The ultimate Copenhagen Guide – from a local

Welcome to my city – Copenhagen!

Are you in need of finding your way around Copenhagen and its popular spots?
Then this guide is perfect for you!

Included are the best places to see between:
– Castles
– Churches
– Parks
– Hidden gems
– Museums & Galleries
– Panoramic points
– Best restaurants, unique cafes, street food, brunch & more

Here you’ll also find general information of the city, how to get around, what not to do and frequently asked questions as well as suggested itineraries.

GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO COPENHAGEN

Here are a few things to know before your trip to Copenhagen to help everything run smoothly. Navigate these things and the rest of your trip will be a breeze!

WEATHER:

Copenhagen is a coastal city on the Baltic Sea, so the weather blows in and blows out and changes throughout the course of the day. A good old Danish saying goes, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”.  Make sure to pack waterproof clothes, dress in layers, never trust the weather app and adapt to the weather around you☔

COST:

Copenhagen is not known to be cheap, so please be prepared and adjust your budget.

BONUS TIP: Should you find yourself buying clothing in Denmark, non-EU residents can get a VAT (tax) refund. If you spend over 300 DKK ($40), ask for a refund invoice at the store and show your foreign ID. The easiest way to get refunded is to visit the Global Blue kiosk at Copenhagen Airport.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN COPENHAGEN

In Denmark there’s 3 main forms of public transportation. Common for all three are that they run all the time. So no rush. Here’s a breakdown:

🚌Busses are yellow (or blue if it’s electric) and is just called a bus.

🚆There’s 2 forms of trains: regional- and S-trains (S-tog in danish). You will mainly use the S-train. The S-trains are red and you can always spot a train station by the big red S-signs.

🚇The Copenhagen Metro has four lines M1, M2, M3 and M4 (they all go every 1-2 min.) M3 is also called the “city ring” as it goes in a circle and will mainly be the one you’ll use.

Many train stations are directly connected to metro-stations, and you will most commonly change lines at Nørreport station and the Central Station. But sometimes you have to leave the S-station and walk a few meters to reach the metro. 

If you arrive in Copenhagen airport, there’s a direct metro-line (M2) from the airport to the inner city (takes 13 min.)

🎟️How to buy tickets

There’s no gates or other systems which prevent you from using trains, metros & busses without a ticket, but there’s samplings and inspectors, who will randomly join a ride. You HAVE to have a ticket – always. The controllers don’t care if you’re a tourist, and the fines are €100. There’s many ways you can buy a ticket. 

1. Machines in the station (they are big red (or silver) boxes)
2. 7/11 stores
3. DOT app
4. Copenhagen Card

Do you need a guide of all you need to know about public transportation in Denmark? Check out this post about How to get around

THE COPENHAGEN CARD

A city pass which allows you to have a smooth visit to Copenhagen. You don’t have to worry about bookings from many different sites, public transportation or having to pay more than intended for attractions.

You can visit +80 attractions with the card – and there’s no limit to how many places you can go to in one day!

The card reaches another level by offering unlimited public transportation in Copenhagen. It’s 100% digital and all you need to do is download the Copenhagen Card APP

📣Pro tip: It can be used offline.

• The app contains a lot of information like:
• The city’s best attractions
• Opening hours
• A map with pins
• A personalized “favorites” site
• Public transportation card

THE CASTLES OF COPENHAGEN

The Danish monarchy is one of the oldest in the world, and can be traced back to Gorm the Old (d. 958). The direct lines of the ancient Danish dynasty became extinct with the death of Christoffer III in 1448. That same year, Duke Christian of Oldenborg was chosen to be the King of Denmark and took the name Christian I (hence the Kings are named either Christian or Frederik). The last sovereign of that line, Frederik VII, died childless in 1863, and then the throne passed his relative, Prince Christian of Glücksborg, who’s son was Christian IX, who eventually became known as the ¨father-in-law of Europe.

If you click on each of the castles listed below, you can read much more about the royal family and its history.

Kronborg Castle

Have you read Hamlet?

Then you already know Elsinore where Shakespeare set the scenery of his story. Today Kronborg is one of the most important renaissance castles in Northern Europe (built in 1420) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

👑If you’ve seen the movie “A royal affair” you can find the corner room at Kronborg where Queen Caroline Mathilde was a prisoner in 1772 after her alleged affair with the Kings royal physician. 

🇸🇪Kronborg Castle is located in the danish town Helsingør (Elsinore ;)) which is just a 20 min. ferry ride from Sweden. 

You can climb the 148 steps in one of the towers and have a 360 degree view of the city as well as Sweden.

🗽Included in a ticket are a visit to the crypts and catacombs beneath Kronborg Castle, where Holger the Dane sits. The statue is a legendary figure in Danish Culture – do you dare to visit him?

⏱️Opening times:

Nov to April: tue-sun 11am-4pm

May to Oct: every day 10am-5pm

💸A day-ticket is €16 (during summer months it’s €19)

ROSENBORG CASTLE

Rosenborg Castle is located in the heart of Copenhagen, and is a historic fortress, royal residence, and museum. The castle, known for its Renaissance architecture, impressive interiors, and extensive collections of royal artefacts is a popular attraction for both tourists and locals. 

