In a nutshell
- Copenhagen is perfect for a weekend getaway. We’ve put together a 3-day Copenhagen itinerary that lets you truly experience the city — including our best insider tips.
- In three days, you can hit all the absolute highlights, explore great museums, and soak up everything this beautiful city has to offer.
- So you don’t waste time getting from place to place, we’ve also rounded up centrally located hotel picks with great value for money. Our personal favorite: citizenM.
3 Days in Copenhagen at a Glance
So you can see right away what you’ll be checking out on your Copenhagen weekend trip, here’s a quick overview. We’ll go into detail on each stop below.
Day 1
- Arrival in Copenhagen
- Boat tour
- The Christianshavn neighborhood
- Vor Frelsers Kirke
- Hippie free state Christiania
Day 2
- Torvehallerne
- Rundetårn
- Amagertorv Square
- Glyptotek or Christiansborg Palace
- Tivoli amusement park
- The Vesterbro neighborhood
Day 3
- The Little Mermaid
- Design Museum
- Changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace
- Park at Rosenborg Castle
- Botanical Garden
- Nyhavn
Day 1 in Copenhagen
If you’re traveling to Copenhagen by train or plane, you’ll typically arrive around midday or early afternoon. Getting from the airport into the city takes only about fifteen minutes. You can check into your hotel in Copenhagen and still have the whole afternoon and evening to get a feel for the city.
On our map you can see your route for Day 1.
Boat Tour
On the first day of your Copenhagen weekend trip, the first thing we want to do is make sure you get a solid overview of the city.
The best way to do that is with a boat tour through Copenhagen. You’ll get a real feel for the city and catch a glimpse of some of the most important sights in Copenhagen — like the Little Mermaid, Nyhavn, and the Royal Opera House.
Most canal cruises last one hour.
We recommend the operator Hey Captain. The tours are totally laid-back and personal — only 12 spots per boat. Everyone sits around a small table together, sipping lemonade, wine, or hot chocolate while you glide past the highlights. Seriously good vibes.
The Christianshavn Neighborhood
After the boat tour, you’re probably a little tired — so we’re keeping the evening low-key. Just stroll through the Christianshavn and Christiania neighborhoods and soak it all in.
Christianshavn has many narrow canals lined with small boats and colorful houses. It’s a wonderful place to wander without a plan.
Vor Frelsers Kirke
While you’re already in the area, don’t miss Vor Frelsers Kirke — it’s absolutely worth the detour.
The church tower gives you the best panorama in Copenhagen. In the evening especially, it’s simply stunning.
What makes it unique is that the staircase runs on the outside of the tower — so you have incredible views the whole way up. Just be prepared: if you’re not great with heights, this one might not be for you. We visited on our family trip to Copenhagen with our kids, and our five-year-old absolutely loved it.
You need a reservation for Vor Frelsers Kirke. It’s easy to book on the official Vor Frelsers Kirke website.
Hippie Free State Christiania
Your next stop is the colorful hippie enclave of Christiania — a small self-governing community right in the middle of Copenhagen.
It was founded in the 1970s and feels like its own little world. Back in the day, drugs were sold openly on Pusher Street. Since 2024, Pusher Street no longer exists and things are considerably more low-key.
Now you can take in the colorful houses and some genuinely cool artwork — like the wooden giant in our photo. There are even playgrounds these days.
Broens Street Food Market
Getting hungry? Perfect timing — your next stop is Broens Street Food, a cool street food market right on the waterfront, just across from Nyhavn.
It’s also conveniently right next to Christiania, so no long walk required. The stalls serve food from all over the world — Californian bowls, pizza, porridge, you name it.
If you have a bit more time before dinner, Reffen is another great option — we actually like it even a little more than Broens. The catch: it’s about twenty minutes away by bus, so only worth it if you’re not too hungry yet.
Day 2 in Copenhagen
Day 2 of your Copenhagen weekend itinerary is all about culture. We’ve mapped out the route so you know exactly where to go.
Torvehallerne
Kick off the day with a great breakfast. Torvehallerne — two bustling market halls right in the city center — is the perfect spot.
Inside, you’ll find countless stalls packed with tasty specialties and seriously good food.
