If you’re looking for things to do in Copenhagen, the Danish capital makes an excellent city break. During our three days in the city we explored colourful Nyhavn, visited Rosenborg Castle and Amalienborg Palace, wandered through Tivoli Gardens, discovered Christiania and toured the historic Carlsberg Brewery.

We even took a quick day trip across the Øresund Bridge to Malmö in Sweden. Known for its canals, Nordic food scene and the famous Little Mermaid statue, Copenhagen is often ranked among the happiest cities in the world.

Overview

If you’re planning a city break in Northern Europe, Copenhagen is one of those destinations that tends to tick many boxes. The Danish capital blends historic architecture, relaxed canals, innovative food, and a cycling culture that gives the whole city a calm rhythm.

We spent three days exploring Copenhagen and found it surprisingly easy to navigate. Within a short distance you can walk along colourful harbour fronts, visit royal palaces, climb historic towers and even take a quick train ride to Sweden.

During our visit we explored places such as Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace, Tivoli Gardens, the Carlsberg brewery and the alternative neighbourhood of Christiania. We also squeezed in a day trip to Malmö across the Øresund Bridge.

Copenhagen consistently ranks among the world’s happiest cities, and after spending a few days here it’s easy to see why. The city feels organised yet relaxed, historic yet modern.

In this guide we share the places we visited, practical tips for planning your trip and a few ideas for food and drink along the way.

Travel to Copenhagen

Most visitors arrive via Copenhagen Airport (CPH), the main international airport serving Denmark and southern Sweden. Flights from London are frequent and can be surprisingly affordable if booked early.

When we visited, we managed to find return flights for roughly £20 per person, which made the city break an easy decision.

The airport sits around 8 km from the city centre and getting into town is straightforward.

Travelling from Copenhagen Airport to the City Centre

You have several options:

• Train – runs directly from the airport to Copenhagen Central Station and takes around 15 minutes
• Metro – frequent service that connects the airport to several central stops
• Bus – slightly slower but useful depending on where you’re staying
• Taxi or rideshare – fastest door‑to‑door option but naturally more expensive

We used the train which was simple and reliable.

How to Get Around Copenhagen

Copenhagen is one of the easiest European capitals to explore. The city is compact, extremely walkable and well connected by public transport.

Walking in Copenhagen

Many of the main attractions such as Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace and Christiansborg Palace are located fairly close to each other. During our visit we found ourselves walking between most places.

Cycling in Copenhagen

Cycling is a big part of everyday life in Copenhagen. The city has dedicated bike lanes almost everywhere and renting a bicycle is one of the most authentic ways to experience the city like a local.

Metro in Copenhagen

The Copenhagen Metro is modern, clean and runs frequently. It’s particularly useful for travelling between the airport and the city centre as well as reaching neighbourhoods slightly further out.

Buses and Trains in Copenhagen

Local trains (S-trains) and buses extend the transport network across the wider metropolitan area and are helpful if you plan to visit places outside the historic centre.

If you plan to use public transport frequently or visit multiple attractions, the Copenhagen Card can be worth considering as it includes unlimited transport and entry to many museums.

Where to Stay in Copenhagen

Accommodation in Copenhagen can be quite expensive compared with many other European cities, so booking early usually helps.

In terms of accommodation, we would recommend booking your travel through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Agoda to get the best rates. You can use the widget below to quickly get some accommodation options for your dates.

Luxury option

Consider hotels around Nyhavn or Kongens Nytorv if you want to stay close to the canals, restaurants and historic centre.

Mid‑range option

Hotel Osterport – This is where we stayed during our visit. The hotel sits right next to Osterport station which made it easy to reach the airport and explore the city by train. It’s also within walking distance of Nyhavn and the city centre.

Budget option

Neighbourhoods slightly outside the centre such as Vesterbro or Nørrebro often offer more affordable accommodation while still being well connected by metro and bus.

During our stay, we chose Hotel Osterport which was conveniently located next to the Osterport train station.

Top 10 Things to do Copenhagen

If you’re wondering what to do in Copenhagen, the good news is that many of the city’s highlights sit within a fairly compact area. Walking or cycling between attractions is often the easiest option.

If you plan to visit several museums or attractions, the Copenhagen Card can sometimes save money as it bundles transport and entry fees.

If you don’t have enough time, you might consider Hop-on, Hop-off Bus and Boat Tour to cover the main attractions.