The Castle was built in the early 17th century by King Christian 4th and was his personal favorite residence during his reign.

Why you should visit Rosenborg:

One of the main attractions of Rosenborg Castle is the display of the Danish Crown Jewels. The collection includes crowns, coronets, sceptres, and other regalia used by Danish kings and queens over the centuries. In addition to the Crown Jewels, Rosenborg Castle houses an extensive collection of royal artefacts, including furniture, tapestries, silverware and other decorative arts. 

One of the rooms in the castle is King Christian the 4ths bedroom, where he died on the 28th February 1648. In the room are his blood-stained clothes displayed from the naval battle of Kolberger Heide, 1st July 1644, where he was hit by several cannonball and cannon fragments which cost him his sight on his right eye. 

AMALIENBORG CASTLE

This is the royal residence. 

The palace was built in the mid 1700’s for four very rich noblemen, which is why it has four almost identical palaces. Amalienborg became the royal residence after Christiansborg Palace – not too far away – burned down in 1794.

When members of the royal family are at home the flag is hoisted upon the palace where they live. In the palace to the right towards the waterfront, the King and Queen live with their four children, and in the palace to the left towards the waterfront, the Queen Mother lives. There is a joke that the Queens palace has an extra chimney because she smokes, but that’s of course not true. 

You can visit Christian the 8th’s palace which is part of the Amalienborg Museum. 

The Amalienborg Museum reaches 150 years back in time to Christian the 9th and Queen Louise, who became known as “Europe’s in-laws” because four of their children ascended the thrones of Europe as Empress of Russia, Queen of England, King of Greece and King of Denmark, respectively.

Entrance is €16 (€10 for students) and free with the Copenhagen Card.

Christiansborg Castle

History of the iconic Copenhagen castle

From 1745 the royal family had their residence at Christiansborg Castle, which was a festive time for the royals, among other things, one of the most famous love stories in Danish history unfolds: the affair between Christian 7. young queen Caroline Mathilde and the king’s personal physician, Johann Struensee (watch the movie “the royal affair” to gain a better understanding). Unfortunately the Great Fire in 1794 burned the castle to the ground, where the royal family had to move to Amalienborg Castle. 

But when the second Christiansborg was completed in 1828, the family had grown so fond of living at Amalienborg that they didn’t want to move. When Denmark got its first constitution on June 5, 1849, King Frederik 7. therefore gives up some of the rooms at the new Christiansborg Palace to the new parliament, but only temporarily as the castle burns down again in 1884. 

The present and third palace was completed in 1928, and still houses the Danish Parliament and the Supreme Court.

How to visit the Castle today

Today you can visit Christiansborg’s ruins from the previous castles, as well as see the Queen’s tapestries, which show over 1,000 years of Danish history on woven wallpaper. You can also visit the parliament and the tower where there’s a restaurant today and a viewpoint which is free.

You can buy a castle ticket that gives you access to the Royal Reception Rooms, the Royal Banquet Kitchen, the Ruins under Christiansborg and the Royal Stables.

The ticket is €23,5 (free with the Copenhagen Card).

If you just want to see the ruins – entrance is €9. 

📣Pro tip: Go early and get a tour included in the admission price of the Royal Reception Rooms at 11am. 

Opening hours:

October to march: tuesday to sunday 10am to 5pm

April to june: every day 10am to 5pm

July to september: every day 10am to 6pm

BEWARE: that the castle can be closed unannounced in connection with official events and the Royal House’s use of the palace.

Please note that you’re not allowed to bring large bags (max. size is 15cm x 30cm x 25cm), backpacks, umbrellas, water bottles etc. as you walk around the Museum. There’s a cloakroom where you can store your things for free. 

---

TO SEE IN COPENHAGEN

#1 Nyhavn, the Copenhagen Harbour

Known for its colorful narrow houses and picturesque setting in the Copenhagen harbor.

Nyhavn is translated to “New Harbor” and despite its name, it’s one of the oldest areas of Copenhagen. The harbor was dug by Swedish prisoners of war in the 1670s, on the orders of King Christian the 5th.

Back then, Nyhavn was a very busy harbor with boats coming in from all over the world, loading and unloading their goods at the dock, and know for the drunken sailors and easygoing women. The area changed throughout the 1970’es and what used to be called the dirty north side, is now one of the most posh areas in Copenhagen.  

Fun fact: Many of the houses along Christianshavn and Nyhavn are very narrow. This is because they date back to a time when taxes were paid according to how much of the sidewalk the house took up – so the narrower, the cheaper! 

---

#2 The Little Mermaid

Denmark’s probably biggest trademark, is the statue of the Little Mermaid. The statue illustrates the fairy tale written by the danish writer Hans Christian Andersen – but in big contrast to the original tale, she never gets her prince and ends up as foam on the surface of the sea. 

