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Copenhagen. The capital of Denmark, which is equal parts historic and cosmopolitan, delights the majority of visitors it encounters. Copenhagen is undoubtedly the most relaxed capital in the Nordics, consistently ranking among the world’s happiest cities. It is distinguished from the other Nordic capitals, by its perfect marriage of Scandinavian values with a unique mainland European atmosphere. This compact city is packed with historic buildings, narrow cobblestone streets and hundreds of bike lanes. Explore the seat of the world’s oldest monarchy, and this gastronomic wonder, with our 3-day itinerary of Copenhagen.
Unravelog tip: The Copenhagen Card is a tourist-friendly option that includes all transport plus entry to 80+ museums and attractions in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen three-day itinerary at a glance
Day 1
Begin your first day in Copenhagen by sampling Danish delicacies in Torvehallerne. Visit the Kongens Have and marvel at its beautiful rose garden. Once there, see the best of Danish art at The National Gallery of Denmark. Finish off your day with a refreshing stroll through Assistens Kirkegard, a green oasis in the heart of the city
- Torvehallerne KBH
- Kongens Have
- National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst)
- Nørrebro
- Assistens Kirkegård
Day 2
Your second day begins at the Rundetårn, a unique observation tower famous for its apparent lack of stairs. Then, on to Storget, the fashion centre of Copenhagen. Visit the picture-perfect Latinquartier. Go back in time and witness history unfold at the National Museum of Denmark. Proceed to Carlsberg Glyptotek, a well-curated collection of art. And end your second day on a high at the amusement park at Tivoli Gardens.
- Rundetårn
- Strøget
- Latinerkvarteret
- National Museum of Denmark
- Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Tivoli Gardens
Day 3
For your final day, visit Christianshavn – a quirky and artsy neighbourhood made of artificial islands, then proceed to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish parliament. Once there, hop on a ferry at Nyhavn. Thereafter witness royal splendour at Amalienborg. Continue towards Marmorkirken, an Evangelical Lutheran church famous for its dome. Visit the mighty Kastellet, one of the best-preserved fortresses in Northern Europe. Later in the evening, experience Danish nightlife at Kodbyen. Your 3-day getaway in Copenhagen ends with pomp and flair!
- Christianshavn
- Christiansborg Palace
- Nyhavn
- Amalienborg
- Marmorkirken (Frederik’s Church)
- Kastellet
- Kødbyen
Detailed three-day Copenhagen itinerary
Day 1
Munch on Danish delicacies at the Torvehallerne KBH
Torvehallerne KBH is Copenhagen’s most popular spot, a covered market offering the choicest Danish delicacies, beverages, desserts, flowers, fresh produce, fresh fish and even Italian delicacies. With more than 80 shops, this market is the perfect spot to eat, sightsee and people-watch.
Things to do: Some must-try coffee from Coffee Central, gelato from Is à Bella and Danish breakfast from Grod.
Useful information
- Location: Torvehallerne
- Timings:
- Monday-Friday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 6 pm
- Cost: Free entry
- Website: http://torvehallernekbh.dk/
- How to reach: Nørreport metro
Walk around the Kongens Have
Kongens Have or the King’s garden is one of the most visited and oldest gardens in Copenhagen. Established in the renaissance style in the 1600s by Christian IV, the park is a vibrant green space with a beautiful rose garden and generously furnished with sculptures of various shapes and sizes.
Things to do:
- Visit the famous Achilles Pavilion and the Hans Christain Statue
- Look out for regular music performances and puppet shows by street performers.
- Visit Rosenborg Slot, a palace built in the Renaissance style. The main attraction here is the treasury, home to the dazzling crown jewels.
Useful information
- Location: Kongens Have
- Timings: 7 am to 10 pm in the summer months and from 7 am to 5 pm during winter.
- Cost: Entry is free to the park. Get tickets for the Rosenberg slot here
- Website: https://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/
- How to reach:
- Metro: Nørreport
- Train: S-tog and regional train to Østerport and Nørreport station
- Bus lines: 6A, 14, 26, 40, 42, 43, 184, 185, 150S, 173 E
National Gallery of Denmark – Statens Museum for Kunst
The national gallery of Denmark houses the largest collection of art in the country. An impressive collection of Nordic, Danish, European and international art with more than 260,000 pieces dating from the 14th century. The National Gallery of Denmark offers a blend of old and new and brings to you the best that art has to offer.
