What to see in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, proves to be so affordable, absolutely within everyone’s reach. What to see in Copenhagen. The cosmopolitan Danish capital is a relaxing place suitable for tourists of all ages. Visiting Copenhagen: some tips on what to see in Copenhagen and what to do in the Danish capital or follow our 3-day itinerary in Copenhagen.

Places of interest in Copenhagen

1 Rådhuspladsen

Rådhuspladsen er den vigtigste plads i København, meget kendt sammen med Tivoli-haverne og Hovedbanegården. Amalienborg Slot er derimod dronningens residens. Hver dag kl. 12.00 finder den stemningsfulde ceremoni af Den Kongelige Livvagts Vagtparade sted. Langs molen på Langelinie kan man beundre det berømte monument Den Lille Havfrue. Ved at tage en vandbus til prisen for en busbillet kan man opleve alle de vigtigste monumenter i centrum: Operaen, Skuespilhuset, Det Sorte Diamants Palæ, der huser det kongelige bibliotek.

Uundgåelige er også Københavns parker, ægte lunger midt i byen: fra Krogenshave med det idylliske Rosenborg Slot til Frederiksberg Have med bænke ved kanalerne og en spektakulær udsigt over Zoologisk Have, med den nye “bolig” til elefanterne, designet af arkitekten Norman Foster. Hele året rundt er København vært for vigtige festivaler og markeder. Der er ikke ét tidspunkt på året, hvor den danske hovedstad fremstår mindre betydningsfuld.

2 The Tivoli Gardens

You cannot visit Copenhagen without “The Tivoli Gardens” which represent, for the entire Denmark, the most visited attraction even though the Danes themselves are the main visitors. Open since 1843, they are visitable from mid-April to the end of September with the following hours: from Sunday to Wednesday from 11:00 to 23:00; Thursday and Saturday from 11:00 to midnight; Friday from 11 until 1:00 at night. The gardens are also visitable during the Christmas period from early November to the end of December with the following hours: from Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 22:00; Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 23:00. Inside there is the Pantomime Theatre with performances of the commedia dell’arte. Every Saturday evening fireworks can be admired from the Tivoli Gardens.

Museums Copenhagen things to see

3 Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

In the 19th century, the owner of Carlsberg beer commissioned this museum. Inside, there are Oriental collections, Impressionist paintings, and Mediterranean art. The Winter Garden, topped by a huge glass dome, is very impressive. The museum is closed on Mondays, while from Tuesday to Sunday it is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. On Sundays, admission is free.

4 National Museum of Copenhagen

The National Museum of Copenhagen, Nationalmuseet, consists of four floors containing mostly Danish works but also oriental ones. Among the things to see in Copenhagen, the museum is very interesting for its section containing artifacts from 3000 years ago. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and admission is free.

5 The Island of Slotsholmen

On the Island of Slotsholmen in the 12th century the then Bishop Absalon built a castle. Since then, constructions have succeeded one another so that now the island hosts several buildings dating from the 12th century onwards. At the center of the island is the Christiansborg Slot, the Royal Palace of Copenhagen. On the island is also the stock exchange building and the Royal Library Garden (Bibliotekshaven).

6 Rosenborg Castle

The Rosenborg Castle is a castle built in the 15th century by Christian IV. Worth seeing are the Royal Gardens (Kongens Have) meticulously maintained and the galleries of the Statens Museum for Kunst, with art collections from all over Europe, and the Den Hirschsprungske Samling which gathers two centuries of Danish art collections. Rosenborg Castle is open every day except Monday (from June to August it is also open on Monday) usually from 10:00 to 17:00 in the summer period and until 16:00 in the colder months. It is closed at the end of December. The two galleries have free entrance and remain closed during holidays and on Mondays. Opening hours are from 10:00 to 17:00 (on Wednesdays until 20:00) for the first gallery, and from 11:00 to 16:00 for the second gallery.

7 The colorful houses of the Nyhavn canal

Copenhagen what to visit. If you are still undecided about what to visit in Copenhagen, you can enjoy the view of the picturesque colorful houses along the Nyhavn canal, which is one of the many reasons that drive us to visit Copenhagen. And it is here that many Danish characteristic public places are located. A few steps away is Frederiksstaden, the area designed by Frederick IV that groups important buildings such as the Amalienborg Slot (royal residence) and the remains of the Kastellet. To visit is the Frihedsmuseet with signs of the Danish resistance against the Nazis, open from October to April every day except Monday from 10:00 to 15:00 and from May to September from 10:00 to 17:00 with free admission. The Kunstindustrimuseet is another museum located in the area that gathers interesting art collections. It is open every day except Monday (like most museums in Copenhagen) from 12:00 to 16:00. Admission is fee-based.