The Statue was a gift from Carl Jacobsen, who is the son of the founder of the Carlsberg beer (J.C. Jacobsen), and she was placed on her stone by Langeline in 1913. The statue is made by the sculptor Edvard Eriksen, and it was his wife, Eline, who stood model for the statue. (To a lot of people’s surprise, the statue you can visit is actually a copy, as the original is in the possession of Edvard Eriksen’s heirs).

Through the years the statue has been vandalized many times, for example she has been decapitated twice. The first time in 1964 and again in 1998. The head was never recovered the first time, so the one you see is a copy of a copy…). The statue has also had graffiti painted on it and been wearing various costumes and football shirts. At the same time, she is accused of being the most disappointing attraction, due to its size. 

---

#3 Gefion Fountain

This Fountain resembles the Norse goddess, Gefion who transformed her four sons into oxen and had them plough so deeply in the ground that they raised the land and pulled it into the sea. This is how the island of Zealand was created in norse mythology. The fountain is stunning and is used as a wishing well. 

#4 Changing of the guard

The Royal Life Guard is always present at Amalienborg, regardless of whether members of the royal family are at the palace. 

Every day you can experience the changing of the guard. The Life Guards march from the Life Guards’ Barracks by Rosenborg Castle through the streets of Copenhagen to end at Amalienborg, where the changing of the guard takes place at 12:00.

#5 SOHO House

This special, big, green, oval building is the old flying boat terminal for the Swedish boats from 1937. Here people had duties imposed on the goods they had bought in from Malmö. In 2004, the building was bought and turned into a restaurant and cocktail bar called Custom House. And in 2013, the restaurant changed ownership and name to the Standard, which was awarded Denmark’s fastest Michelin star, which it got in just three months after opening. Today the building houses a cafe and “Soho House” which is an exclusive, private worldwide membership club with a focus on creativity.  

#6 Christianshavn in the Copenhagen harbour 

Christianshavn was founded and is named after King Christian the 4th as an independent market town and harbor in year 1614. The great fires that ravaged central Copenhagen in the beginning of the 18th century never reached here, which means that there are still houses which date back to the founding of the city 400 years ago. Today, Christianshavn is an expensive and beautiful part of the city, but shortly after it was established the King had difficulty getting people to move here, as it was very muddy and far away from the rest of Copenhagen. He therefore had to lure them by offering free plots of land and 12 years free rent.

#7 The Round tower of Copenhagen

This Tower is one of Denmark’s best-known attractions and was built by King Christian the 4th in 1637. The Trinity Complex, which the Round Tower is a part of, was designed to accommodate three things: the Observatory at the top of the tower, the University Library above the Trinity Church and the church itself below.

Fun Fact: Writer Hans Christian Andersen visited the Round Tower often to write, and he also used the tower as inspiration. The best-known story where the tower appears is in the fairy tale “The Tinderbox” where the largest dog has “eyes as big as the Round Tower!” 

The only way to the top of the Round Tower is through the ascending Spiral Ramp, which is approximately 200 metres in length.

Opening hours:

April to September: every day from 10am to 8pm

October to March: every day from 10am to 6pm (Tue & Wed to 9pm)

Entrance is €5.5

Personally, I wouldn’t get excited over visiting the tower. It’s now the best view, and it’s rather small. If you’re unsure about going – don’t. 

If you want to know more about the round tower, visit the official website HERE

---

#8 Kastellet (The Citadel)

Also known as The Citadel, is a well-preserved fortress and military complex from the 17th century and is known for its distinctive star-shaped layout. Kastellet has two well-preserved gates, the King’s Gate and the Norway Gate. The King’s Gate, facing the city, is adorned with the monogram of Christian IV. The fortress also features drawbridges, moats, and other defensive elements. Inside Kastellet, there are various historic buildings, including military barracks, officers’ residences, a church, and a windmill. 

Especially the windmill that was built in 1847 is a good picture spot.

Kastellet is open to the public and free to visit but it still houses military activities, and the area is used for ceremonial events and official functions. The gates are open from 6am to 10pm daily.

#9 Gammel strand

Gammel Strand, which is translated to “Old Beach” was where fisherwomen since the 15th century used to sell fresh fish from their stalls. Back then the women walked from Skovshoved, where their men catched the fish to Gammel Strand, which was a 23 km route every day. 

Gammel Strand was until 1958 Copenhagen’s central fish market and the last fisherwoman left in 2009. Today there’s a little statue left to commemorate those days. 

A little further on, you can see a green statue depicting Bishop Absalon, who founded Copenhagen in 1167. When Absalon first came to the city this was the ocean and there was a beach instead of a marketplace, hence the name, Old Beach. 

---

#10 Copenhagen Stock Exchange

The old Copenhagen Stock Exchange was built in the 1620s, also under King Christian the 4th. If you notice the spire, which consists of four intertwining dragon tails and the three crowns at the top of their tails. They symbolize the three Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The three crowns are also repeated on the tower of Christiansborg – and represent the Kalmar Union, which lasted for 150 years as an alliance against German expansion. 
Today, Danish Chamber of Commerce (Dansk Erhverv) has offices in the building and you can only visit the old chambers through a guided tour.