For breakfast, we especially recommend Grød. It’s a small breakfast chain that specializes in porridge, with a huge selection of toppings at a really fair price.
Rundetårn
The Rundetårn is a round tower right in the heart of the city center — and it’s not like any other tower you’ve climbed.
Instead of stairs, you walk up a spiral ramp that winds its way to the top, where an observation platform gives you a great view over the city.
The vista from Rundetårn is excellent — though honestly, Vor Frelsers Kirke edges it out slightly. But the real draw here is the unusual ramp; the view is almost secondary.
Tickets for the Rundetårn are only available on-site.
Amagertorv
Just a short walk from Rundetårn, you’ll find Amagertorv — the most famous square in Copenhagen.
It’s lined with upscale fashion boutiques, and a large fountain sits at its center. Great for a quick break or a bit of shopping.
Amagertorv is also home to Illums Bolighus, a fantastic Danish design department store. Definitely pop in for a look.
Glyptotek or Christiansborg Palace
Now it comes down to your preference: palaces or museums? Your next stop is one of the two.
Christiansborg Palace may not look all that impressive from the outside, but inside is where the Danish Parliament meets — and you’ll also find the Royal Library.
The Glyptotek is one of the most celebrated museums in Copenhagen. This art museum showcases sculptures and paintings from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
Can’t decide? We’d go with the Glyptotek. Copenhagen’s art museums genuinely blew us away.
Get tickets for Christiansborg Palace
Tivoli
Tivoli is an amusement park right in the heart of the city — and one of the biggest must-sees in Copenhagen.
The park has over 30 rides, cool shops, and restaurants, all wrapped in a gorgeous vintage look that makes the whole place feel like a little dreamworld.
Honestly, Tivoli is worth a visit even if you’re not into rides. Just walking through is an experience in itself.
If you skip the rides, you only pay the entrance fee. Rides require a separate ticket.
Plan at least two to three hours here — it fits perfectly into a 3-day Copenhagen itinerary. If you’re only on a day trip to Copenhagen, we’d probably give it a miss.
Get the Tivoli entrance ticket incl. unlimited rides
All the info on tickets, prices, and attractions can be found here:
The Vesterbro Neighborhood
After Tivoli, head over to THE trendy neighborhood of Copenhagen.
Vesterbro used to be a working-class area with a red-light district edge. Today, many young locals call it home — and they’ve transformed it into Copenhagen’s hottest neighborhood, with a seriously impressive lineup of cool shops, trendy cafés, and great restaurants.
Make sure to walk down Istedgade and Vesterbrogade — both are excellent for shopping.
For dinner, we recommend heading to Kødbyen, Copenhagen’s former Meatpacking District and one of our top insider picks in Copenhagen. The old slaughterhouse halls have been taken over by some really great restaurants. Our favorites are the Neapolitan pizzeria Mother and PåLÆG, which serves fantastic smørrebrød — perfect for a snack.
Day 3 in Copenhagen
On your third day, take it easy and stroll through the city. We’ve mapped out the route again so you know where you’re headed.
Breakfast at Original Coffee
Start the morning at Original Coffee. They serve seriously good coffee, and you can grab a few snacks to go with it.
There are several Original Coffee locations across Copenhagen. Pick one that’s on the way from your hotel to the Little Mermaid — that’s your first stop of the day.
We’ve also marked an Original Coffee location on our map that’s close to the Little Mermaid.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic landmarks. The statue sits on a rock in the harbor — and yes, it’s on every Copenhagen weekend itinerary for good reason.
Just don’t expect too much from the statue itself. It’s only 1.25 meters tall and there are always crowds around it. That said, it’s lovely, and visiting it is simply one of those things you do in Copenhagen.
Design Museum
It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from the Little Mermaid to the Design Museum, and you can follow the waterfront the whole way.
This place really impressed us. It showcases Danish design in everyday life — furniture, tableware, clothing, and basically everything else that shows up in daily living. The aesthetic is classic Scandinavian: minimalist, elegant, and practical.
Even the way the exhibits are presented is super cool.
You can get tickets on the official Design Museum website or buy them on the spot.
Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace
If you’re out of the Design Museum by around a quarter to noon, you’ll make it in time for the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace.
