Copenhagen is made for exploring on foot or bike. Bike paths and cobbled, no-vehicle walkways stretch from trendy Vesterbro in the west, across a series of canals, to the upscale Christianshavn district. In between is the pedestrian shopping street StrÃļget, where you can find a variety of high street and upmarket brands.
Families get to enjoy hours of thrill rides at Europeâs oldest amusement park, while art lovers can enjoy a day of museum-hopping in the cityâs cultural district. The capital of Denmark is also known for its diverse culinary scene, boasting over a dozen Michelin-starred restaurants and, of course, the iconic Carlsberg brewery. Check out our guide of things to do in Copenhagen.
What are the best things to do in Copenhagen?
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Christiansborg Palace
See over 1,000 years of Danish history depicted on tapestries in the Great Hall
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Christiansborg Palace is an 18th-century government building thatâs open to the public. Located on the Slotsholmen islet, the palaceâs grand rooms often host royal banquets and political functions. When those are not happening, you can explore the Throne Room to see coronation thrones, marble pilasters, and the balcony where the Danish monarchs are proclaimed. Christiansborg Palaceâs most impressive feature is the Great Hall, which has 17 tapestries depicting significant events of Denmarkâs long history.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Christiansborg Palace, 1218 Copenhagen, Denmark
āđāļāļīāļ: MayâSeptember: daily from 9 am to 7 pm. OctoberâApril: Tuesday â Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
āđāļāļĢ: +45 3392 6492
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Nyhavn Waterfront
Take photos of colourful houses by Nyhavn Harbour
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The Nyharvn Waterfront is lined with pastel-coloured houses, making it one of the most photographed locations in central Copenhagen. Take your time strolling along the canal for Instagram-worthy shots of these buildings before retreating to a cafÃĐ for some Danish pastries and coffee. Thanks to its relaxed setting, Nyharvn is a popular spot for evening drinks by the harbour.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: K, 1051 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tivoli Gardens
Ride one of the worldâs oldest running wooden rollercoasters
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Tivoli Gardens Park, located in Vesterbrogade, is one of the oldest theme parks in Europe. Offering a variety of thrill rides, playhouses, and live shows, this Copenhagen landmark attracts visitors of all ages. A historical ride here is the Rutschebanen, a wooden rollercoaster dating back to 1914. Fatamorgana is a 45-metre-tall tower featuring mini bumper cars, fast-paced rides, and gondolas. Admission to Tivoli Gardens is priced at around 120 kr and 75 kr for children (3â7 years old). During the summer, tickets on Fridays after 7pm cost 175 kr and 100 kr, respectively.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen V, Denmark
āđāļāļīāļ: SundayâThursday from 10 am to 11 pm, FridayâSaturday from 11 am to midnight
āđāļāļĢ: +45 3315 1001
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Slotsholmen
Learn about the history of Denmark at the cityâs many museums
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Slotsholmen is the cultural district of Copenhagen, as this islet houses some of the cityâs most important landmarks. You get to learn about over 1,000 years of Danish history by visiting the iconic Christiansborg Palace, as well as Royal Danish Library, Danish War Museum, and the Danish Jewish Museum. Another must-visit is Christian IVâs Brewhouse, a 400-year-old brewhouse that exhibits over 300 statues and sculptures that once decorated the royal gardens and palaces of Copenhagen.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Slotsholmen, Copenhagen K, Denmark
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National Museum of Denmark
See a preserved bog girl at the Danish Prehistory gallery
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The National Museum of Denmark displays thousands of artefacts dating back as far as the Ice Age. Its permanent and most prized exhibit is the embalmed body of the Bronze Age Egtved girl. Her 3,500-year-old preserved oak coffin has maintained her body, clothes, comb, bracelets and blonde hair eerily intact. You can also find weaponry used by the Vikings from 800 AD to 1050 AD, a sun chariot made in the Early Bronze Age, and a 19th century Danish home.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Prince's Mansion, Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 Copenhagen K, Denmark
āđāļāļīāļ: JulyâAugust: daily from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays from September to June)
āđāļāļĢ: +45 3313 4411
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StrÃļget
Find a variety of brands in this vibrant pedestrian street
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StrÃļget is a shopping street about 500 metres northwest of Christiansborg Palace. Spanning just over 1 km in length, itâs one of the cityâs longest pedestrian streets, with diverse shopping options available. Expect to find big brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Mulberry along the street leading towards Kongens Nytorv (King's New Square). For something more budget-friendly, fast fashion brands such as Zara and H&M are located towards the southwest end, closer to RÃĨdhuspladsen (City Hall Square).
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: StrÃļget, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Rosenborg Castle
See the Danish crown jewels
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Rosenborg Castle was built during Christian IVâs reign in the early 17th century, and is where you can see the Danish crown jewels and royal regalia. One of Copenhagenâs grandest palaces, this Renaissance-style building features well-preserved stone corridors and rooms that are decorated with wax models of former royal members. One of its most impressive interiors is the Knightâs Hall, where you get to see 2 coronation thrones flanked by silver sculptures of lions, and tapestries showing the Scanian War.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Ãster Voldgade 4A, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
āđāļāļīāļ: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm in high (hours vary by season)
āđāļāļĢ: +45 3315 3286
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The Little Mermaid
Check out this bronze statue at the Langelinie promenade
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The Little Mermaid statue, built by Edvard Eriksen in 1913, is arguably one of Copenhagenâs most photographed landmarks. Commissioned by Carl Jacobsen, the 175 kg bronze and granite sculpture is based on the fairy tale by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Today, the Little Mermaid statue is located at the Langelinie promenade, overlooking Copenhagen harbour. Visit at dusk to enjoy beautiful sunset views of the figure.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Langelinie, 2100 Copenhagen Ã, Denmark
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RundetÃĨrn
Enjoy city views at Europeâs oldest observatory
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RundetÃĨrn (Round Tower) dates back to the early 17th century, making it the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. While the tower stands at just under 35 metres tall, the observatory is accessible via a spiral walkway thatâs about 268.5 metres in length. After a rather lengthy walk to the outdoor platform, youâll be greeted with expansive views of Copenhagen. If you need a break, check out interesting exhibits at Library Hall, located halfway up RundetÃĨrn.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: KÃļbmagergade 52A, 1150 Copenhagen, Denmark
āđāļāļīāļ: Summer: daily from 10 am to 8 pm (hours vary by season)
āđāļāļĢ: +45 3373 0373
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđāļ āļēāļāđāļāļĒ Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0) āđāļ§āļāļĢāđāļāļąāđāļāđāļāđāđāļ
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NÃļrrebro
Enjoy live indie rock music at Rust
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Located about 500 metres southwest of Copenhagenâs Zoological Museum, NÃļrrebro is what many locals call the cityâs hipster district. During the day, you get to shop at vintage shops and hang out at cafÃĐs. In the evening, it offers a variety of nightlife venues, from cocktail bars and brew houses to nightclubs and live music venues. Rust is a live music venue that hosts indie rock performances from 8.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. If youâre feeling experimental, check out Ãlsnedkeren, a rustic-style bar that serves a variety of homebrewed beer.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: NÃļrrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark
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