Useful information:
- Location: SMK
- Timings:
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- Tuesday to Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
- Wednesday 10 am – 8 pm
- Closed on Mondays
- Cost:
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- Adults: 120 Kr.
- Those under 27 years: 95 Kr
- Children under 18: Free entry
- Website: https://www.smk.dk/en/article/the-collection/
- How to reach:
- Bus lines: 6A, 14, 26, 40, 42, 43, 184, 185, 150S, 173 E
- Train: S-tog and regional train to Østerport and Nørreport station
- Metro: Nørreport station
Be enchanted by Nørrebro
Nørrebro is the intersection of all things delicious, fun and vibrant. It is Copenhagen’s densest, most culturally diverse neighbourhood and renowned for its street culture. This buzzing part of town is lined with shops that offer independent, street fashion and handcrafted goods. Nørrebro is also populated with coffee shops and Michelin star restaurants offering the best of Nordic cuisine. From chic designer stores to thrift shops to urban parks, Nørrebro offers plenty of choices to explore, during the day or at night.
Unravelog Tip: Explore Copenhagen on a bike using Bycyklen, an excellent public bike-share system.
Things to do:
- Explore Nørrebro on a bike and hang out at Superkilen, an urban park busy with people, bikers and skaters.
- Visit Rantzausgade for beer breaks and people watching
- Shop at Jægersborggade Guldbergsgade streets – famous for its vintage shops, and Elmegade, known for its artsy boutiques.
Useful information
- Location: Nørrebro
- Cost: Free entry
- How to reach:
- Norrebro metro station
- Norrebro St bus stop
Take a stroll through the Assistens Kirkegård
For more than two and a half centuries the Danish have buried their dead at the Assistens Kirkegård Cemetery. Among its most prominent citizens include Soren Kierkegaard and Hans Christen Andersen. It is one of the most important green spaces where locals and visitors frequent.
Useful Information
- Location: Assistant Kirkegård
- Timings: 7 am to 7 pm (October-March) and 7 am to 10 pm (April-September)
- Cost: Free entry
- Website: https://www.kk.dk/institution/assistens-kirkeg%C3%A5rd
- How to reach:
- Metro New Nørrebros Runddel St.
- 5C Københavns Lufthavn bus
Day 2
Reach for the stars at the Rundetårn
The Rundetårn or the round tower is a 17th-century tower renowned for its lack of stairs. Instead, this tower has a smooth, slanted spiral corridor that takes you to the top. Originally made as an astronomical observatory, this wide corridor was constructed to facilitate the transport of heavy equipment required for observing celestial bodies. As it is situated in the heart of the city, the light pollution makes it impossible to use the tower for its original purpose. But the locals now use this unusual structure for a peculiar activity – racing up and down the tower with various sorts of vehicles.
Useful information
- Location: Rundetårn
- Timings:
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- April-September: Daily 10 am to 10 pm
- October to March: Daily 10 am to 6 pm and 10 am to 9 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
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- Cost:
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- Adults 40 Kr
- Children (5-15 years) 10 Kr
- Free for children under 5 years
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- Website: https://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/front-page/
- How to reach: Metro, Rådhuspladsen
Go shopping at the Strøget
Strøget is a car-free area and one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe with a wealth of shops ranging from budget-friendly establishments to luxury fashion brands. Stroget is the buzzing heart of the city, offering views of several of the city’s important landmarks.
Things to do
- Pilestræde, parallel to the Strøget, is a haven for sneakerheads
- Explore Gammel Mønt, a picturesque street with colourful buildings
Useful information
- Location: Strøget
- Timings: Always open
- Cost: Free entry
- How to reach:
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- Metro – Rådhuspladsen Station
- Bus – Stormbroen
Visit the picturesque Latinerkvarteret
The Latin Quarter is one of the liveliest, oldest and most charming neighbourhoods in Copenhagen. Bustling cafés and narrow, cobblestoned alleys, create an ideal atmosphere for the area’s modest, stylish boutiques selling one-of-a-kind products.