At exactly noon, the guards march from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg and relieve their comrades with a short ceremony.
If you miss it, no big deal — it’s a nice bonus, not a dealbreaker. In that case, head straight to lunch. Our pick is Sporvejen — a solid burger joint where the interior is designed to look like an old subway car. Really cool!
Park at Rosenborg Castle
In our opinion, Rosenborg Castle is the most beautiful of the three palaces in Copenhagen.
That’s largely because it sits in the middle of a beautifully landscaped garden. The castle itself looks genuinely stunning — like something straight out of a fairy tale.
In good weather, locals gather in the park to relax. Join them with some snacks and take a breather before your final stops.
Botanical Garden
Your last major stop is another great park. The Botanical Garden spans over 10 hectares right in the middle of the city.
Entry to the park itself is free — you only pay to go inside the greenhouses.
They’re really worth it, though — especially the Palm House. The greenhouse is absolutely massive. Palms, flowers, cacti, you name it. If you have the time, don’t skip it.
Evening at Nyhavn
Wrap up your last evening in the historic district around Nyhavn — Copenhagen’s charming little harbor.
When everyone else heads off to dinner, Nyhavn gets a bit quieter than usual. That’s your chance to grab some great photos. With the colorful houses and little boats in the water, they’ll turn out beautifully.
While you’re there, look out for Farumhus Bageri. They sell one of the best cinnamon rolls in Copenhagen. You absolutely have to try one!
Our Hotel Picks for a Copenhagen Weekend Trip
For your weekend in Copenhagen, look for a centrally located hotel so you’re never far from the action.
We’ve picked out three great options with excellent value for money. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
citizenM: our personal top pick. Super modern, and while the rooms are compact, they’re laid out so cleverly that you still have plenty of space.
Hotel Kong Arthur: housed in an elegant townhouse with really beautiful rooms. It’s impressive that it still offers some of the best value for money in central Copenhagen.
Scandic Spectrum: right on the water. The view from the windows is incredible and the rooms are really cozy. It’s not quite in the center, but the view more than makes up for it.
All our hotel recommendations for Copenhagen are here:
Frequently Asked Questions About 3 Days in Copenhagen
Are 3 days in Copenhagen too many?
Not at all!
A day trip to Copenhagen is definitely worth it too, but you’ll find plenty to fill three full days. You won’t be bored for a second.
Honestly, there’s even more to do than we’ve managed to pack into this itinerary.
The Louisiana Museum, for example, is fantastic — and we’re genuinely sad it doesn’t fit into the 3-day Copenhagen plan. The issue is that you need roughly half a day for it, since it’s not right in the city center.
But if you find yourself with extra time, keep it in mind. It’s well worth the trip.
Is the Copenhagen Card worth it for 3 days in Copenhagen?
Yes, absolutely — the Copenhagen Card is worth it if you’re staying three days or more.
It’s a really great city pass: free entry to over 80 attractions plus unlimited use of public transit in Copenhagen.
We’ve done the math and shared our personal experience in our Copenhagen Card review — check it out if you want to see exactly how the numbers stack up.
How do you get around on a Copenhagen weekend trip?
The good news: almost everything is really close together. A few neighborhoods are a bit further out, but even those are very manageable on foot.
We strongly recommend walking as much as possible — it’s the best way to soak up everything this beautiful city has to offer. A bike is also a fantastic option. Copenhagen is, after all, the cycling capital of the world, and most hotels rent bikes.
For longer distances, switch to the Metro or buses. If you have the Copenhagen Card, public transportation is included anyway.
If you’d rather not walk much, the hop-on/hop-off buses in Copenhagen are a great alternative — you can easily adapt our routes to match the bus stops.
How much does a Copenhagen weekend trip cost?
Copenhagen is unfortunately not a budget-friendly destination. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you should budget for a weekend in Copenhagen as a couple — souvenirs not included.
- 3 nights in a double room: approximately 600–650 euros
- 2x Copenhagen Card: 248 euros
- 2x Round Tower and rides at Tivoli (neither included in the Copenhagen Card): 68 euros
- 2x meals: approximately 270 euros
All in, you’re looking at approximately 1,200 euros for two people.
