Things to Do in Copenhagen: 22 Highlights That Are Truly Worth It

The Most Important Copenhagen Sights on a Map

For a first overview in our Copenhagen guide, we’ve marked the most important attractions on a map.

You can also save the map on your computer or phone.

The Classic Copenhagen Sights

Nyhavn

It is THE postcard image of Copenhagen: Nyhavn with its colorful houses.

Translated, it means New Harbor — though it’s not quite so new anymore. Nyhavn was completed back in 1673.

Today, the harbor is home mainly to private sailboats and excursion boats, with the surrounding buildings filled mostly with restaurants.

Nyhavn is one of the few places in Copenhagen that’s absolutely swarming with tourists. Even so, it remains one of the most picturesque spots in the city — and one of the best things to do in Copenhagen.

Photo tip: Early in the morning you’ll have Nyhavn almost to yourself and can take photos undisturbed. If you’re lucky, there’s no wind and the colorful houses are reflected perfectly on the water’s surface.

Also worth seeing: The Inderhavnsbroen

Right next to Nyhavn you’ll find the Inderhavnsbroen, a pedestrian bridge connecting Nyhavn with the neighborhood of Christianshavn on the opposite side.

The bridge is also called the Kissing Bridge. When large ships pass through, the bridge deck retracts — and when it closes again, it resembles kissing tongues.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is THE landmark of Copenhagen. Her creator Hans Christian Andersen lived here, and the statue was erected as a monument to him.

Since 1913, the little lady has been perched on a rock in Copenhagen’s harbor basin — and she’s been through a lot. She’s been decapitated, painted over, and blown off her pedestal, among other things.

Many visitors are a little disappointed because they expect something more spectacular. The figure is only 1.25 meters tall, after all.

Honestly, though, we think she’s beautiful. Not everything has to be massive to be worth seeing.

Tivoli

Tivoli is an amusement park right in the heart of the city — and what a park it is! Even if roller coasters and rides aren’t really your thing, Tivoli is absolutely worth a visit.

It’s one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, and as soon as you walk through the grand entrance gate, you step into a completely different world: colorful, ornate, and totally fairy-tale-like.

The highlights include the Rutschebanen, a roller coaster from 1914, the 80-meter-high chain swing The Star Flyer, and the roller coaster Daemonen. There’s also a whole range of restaurants, regular concerts, and theater performances. And in the evening, with 100,000 lights twinkling, it’s seriously magical.

We strongly recommend buying your ticket online in advance — the line at the entrance can be incredibly long, and with an online ticket you can simply walk straight in.

Book a ticket for Tivoli incl. unlimited rides

Canal Cruise

A visit to Copenhagen absolutely has to include a boat trip through Copenhagen.

There are very classic canal tours that take you past the famous sights on a large boat. But Copenhagen also has some cool alternatives. You can take the public harbor bus, rent a boat yourself, or go on a kayak tour.

Our personal favorite is a boat tour with Hey Captain. The boats hold a maximum of 12 people and we had a really great time. When booking, you choose between a one-hour tour of the classic highlights and a two-hour tour of lesser-known spots around the city.

Book a boat tour with Hey Captain

Book a classic canal cruise

The Most Beautiful Buildings in Copenhagen

Rosenborg Castle

Copenhagen has no fewer than three castles — and in our opinion, Rosenborg is the most beautiful of them.

The castle sits in the gorgeous royal garden Kongens Have. Whenever a few rays of sunshine break through the clouds, Copenhageners flock here to picnic, relax, or play Kubb — what many know as Viking chess.

Rosenborg Castle dates back to the 17th century and looks wonderfully fairy-tale-like with its turrets. Inside, there’s a museum where the Danish Crown Jewels are on display.

Christiansborg Palace

Castle number two in Copenhagen is Christiansborg. The first version was built in the 18th century, though the current building has only been around since the early 20th century.

The palace has repeatedly been destroyed by massive fires and rebuilt each time. Today, Christiansborg houses the Danish Parliament and the Supreme Court.

From the outside, it doesn’t look all that spectacular — but inside, there’s quite a bit to discover: the royal reception rooms, the kitchen, and the chapel. The Royal Library with its enormous shelves is also seriously impressive.

Book a ticket for Christiansborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace is the residence of Danish King Frederik X.

The highlight for most visitors is the daily changing of the guard. The guards march in goose step all the way from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg, where they relieve their predecessors at exactly 12:00 noon in a precisely choreographed ceremony. It’s well worth timing your visit around it.

You can also tour Amalienborg from the inside — it houses the Royal Museum, among other things.

Book a ticket for Amalienborg Palace

Frederiks Kirke

Frederiks Kirke stands very close to Amalienborg Palace. Viewed from the water, the church dome rises up between the palace buildings.

Originally, the church was meant to be built from marble — but money quickly ran out, and it was ultimately completed using much less expensive sandstone.

