
| Feb | 5° | 8° |
| Mar | 7° | 10° |
| Apr | 11° | 13° |
| May | 16° | 18° |
| Jun | 20° | 21° |
| Jul | 21° | 22° |
| Aug | 21° | 22° |
| Sept | 18° | 20° |
| Oct | 13° | 15° |
| Nov | 8° | 10° |
| Dec | 6° | 8° |
Copenhagen
Yes, if your budget can take it. Copenhagen is compact, the metro runs around the clock including to the airport, and Denmark tops the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26. Cost is the real obstacle: Visit Copenhagen puts a tight budget at about 700 kroner a day. Best for people who like bikes, saunas and harbour swims.
Read the guide →Amsterdam
It depends on your budget and where you sleep. Amsterdam is small, easy by bike and the airport train runs through the night, but a cheap meal costs around 20 euros and the centre has the worst pickpocketing in the country. It works well for museums, cycling and queer nightlife, less well if every pound counts.
Read the guide →