1. See the Iconic Little Mermaid Statue

One of the most recognisable landmarks in Copenhagen is the Little Mermaid statue. Inspired by the fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, the bronze sculpture sits quietly on a rock along the Langelinie promenade.

It’s smaller than many people expect, standing only about 1.25 metres tall, but it remains a symbolic landmark of the city.

2. Have a drink at Nyhavn

Nyhavn is probably the image most people associate with Copenhagen. Rows of colourful 17th‑ and 18th‑century buildings line the canal while historic wooden ships float in the harbour.

We ended up walking through this area several times during our stay. It’s lively throughout the day and becomes even more atmospheric in the evening when restaurants and bars fill up.

3. Go on a ride at Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens sits right next to Copenhagen Central Station and is one of the oldest amusement parks still operating in the world.

The park mixes rides, gardens, restaurants and live performances. Even if you’re not interested in the rides, it’s worth entering just to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.

Tivoli Gardens are similar to Tivoli Gröna Lund in Stockholm and to the Wurstelprater in Vienna.

4. Explore Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle sits inside the beautiful King’s Garden (Kongens Have). Built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV, the castle now houses Denmark’s crown jewels and royal regalia.

The castle also houses The Treasury where you can see the Crown Jewels, the Crown Regalia, the Crown of the Absolutist Kings and the Queens’ Crown on display.

In many aspects, Rosenborg reminded us of Tower of London in London given that it also houses the Crown Jewels of the British Royal Family. We really enjoyed it!

The castle is situated in Kongens Have (“The King’s Garden“) which is the country’s oldest royal garden. It’s a beautiful place to walk around and admire the view. Next to the castle you will also see the barracks where the Royal Life Guards are. The Life Guard guards the castle.

5. Watch the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg

Not far from Rosenborg is Amalienborg, the home of the Danish royal family. This is where you will see the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

The Danish Royal Guard march from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg Palace where the ceremony takes place, so be sure to be there around 11:30am – 12noon so you don’t miss this out.

6. Go up the Tower at Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is one of the more unusual government buildings in Europe because it houses all three branches of Denmark’s government.

Visitors can climb the Christiansborg Tower which offers one of the highest viewpoints in the city. The views across Copenhagen’s rooftops are worth the short climb.

At Christiansborg Palace, you can get to the top of Copenhagen’s highest tower (The Christiansborg’s Tower) and see the city from above, which was something we really enjoyed and would definitely recommend.

7. Visit Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK)

Statens Museum for Kunst is Denmark’s national gallery and features both Danish and international art from the 14th century onward.

If you enjoy museums, this one is well curated and easy to explore within a couple of hours.

8. Climb the Spiral Tower of the Church of Our Saviour

During our visit, we also saw a number of interesting churches including the Church of Our Saviour – a baroque church famous for the external spiral staircase that can be climbed to the top. So if you want a nice view of Copenhagen, this could be something to look at.

9. Visit Frederik’s Church (The Marble Church)

Located near Amalienborg Palace, Frederik’s Church is known for its large dome and elegant Rococo architecture. The building is often referred to as the Marble Church.

10. Walk Around the Copenhagen Opera House and Harbourfront

Other notable places to see include the Copenhagen Opera House which is among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is located on the island of Holmen where you can go for a nice walk or enjoy a dinner at the quayside restaurants.

Another building you won’t miss is the Copenhagen City Hall situated on City Hall Square in central Copenhagen. During your visit, you will most likely find yourself on Strøget – one of the most high-profile streets in the city.

It is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe at 1.1 km where you will find lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and other amenities.

Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Copenhagen

1. Visit the Carlsberg Brewery

One of the more interesting attractions in Copenhagen is the historic Carlsberg Brewery.

Visiting Carlsberg was a real highlight of our trip … this was actually the first thing we did when we visited the city. Carlsberg Brewery was established in 1847 by J.C. Jacobsen and we got an insight into Carlsberg’s history, the brewing process, as well as access to the brewery’s stables and famous Jutland dray horses.

There we saw the largest unopened beer bottle collection in the world! Imagine that – beer, beer and more beer! The tour ends at the bar where you can enjoy some beer (two beers were included with the ticket), which of course we did.

Being surrounded by this beer collection reminded us of our visit to the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky in Edinburgh.

2. Explore Freetown Christiania

Visit Freetown Christiania or Christiania. This was a former military base but in 1971, a group of hippies broke down the barricades and started squatting there. This then became a community of around 1000 people that has its own rules and regulations completely independent of the Danish government. 