On a guided tour, you can also climb to the top of the dome at 1 PM. During the summer months from mid-June to the end of August, this runs every day. Tickets cost 50 DKK (about $7) and are sold on-site starting at 12:45 PM.

Vor Frelsers Kirke

Vor Frelsers Kirke in the Christianshavn neighborhood is famous for its dizzying climb to the top of the church spire.

A spiral staircase winds around the outside of the spire, and from up there you get what is probably the best panorama over Copenhagen.

The ascent — and especially the descent — is not for the faint of heart. The stairs are quite steep and narrow. But if you don’t have an extreme fear of heights, it’s absolutely doable.

We really loved this one. For us, it was definitely one of the top things to do in Copenhagen. You can book tickets in advance on the Vor Frelsers Kirke website.

Rundetårn

Right in Copenhagen’s pedestrian zone stands the Rundetårn — which translates to Round Tower.

The real highlight inside is the climb to the top. Rather than stairs, you ascend via a winding spiral ramp. Legend has it that a Russian tsar once rode up in a horse-drawn carriage.

At the top there’s a viewing platform, though the vista from there is nowhere near as impressive as from Vor Frelsers Kirke. The real draw here is actually the journey up.

Tickets are available on-site only.

Børsen

The Børsen is one of the most distinctive buildings in downtown Copenhagen. It was once actually a stock exchange, but today it serves as an office building.

The spire made of intertwined dragon figures is particularly worth seeing. The Børsen is best admired from the water — most canal tours pass right by it.

Unfortunately, the interior isn’t open to visitors.

The Børsen was half-destroyed in a fire in early 2024. The building is currently being reconstructed true to the original.

Rådhuspladsen

Rådhuspladsen, or City Hall Square, is one of the largest squares in downtown Copenhagen, with the pedestrian zone leading directly to it.

The square regularly hosts events — everything from demonstrations to public viewings of soccer matches.

The City Hall itself is particularly worth a look, with its imposing brick construction. The tower, at over 100 meters, is one of the tallest structures in Copenhagen. Monday through Friday at 11 AM and 2 PM, and on Saturdays at noon, you can climb it on a guided tour. The tour starts at 45 DKK (about $6) and you can book in advance online.

Book a guided tour of the City Hall tower

Modern Architecture at the Harbor

Copenhagen is a city where historic and modern buildings complement each other beautifully — and that contrast is part of what makes it so visually exciting.

Among the best-known modern landmarks is the Royal Opera House, located across from the Little Mermaid. It’s especially stunning in the evening when the building is lit up.

A little further up the canal stands the new building of the Royal Library, the Sorte Diamant. The name translates to Black Diamond — and it describes the sleek black building with its smooth, angled walls perfectly.

Right next to it you’ll find the Danish Architecture Center, a building that looks a bit like someone stacked giant building blocks on top of each other.

Book a ticket for the Danish Architecture Center

Interesting Museums in Copenhagen

Louisiana Museum

The Louisiana Museum was personally our favorite among all the museums in Copenhagen — so it absolutely earns its place on this list of the best things to do in Copenhagen.

The museum focuses on modern art, with works spanning art, architecture, photography, nature, and a huge sculpture garden. There’s even a dedicated children’s house with cool activities for kids.

Also read all our tips for Copenhagen with kids

The museum isn’t located directly in the city center, but by train you’ll be there in just 45 minutes.

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

Probably the most significant art museum in Copenhagen is the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.

In addition to sculptures ranging from antiquity to modern times, it showcases paintings from the era of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism — including works by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, and Gauguin.

You can book tickets on the museum’s website. On the last Wednesday of every month, admission is free.

Cool Neighborhoods and Parks in Copenhagen

Strøget

For us, one of the absolute highlights of what to do in Copenhagen is simply wandering through the different neighborhoods and letting yourself get lost.

Copenhagen is a city where the infrastructure isn’t designed solely around cars. Over 60 years ago, the city was already being optimized for pedestrians and cyclists — and the first big step was the pedestrian zone Strøget.

Strøget is one of the largest pedestrian zones in Europe, made up of several streets and larger squares.

Some of the best-known stores include the design department store Illums Bolighus and the department store Illum — think of it as Copenhagen’s answer to a high-end European department store.

Freetown Christiania

Freetown Christiania is a famous — or rather infamous — autonomous little city right in the middle of Copenhagen.

An abandoned military site was occupied in the 1970s by hippies, anarchists, and other free thinkers who wanted to create a new form of communal living. Naturally, that included a free approach to drugs.

Today, Christiania is a genuine tourist attraction and is often held up internationally as a showcase for liberal Denmark.

You’ll find colorful houses, market stalls selling all kinds of trinkets, and the legendary Pusher Street, where drugs were once sold openly.

Without the public drug trade, Christiania is much more low-key these days. There are now plenty of regular shops, restaurants, and even playgrounds — it’s a genuinely interesting place to explore.

Nørrebro and the Assistens Kirkegård

Nørrebro is a neighborhood north of downtown Copenhagen and the creative hotspot of the city. A stroll through here is, for us, an essential part of any Copenhagen visit — and it’s still something of an under-the-radar pick in Copenhagen.

