Copenhagen in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit
Have fun in the streets, palaces, beaches and gardens of Copenhagen's eight districts, go in search of the city's giants or enter a haunted cemetery.
Afternoon in Copenhagen | ©Daniel Jurin
Copenhagen is a city of many attractions and the best way to get to know it is to split your tour across its 8 districts. In København K there are many sites to explore and you'll need two days; for København V you can book a full day; Vesterbro, Frederiksberg, Nørrebro and Østerbro are close together and can be visited together; and Christianshawvn and Amager are neighbours and a shared itinerary is the best strategy.
Day 1: Take a stroll through the palaces, castles and other monuments in København K
København K is part of central Copenhagen and is one of the largest and most interesting areas, with colourful streets and buildings important to Danish royalty. As you walk along the streets you'll find restaurants and cafes for a gastronomic stop.
Be prepared for a long and entertaining day, I recommend walking, renting bicycles or scheduling a bus tour with free stops.
Discover the Marble Church or Frederik's Church
This baroque building took 150 years to build and its structure is inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, with a variety of paintings and mosaics inside. Admission costs approximately €5.20 for adults and €2.90 for children.
During the summer you can climb the dome any day of the week, while in winter it is only accessible at weekends.
Visit the Amalienborg Palace
A must-do activity is to visit the palaces of Copenhagen. Opposite the Marble Church is one of the most important ones: the Amalienborg Palace.
It is advisable to take a walk during the changing of the Royal Guard, to enjoy the parade that starts at Rosenborg Castle and goes through some areas, such as the Latin Quarter, to finally settle in the palace. The palace is located in an octagonal square that houses four palaces:
- Frederick VIII Palace, where the heir to the Danish throne resides, so visitors are not allowed.
- Christian VII Palace is exclusively for royal events, but can be visited on weekends in July, August and September.
- Christian VIII Palace, during the summer you can visit the Amalienborg Museum, a place where the Danish monarchy's garments and portraits are kept, I recommend you visit the piano room and the ballroom.
- Christian IX Palace, the Queen's home, raises the flag every time she is on the premises and is not available for visits.
Also, another must is to book tickets to Christiansborg Palace which is the actual Danish parliament.
Tour Rosenborg Castle
A tour of Copenhagen's castles is another stop you can't miss. A few streets away from Amalienborg Palace, you'll find the King's Gardens, where open-air events, sculpture exhibitions and a café in the famous Hercules Pavilion provide a great place to spend the afternoon enjoying live music.
Inside the garden you'll find Rosenborg Castle, which you can visit in summer and winter for approximately €16.75. It's an ideal plan for fairytale lovers, as the halls have a unique charm and there are exhibitions of jewellery from past generations.
Note that on your seven-day visit to Copenhagen it may be worth purchasing a Copenhagen Card for free access to many of the Danish capital's attractions.
Be amazed at Copenhagen's Guinness World Records Museum
Visiting Copenhagen's museums is another interesting activity to do during your stay in the city. End the day at the Guinness World Records Museum Copenhagen, which is open from September to June on Fridays and Saturdays, and from June to August every day. More information about the building can be found on the official website.
Admission costs approximately €18.13 and you can take part in interactive activities such as The Mystic Exploratorie, which costs an additional €10 and allows you to see a haunted graveyard, moving paintings and other optical illusions. At the museum you can also learn about the world's oldest flag, who is the tallest man in history and other fun facts you'll have to discover on your own.
But you can also visit:
Day 2: Take a tour of the canals and other architectural wonders in København K
Near the canals there are still many areas to explore, such as the Little Mermaid, Nyhavn or the Latin Quarter. What are you waiting for?
Make a stop at the Little Mermaid
Start your day early by visiting the Little Mermaid structure, a statue as significant as the Statue of Liberty in New York. It's a free plan, ideal for unique photographs. The figure was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale of The Little Mermaid.
And if you like adventure, don't hesitate to book the Little Mermaid exploration game in Copenhagen, where you will discover some of the city's most emblematic places in the most original way possible.
