Things to see and do on your trip to Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is an essential stop on our trip to Denmark. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe thanks to its cobblestone streets with colorful houses and mansions overlooking the canals and the coast. It is common to spend at least 2 days touring the city, but there are so many things to do in Copenhagen that you could easily spend a week there.

In this post we will tell you everything you need to know to organize your trip, the points of interest to see, the best time to travel, where to stay, the best restaurants to eat and other tips that will make your trip even more pleasant. We don’t want you to miss anything, that’s why we also propose a 2-day itinerary to make the most of your time. Ready? Let’s get started.

What are the best places to visit in Copenhagen?

1. Nyhavn, the most photographed corner of Copenhagen

Nyhavn, also known as “the new harbor”, was the old entrance for merchants arriving by ship to the city. It was built in the 17th century, and although it was once a place frequented by prostitutes and sailors, today it is the most touristy and photographed place in the whole city. The colorful houses built a few meters from the canal along with wooden boats make up the most characteristic image to see in Copenhagen.

There you can have a drink in the terraces of the bars (somewhat expensive, of course), or take a boat ride on the canal. The boats leave very often and some of them even have shows and costumed actors to entertain the children. The ticket price is 12 € and the route runs through the main points of interest of the city through the canals while the guide talks about its history.

2. Christiania, Copenhagen’s alternative neighborhood

Christiania is the most interesting place to see in Copenhagen. It is an independent, self-governing commune of about 1000 people. The main interest of the place lies in the street art and craft markets. However, the reason most tourists visit Christiania is because hashish here is legal, both to smoke and to buy.

If you intend to travel from Christiania to Sweden, you should be aware that drug checks are very frequent on the train across the strait, and you are very likely to be searched if you show signs of having consumed any. So, we recommend to be careful if you don’t want to waste time on your trip.

3. The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is the most famous monument in Copenhagen and probably the most disappointing. It is a bronze sculpture barely one meter high that was built by the sculptor Eriksen at the end of the 20th century as a request from the family that owned the Carlberg brewery, which in turn offered it as a gift to the city. The Little Mermaid originating from Christian Andersen’s fairy tale has survived several acts of vandalism that have forced the city council to restore it on several occasions.

If we would say that it is not worth seeing it, it is purely for practical reasons. It takes more than 1 hour walking from the center and 30 minutes by public transport. If you decide to go we recommend arriving early as it fills up very quickly with tourists. And then you can visit Kastellet, which is right next door.

4. Stroget Street, Copenhagen’s main street

The center of Copenhagen is ideal for strolling and shopping. The most famous street is Stroget, which curiously is the longest street in Europe. There we will find several points of interest such as Radhuspladsen Square, where the town hall and the sculpture of Hans Christian Andersen are located, or Royal Theater in Kongens Nytorv Square.

Along the street there are also numerous souvenir stores, perfect for buying a souvenir, and some of the best restaurants in the city. During the Christmas season there are also small Christmas markets in each square where they sell typical sweets and mulled wine, a very typical drink of the Nordic countries. In addition the streets are filled with lights.

5. Rosenborg, the castle in Copenhagen

Rosenborg is the most famous castle in Copenhagen. It was built in the 17th century as the summer residence of monarch Christian IV. In addition to having a moat, it has the most spectacular gardens of the castles in the area. There you’ll find the botanical garden of Copenhagen, which was built around a lake and where we can find several glass greenhouses. You will not be able to avoid taking out your cameras.

The castle can be visited from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm during the summer. The rest of the months it closes earlier as in winter it gets dark earlier. The entrance fee is almost 17€ and you can also hire guided tours in several languages, but the price increases considerably.

6. Tivoli, the most charming amusement park

Tivoli is a beautiful amusement park opened in 1843 that still offers its services today. It is located right in front of the train station. And if the park is already beautiful all year round, at Christmas it is even more so. During the winter months the park dresses up for Christmas and in addition to decorations in every corner we can find the best Christmas market in the city.

From April to September the park is open from 11:00h to 23:00h except Saturdays and Fridays, when it closes at 00:00h. During the winter the opening hours are shortened in the evenings. The basic ticket costs 17 €, but does not allow you to get on the attractions that will have to be paid separately. If you want an all-inclusive ticket the price is DKK 230.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Things to do around Copenhagen?

1. Malmo, the first city in Sweden

At the same station in Copenhagen you can take a train for 15€ in the direction of Sweden that crosses the amazing Øresund bridge that is almost 8km long. The first stop, just 30 minutes away, is Malmo, and the second is its central station. Although the city is the third largest in the country, you can easily see it in a day.

We recommend a stroll through the center and visit the main square, Stortorget, Lilla torg a charming square full of beer houses, the town hall and the main shopping street, Södergatan. Strolling along the beach is also a pleasure and if you have the opportunity, go into one of the saunas that are built on the sea. They cost no more than 10€ and you won’t need a bathing suit. During Christmas all the streets are decorated and there are Christmas markets in the main squares of the city.