Things to do:
- Visit Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady)- a grand neoclassical cathedral, famous for having Thorvaldsen’s statues of Christ
- Enjoy traditional Smørrebrød open-faced sandwiches at Pustervig Square
- Visit East of Eden, a little cinema exhibiting foreign and indie films
- See the Women’s Museum, which chronicles 150 years of women’s stories.
Useful information
- Location: Latinerkvarteret
- Timings: Always Open
- Cost: Free entry
- How to reach:
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- Metro: Norreport
- Bus: Jarmers Plads (Norre Voldgade)
Travel back in time at the National Museum of Denmark
Inside this 18th-century mansion, visitors can experience Denmark’s history with the help of exhibitions ranging across the Stone Age, the Viking Age, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Modern Age. The national museum is of great historical significance and the largest cultural museum in the country – containing almost everything from mummies to Viking golden horns.
Useful Information
- Location: National Museum of Denmark
- Timings: Please check opening hours here.
- Cost:
-
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- Adults: 100 Kr
- Children under 18 years: Free entry
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- Website: http://www.natmus.dk
- How to reach: Kongens Nytorv metro station
Visit the art collection at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Glyptoteket is a Danish art museum, based on the personal collection of Carl Jacobsen, the son of Carlsberg Breweries founder. The museum contains impressive work of French impressionists as well as post-impressionists, and art from the Danish Golden Age.
Useful Information
- Location: Glytotek
- Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday 10 am to 9 pm. Closed on Mondays.
- Cost:
-
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- Adult: 115 Kr.
- 18 to 27 years: 85 Kr.
- Free for children up to 18 years
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- Website: https://www.glyptoteket.dk/
- How to reach:
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- Metro Glytoteket
- Bus Refshaleøen station
Ride the roller coasters at Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens combines the best of both worlds; several roller coaster attractions to please thrill-seekers all day, and also a wonderful place to take a quiet stroll around the lovely gardens and public spaces. Christmas and Halloween are fantastic seasons to visit since Tivoli goes all out with the decorations to enthral you with its holiday spirit.
Useful Information
- Location: Tivoli Gardens
- Timings:
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- 11.00 am -10 pm Sunday to Thursday;
- 11.00 am – 12 am Friday to Saturday.
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- Cost:
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- Adults: Starts from 135 Kr
- Children 3 to 7 years: 60 Kr
- Children under 3 years: Free entry
- Website: http://www.tivoli.dk
- How to reach:
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- Metro Stormgade (H.C. Andersens Boulevard
- Bus St., Christiansborg station
Day 3
Lose yourself in Christianshavn
Christianshavn is a partly self-governed area made up of small islands, renowned for its lively cafe culture, canals lined with colourful houseboats and street food. It is also famous for its galleries and music performances.
Things to do
- Check out Christians Kirke, a magnificent Rococo building capable of housing 1000 people.
- Visit Vor Frelsers Kirke (Church of Our Saviour) built in a baroque style, that offers exquisite views of the city from its towers
- Explore Freetown Christiania and its vibrant community of galleries and music venues.
- Stroll down Pusher street and explore its famous street graffiti.
Useful information
- Location: Freetown Christiania
- How to reach:
- Metro M2 metro lines stop at Christianshavn,
- Bus 2A Starts at the Tingbjerg station
Be mesmerised by Christiansborg Palace
The awe-inspiring Christiansborg Palace, once home to kings and queens and now houses the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of State. With over 800 years of royal history, it is a significant landmark in Copenhagen and a symbol of Danish Pride.
Unravelog tip: Save up to 40% on admission with the combination ticket and see The Royal Reception Room, The Royal Kitchen, The Ruins and The Royal Stables with one and the same ticket.
Useful Information
- Location: Christiansborg Palace
- Timings:
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- July & August: 10 am to 5 pm
- September – June: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Closed on Mondays
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- Cost: The below costs are for the combination ticket. For ticket prices for individual attractions visit the official website.