Sadly, the Old Stock Exchange burned on the 16th of April 2024. The fire started on the roof while it was wrapped in scaffolding because of continuing renovations. Much of the cultural heritage in forms of paintings and furniture was rescued in time, but much of the old building – including the spire – collapsed, and is in the process to be re-built.

#11 Freetown of Christiania

This is such a unique and controversial place. 

Christiania was created back in the 70s when a group of free-spirited people started taking over abandoned military barracks with the aim to create a self-governing car-free society. 

Today there’s around 1000 citizens who live here and it has its own rules and regulations.

Besides that, Christiania is known for selling Cannabis openly on the main street of Christiania known as Pusher Street. Contrary to what many people think, this does not make Christiania a dangerous place to visit. Quite the opposite actually. People go there to relax and have a good time – you can buy handmade art, get something to eat and listen to music. You just need to follow the few rules – for example don’t take photos on Pusher Street and don’t run in Christiania (it can create panic). 

Please remember that weed is NOT legal in Denmark. It’s not legal to sell or smoke and from time to time, pusher street will get raided by the Police.

---

#12 West India Warehouse

These three old warehouses date back to the late 18th century. Today they have been restored, and two of them has been converted into very expensive apartments. The third one, contains the Royal Casting Collection with casts of European sculptures, which you can visit.

In front of the Museum is a copy of Michael Angelo’s David sculpture. The Italian Sculptor created the statue called “David” in marble in 1503, which is placed in Florence, and in 1896 the brewer Carl Jacobsen donated Copenhagen a bronze copy which has now oxidized (which looks green). And to remind you, it was Carl Jacobsen’s son who gave Copenhagen the statue of the Little Mermaid. The sculpture has been moved around Copenhagen many times, but was placed here by the waterfront in 1993, because several elderly ladies who lived right next to the statue when it was placed in Vartov (which is next to the city hall of Copenhagen), did not want to look at the private parts of naked David, so he has ended up here he where he’s facing the water. 

The royal cast collection is only open for special events and free to enter.

#13 H.C. Andersens apartments at Nyhavn, Copenhagen

The renowned fairytale tale writer Hans Christian Andersen spent most of his life in Copenhagen, though he was born and raised in Odense. Several of the places that were important to him can still be visited today – this includes the round tower, the royal theatre and his residences in Nyhavn. 

At Nyhavn no. 67 H.C. Andersen lived from 1848 to 1865.

Nyhavn No. 20 was once home to Hans Christian Andersen. He composed the renowned fairy tales ‘the Tinder-Box,’ ‘Little Claus and Big Claus,’ and ‘The Princess and the Pea’ here. He also lived in no. 18 for two years and at no. 67 H.C. Andersen lived from 1848 to 1865.

H.C. Andersen died in 1875 and is buried in the Assistens Cemetery, which is a lovely place to visit and is used as a park by locals.

You cannot visit any of his homes in Nyhavn but there’s a memorial plaque outside of Nyhavn no. 20 which states: “H.C. Andersen lived here when his first book of fairy tales was published / may 1835”

---

TO DO IN COPENHAGEN

#14 Copenhill

This big grey sloping building is Amager Bakke, also called CopenHill. CopenHill links a new waste incineration plant from March 2017, which efficiently and safely converts residual waste into district heating and electricity, with an artificial ski slope, walking trails and many more outdoor activities on its roof, which opened in October 2019. In addition, the world’s tallest climbing wall at 85 meters is mounted on one side of the incineration plant and it has 10 different routes to the top (you have to be an experienced climber to try it out). 

You can visit both the incineration plant and the rooftop. Walking on the roof is free but skiing (NOT including rent of equipment) is about €27 per hour. 

There’s also a rooftop bar where events are held such as concerts and treasure hunts.  

Opening hours for WALKING GUESTS and the ROOFTOP CAFE:

Mon: 12pm to 5pm, Tue-fri: 12pm to 6pm, Sat: 10am to 6pm, Sun: 10am to 5pm

Opening hours for SKIING and SLEDDGING:

Mon: CLOSED, Tue-fri: 2pm to 7pm, Sat: 10am to 7pm, Sun: 10am to 5pm

---

#15 The church of Our Saviors’

Our Saviors’ Church was completed in 1696 and the tower 56 years later in 1752. The outside of the tower has a spiral staircase with 400 steps which you can climb all the way to the top. 

At the top of the tower is a three-meter tall, golden figure of Christ. Christ is holding a victory flag which symbolizes the final victory of Christianity in Europe in the 17th century.

During the Second World War, the Danish Resistance Movement used the tower as a hiding spot for weapons and explosives, which was never discovered by the Germans. 

To climb the tower you have to book a time-slot through billetto.dk

Opening hours:

Daily from 9am to 8pm.

Entrance is €9 and free with the Copenhagen Card.  

---

#16 The Black Diamond

The Black Diamond is an extension of Royal Library’s from 1999. The building is called The Black Diamond because its facade tilts out over the harbor, so when the sun is just right, it reflects off the water and onto the facade, making it look like it’s shining, a bit like a diamond. 