Continue through Nyhavn
Next stop is a stroll along the colourful houses on the banks of the Nyhavn canal, one of Copenhagen's most popular canals. There are restaurants and tattoo parlours in the area, and you'll also find The Anchor Memorial which is decorated with flowers every day to commemorate the fallen sailors of World War II.
In the area you will find Kongens Nytorv Square with typical Danish architecture, where the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Royal Theatre of Copenhagen are housed, ideal to watch a ballet performance or enjoy the art collection.
Also, if you are passionate about architecture be sure to book your ticket for the Danish Architecture Centre in Copenhagen.
Stroll through the Latin Quarter and along the canals
Passing through the Stroget shopping street, you will reach the Latin Quarter where you can stroll around the University of Copenhagen, visit local bookshops and buy handicrafts.
Through the narrow streets you'll return to the piers where you can book a sunset cruise along the canals, walk past striking buildings such as the Black Diamond, home to the National Library, and return in the evening for dinner by the sea.
Day 3: Hunt for giants, take a carriage ride and have fun at the amusement park
On the outskirts of the city, about half an hour from the centre, plans continue to explore the attractions Copenhagen has to offer. You can take a carriage ride, go on a bike tour on a mysterious quest, visit more castles or check out a unique amusement park.
Have fun like a child at the Bakken amusement park
Bakken is the oldest amusement park in the world, in operation since 1583, and you can tour the park for free. With the free pass you can take a walk through the Jægersborg Dyrehave Nature Park, where you can watch the deer from afar. If you want to ride the rides and rollercoasters you can buy a full pass for approximately €17,57.
Carriage ride on Hestevogn Dyrehaven
If you want to feel like you're in a period film, head to Hestevogn Dyrehaven, where you can arrange your ride according to your wishes - you can go into the forest or take a stroll along the road. Another option is to walk up to the castles or have a barbecue on the cliff.
Explore Kronborg Castle
One of the most important castles north of the city is Kronborg Castle, also known as Hamlet's Castle, as it was used by Shakespeare to write his famous play. You can enjoy exhibits of Danish heritage and pass very close to a Swedish border town. Don't hesitate and book a tour to Kronborg to get there in comfort and make the most of your visit.
Search for the giants
Giants are very important to Norse mythology and Danish culture, so artist Thomas Danbo created six huge statues for tourists and locals to search for on the outskirts of the city.
This is a great way to end the afternoon, the sculptures are made from recycled materials and you can find a map of locations on the official website.
Day 4: Visit Sweden in less than 45 minutes
Experience an extreme experience and escape from Denmark to Sweden, on a fast, fun trip departing from central Copenhagen. Leaving the city, you'll concentrate on seeing the best of each end, starting at the Øresund Bridge and ending in Malmö.
Tour Øresund Bridge and Dragør Havn
Booking an excursion to Sweden is another must-do on your itinerary. The Øresund Bridge is the connection between Denmark and Sweden, spanning approximately 7,845 metres.
Nearby is the village of Dragør Havn, where you can have breakfast before heading out, walk around the fishing harbour, discover the typical Danish houses, visit the Kings Street shopping street or go two kilometres further to the Dutch village of Store Magleby, which is located near the Amager area and has a variety of farms and shops.
See Pildammsparken park
When you arrive in Malmö, you'll come across the iconic Pildammsparken, which is completely free to enter and offers a tour of forests, lakes and gardens, as well as streets adjacent to the neighbourhood. In spring and summer you can enjoy Princess Margrethe's Flower Street, as the city's landscapers decorate it for the Queen of Sweden.
Malmö Castle
This Swedish structure has been part of the country's culture since 1434 and was built by the Danes. Inside you can enjoy a variety of museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum. There is a mill, cafes and a skate park nearby. Another option is to take a gondola ride along the castle's canals. General admission to the castle costs approximately €3.50.
Take a food tour
Back in Copenhagen, you'll probably want to grab a bite to eat to recharge your batteries and round off the day. The best option is to book a food tour to get to know the markets, the plants that are the stars of Danish food, the organic ice cream and chocolate, the artisan cheese, the local beers and the history that comes with the city's food.
