20 Actually Cool Things to Do in Copenhagen

Wondering what all the cool things to do in Copenhagen are? This whopper of a post is for you!

I had the BEST time visiting Copenhagen over my friend, Alyshia’s spring break. It took maybe all of an hour for me to see why everyone I know has nothing but praise for this city. Like if any attractive Danish man between the ages of like 27 and 40 want to marry me, I can move in a heartbeat! (Kidding but also absolutely not kidding.)

Anyway, we filled our week to the brim visiting castles, checking out museums, drinking all the incredible coffee, and taking in the views. Even with the colder, more overcast weather, we were enchanted, so I’m sharing everything we got up to below!

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Actually cool Things to Do in Copenhagen

1. Snap a shot at One of Copenhagen’s historical Areas

Really this entire city is one giant postcard. You’ll find yourself wanting to snap photo after photo pretty much everywhere you go especially in the city center. However, here are some specific places you can plug into Google Maps.

Nyhavn

I mean when it comes to Copenhagen, Nyhavn (New Harbor) is the spot that’s become its main representative. In every travel guide, movie, and TV show, shots of this waterfront district are used to let us know where we are. Back when it was first built in the 1600s, it had a seedier reputation but these days it’s simply a colorful tourist spot.

Come in the morning to avoid most of the crowds, and just walk along the canal to enjoy all the pretty facades. If you want a really cool photo, check out the arched entrance to Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Just be respectful of anyone coming and going!

Nyboder

At some point walking to Rosenborg Castle from getting breakfast at Atelier September and a pastry at Apotek 57, you’re going to come across rows and rows of mustard yellow homes. This is Nyboder (New Houses). And this shade of yellow is so famous, sometimes it’s literally called “Nyboder yellow.”

Back under Christian IV, these row homes were built for the personnel of the Royal Danish Navy and today still houses many members of the navy, army, and air force. If you’re in town on a Sunday, you can check out the interior of one of the homes at 24 Sankt Pauls Gade.

(Formerly) Pisserenden

Located in the Nørre Kvarter (North Quarter) of Indre By, is what used to be referred to as Pisserenden. Which, yes, translates to The Piss End! As recently as the seventies, this area had a pretty bad reputation. I think there’s still an ever-so-slightly rough-around-the-edges vibe though it’s very much a cute little neighborhood with trendy cafes, boutiques, and, of course, pastel facades down every street.

Grab breakfast at Next Door Cafe and a few treats at Skt. Peders Konditori before strolling around.

Christianshavn

Across the water is what’s known as Christianshavn (Christian’s Harbor). Actually if you look on a map, it’s more like a cluster of islands separated by canals, which means it has lots of a little areas similar to Nyhavn though it’s much quieter. I swear on our canal tour, they said the area was inspired by Amsterdam, and I can definitely see why.

Gråbrødretrov

We came across Gråbrødretrov on our first or second day. I remember saving it because the row of reddish buildings was so pretty but really the whole square is cute little photo spot. Don’t feel like you have to go out of your way to find it, but good to save to your map in case it’s near by.

2. See the Little Mermaid Statue (or Don’t)

One of the most popular things to do in Copenhagen is to trek out to see the famous Den Lille Havfrue (the Little Mermaid). This bronze statue was created by Edvard Eriksen to commemorate the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the same name… and is largely cited as one of the most disappointing tourist attractions in the world.

While I would like to see it from the harbor, we also had a LOT we wanted to do, so it was always at the bottom of our list. We did see it from the back on our canal cruise, hence the crummy photo I got above. If I come back in warmer weather, I’ll either plan to get a run in that incorporates the statue or I’ll combine a visit with the nearby Kastellet, a star-shaped fortress.

3. Get a view of Copenhagen from above – if you dare

Rundetårn

One of the most popular places to get a bird’s eye view of Copenhagen is Rundetårn (The Round Tower). It’s very centrally located, and at 34.8 meters high, with an outside deck, you’re guaranteed some epic views. If you notice a lot of celestial designs and the telescope at the top, this is because it was originally built in the 1600s to be an astronomical tower.

One of nice things about Rundetårn is that instead of stairs, it’s a gentle spiral slope upwards for all but the last little bit. Much gentler on the knees! They also have a red light/green light system so you know when to wait for people coming down and vice versa.