Fun fact: The Royal library owns about 4,500 books printed before the year 1501.  

You can go to the library for a coffee break, study room or to just walk around. 

Access to the Black Diamond

Mon-fri: 8am to 9pm

Cafe: 9am to 6pm

Sunday: closed

It’s free to visit the Royal library.

---

#17 Copenhagen City Hall

The City Hall was built in 1892-1905 and today, the Town Hall is used for Civic Council meetings, weddings and national celebrations. 

The City Hall can be explored on your own for FREE, but if you want the full experience and all the secrets, you can join a guided tour Monday-Friday at 13.00 and Saturday at 10.00 for €9. The tour is about 50 minutes and also takes you up the City Hall Tower, which with its 105m is one of the tallest buildings in Copenhagen. 

The City Hall Library

Although the City Hall Library no longer functions as a library, the beautiful hall now provides the perfect quiet reading room, creating just the right study atmosphere. The City Hall Library is free and open from Monday till Friday from 09.00-16.00.

---

#18 Tivoli Amusement Park

Tivoli, which is located in the centre of Copenhagen, is the second oldest and is said to have inspired Walt Disney to create his own parks. 

In 2018, Tivoli celebrated its 175th birthday. It is also the location of the oldest wooden roller coaster in the world, Isbjerget. 

Opening hours:

Every day 11am to 11pm

Seasons:

🎄Christmas: 19. Nov – 31. Dec 

☀️Summer: 22. Mar – 22. Sep 

🎸(Friday rock: every friday night during summer season)

🎃Halloween: 10. Oct – 3. Nov 

Entrance: €21

Entrance + ride pass: €59

---

#19 Copenhagen Zoo

If you have a few days to spend in Copenhagen, the zoological gardens are well worth a visit. With more than 4,000 animals from all over the world, Copenhagen ZOO is one of Denmark’s most visited attractions.

The ZOO was founded in 1859, making it one of Europe’s oldest zoos. 

In 2008, a British architect designed the elephant house and enclosure at Copenhagen Zoo. Following research into el ephants’ social patterns, the design of these buildings set new zoological standards in terms of the elephants’ physical well-being.

A big feature of the zoo is the wooden observation tower. 43.5 metres high, it looks like the Eiffel Tower. The tower was built in 1905 and is one of the tallest observation towers built of wood in the world. 

Opening hours:

Sunday to friday 10am to 4pm

Saturdays 10am to 8pm

Ticket:

Adult: €32

Children: €18.6

---

#20 Home of Carlsberg

The Carlsberg brewery was established in 1847 by J.C. Jacobsen, who named it after his son Carl. The brewery has become one of the largest and most well-known beer producers globally. In recent years, the Carlsberg District has undergone a comprehensive redevelopment project to transform the industrial area into a mixed-use space that combines cultural, residential, and commercial elements.

Home of Carlsberg is more than just a museum. It is an interactive experience and attraction where the history of the Carlsberg empire is told.

Opening hours:

10am to 6pm

Buy your exhibition tickets online in advance to save money and secure your spot to the Home of Carlsberg exhibition. 

Adult: €25

Children: €16

Get your ticket here

#21 The Meatpacking District

The Meatpacking District has its origins in the late 19th century when it served as Copenhagen’s main meat market and processing area. 

This area of Copenhagen today perfectly balances its industrial past with a vibrant and trendy atmosphere. The Meatpacking District is a popular destination for nightlife in Copenhagen. The area comes alive in the evening with numerous bars, pubs, and clubs. It’s a hotspot for those seeking a vibrant atmosphere and a mix of music genres as well as restaurants, cafes, and eateries.

The transformation of the Meatpacking District reflects the broader trend of repurposing industrial areas into dynamic urban spaces – which you can also find at Refshaleøen and the Carlsberg District.

#22 Havnebadet Islands Brygge

Open water swimming pools are also known as harbour baths and are really popular all year around in Copenhagen.

All of the Copenhagen harbour is clean enough to swim in, but there’s been made designated areas to swim to avoid accidents.

---

#23 Copenhagen shopping street Strøget

One of the world’s longest pedestrian-only shopping streets. 

Strøget is located in the city center of Copenhagen, stretching from City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) to Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square).

Strøget is renowned for its diverse range of shops, including international and Danish brands, high-end fashion boutiques, department stores, and specialty shops. Visitors can find everything from clothing and accessories to home goods and souvenirs.

The pedestrian street often features street performers, musicians, and entertainers, adding to the lively atmosphere.

#24 Copenhagen Harbour Canal Tour

The best way to see all major attraction sites in inner Copenhagen is from the water through the Copenhagen Harbour! 

If you travel to Copenhagen during summer (late june to mid september) DO NOT expect to “just hop on a canal tour”. It gets extremely crowded and even when the boats go every 20 minutes, you will be in line for at least 40min. (and most likely more). 

You can’t pre-book a ticket as it’s first come first serve. 

Depending on the season the boats will run from 10am to 7pm. 

📣Pro tip: go on the first tour of the day at 10am. The boats are never full. 