2. Lund

A couple of stops from Malmo (or the next one depending on the train), is Lund, a beautiful little university town full of life. Wherever you look, there are bicycles cruising up and down its stone pavement, and cozy cafes where students gather to study. But there are also plenty of interesting sights to visit.

The most impressive buildings in the city are the university library, covered with vines that change color every season, the Romanesque cathedral that stands in the middle of the square and the buildings surrounding the main square (Stortorget), such as the market. There are also two museums that you can not miss, Kulturen and the Lund History Museum. The entrance costs 9 € approximately.

3. Helsingør 

This port city is a 40-minute drive from the country’s capital and 50 minutes by train. When there is nothing left to see in Copenhagen, a visit to Helsingor is a perfect way to spend the day. There you can not miss the Kronborg Castle, known as the setting where Shakespeare was inspired to write Hamlet. The views are incredible and from its walls you can see the coast of Sweden.

Besides the castle, we recommend a stroll through the colorful streets of the village, full of souvenir and sweets stores. Once there you can take the ferry to Helsinbor, on the Swedish coast, where it is also worth seeing its monumental buildings and stroll along the harbor. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes and takes only 20 minutes to arrive. If the weather is good, it’s a joy to look out from the deck.

What to do in two days in Copenhagen?

In order not to miss anything in Copenhagen it is usually recommended to spend between 2 and 3 days. If you organize yourselves well two days will be more than enough to walk the streets and visit the main points of interest. So we recommend getting up early whenever possible and try to get tickets in advance to avoid unnecessary queues.

A must-do in the city is to stroll through Stroget, the squares and the little streets of the center until you reach the port Nyhavn. It is also highly recommended to visit Rosenborg Castle along with the botanical garden and if you go to the fortress of Kastellet take the opportunity to see the mermaid. In the city there are also numerous museums such as the National Museum or the Music Danish Museum among many others. But if there is something you can not miss, especially if you go with children, that is Tivoli.

Copenhagen is a typical weekend destination as there are very cheap and frequent flights from the mainland, however, if you decide to spend more days in the city we recommend taking the day trips suggested in the previous section to Malmo, Lund and Helsingorg.

Where and what to eat in Copenhagen

The most typical food in Copenhagen is smørrebrød, a toast of black bread accompanied by shrimp with egg, lettuce and mayonnaise. Other typical dishes are roasts and beef stews and salmon with dill. Its gastronomy is not particularly varied, so it is not easy to find traditional restaurants, but rather we will see an international offer. The only drawback is the price; like the rest of the Nordic countries, Denmark is a bit expensive to eat out. That’s why we’ve created this list with some more affordable suggestions.

• Tommi’s Burger Joint: this is the best burger joint in town where you can have a complete meal for 13€. They also have vegan offer.
•  Palae Bar: is a very authentic and cozy little bar frequented by both locals and tourists. There you can try different types of beers and homemade smørrebrød for 3€.
• Restaurant Skindbuksen: this is a slightly more traditional restaurant, although they also have international offerings. The smørrebrød is delicious, but it is only served at noon. The price per person is around 25€.
• Smagsloeget: is a place specializing in delicious sandwiches. They have a variety of more than 20 options for less than 10€. And also the sandwiches are huge, so you can share.

Where to stay in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is not exactly a cheap city, and this is also reflected in the accommodation, which will rarely go below 135€ a night. The center, the neighborhood of Indre By, is the most comfortable area but also the most expensive. The neighborhood of Vesterbro is the best option as it is close to the main points of interest but since it is not so touristy, it’s cheaper. Here we leave you a selection with some good accommodation options. And if you want more options here is this post: Best hotels to stay in Copenhagen

• Urban Camper: Urban Camper is one of the most original hostels in the whole city. The rooms are indoor tents for four people with their own lockers, in addition, they also have private rooms with a bathroom. The price per night is around 72€.
• Zoku Copenhagen: They have a kitchen, bathroom and a large living area, and are very bright. In all apartments there is wifi, towels and basic toiletries. The nightly rate is between 200€ and 300€.
• CityHub Copenhagen: CityHub Copenhagen is a curious interactive hotel recommended mainly for couples. The rooms, from 90€, are small intimate cabins built in wood where you can also connect bluetooth music.
• Ascot Hotel: It is a 4-star hotel and its building dates back from the 19th century and is located in the heart of the city and less than 500 meters from the central station. It has room service, fitness room, bar, private parking and offers breakfast for 26€. The room rate starts at €190.

What should I consider before traveling to Copenhagen?

• Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country.
• The official currency of Denmark is the Danish krone.
• We recommend that you exchange money before you set out on your trip, as it will work out cheaper.
• European citizens do not need a visa to enter the country, the ID card or passport is enough.
• Please note that stores close at 18:00h and on weekends at noon.
• It is mandatory to carry winter tires in the car during this time and the lights have to be always on.
• Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Beware of bike lanes, the bikes go very fast.
• It is not customary to tip in Denmark.
• The best time to travel is between May and September.

How to prepare what to see when traveling to Copenhagen?

Register on the web or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers the things to do in Copenhagen.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Copenhagen