When you’re done, get hot dogs at the døp kiosk and pop into the bookstore, Arnold Busck. Both are right outside the exit.

Vor Frelsers Kirke

Now if you want a view that might make your knees shake, head across the canal to Vor Frelsers Kirke (Church of Our Saviour). This Baroque church was built between the late 1600s and mid-1700s and stands 90 meters high. (Yes, if you’re doing the math, that’s almost three times the height of Rundetårn!)

It’s basically a series of thick ladders and steps inside until you get to the spiral and then it’s a narrow spiral staircase outside. You can literally get right up under that ball! And yes – the steps get narrow, though there railing is high and strong, so you don’t feel so exposed.

You can get tickets there of if you do this photography tour, it’s included.

Other Places We Didn’t Go:

Surprisingly there are even more places you can go to get a good look at Copenhagen from above. We obviously didn’t have time for all of them, but if you want to compare, check these out:

• Christiansborg Palace Tower – separate from visiting Christiansborg’s rooms, the tower is actually the highest point in Copenhagen at 106 meters. It’s free to go up, but when we were went, there was a line, and at that point we’d already been to the tower and the church, so we skipped.
• Glyptoteket Rooftop – Glyptoteket has a rooftop area you can go up when you visit the hotel! I can’t remember if it was closed because it was still the off-season or because we were going at night, but either way, we couldn’t go up during our visit!
• Grand Joanne – Open in warmer weather, Grand Joanne is actually right by where we stayed. Their rooftop looks so cute and has a nice view of the city buildings. Obviously not as high up as any of the others on this list, but if you want a cocktail with your views, this would be my pick.

4. Explore the many castles in Copenhagen

So within Copenhagen there are three main castles you’ll want to try to visit. There are more a little outside of the city center, but I put them under the day trip section later on. All three of these castles are actually a fairly quick visit even if you’re the type who likes to spend time reading signage and digging in to each exhibit. Compared to, say, the palaces of Seoul or even when I went to Stockholm’s palace, you’ll be surprised at how fast you’ll go through the castles in Copenhagen.

Rosenborg Slot

Rosenborg’s claim to fame is its garden and the fact that it houses the royal jewels. It’s a Dutch Renaissance-style castle that was meant to be a country summerhouse in the 1600s and has a ton of fun detail in each room.

The crowns, of course, are fun to look at too! They come at the end of the tour in a separate darker area to protect them.

Amalienborg

Amalienborg looks like it’ll be the biggest palace to visit, but actually only a small part is open for viewing. I’m assuming this is because this is where the royal family actually lives and no one wants strangers roaming through their house!

Come around noon for the changing of The Royal Life Guard in the main square and then pop into the museum to look at the last 150 years of Danish royal life.

Christiansborg Slot

Now, I’d say if you only feel like visiting one castle in the city, make it Christiansborg. It’s the current seat of the Danish Parliament and is absolutely massive with a mix of Baroque, Neoclassical, and Neo-Baroque design. What you see is actually the third iteration of the palace since fires destroyed the first two.

There are actually like three separate attractions within the palace – the aforementioned Tower, the Royal Stables, and the Reception Rooms. We just did the Reception Rooms which are as grand and fancy as you’d expect. I could spend hours looking at the quirky tapestries in the Great Hall and, of course, the things I’d do for a library like The Queen’s Library!!

Note: you have to wear some slips over your shoes to help protect the floors. They’ll provide them there for free.

5. Take advantage of all the cool museums

There are so many unique museums in the city. When one of my friends went, she told me wound up going to over twenty! We managed two more besides the castles.

Botanisk Have

Just south of Rosenborg Slot, Copenhagen’s Botanisk Have (Botanical Garden) is a huge greenspace with over 13,000 species of plants. While the garden has existed since 1600, it’s been in its current location since 1870.

What you’ll really want to make sure you see, though, is the gorgeous Victorian Palm House (pictured above). It’s right in the middle of the whole garden and has these spiral staircases you can walk up and get a cool view from above. Apparently inspiration came from the now destroyed Crystal Palace in London. It’ll get very humid the further you go in, so wear layers you can strip off. As you can see, I wound up in a tank top!

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

More commonly known as Glyptoteket, I would have to say this was my favorite of all the museums we visited both in Copenhagen and nearby. (Counting the castles in this!)

