The Danish capital offers a lively welcome. Copenhagen, the mecca of Nordic design and gastronomy, offers many free activities ranging from guided tours to entry to some historic museums, as well as many experiences to savor nordic cuisine without spending too much.
Free Tour in Copenhagen
Ready for a tour of the capital? Join a local guide for a free walking tour of downtown Copenhagen! There are various tours, from the 3-hour guided walk starting from the City Hall to the Amalienborg Royal Palace, to a shorter 90-minute tour from Christianshavn to the entrance of Christiania.
For a stunning 360° view of the city, you can climb to the top of the Round Tower, the oldest functioning observatory in Europe, built in the 17th century – entrance costs only €3.50. Right in front of the Tower, you’ll find the best Hot Dog (typical Danish street food) in Copenhagen. Alternatively, you can admire the city from the top of the Christiansborg Palace Tower (Tånet), the tallest tower in Copenhagen. The visit is free, and on clear days you can even see Sweden.
The Copenhagen Card is an economical way to explore the city, benefiting from free entry to over 79 museums and attractions, discounts at restaurants, and free access to all public transport (buses, trains, harbor buses, and metro), including transport from the airport to the city center. Starting from G.I. Strand, the card also grants free canal boat tours, allowing you to admire the main monuments from the water. The adult card allows accompaniment of up to two children under 10 years old. The Copenhagen Card is available for 24, 48, 72, and 120-hour visits. You can also purchase it online but must collect it physically at one of the many sales points.
The city is small and easy to explore on foot to visit some free attractions, such as The Little Mermaid, Christiania, the famous Nyhavn canal, Børsen (the beautiful and historic stock exchange building), and the Botanical Garden. There are also numerous public parks in the city, such as the King’s Garden at Rosenborg Castle, and the peaceful Assistens Cemetery park in Nørrebro, where you can visit the graves of notable Danes, like fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
Cycling in Copenhagen
Do as the Danes do: get on a bike and pedal! For an authentic experience of Danish lifestyle, a ride along the extensive network of bike lanes is a must. Don’t miss the Bryggebroen bridge (known as the Bike Snake), 190 meters long, connecting Havneholmen to Islands Brygge, as well as the brand new Cirkelbroen bridge linking Christiansbro and Appelbys Plads. Designed by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the Circle Bridge is a new architectural landmark. It was conceived as a new urban space, inviting those crossing it to slow down and gain new perspectives on the city.
Museums and Attractions Not to Miss
There are many museums with free entry, among them the National Museum, which traces Danish history from the Stone Age and Vikings to the present day, and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, which on Tuesdays offers free access to the museum’s beautiful winter garden and more than 10,000 masterpieces of the largest collection of French Impressionist works in Scandinavia. Also, the Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Art) grants free access to its permanent exhibitions, showcasing exceptional collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries.
For lovers of contemporary art and beyond, we recommend a visit to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (paid entrance, included with the Copenhagen Card), overlooking the sea about 45 minutes by train from the city center. Louisiana houses a permanent art collection of over 3,500 contemporary works, alongside international temporary exhibitions. The museum also boasts a magnificent garden with beautiful sculptures, just steps from the sea. Don’t miss a visit to the Tivoli Gardens (entrance included in the Copenhagen Card), the world-famous amusement park. Founded in 1843, it is the second-oldest amusement park in the world. Tivoli inspired Walt Disney’s theme parks and offers many attractions, fun activities, rides, theatrical shows, concerts, and restaurants for all budgets. With the Copenhagen Card, you can access these attractions and many other museums in the city for free.
Eating and Drinking Cheaply in the Danish Capital
With no less than 18 Michelin stars awarded to 15 restaurants, Copenhagen is known as the capital of the “New Nordic Cuisine.” However, Copenhagen also offers many gastronomic experiences of high quality and for all budgets. The Copenhagen Street Food, for example, opened in 2014 on Paper Island, offers imaginative, sustainable, and affordable street food from around the world in a colorful space filled with food trucks and stalls.
For a refined culinary experience but still on a budget, the city offers 10 restaurants awarded the Bib Gourmand, the Michelin Guide category that recognizes great restaurants with accessible prices and excellent value. Attractive prices also apply to the Cofoco restaurants (Copenhagen Food Consulting): there are currently 14 venues in the city offering high-quality food with fixed-price menus, such as the Nordic restaurant Höst or the South American restaurant Llama. Also, Madklubben offers 9 high-quality restaurants at reasonable prices – the latest restaurant of the concept recently opened in the lively Vesterbro area.
For a light bite, the city offers a great variety of coffee shops and organic places, including GRØD, specializing in porridge, with spots in the Nørrebro neighborhood and downtown Copenhagen. For lovers of take-away or quick snacks, we also suggest a stop at the covered market Torvehallerne, also in Nørrebro, where you can taste the best Hot Dogs (typical street food) in Denmark. In Vesterbro, there are many bars serving drinks at reasonable prices in the Meatpacking District, or at Boutique Lize, while at Dupong you can play ping pong along with a beer or cocktail.
Where to Stay Economically in Copenhagen
The affordable WakeUp Copenhagen offers two centrally located hotels by the famous Danish architect Kim Utzon, both characterized by modern and minimalist but trendy and high-quality design. For cool and reasonably priced accommodation, we recommend the Cabinn Hotels and for those who cannot give up design, we suggest the Steelhouse Hostel to stay in style in the capital in a luxury hostel. Speaking of luxury, the brand new Hotel Denmark offers low-cost rooms bookable on the Airbnb platform or on Booking.
How to Get to Copenhagen
Copenhagen is easily reachable with direct flights from several Italian cities with low-cost airlines. To reach the city center from the airport, you need to take the metro (direction Kongens Nytorv or Nørreport Station) or the train (direction Copenhagen Central Station). Both take about 15 minutes for a price of about 5 euros, or free with the Copenhagen Card which can be purchased right at the airport.