If you prefer more international fare, book a menu at Copenhagen's Hard Rock Cafe
Get a taste of Copenhagen's nightlife
And to end the day, book a pub crawl in Copenhagen and get a taste of the Danish capital's nightlife. The tour, which includes a total of five pub crawls, includes two free beers and two free cocktails plus two free shots in each pub.
This tour is private for you and your group, making it a must-do if you're travelling with friends.
Day 5: Explore Christiania, Christianshavn, 8 house and other areas of Christianshavn & Amager
Christianshavn and Amager are neighbouring areas, so you can dedicate a full day to them. You can discover the best things to do in Christiania, explore the local beer and walk along the piers.
Discover Christiania
Christiania is an independent town in the Christianshavn area. You'll find a hidden paradise decorated with graffiti. Its culture is quite peculiar, so I suggest you go with an open mind for an entertaining tour. One of the best plans is to visit the Badehuset Bath House or try the local beer that is only produced in this corner of Copenhagen.
You can also take the opportunity to book the Freetown Christiania exploration game.
Get to know Christianshavn
At midday you can take a stroll through the picturesque Christianshavn neighbourhood, where I recommend you book a bike tour and spend the whole afternoon exploring the shopping streets. You can also visit the Copenhagen Opera House, one of the most luxurious buildings where live performances are held.
Visit Amager
It's time to head into the coastal area of Amager, where you'll find Amager beach, ideal for a different kind of day out in the summer. Take a stroll around the Royal Arena and if you're lucky you'll find concerts, sporting events, festivals or other celebrations.
For an authentic Danish beer, take a stroll through the Amager Bryghus brewery and enjoy your drink by the sea. A few streets away you'll see the modern 8 House building which is currently under construction.
You can get up close and personal by booking a segway tour of Copenhagen.
Day 6: Don't miss the Astronomical Clock, City Hall and Tivoli Gardens at København V
Another part of the historic centre is København V, which has interesting buildings, such as the astronomical clock that will leave you impressed.
Make a stop at the Astronomical Clock and Copenhagen City Hall
It's a completely free plan that allows you to see the calendar for the next 500 years, located in the Copenhagen City Hall. To continue the adventure you can climb the stairs to the top of the tower for unparalleled panoramic views.
Outside there is a square to rest, the Dragon's Leap fountain and the famous thermometer that measures the current temperature and predicts the weather.
Discover Tivoli Gardens
Book tickets to Tivoli Gardens and spend the whole day at the second oldest amusement park in the world. It has been in operation since 1843 and has a fascinating structure. You can have lunch on the lake on the St George's Frigate boat or eat Chinese food at Pagoda.
On weekends you can also see the Tivoli Guard which simulates the Royal Guard and, of course, you must ride the roller coaster. The entrance fee is approximately 19,45 €, but if you buy the Copenhagen Card, it's free.
To close, I recommend a tour of the city's bars to sample the local wines and beers.
Day 7: Walk from Vesterbro to Østerbro and explore the streets, parks and palaces
Finish your itinerary with a stroll through the multicultural neighbourhood of Nørrebro, see the luxurious houses in the Østerbro area, enjoy the modern buildings in Vesterbro and marvel at the charm of Frederiksberg.
Discover Vesterbro
Start your visit on the French street of Værnedamsvej, where you'll find a restaurant that looks like it's straight out of Paris on every corner. While you're in the area, stop by the Carlsberg Museum, which was originally a brewery. Mid-morning, it's ideal to stroll through Frederiksberg Have park where people often organise picnics and of course, you should complete your itinerary by entering the Bakkehusmuseet.
Don't miss Frederiksberg
Don't miss a trip to Frederiksborg either. This is home to one of the largest palaces in Scandinavia: Frederiksberg Palace, which has a baroque garden and houses the Danish National History Museum. In this area you can also visit The Cisterns, a mysterious art exhibition, with interactive optical illusions and a variety of events.
Visit other nearby areas
In Nørrebro you can see the Assistens Kirkegaard cemetery which doubles as a park, another option is to cycle through the picturesque streets of Elmegade or Nørrebrogade.
Nearby you'll find the Østerbro area, ideally stopping at Experimentarium, an interactive museum with a variety of live demonstrations, or check out the asymmetrical streets of Brumleby.