🎡 LEGOLAND + Copenhagen in 3–4 days: when the queues are shorter

For families looking at a map of Denmark and thinking, ‘We want to see the capital and get to LEGOLAND,’ the good news is simple: it's possible in 3–4 days if you choose the right dates and don't overestimate your strength.

LEGOLAND Billund is mainly open from spring to autumn, plus separate windows for Halloween and Christmas, and the experience varies greatly depending on the season and day of the week.

In high season, you'll get the classic ‘60 minutes in line for three minutes on the ride’ scenario, while in quieter periods, you'll get a normal family day with breaks and no tantrums.

The purpose of this article is to help you plan two days in Copenhagen and one or two days in Billund so that the children are happy and the adults don't have to live according to the train schedule. 🙂

📅 When to go to LEGOLAND and when the queues are shorter

When it comes to LEGOLAND, it's important to think not only about whether the park is open, but also who else will be there with us. The park adapts to Danish and neighbouring school holidays: during these periods, opening hours are extended, but at the same time, half of Scandinavia and Northern Germany heads there. Outside of peak dates, the same set of attractions feels completely different: there are fewer queues, the pace of the day is slower, and there are fewer overheated children and parents.

The typical seasonal logic looks like this:

A special feature of LEGOLAND during peak season is that weekdays are sometimes quieter than Saturdays. Many families rent cottages and campsites in the region on a weekly basis, and Saturday becomes a day for arrivals and departures rather than a busy day at the park. In practice, this means that Tuesday and Wednesday can be busier than Saturday. However, before booking, it is a good idea to check the calendar for the specific year and make sure that your dates do not fall during the Danish and North German school holidays.

👉 Practical tip: if you are not tied to the school schedule, aim for late May–June (before the holidays) or September — this is the best scenario in terms of queues/weather/prices.

🚆 Two itineraries: 2+1 and 2+2 days (Copenhagen + Billund)

🗺️ Itinerary 2+1: the minimum ‘must-see’

This scenario is suitable for families who have a strict time limit and children who are quite resilient. The logic is as follows:

• Day 1 – Copenhagen: arrival by plane or train, check-in, walk around the city centre: Rådhuspladsen, Strøget, Nyhavn, a short walk along the canals. In the evening, an early dinner and, if you have the energy, a quick visit to Tivoli or just the lights of the city centre.
• Day 2 – Copenhagen: one major attraction (e.g. Tivoli or the zoo) plus a neighbourhood (Nørrebro, Østerbro, Christianshavn). It is important not to overload the day with museums: the family has come to relax, not to meet a quota.
• Day 3 – LEGOLAND Billund (day trip): early departure from Copenhagen by train to Vejle, then by bus to Billund/LEGOLAND; full day in the park; in the evening – either return to the capital or stay overnight in Billund if your flight from the local airport is scheduled for the next day.

Formally, route 2+1 is possible even without staying overnight in Billund. But for a family, this turns into a ‘logistical marathon’: the children get up early, 3–3.5 hours of travel one way, a whole day in the park, then the same journey back. If you choose this option, try not to book an early flight from Copenhagen the next day — fatigue and stress are guaranteed.

🧭 Route 2+2: recommended family format

For most families, the format of 2 days in the capital + 2 days in Billund provides a much more comfortable balance of experiences and resources:

• Day 1–2 – Copenhagen:
  • Day 1: arrival, city centre, canals, dinner in the Nyhavn/Vesterbro area.
  • Day 2: one ‘anchor’ (Tivoli, zoo, Experimentarium) + a walk through one or two areas.
• Day 3 – transfer and LEGOLAND:
  • morning transfer (train to Vejle + bus, car rental or flight to Billund);
  • check-in at a hotel/cottage near the park;
  • in the afternoon – the first half of the park or LEGO House, depending on your energy levels.
• Day 4 – main day at the park + reserve:
  • full day at LEGOLAND with a visit to the opening;
  • if the weather is good and you have energy – repeat your favourite attractions;
  • if you are tired or it is raining – spend part of the day at LEGO House, Lalandia water park or just enjoy a quiet day in Billund.

🧠 The key advantage of the 2+2 format: you have a backup plan depending on the weather and your mood. If one of the days is windy or your child is not feeling well, you have something to replace the ‘mandatory’ park day with, without ruining the whole trip.

