10 things to do in Copenhagen
How about a weekend trip to wonderful Copenhagen? The Danish capital offers inspiring cafés and restaurants, exciting shops, and unique architecture. Brace yourself, because the Danish capital has a lot to offer. Enjoy a culinary journey through this beautiful city at inspiring cafés and restaurants, or rent a bike and explore the city's many unique streets. Here are our best tips!
1. Enjoy yourself at the famous Tivoli Gardens
Take a walk around the famous Tivoli Gardens. Located in the heart of the city, Tivoli is so much more than just carousels. The atmosphere is great whatever the season, and people from all over the world flock here to experience it.
The moment you step into Tivoli, you enter a fairy tale world. How about trying out the nostalgic wooden roller coaster which dates from 1914? For the tiny tots, Tivoli offers dragon boats, vintage cars, classic carousels, and a colourful fairy tale world in 'The Flying Suitcase'.
Tivoli's main season runs from April to September, but as Halloween approaches, the amusement park undergoes a spooky transformation with ghosts, witches, and other scary props. At Christmas, you can experience a festive Tivoli where they serve mulled wine and gingerbread biscuits. In winter, you will also find an ice skating rink here.
2. Enjoy the culinary delights of Copenhagen
When you're in Copenhagen, a visit to Reffen, the largest street food arena in Scandinavian is a must.Reffen offers 41 food stalls and bars, a variety of exciting shops, and seating for 2,500 guests. Take a seat, relax and enjoy some delicious food. You can also treat yourself to some of Denmark's most popular dishes. How about trying fried fish with parsley sauce, open sandwiches (smørrebrød), or perhaps you're ready to treat yourself to a hot dog from Reffen's famous hot dog stand?Various exciting events are held throughout the year.
If you get tired from shopping and sightseeing, it's nice to have a rest. The lively Strædet is known for its small boutiques and cosy cafés. Here you can enjoy a cup of coffee before heading on.
3. Discover the wonders of the ocean at The Blue Planet
When you're in Copenhagen, why not visit Northern Europe's largest and most modern aquarium? The Blue Planet building is surrounded by water on all sides and almost gives you the feeling of being under the sea. Here you can see hammerhead sharks and other creatures that dwell in the depths.
The Blue Planet is home to more than 400 different species from all over the world. The animals are registered in international breeding programmes, thereby contributing to the conservation of biodiversity of animal species. The Blue Planet also makes a concerted effort to breed species internally, avoiding the need to acquire them from the wild.
4. Experience Copenhagen by bike
Explore Copenhagen from a bicycle saddle. Countless cycle paths and bridges connect neighbourhoods, making it easy to experience the city by bike. Some of the cycle bridges are attractions in themselves. "Cykelslangen" (literally "The Bicycle Snake") is one of the most popular bridges. The bridge is built in an S-shape and is known for its impressive design.
Copenhagen is also the ultimate travel destination for a girls' trip. Take the gang with you and go on a girls' trip to Wonderful Copenhagen. Go shopping, enjoy delicious local food and the city's vibrant nightlife.
The Harbour Ring is a marked tourist route spanning 7.5 miles around the city's iconic harbour. During the trip, you will cycle past many famous historic buildings. You can pedal your way to Nyhavn for a short break at a cosy restaurant. You can also join a guided bike tour to become even more familiar with the city. Fancy a 3-hour bike ride?
5. Learn about Copenhagen's rich history
Visit the Copenhagen Museum and gain a good insight into the city's history. The museum was founded in 1909 and was reopened in February 2020. Here, you can learn about the city's history, all the way from the Viking Age to the present day. The museum offers talks, guided tours of the museum and the city, as well as workshops.
To round off a wonderful day at the museum, drop in at the museum shop. The museum offers everything from postcards and books about the city to unique jewellery. Relax at one of the café tables and digest your impressions from your visit while enjoying the garden in front of you.
6. Green delights in the Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens have the largest collection of plants in Denmark. The gardens are part of the Natural History Museum at Copenhagen University. The gardens also house one of the world's largest herbaria, which consists of pressed and preserved plants and fungi from around the world.
Naturally, the Botanical Gardens attract those who love plants, but also those seeking a green oasis. Because the place does you good! If you're looking for refreshments, the gardens provide a dedicated on-site mobile café. The café serves both hot and cold drinks, as well as a selection of buns, cakes, and snacks.
7. Enjoy life in Nyhavn
Visit the harbour area at Nyhavn, Denmark's cosiest and most-visited tourist attraction. In the summer months, people flock here to enjoy food, have a drink outdoors, and experience the wonderful holiday atmosphere. You can also marvel at the sight of the many colourful boats gracing the harbour.
Originally, Nyhavn was a bustling harbour where ships from all over the world docked. It was at this very place that the revered author Hans Christian Andersen began his career. He lived at number 20, and it was here that he wrote his famous fairy tales "The Tinderbox," "Little Claus and Big Claus," and "The Princess and the Pea".
8. Take a dip in a harbour bath
When in Copenhagen, you’re never far from a beach or a place where you can go for a swim. Take a dip in one of the many harbour baths around the city. Please note that swimming in Copenhagen Harbour can only take place in the designated harbour baths and established bathing areas.
Sluseholmen Harbour Bath
Sluseholmen is a small but spectacular harbour bath located in Copenhagen's South Harbour. The bath has four pools: two for teenagers, one for younger kids, and one pool specially designed for recreational divers. The bath is supervised by lifeguards, and admission is free.
Fisketorvet Harbour Bath
The Fisketorvet Harbour Bath consists of three different pools: a kids’ pool, a small pool, and a training pool. The bath is also supervised by lifeguards, and admission is free.
9. Enjoy a day on the water with a canal cruise
Enjoy a day on the water with a guide. From the boat, you get to see and learn more about churches, old castles, and the city's history. The boat trip takes an hour and will take you along Copenhagen's waterfront promenade and nearby canals. You can also learn a bit about Hans Christian Andersen's life, such as where he started his career.
You will also be sailing past some of the most visited attractions in Copenhagen. The highlights of the trip include Nyhavn, the statue of the Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace and Christiansborg Palace. Enjoy!
10. Exciting shopping
Feel the urge to go shopping? Start off in Strøget which is the city's most well-known pedestrianised street. Here you will find many of the major brands, as well as international and Danish brands. Here you will find everything from Topshop and Zara to exclusive fashion houses such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, and Hermés. Make sure you also visit Illum, a department store which offers fashion, cosmetics, home decor and good reading material.
If you like second-hand and vintage shops, you can combine a visit to Strøget with the Latin Quarter. Here you will find Copenhagen's best second-hand shops. The area also boasts many other small and trendy boutiques. If you're into antiques, art, and home furnishing stores, you'll be delighted at what Bredgade has to offer.