8 Radhuspladsen, Stroget and the Latin Quarter in Copenhagen

What to do in Copenhagen. Radhuspladsen is the most important square in Copenhagen. The Town Hall (Radhuset) faces this large space. It is possible to access the tower that dates back to the late 19th century, in the colder months (October-May) at 12:00 pm, while from June to September, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and on Saturday at 12:00 pm. The tower is closed on Sunday. It is from here that the most famous pedestrian street in Copenhagen, called Stroget, begins. It is a street full of venues and street artists, as well as crowds. The morning hours are preferable to avoid the throng. Also in the center of Copenhagen is the Latin Quarter, full of venues, shops, and 19th-century churches. Here is the Erotica Museum open from May to September every day from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm and in other months of the year from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. The museum can also be reached by metro (stop Kongens Nytorv). Also to visit is the Rundetarn tower built by Christian IV for use as an observatory. Opening from September to May from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day except Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. From June to August opening is from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Paid entry.

What to see in and around Copenhagen

9 Christiania, the hippie community

On the island of Christianshav there is a community made up of anarchists, new generation hippies, dealers, and extremely cheerful people. It is a place near Copenhagen worth seeing. It is a community that was formed over 30 years ago and over the years has had quite a few problems with public disorder due to unauthorized drug dealing (until recently cannabis was sold casually) and the illegal occupation of houses. However, it is an area that can have its charm and therefore visiting it is recommended even though today it appears more controlled than in the past, when light drugs were free.

See also:

• Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tale Route
• Christmas in Copenhagen
• Christmas Markets
• Easter in Denmark
• Beer Festival in Copenhagen
• When to Visit Denmark
• Where to Shop and Have Fun in Denmark

10 How to get to Copenhagen

Copenhagen flights. With the company EasyJet, daily connections from Milan Malpensa start from 21.99 euros one way, taxes included. And with Transavia from Pisa, Rome Fiumicino, and Naples, it costs 50 euros one way, all included. Copenhagen airport. The International Airport of Copenhagen is located about 9 km from the city. From the Central Station, trains depart, taking about 12 minutes to the airport, at intervals of about 20 minutes, starting from 5 in the morning. If you plan to stay in the Nyhavn canal area, you have at your disposal some trains that stop at the Norreport station connected, in turn, to the Kongens Nytorv metro stop. The alternative to the train is the buses that take about 25 minutes to reach the airport. The bus price is almost always the same as the trains. Those who want to reach Copenhagen by train should know that almost all international trains arrive directly at the Central Station.

11 How to get around Copenhagen

To get around, bicycles are highly recommended, just like true Kobenhavner, the inhabitants of the capital Copenhagen. There are more than 2000 city bikes available, easily recognizable at the 110 racks in the center; the rental is free, you only need to pay a deposit of 20 Danish kroner (more or less like, for us, the shopping cart at the supermarket), refundable upon return. As for other means of transport, as in most European cities, here tickets are valid both for buses, for trains (within a certain radius), and for the metro. The klippekort is a 10-ride pass, recommended for its convenience. Alternatively, a daily travel card or the Copenhagen Card is recommended, which besides transportation, allows entrance to some partnered museums. The distance between the Central Station and the Nyhavn canal is about a 30-minute walk.

12 Copenhagen Card

The Copenhagen Card provides access to all the main attractions and public transport throughout the metropolitan area of Copenhagen. You can choose between the 24, 48, 72, or 120-hour option. The card also allows you to enjoy discounts at restaurants and entertainment venues. Among Copenhagen’s points of interest, the Copenhagen Card grants free access to Amalienborg Palace, the Tivoli Gardens, and Frederiksborg Castle.

13 Copenhagen where to eat

What to eat in Copenhagen. One of the staple dishes of Danish cuisine is smorrebroed, slices of rye bread topped with cold cuts, cheeses, fish, vegetables; in specialized restaurants, you can choose from many delicious variations. Danish cuisine is a happy mix of tradition and innovation, combined with great care for the freshness and quality of ingredients. For those without particular needs and looking for a place in Copenhagen to eat, Nyhavn can be a good choice. Here the venues are not certainly more important than those in Gammel Strand, where you can find several high-end seafood restaurants and cafes. The alternative can be Vesterbro where you find dishes and delicacies from all over the world or, to get away from the concept of tourist dining, Vesterbrogade is recommended.

14 Copenhagen where to sleep

Copenhagen hotels. Another usually crucial chapter is accommodation but, in Copenhagen, you can stay in 5-star design hotels at the price of a hostel. In central Copenhagen, the Danhostel Copenhagen City has opened, entirely furnished with furniture and accessories from the Danish company Gubi; almost a hospitality miracle just steps from the monuments and main attractions. And there are 5 other hostels in the capital, the newest being Copenhagen Downtown, located in a square convenient to the pedestrian island, the famous Stroget, where the historic and enchanting porcelain shop Royal Copenhagen nests, offering sales and low-cost deals in the basement. More advice on where to sleep in Denmark.

Another economical solution is the hotels of the CabInn chain, with fixed prices regardless of the season (90 euros for double rooms) and the very popular Sleep In, kind of dormitories with shared bathrooms and services. There are several in the lively Norrebro district, such as Sleep in Heaven and the ecological Sleep in green. In Copenhagen there are several areas recommended for sleeping. However, Vesterbro and Frederiksberg are the most recommended. Here you can find a wide selection of selected hotels.