This place was also known as the Green Light District as it sold all types of cannabis which is illegal elsewhere in Denmark. At the time of our trip, you weren’t allowed to take photos. In actual fact, there was a sign that read “Dear friends, there are three rules in the Green Light District: have fun; don’t run—it causes panic; no photos—buying and selling hash is still illegal.” 

Even if it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s certainly a unique place to see.

3. Take a Day Trip to Malmö, Sweden

One of the easiest international day trips in Europe is from Copenhagen to Malmö in Sweden.

Did you know you can go from Copenhagen to Malmö in Sweden in less than an hour? Yes, you can get the train from København H (Copenhagen Central Station) which is every 20 minutes and the travel time is only 35 minutes to the centre of Malmö. Nice and easy!

This way, you also get to see/be on Øresund Bridge – a combined railway and motorway bridge across the Øresund strait between Denmark and Sweden. Basically one country wanted a bridge and the other wanted a tunnel, so they made the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe (nearly 8km long).

Malmo is a nice coastal city. Some of the main attractions include the Town Hall, Stortorget central square, Turning Torso, Malmö Castle and more. If you want to explore another city in Sweden, we recommend you visit Stockholm.

What to Eat and Drink in Copenhagen: Local Food and Dining Areas

Danish cuisine shares similarities with other Scandinavian countries, but Copenhagen’s food scene has evolved into something quite diverse.

One classic dish you’ll likely encounter is smørrebrød, an open sandwich served on rye bread with toppings such as smoked fish, shrimp or pickled herring.

Seafood is common and we also tried dishes such as fish cakes and marinated herring.

Some areas worth exploring for food include:

• Nyhavn – restaurants with canal views
• Meatpacking District (Kødbyen) – trendy restaurants and nightlife
• Reffen Street Food Market – international street food stalls near the harbour

And of course, Copenhagen is home to the famous Carlsberg brewery, so beer lovers won’t struggle to find something interesting to try.

Best Time to Visit Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a city that changes character with the seasons, so the best time to visit depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for.

• Summer (June–August) is generally considered the most pleasant time to visit. Temperatures often sit between 20–25°C and the long Nordic daylight hours make the city feel lively well into the evening. This is also when outdoor cafés, harbour swimming areas and street food markets are at their best.
• Spring (April–May) and early autumn (September) are also great months for a city break. The weather is mild, crowds are smaller and accommodation prices can be slightly more reasonable.
• Winter (November–February) is colder and darker, but Copenhagen becomes very atmospheric during the festive season. Christmas markets, cosy cafés and Tivoli Gardens decorated with lights make December a particularly charming time to visit.

If you want the best combination of weather and atmosphere, we would personally recommend visiting between May and September.

How Much Time Do You Need in Copenhagen?

One of the questions many travellers ask when planning a city break is how many days to spend in Copenhagen. The good news is that the Danish capital is relatively compact, which makes it possible to see many of the highlights in a short period of time.

2 Days in Copenhagen

Two days is usually enough to explore the main attractions in the historic centre. In this time you can comfortably visit places such as Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace, Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid statue. You will also have time to walk along Strøget, visit a museum and enjoy some local food.

3 Days in Copenhagen

If you have three days in Copenhagen, the pace becomes much more relaxed. This allows time to explore neighbourhoods such as Vesterbro or Nørrebro, visit the Carlsberg Brewery, climb the Church of Our Saviour tower and spend more time enjoying the city’s cafés and waterfront areas.

This is roughly how long we spent in Copenhagen and it felt like a good balance between sightseeing and simply enjoying the atmosphere of the city.

4 Days or More

With four days or more you can start including day trips from Copenhagen. One of the easiest options is Malmö in Sweden, which can be reached in around 35 minutes by train across the Øresund Bridge.

Overall, 2–3 days in Copenhagen is usually enough for most visitors, while 4 days gives you the flexibility to explore the wider region.

FAQs: Things to Do in Copenhagen

Final thoughts

Copenhagen is a great capital to visit and explore. It’s a popular destination for young adults and families and offers a range of attractions and activities to suit any age group and personal preferences. In a way, the city is very similar to other Scandinavian capital cities such as Stockholm and Oslo.

Copenhagen is a great destination and perfect for a city break. You can easily visit and see the top attractions in a weekend but if you have the chance, spend a long weekend here. It’s an easy city to fly to with hand luggage only and very easy to get around.