Not only are the collections extensive, spanning from Egyptian and Greek antiquities to Danish painting and sculpture, the building it’s in is an art piece all its own. It was built to be a daylight museum so you should probably do the opposite of us and go during the day instead of the one evening they’re open a week haha.

Also, just saying, this museum would make a great first date spot. A lot of the sculptures definitely inspire conversation, and I feel like you’d learn a lot about your date quickly if you take them here.

Other Museums We Didn’t Get to:

While we managed to see a lot between day trips, the castles, and the above two spots, there are still a ton more I’d visit on a return trip.

• Bakkehuset – example of a Danish Golden Age home
• HCA House – a museum for Hans Christian Andersen
• The National Museum – Denmark’s natural history museum
• Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) – Denmark’s National Gallery
• Thorvaldsens Museum – all about sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
• Designmuseum Denmark – all about design around the world

6. Get on the water

Given that one of Copenhagen’s most famous images is on a canal and there are quite a few canals around the city… find a way onto the water! We did the classic tourist thing and boarded a canal cruise. It was a good way to go around and see some of the city while resting our legs. (Funnily enough, the boat basically traced where we’d just walked on land!)

Some other options that might be fun though:

• Boat Rental – Did you know you can rent a boat in Copenhagen – without any experience? I did come very close to renting one but decided against it based off my recent driving record.
• CopenHot – Okay, if you’re coming in cold weather, check out Copenhot. It’s right on Refshaleøen and has these gorgeous fire-heated hot tubs. Honestly, we did not have time for an afternoon of sauna soaking nor room in our luggage for swimsuits, but if you do, let me know how this is. It looks heavenly.
• Kayaking – Come the summer, you can join a kayak tour and check out the canals that way instead of by boat. Honestly, this would be my preference!
• Swimming – Every time I see a video of Copenhagen in the summer, it’s of people gathered around swimming somewhere. That’s because there are a lot of harbor baths all around. They look so refreshing, and there are quite a few options too.

7. Wander around the amusement park that inspired Walt Disney

Yes, you read that right. Tivoli Gardens is the amusement park that helped inspire Walt Disney. For a city amusement park, it looks quite extensive, though, of course, if you’re expecting something as massive as Disney World or Disneyland, remember this is right in the middle of Copenhagen!

Alas it was also closed for the season when we went, so the photo above was about as close as I got. Just remember if you go, to get a ticket with unlimited rides. Otherwise you’ll have to pay for each ride inside!

8. Find the many trolls by Thomas Dambo

Have you ever seen one of a wooden troll by Thomas Dambo? He’s gotten pretty famous for these quirky creations. As a recycling artist, he essentially turns trash into treasure, and I feel like these trolls, which are now all over the world, are kind of his magnum opus.

Of course, he’s Danish, so there are plenty on the outskirts of Copenhagen! We managed to see two closest to the city:

• Green George – Right in Freetown Christiania. You can take a photo here, so don’t worry about getting yelled at.
• Kaptajn Nalle – This is in the Nordhavn neighborhood which also kind of seemed like a construction area. It’s VERY random! You want to take the metro to Orientkaj and then either walk for 30 minutes or catch Bus 164 (which doesn’t come often). Even then you’ll have about 10 minutes on the side of the road to get there.

There are more surrounding Copenhagen known as the Six Forgotten Giants but they’re pretty hard to reach without a car. I’d do this tour if you want to try to see all of them. (Or this one if you want to e-bike!)

9. Enjoy the parks of the city

Another reason I’d totally come in the summer – I just know this place is perfect for getting a blanket and a book and relaxing in one of the parks. There’s a lot of greenspace both big and small scattered around. We made it to one of them, Superkilen Park, which is in Nørrebro. It’s such a cool park since there are all sorts of random street furniture and artwork.

The hill with all the vertical lines is probably the most photographed, but it’s also just fun to people watch at. When we were there, these two little kids in their big winter suits were straight up rolling in the mud and then rolling down the hill. It was hilarious and something I feel like I’d have LOVED to do at their age.

10. Embrace Copenhagen’s Literary History

Denmark in general has a really cool literary culture, and I think it stems from an equally cool literary history.

Hans Christian Andersen’s Legacy

As I mentioned above, Hans Christian Andersen, aka one of the creators of the modern fairytale, is from Copenhagen. Seriously, think of a classic Western fairytale and it either came from him or the Brothers Grimm.