🏨 Where to stay: only in Copenhagen or based in Billund

The decision to ‘change base’ directly affects the quality of your family holiday. From the point of view of comfort for children and parents, the scenario with at least one night in Billund almost always wins, but this comes at a price.

🏰 Accommodation near the park (Billund and surroundings)

There are several typical accommodation options in Billund and around LEGOLAND:

• Theme ‘near the park’: family hotels and cottages at LEGOLAND, themed hotels, Holiday Village, the neighbouring Lalandia complex with a water park.
• City options: regular hotels and apartments in Billund with access to the park in a few minutes by bus/on foot.

Pros of staying in Billund:

• you can go to the park when it opens without having to get up early and travel for three hours;
• it's easy to take a break during the day (child's nap, dry clothes, snack in the room);
• it's easier to react to rain and fatigue: part of the family goes to the hotel or LEGO House, while the rest stay in the park.

The cons are predictable: a separate budget for another location, the need to pack your things and check in/out.

🌆 Accommodation only in Copenhagen

Some families are adamant about not changing their base and prefer to stay only in the capital. In this case, it makes sense to choose an area near the central station and metro (Vesterbro, the neighbourhoods around the station) to minimise the distance to the train/bus.

Pros: one base, easier with luggage and routine; convenient access to all city activities, especially if you have two full days in the capital.

Cons: the day trip ‘Copenhagen–Billund–Copenhagen’ turns into about 6–7 hours of travel plus the park; it is very difficult to fit in a full day at LEGOLAND if the children are young and you had a flight the day before.

👉 Rule of thumb: if your goal is to make your children comfortable, rather than just ticking off ‘we've been to LEGOLAND,’ at least one night in Billund is highly recommended.

💸 Budget, tickets and life hacks for parents

The financial part of the trip consists of several large blocks: transport, accommodation, tickets to LEGOLAND and related activities.

🎟️ Tickets and general spending logic

• Tickets to LEGOLAND are cheaper to buy online in advance: there is often dynamic pricing, promotions and multi-day ticket options.
• Combo products (LEGOLAND + LEGO House, accommodation packages) in Billund can offer significant savings if you plan to spend at least two days there.
• The Copenhagen Card covers museums and transport around the capital, but does not include LEGOLAND and Billund — this is a separate budget.

A typical daily expense structure in Billund looks like this:

• tickets to LEGOLAND (and/or LEGO House);
• travel from Copenhagen to Billund and back, or transfer to/from Billund;
• accommodation (if staying overnight);
• meals in the park and in the city;
• possible additional options (e.g. Lalandia water park).

It is important to note that food inside the parks is usually more expensive than in supermarkets and some city cafés; for a family budget, the difference becomes noticeable after just two days.

🧠 Parent life hacks: how to get the most out of your day at LEGOLAND

1. Come to the opening. The morning hours are a golden opportunity to experience 2-3 top attractions with virtually no queues.
2. Follow a plan, don't just wander around. Choose 3-4 priority attractions and do them first, then ‘pick up’ the rest.
3. Measure your children's height in advance. Height restrictions are strictly enforced; it's better to figure out at home where your child will be allowed to go than to explain it to them at the end of an hour-long queue.
4. Have lunch before the rush. By moving lunch to a time before the main rush (for example, 11:30–12:30), you save money and nerves, and avoid queues in cafés.
5. A break is an investment. Half an hour in a hotel/café/quiet area during the day often saves the second half of the day from fatigue and tantrums.
6. Plan B for rain. Think in advance about what to do if part of the day is rained out: indoor areas of the park, LEGO House, Lalandia, activities at the hotel.
7. Scepticism about fast track. Paid queue jumpers are not always justified: with the right choice of dates and entry strategy, they may not pay for themselves.

In short, LEGOLAND + Copenhagen in 3-4 days is not an ‘overly ambitious’ plan, but a normal family scenario if you:

• choose periods when the park is not too busy;
• plan at least one overnight stay in Billund with a 2+2 format;
• honestly assess your family's resources and don't try to see ‘everything at once’.

This way, the trip becomes not a marathon of queues and trains, but a manageable family project where every day you know what you are doing, how long it will take and where you will drink your well-deserved coffee. ☕