---

PARKS

#25 Bellevue Beach

This  popular seaside destination in the northern part of Copenhagen is known for its clean, sandy shores, and its lighthouse. It is part of the larger Bellevue area, which includes the beach, park, and the iconic Bellevue Beach Hotel. It’s also a favourite spot for locals to enjoy the sun and sea during summer. There’s a small kiosk selling ice cream, toilets, and a volleyball court.  

#26 The King’s Garden

Also known as Rosenborg Castle Gardens, is a historic park where locals gather all year around. Notable sculptures in the park include an iconic statue of Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish fairy tale writer, and a bronze statue of Hercules in the pavilion. In addition to Rosenborg Castle, the garden is in proximity to cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) and the Geological Museum.

The garden is easily accessible on foot or by bicycle and free to use. 

#27 The Botanical Garden

Here you can find ten hectares of gardens with a butterfly house and a tropical palm house dating to 1874. 

Walk up the 16m tall narrow, cast-iron spiral staircase inside the Palm House. The garden also has a flower shop, a café and a butterfly house. The butterfly house is open during the summer season only and requires a small entry fee. Otherwise the Botanical garden is a free public green space.

The garden guidelines:

Because of the many (more than 13,000 species) plants – you need to be extra careful with nature when visiting:

• The beds must not be stepped on, and it is not permitted to climb the trees
• Flowers, seeds and other plant parts may not be collected.
• Dogs and other pets are not allowed. Guide dogs are welcome.
• Bicycles and scooters may not be brought.

Opening hours of the Botanical Garden:

April 1st – September 30th: 8.30am to 6pm

October 1st – March 31st: 8.30am to 4pm

Opening hours of the Palm House:

April 1st – September 30th: 10am to 5pm

October 1st – March 31st: 10 am to 3.30pm (monday closed)

Entrance to the Palm House & Butterfly House:

Adults: €8

Students: €5

Children: €5

Parkmuseerne ticket: free

#28 Assistens Cemetery

Assistens Kirkegård in Danish, is a famous cemetery located in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen and is the final resting place for many notable figures like:

• Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875): World-renowned Danish fairy tale writer.
• Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855): Philosopher and theologian.
• Niels Bohr (1885–1962): Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
• Tycho Brahe (1546–1601): Renaissance astronomer.

This Cemetery has become more than a burial ground; it also functions as a public park and has some of the spring’s most beautiful cherry trees.

#29 Frederiksberg Garden

The park dates back to the early 18th century when it was designed as a baroque-style royal garden for Frederiksberg Palace. Over the years, the garden has undergone various transformations and is now a mix of formal gardens, open lawns, water features, and wooded areas open to everyone.

---

MUSEUMS

Parkmuseerne ticket

This admission ticket combines 6 museums in one ticket. The ticket is a multiple-use ticket with a QR-code which you just scan at each of your visits. 

The museums included are:

• The Hirschsprung Collection
• Natural History Museum of Denmark
• The Palm House in the Botanical Garden
• Rosenborg Castle
• National Gallery of Denmark (SMK)
• The workers museum
• The David Collection

Price is €39 ~ a 50% discount on standard admission fees. 

Get your ticket here 

---

#30 Glyptoteket

My favourite spot in Copenhagen.

Glyptoteket is a time pocket in the heart of Copenhagen with a collection of over 10.000 works of art and archaeological objects (such as Roman & Greek sculptures, mummies, French paintings and Danish Golden Age Art) as well as a botanical garden.

The New Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded by brewer Carl Jacobsen, who was a passionate collector. With the profits from his brewery (Carlsberg), he created a unique collection of art and cultural objects, and in 1897, he opened its doors to the public.

The museum is designed to give every visitor the opportunity to disconnect from everyday life and bring calm – and I promise it lives up to this🍀

Good to know:

🚶🏻‍♀️750m walk from the Central station (Search for Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek)

🎟️Entrance €17 (under 27 yr €13)

On the last Wednesday of every month, admission to the entire museum is free.

⏱️10am – 5pm tue to sun (closed on mondays)

I recommend visiting as early as possible during weekdays as the museum can get quite busy

🎒You’re not allowed to bring larger bags with you around the museum (as it’s easy to bump into a sculpture or painting) but there’s a cloakroom with lockers you can use. You need a Danish 20 DKK coin (or you can rent a token) for the lockers. 

☕You can grab lunch or coffee at Cafe Picnic by the garden. 

#31 Thorvaldsens Museum

Thorvaldsen was a famous Danish sculptor who lived most of his life in Italy. He was the only non-Catholic to build something in Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, where he was responsible for Pope Pius the seventh chapel of death. However, he returned to Copenhagen and died here in 1844 – he is also buried in the museum’s courtyard.

The painting on the side of the exterior of the Museum shows Thorvaldsens return to Copenhagen where he was greeted by the people of Copenhagen – including Hans Christian Andersen, who is also depicted in the painting.  

Opening hours:

Monday: closed

Tuesday to sunday: 10am to 5pm

Adult: €12.75

Under 18 yr: free

Wednesdays: free

#32 The National Gallery 

Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK), also known as the National Gallery of Denmark, is the largest art museum in Denmark.