The neighborhood is packed with trendy restaurants, cozy cafés, and independent shops. Streets worth exploring include Blågårdsgade and Jægersborggade.

Nørrebro also has one truly unmissable attraction: the Assistens Kirkegård, or Assistens Cemetery.

It’s more of a large park than a traditional cemetery. In summer, people spread out on the lawns with blankets, and the paths are popular jogging routes. Scattered throughout, you’ll find the graves of famous Copenhagen residents such as Hans Christian Andersen, Niels Bohr, and Søren Kierkegaard.

Vesterbro

Like Nørrebro, Vesterbro is considered a trendy neighborhood in Copenhagen — with hip clothing stores, cool cafés, and great restaurants. The transformation here hasn’t gone quite as far as in Nørrebro, but it’s well on its way.

Vesterbro starts right behind the main train station and was for a long time a mix of working-class neighborhood and red-light district. A few adult entertainment venues are still there, but not many.

In the southern part of Vesterbro, large halls house many art galleries and some of the most sought-after restaurants and bars in all of Copenhagen.

Botanical Garden

Right in the heart of downtown Copenhagen lies the 10-hectare Botanical Garden.

The large park with its many flower beds is free to enter and is a popular spot with locals.

The large greenhouses are particularly worth seeing — the most beautiful of them is the Palm House. Admission to the Palm House costs 70 DKK (about $9) and tickets can be purchased on-site.

Culinary Highlights in Copenhagen

Torvehallerne

Copenhagen is also a fantastic city for eating well. That’s why we’ve included two food markets in our roundup of the best things to do in Copenhagen.

One of our personal highlights were the two market halls of Torvehallerne, located between the historic center and Nørrebro.

Torvehallerne offers fresh produce and delicacies from Scandinavia and around the world. But what’s even more interesting for visitors: the stalls here serve some really great food.

If you want to dig deeper into Danish cuisine, we recommend joining a guided food tour through the city.

Join the Culinary Tour through Copenhagen

Reffen

And one more culinary must-see in Copenhagen: the Reffen street food market, located on an old shipyard site in the Christianshavn neighborhood.

Here you’ll find over 60 food stalls with treats from around the world — from Danish mackerel to Peruvian ceviche, Israeli flatbreads, vegan Asian food, and sweet treats. Honestly, the variety here is seriously impressive.

Reffen is the successor to the well-known Papirøen street food market, which unfortunately had to close.

Beyond the food, the market has a few other cool things going on. You can bungee jump from a crane or check out the skate park.

General Tips: The Best Way to Explore Copenhagen's Sights

To make sure you’re fully prepared for your trip, here are a few more practical tips for sightseeing in the Danish capital.

Save Time and Money with the Copenhagen Card Discover

The Copenhagen Card is the city pass for Copenhagen. With the Copenhagen Card Discover, you get free use of all public transportation and free admission to almost all attractions and museums in the city.

The card is available for 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours. If you’re planning to visit many sights, it’s worth it from three days in Copenhagen onward. It also makes your trip super convenient — no fussing with metro tickets or individual entrance fees.

Buy the Copenhagen Card Discover

The card also comes in a second version, the Copenhagen Card Hop. That one includes significantly fewer points of interest and no public transit, but instead features a tour on the hop-on/hop-off bus through Copenhagen.

Buy the Copenhagen Card Hop

We think the Copenhagen Card Discover is the better option. To explain why, we’ve put together a detailed review of the Copenhagen Card — showing you exactly when it’s worth it and when it isn’t:

Getting Around on the Ground

Copenhagen is very manageable. With only around 600,000 residents, it’s not as large as other European capitals.

You can reach almost all of Copenhagen’s attractions on foot, since everything is really compact and close together.

That said, it’s important that your hotel is relatively centrally located.

Public transportation in Copenhagen (metro, commuter rail, and bus) is very well developed, though we rarely needed it. For rainy days, more distant attractions, or when you want to get from the airport to the city center, it’s super practical.

Otherwise, the bicycle is of course the number one mode of transportation in Copenhagen. There are wide bike lanes everywhere — an absolute dream! Many hotels rent out bicycles, and you’ll find plenty of rental shops throughout the city.

Guided Tours through Copenhagen

Copenhagen is great to explore on your own. But if you want to learn more about the city’s history and get recommendations from a real local insider, a guided tour is a great option.

These three tours come highly recommended for getting a solid overview:

Copenhagen Highlights: 3-Hour Bike Tour: Explore Copenhagen the classic way — by bicycle. Your English-speaking guide will take you through the city’s top highlights.

Walking Tour of Copenhagen’s Old Town: If cycling isn’t your thing, this walking tour through Copenhagen’s historic center is a great alternative.

Alternative Copenhagen off the Beaten Path: This private tour goes beyond the well-known sights and takes you, among other places, to Freetown Christiania.