His legacy is all over Copenhagen whether you visit his burial site in Assistens Kirkegård, check out the places he lived in Nyhavn (18, 20, and 67), the Little Mermaid statue, and, of course, the fairytale museum. At either 18 or 20 in Nyhavn is a little gift shop with all sorts of HCA souvenirs too. Do this tour (or this audio guide) for even more insight.

Den Sorte Diamant

Another friend recommended checking out Den Sorte Diamant (The Black Diamond). A part of the Danish Royal Library, it’s an absolutely massive example of modern architecture in the city and stands out like a black diamond on the water (get it? heh).

We didn’t have time to go in and explore, but if you do, look for the giant Per Kirkeby panting on the ceiling.

Bookstores & Book Cafés

As you might guess, Copenhagen is home to quite a few charming bookstores and even some bookish cafes. The most famous is Pauladan Bogcafé which feels like a cafe built into an old library.

What they don’t tell you is that the street it’s on, Fiolstræde, is full of cool little book shops. I had to stop myself from stopping at every single one, especially since most didn’t offer anything in English.

11. Enjoy some of the best shopping ever

Honestly, if I was rich and had a private plane, I’d just come to Copenhagen to shop. There’s a reason Danish architecture and Copenhagen style are a thing! While you’re definitely not going to find any steals, you are going to find some really cool souvenirs to bring home.

Here are some places we checked out:

• GANNI Postmodern – If you’re a GANNI fan, you’ve got to check out GANNI Postmodern. It’s their outlet store in Christianshavn and a lot of items are discounted 50%+.
• Boii Studios – This brand has a few stores across the city and SUCH cute pieces! The only bummer is that they only go up to XL, so a few of the things I wanted just didn’t fit over my boobs.
• Studio Arhoj – I loved Studio Arhoj. It’s a ceramics and home goods store where you can literally see people making the products, and everything is so colorful and quirky. I picked up some jewelry bowls!
• Pico – Super cute accessories store where I got my red rose hair clip.
• Sui Ava – Another cute hair accessories store, mainly claw clips. I got my smaller pink rose clip here.
• Thrift Stores along Nørrebrogade – If you visit Nørrebro, just walk up and down this street for all sorts of thrift stores. There are seriously SO MANY and they’re jam packed with gems.

12. Get Out of the City

Since we were here for a full week, I knew I wanted to do at least one or two day trips. We managed one because Copenhagen had so much to see:

Helsingør

Helsingør is home to Kronborg Slot, which has become famous for its association with Hamlet by William Shakespeare! The castle is massive and was built as a fortress for Helsingør. It’s got this Renaissance style and is pretty cool to walk around (And maybe re-enact a certain soliloquy…)

The town center is also really cute, and you’ll walk by it when you go to the train station, so give yourself time to wander around there too.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

Multiple people recommended visiting the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, so we went on our way back from Helsingør. The museum itself has a really cool, Scandinavian style while exhibits are really, really well thought out. Like it’s not just a museum you want to breeze though; you’ll want to time pondering each piece. I also discovered a new favorite artist, Firelei Báez, here!

Other Cool Day Trips:

If you have even more time, these were on my list of potential day trips from Copenhagen.

• Frederiksborg – The “Versailles of Denmark.” You can do a combination day trip to Kronborg and Frederiksborg.
• Bakken – The world’s oldest amusement park. Obviously it would’ve been fruitless trying to go in early spring.
• Odense – This is where Hans Christian Andersen was born. It’s about two hours from Copenhagen and is also one of the country’s oldest cities. Maybe more of a weekend trip vs a day trip?
• Malmö – A Swedish city right by Copenhagen. It looks really charming, and if you can visit Sweden on a day trip, why not?

13. Learn more about Copenhagen culture

I’ve mentioned it through this post, but there are quite a few elements of Copenhagen that have made their way to the world. I think because so many people visit and come away charmed, everyone wants to know the Danes’ secrets.

While I don’t think there’s any secret wholly unique to Copenhagen, there are a few cultural aspects that were fun to see in action!

Danish Interior Design

Danish interior design (or maybe it’s more generally Scandinavian interior design) is popular with like every super rich person ever. If you’re a maximalist, you’ll probably find it a bit cold. But there’s definitely something calming about the simple, airy designs. If this is your jam, the check out Denmark Architecture Center or even do this specific design tour. (Or for the more budget conscious, there’s this audio guide!)