Statens Museum for Kunst was established in 1824 and is Denmark’s principal museum for visual arts. The museum’s founding purpose was to provide the public with access to art. Today, the museum’s holdings encompass European art from the Renaissance to the present day, with a strong emphasis on Danish and Nordic art.

The museum organises SMK Fridays, a series of events held on the last Friday of each month. These events often include special exhibitions, performances, workshops, and other activities.

The museum also has a Cafe called the Kafeteria and serves both light brunch, lunch and snacks. 

Getting to the SMK is easy by both bus, train, car or on foot. The museum is just next to Rosenborg Castle – 5 min. from Nørreport station. 

Opening hours:

Monday: closed

Tuesday to sunday: 10am to 6pm (wednesday to 8pm)

Tickets:

Adult: €16

Under 27 yr: €12.75

Under 18: free

Copenhagen card: free

Price is €39 ~ a 50% discount on standard admission fees. 

Get your ticket here  

---

#33 The National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum is the largest cultural and historical museum in Denmark, located in Copenhagen and founded in 1807. The museum’s extensive collections cover a wide range of topics, including prehistoric and mediaeval Denmark, ethnography, decorative arts, and modern Danish history. 

What to see here

In the National Museum you can see the body of a 2222 year old woman, who was in her 40’s (in the 2nd century BC) when she was laid to rest in a bog. She was dug up in 1879 and like most of the bog bodies found in Denmark the woman from Huldremose was fully clothed. Another skeleton showcased at the museum is the aurochs from Vig. 

In 1905, the skeleton of an ancient aurochs was discovered in a swamp in northern Zealand. This massive beast weighed about 1000 kg and stood nearly 2 metres tall at the shoulders. It was the forest’s largest and most dangerous animal. The aurochs was common in regions of Europe, Asia, and the coastal areas of North Africa during the Stone Age.  Although the Aurochs of Vig died approximately 10,000 years ago, the species became extinct in the 17th century.

Other artefacts you can see at the national museum are the Sun Chariot from 1400 BC and the Golden Horns from 400 AD. 

The Sun Chariot was found in September 1902 and is considered one of the most iconic and important archaeological finds from the Nordic Bronze Age.

Fun fact: the sun chariot is the motive on the 1000 dkk banknote. 

Amongst the most famous finds from Danish prehistory are the Golden Horns. The long horn was found in 1639 and the short horn was found in 1734. Tragically both horns were stolen and melted down in 1802 (The combined weight of the horns was nearly 7 kg), so the copies made of the horns are known solely from drawings dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Opening hours:

June-september: every day 10am to 6pm

October-may: tuesday to sunday 10am to 5pm

Admission:

Adults: €16

Under 18 yr: free

---

#34 Planetariet

The Tycho Brahe Planetarium is a popular science and astronomy center located in Copenhagen.

The planetarium was inaugurated in 1989 and is named after the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546–1601), one of the most influential astronomers of the Renaissance. 

The building itself is characterised by its angled dome, which houses the planetarium theater, where a projector simulates the night sky, allowing you to experience immersive and realistic astronomical presentations. The planetarium also offers a variety of shows and presentations on astronomy, astrophysics, and space exploration including IMAX films. There’s in addition an observatory with telescopes with sessions guided by astronomy experts. 

Opening hours:

Monday: 12pm to 6pm

Tuesday + Wednesday: 9.30am to 8pm

Thursday: 9.30am to 8.30pm

Friday + Saturday: 9.30am to 9.30pm

Sunday: 9.30am to 7pm

Admission:

A ticket to the planetarium gives access to the exhibitions and one film.

Adults: €25

Students: €21

Children (3-11 yr.): €15.5

Visit their website here 

#35 Designmuseum

The Designmuseum is a museum dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of Danish and international design. This museum has a history dating back to 1890, making it one of the oldest design museums in the world. It was originally established as the “Kunstindustrimuseet” (The Museum of Art and Industry) with the mission of promoting and preserving Danish industrial and applied arts.

The museum includes a design library with a collection of books, journals, and archival materials related to design and applied arts. 

Opening hours:

Monday: closed

Tuesday to sunday: 10am to 6pm (thursdays to 8pm)

Ticket sales close to 45 min. Before closing time.

Entrance to the exhibition closes 30 min. Before closing time.

Entrance: 

Adult: €17.5

Students: €12

Children u. 18 yr: free

See their website here 

#36 Danish Architecture Centre

The Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) is a hub for exhibitions, events, educational programs, and discussions on contemporary architecture and urban planning. 

DAC is located inside the BLOX building, which also houses a co-working space, a fitness center, 2 restaurants, a parking facility, and 22 apartments on the top. Their own website tells it best; “DAC features two exhibition rooms, a children’s universe Educatorium, several conference rooms, the art installation DAC Slide, Design Shop, and a spectacular view of the city from the café and its large rooftop terraces. Did you know that approximately 25,000 cars pass through BLOX every day? The building is constructed around a busy road, with 5 floors below the road and 5 floors above.”

