Copenhagen Kulturnatten - is it worth it?
Kaleidoscope at The Tube, Copenhagen
I must admit that that I stumbled upon Kulturnatten by total accident. A week after our wedding, with no honeymoon on the horizon, I was itching to take a vacation. We’d just decided to can our Taiwan trip and I had no idea what to do with the rest of my vacation days.
When my husband suggested I take a solo trip, I was unsure. Over the last years, I had grown accustomed to the luxury of a travel partner who could drive (I can’t). This meant we did more road trips and visited smaller places far away from the cities. Travelling alone would mean visiting a city with robust public transport. Also, I hadn’t been on a solo vacation in half a decade!
My initial plan was to go away for the weekend of Oct 4 as it was a nice long one due to the public holiday. I started looking up things to do in Copenhagen on whim - I like Scandinavia and thrive in the colder months! My last visit to Copenhagen was in May 2019 and I felt my memory needed refreshening. When I discovered Kulturnatten, I moved my visit by a week even though it made it a day shorter.
They bring out these old buses for Kulturnatten.
All you need to know about Kulturnatten
Kulturnatten or Culture Night is every year on the second Friday night in October. The best part is that it is immediately followed by Dining Week - a whole week where fancy restaurants become more accessible to the wider public. For as much as 240 DKK (approx. €35) + ticket price, you can eat a 3-course menu with a glass of champagne.
How and where to get a Kulturnatten pass
Kulturnatten passes are available for purchase online and in all 7-Eleven stores from Sep 1. The programme of all participating venues is also available on the Kulturnatten website. You can get a physical program at 7-Eleven stores or print out the PDF you receive with your e-ticket. If you’re booking multiple tickets, please note the advisory on the website. All ticket holders need to be together at all times. You cannot split up and go to different venues. Also, the PDF or physical brochure does not include any description of the events, so you are better off reading the information on the website.
What’s included in a Kulturnatten pass?
The Kulturnatten pass includes access to all participating venues from 6pm until midnight. It also includes public transport from 4pm until midnight.
How much does the Kulturnatten Pass cost?
The Kulturnatten Pass for 2024 cost DKK 125 which is approximately €16,76 or USD 18,14.
Is Kulturnatten worth it?
If you are young and okay to stand in lines for hours, go for it. It’s a lot less fun to wait 3 hours in line for an event when you are all by yourself. It was an OK one-time experience but I definitely won’t do it again. There were some events that were only in Danish. In hindsight, I should’ve maybe just gone to the zoo or the Music Museum. Maybe my choice of event was the problem, but I found The Tube extremely underwhelming after the Anoma Maze.
If you’ve just moved to Copenhagen, this might be a fun way to explore the city’s museums and sites without creating a significant dent in your bank account.