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- Adult: 160 Kr
- Student: 140 Kr
- Children under 18: Free of charge
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- How to reach:
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- Metro Gammel strand
- Buses 1 A, 2A Tinjberg station
Hop on a ferry at Nyhavn
Nyhavn is a waterfront canal and entertainment zone from the 17th century. It runs from Kongens Nytorv to the Royal Playhouse’s harbourfront and is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses, pubs, cafes, and restaurants.
Unravelog tip: The canal tours are free from Gammel Strand with the Copenhagen Card.
Things to do: A canal and harbour tour is the best way to explore the city. Tours begin from 10 am and last for about an hour.
Useful Information
- Location: Nyhavn
- How to reach: Metro, Gammel Strand station
Visit the home of the Danish royal family at Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the Copenhagen residence of the Danish royal family. With some parts of it converted into a museum, the palace complex is set across an octagonal courtyard and comprises four similar classical palace façades with Rococo interiors.
Unravelog tips: As the palace complex is not fenced, visitors may walk freely throughout the complex. Remember to keep a 6ft distance from the main building and the guards stationed there.
Things to do:
- Catch the changing of the guard ceremony at noon
- See Christian VIII Palace, a museum dedicated to constitutional monarchs. It is open to the display of public housing exhibits, dating from the mid-19th century to the present.
- Visit Frederick VIII Palace which is Crown Prince Frederik’s official Copenhagen residence
- Visit Christian IX Palace residence of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
- Take a tour of the Christian VII Palace, the venue for royal receptions;. Guided tours are available on occasion.
Useful Information
- Location: Amalionborg
- Timings: Every Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
- Cost:
- Adults Kr. 95
- Students: Kr. 65
- Children under 18 years: Free entry
- How to reach:
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- Bus Amalienborg Bredgade
- Metro Marmorkirken Station
Find peace at Marmorkirken
The Marble Church (Marmorkirken) or Friedrick’s Church is an Evangelical Lutheran church built in the Rococo style and has the largest dome in Scandinavia.
Useful Information
- Location: Marmorkirken
- Timings:
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- Monday – Thursday and Saturday at 10 am – 5 pm
- Friday: 12 pm to 5 pm
- Sunday: 12:30 pm to 5 pm
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- Cost: Free entry
- Website http://www.marmorkirken.dk/
- How to reach:
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- Metro Marmorkirken Station
- Bus Bredgade stop
Visit the mighty Kastellet
This star-shaped fortress is amongst the best-preserved fortresses in Northern Europe. Its grassy ramparts and moat surround some stunning 18th-century barracks, as well as a chapel that is periodically used for concerts, making it one of the city’s most historically memorable places. There’s a medieval windmill on the ramparts, that offers great views of the harbour and Marmorkirken’s Vatican-like dome.
Useful Information
- Location: Kastellet
- Timings: Everyday 6 am to 8 pm during winter and 6 am to 10 pm during summer
- Cost: Free entry
- Website: https://forsvaret.dk/da/side/kastellet/
- How to reach: Metro, Osterport Station
Witness the best of Nightlife at Kødbyen
The meatpacking district, also known as Kodbyen, is a regenerated industrial neighbourhood known for its fashionable food scene and lively nightlife. Former factory buildings now house stylishly constructed meat- and fish-centric restaurants, as well as raucous brewers and sleek cocktail bars. The district is also famous for its unique galleries.
Things to do:
- Some of the must-visit galleries here include the V1 gallery that features video installations and sculptures and the Fotografik centre with artwork by budding Danish photographers.
- Grab a bite to eat at the Kodbyens Fiskebar, offering excellent seafood or the Gorilla’s – an old factory, now converted into a restaurant
- Chug a beer at the hip Warpigs, or discover why Prolog Roastery takes Copenhagen’s coffee scene up a notch.
Useful Information
- Location: Kødbyen
- How to reach: Metro, København station
Check out these enchanting spots across Copenhagen for a truly magical experience that had once inspired the likes of Hans Christian Anderson and Walt Disney. If you’re an architecture buff, check out these 8 bridges that define Copenhagen’s cityscape.