Copenhagen Style

Now, I don’t buy a whole new wardrobe for trips, but I do enjoy getting an idea of what the style is like in a new city. It’s just a fun way to get inspiration for looks you already wear and see if there’s anything that catches your eye.

From what I learned Copenhagen style has that classic effortless vibe but with quirky little touches. Like jeans and a T-shirt but with a colorful floral claw clip. Or a cozy jacket in a fun color. Sneakers but maybe in pink or green or yellow. I had fun experimenting and, of course, I picked up the rose claw clips I’m obsessed with.

The Art of Hygge

The most famous export from Denmark has to be the idea of hygge! It’s so ubiquitous, it’s become a part of our normal vocabulary. (Which is funny because hygge is actually a Norwegian word). If you come in cold weather, pick up a copy of The Little Book of Hygge and look for all the ways to get cozy in Copenhagen.

14. Exit Denmark for Freetown Christiana

If you love street art, visit Freetown Christiania. It’s also supposed to have really good food but most things were closed when we walked through. This place is technically not a part of Denmark and is its own commune formed from a squatted military base. The internet makes it seem sketchy and like a lawless land but Alyshia and I thought it was fine. Just a a bit grittier than Copenhagen.

You can’t take photographs but I have a feeling taking photos of the murals without people in them would be fine. (You’re definitely fine taking a photo of the Thomas Dambo troll). Really it’s just Pusher Street where they sell weed that they’re quick to tell you not to take pictures.

If I came back, I’d time it for the afternoon so that the food stalls were open and we could stop for lunch.

Foodie Things to Do in Copenhagen

15. Learn some Danish food staples

If you want to indulge in the local cuisine but aren’t sure where to start, here are some food terms to know. I’ll be honest, we ate at most cafes, hot dog stands, and Asian restaurants, so I haven’t tried any of the following except the last one.

• Smørrebrød – an open faced sandwich. I think it’s like the first thing anyone recommends eating in Denmark.
• Stegt Flæsk – the Danish national dish. It’s crispy pork with parsley sauce and potatoes.
• Frikadeller – Danish meatballs
• Grød – Danish porridge

16. Embrace food hall culture

Good news to those of you traveling in groups – Copenhagen has a huge food hall culture. This means everyone can get what they want instead of splitting up or compromising. The easiest one to access, and the one we went to so I could try grød is Torvehallerne. It’s right by Nørreport Station and is in two buildings with a food market in the middle courtyard.

Some others:

• Tivoli Food Hall – in Tivoli Gardens
• Reffen – an outdoor food market; we JUST missed it re-opening by a week
• Broens Gadekøkken – market right over the bridge from Nyhavn and before you go into Freetown Christiania.

17. Seek out A Cafe (or a Billion)

You guys know I love a coffee city, and Copenhagen is one of them! I guess it makes sense for a country that’s fully embraced hygge. There are so many cafes, you can’t walk a block without running into one. These are all the ones I went to and also a bunch I had on my list!

18. Give matcha a second chance

This is for anyone who thinks they’re not a matcha person. Give it a second chance in Copenhagen because this city knows its way around a bamboo whisk. Since we went to so many cafes, and I was trying not to overdo it on espresso, I ordered a lot of iced matcha lattes and every single one was delicious.

19. Try all the hot dogs

Also known as rød pølse, I had to give Danish hot dogs their own section. You can find hot dog kiosks in every square, and they will be perfect every single time. Get them with everything on them including the remoulade sauce, fried onions, and pickled cucumber!!

20. Hit up as many bakeries as possible

Bakeries, or should I say bageri, are almost as abundant in Copenhagen as cafes, and they’re always filled with the freshly baked bread and the prettiest, tastiest pastries. Skt. Peders Bageri & Konditori is the oldest in the city and Landbageriet is great if you’re gluten free. And whatever you do, get the cardamom croissant at Hart Bageri! This pastry tour is also great if you really want to learn more about Danish baking.

And there you have it all the coolest things to do in Copenhagen! Anything I’m missing? Let me know below.

For more Scandinavian travel, read these next:

• All the Best Things to Do in Örebro, Sweden
• What to Expect Hiking to Blåvatnet in Northern Norway
• 18 Fantastic Things to Do in Bergen

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