Opening hours

Mon-Sun: 10am to 6pm (Thursdays: 10am to 9pm)

Tickets: 

Adults: €15.5

Youth (u. 26): €8 

Children (u. 18): Free

---

Flea Markets

Tips before going to a danish flea market:

• Most flea markets in Copenhagen take place on Sundays and none of them require entrance fees – you just show up.
• If you’re not sure if there’s a market in your area, seach on Facebook events by the work “loppemarked” (danish word for flea market).
• Bring cash or make sure you can use Mobile Pay as most stalls at flea markets don’t have card payment machines.

Veras Market

High-quality second-hand clothes are sold every Sunday from 9am to 3pm and regardless of the weather as the stands are covered. 

Eberts

As well as being a cafe, Ebert’s is also a vintage shop, a vinyl store, a toy shop, a wine shop and a place to buy superhero figurines. 

Opening hours:

Monday to friday: 9am to 4.30pm

Weekend: 9am to 4pm

Copenhagen Flea market

The Green Market as the Copenhagen Flea Market is also called was started in 1976 for antique dealers. Today it’s located at Israels Plads in central Copenhagen and is open every Saturday from 11am to 4pm from March to October. Here you can buy everything from socks to armchairs, but everything has to be recycled. 

Lelop

This modern secondhand shop has reinvented the flea market and hosts more than 250 stands. Here a seller rents a stand and Lelop serves the customers in the store who want to buy products from those stands. That way the seller doesn’t have to be there physically but they can keep track of the sales online. For a customer this is win-win as it’s still thrifted but they can see and feel the thing (contrary to buying online).

Located in the famous 8house the shop is within walking distance from VestAmager metro station. 

Opening hours: 

Monday to friday: 10am to 6pm

Weekend: 10am to 2pm 

Broens Flea Market

Your original Flea market overlooking the water of the Copenhagen Harbour. 

Once you get tired of shopping, you can grap some food just a few steps away at the street food market Broens Gadekøkken.

Opening hours:

The market is open on Sundays from April to September at 12pm and closes at 5pm.

---

WHERE TO STAY IN COPENHAGEN?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COPENHAGEN

Q: IS COPENHAGEN A GOOD PLACE TO TRAVEL ALONE?

A: Copenhagen is a perfect place to visit when travelling alone. The city is safe, the infrastructure is organised, the crime rate is way down and English is widely spoken. Copenhagen was actually nominated the safest city in the world in 2021 by the Economist’s Safe City Index.

Q: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?

A: As a Scandinavian city, Copenhagen is cold, rainy, and with a lack of sunlight 6 months of the year. 

So you can imagine how the summer months from June to August the city are packed. To get an authentic stay in Copenhagen while the weather is nice I’d recommend going here in early June or September.

Locals have been waiting during the colder and darker months for the sunlight, and therefore enjoy the outdoors on every occasion during summer. There’s people everywhere from harbour baths and courtyards, to seasonal events  like the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival, and Distortion. 

Q: IS COPENHAGEN BUDGET FRIENDLY?

A: Not really, Copenhagen is an expensive city, and eating out and accommodation tend to be pricey; however, there are budget-friendly options. 

Q: HOW LONG SHOULD YOU SPEND IN COPENHAGEN? 

A: It depends on how much you want to see, but I’d suggest 2 nights and 3 full days to enjoy the city as well as see and do all the activities you want. 

Q: IS COPENHAGEN WORTH IT?

A: The short answer is YES! Solo travel or travel in general  in Copenhagen is a worthwhile experience.

---

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES FOR COPENHAGEN

HOW TO SPEND 1 DAY IN COPENHAGEN 

🥐Have brunch at Mad & Kaffe

🛥️Walk to Nyhavn and take a Canal Tour at 10am

🏰Go to Kings Garden and visit Rosenborg Castle

🥪Have lunch at Scarpetta

🛍️See the round tower and stroll strøget shopping street

🗼Climb our savior’s church

🌿Stroll Freetown of Christiania 

🍻Spend the evening at reffen

---

2 DAY ITINERARY FOR THE TOURIST 

📍Stay at Steel House Copenhagen

Day 1

🥐Breakfast at Apollo Bar

🛥️Stroll the Nyhavn Harbour and take a Canal tour at 10 am

🏰See the Changing of the guard at Amalienborg

🥪Have lunch at Torvehallerne

🏰Visit Rosenborg Castle

🛍️Stroll Strøget shopping street

🗼Walk up the round tower

🍝Have dinner at Mahalle 

Day 2

🥐Breakfast at the hostel

🗼Climb our savior’s church

🌿Stroll Freetown of Christiania 

🏰Visit Christiansborg Palace

🥪Have lunch at Heaps Good Cafe

🏰Visit the City hall

🎡Go to Tivoli 

🍝Have dinner at Palazzo Diner

---

 Do you want to know where to find all the hidden gems, where locals go and more done for you itineraries?  Look no further because I have an extended version for you just below. 

Posted By: Sofia · In: Uncategorized