Copenhagen the capital of Denmark within the city around 600.000 inhabitants. Copenhagen is full of royal history, beautiful architecture a lot of parks and the Danish people are among the happiest in the world. This is the Copenhagen Travel Guide with the most essential Copenhagen Travel Tips to read and watch!
Travel to Copenhagen
The easiest way to travel to Copenhagen is by plane. There are many daily flights from all over the world to Copenhagen Kastrup airport. It takes less than 15 minutes to travel to the city centre by train or metro. Both metro and train run from Terminal 3. The trains depart every 10 Minutes to Copenhagen Central Station during the day. A single journey cost around 5 euros.
Tivoli Gardens
One of the biggest attractions in town are the Tivoli Gardens. It was founded in 1843 and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world with rollercoasters, carousels and in the evening it is beautifully illuminated. Even if you’re not in the mood to have a ride in one of the attractions it is a wonderful place to visit with beautiful gardens.
A funny fact is that Walt Disney visited this park to gain inspiration for the construction of the first Disney park, in the 1950s. And it is a popular spot in Denmark. In 2016, more than 4.5 million people visited the park. Worth special mention is the “Star Flyer”, a carousel that hikes riders up 80 meters above the ground.
Little Mermaid Statue
This instantly recognizable statue sitting on a rock next to the Langelinie promenade is surely the most famous landmark in the city. The sculptor Edvard Eriksen created the mermaid in 1913 as a tribute to the author Hans Christian Andersen, and it inspired by Andersen’s eponymous fairytale. When you get up close to the statue what will surprise you is how small it actually is, but you’ll have to take a photo because it’s simply one of those international identifiers.
Nyhavn
A part you certainly know from pictures is Nyhavn. In English it is called the new harbour. This is the historic waterfront area, next to a 17th-century canal where old wooden ships are still moored. On both sides of the canal are tall painted houses dating to the 1600s and 1700s. In the buildings you will find many restaurants, cafes and bars.
It’s hard to believe now, but for a long time this was a seedy part of town. But now it is really a nice place for coffee, beer or something else.
And check the house numbers 18, 20 and 67 . These were home to the author Hans Christian Andersen at different times.
Amalienborg (Royal Palace)
Just like Sweden and The Netherlands, Denmark is a kingdom. The residence of the Danish Queen and her family is Amalianborg and it’s located around 500 meters from the Nyhavn. The buildings date from about 1750. Since 1794 the palace has been used as a royal residence.
You can see the changing of the guards everyday around noon. Check the changing in the Copenhagen Travel Guide.
Frederik’s Church
Next to Amalienborg you will find the Frederik’s church. The awe-inspiring Marble Church with the characteristic copper green dome has to be one of the most impressive churches of the city. You can visit the church daily for free.
Botanical Garden
Copenhagen is really a city full of green spots. I just picked one for this guide and that is the Botanical garden. Ten hectares of gardens with a butterfly house and a tropical palm house dating to 1874.
The garden was first established in 1600 but was moved twice before it was ultimately given its current location, in 1870. The garden was laid out in 1874. The collection of 27 glass houses are particularly stunning. And good to know is that this is a free public green space!
Shopping in Copenhagen
There are Many nice places to shop in Copenhagen. The best place to start is at Strøget. This is Europe’s longest shopping street, which runs through the centre of the city. It’s a good place to shop if you’re looking for major international brands such as LEGO, H&M, Zara and Weekday.
Don’t miss the side streets off Strøget. Here you will find unique boutiques and vintage shops.
Another great area to combine shopping with making the best pictures for your Instagram is on Jægersborggade. Bars, boutiques, cafés and cobblestones make it one of Copenhagen’s trendiest streets.
Assistens Kirkegård
At the Jægersborggade southern end you will find Assistens Kirkegård, a cemetery. This is the place where famous Danes such as Hans Christian Andersen are buried.
Bikes in Copenhagen
After Amsterdam I think Kopenhagen is the second bike city in the world. A nice way to explore the city is by bicycle and you can rent them in various places. You can use this link to see the best bike routes.
Rosenborg Castle
If you like history and old buildings then you have to take a look at Rosenborg Castle. It was built by one of the most famous Danish kings, Christian IV, in the 17th century. The beautiful castle features 400 years of royal treasures and for example the Crown Jewels.
The interiors are well-preserved and invite you to take a journey in time, stepping into the shoes of the royalty that once lived here. You can see the king’s private writing cabinet, his bathroom, and view wax figures of former royal inhabitants. Around the palace you can visit this big park.
National Museum of Denmark
There are some nice museums in Kopenhagen and my favorite is the National museum of Denmark. It covers 14.000 years of Danish history. From Viking treasure to Egyptian mummies, Renaissance art and things from the present day. Keep in mind that the museum is closed on Monday!
Best time to visit Copenhagen
The best time to visit Copenhagen is from March to May or between June and August – depending on what you’re looking for. While the summer brings the warmest weather and a number of popular events, the other period can be slightly cheaper. Check the actual weather in Copenhagen.
Kastellet
Kastellet is one of the best preserved fortifications in the city of Copenhagen. The building is shaped like a five-pointed star with bastions at the ends. In addition to military installations, it houses a church and a windmill. Although the Kastellet is still used by the Danish army, it is now mainly used as a destination for excursions and a recreation area.
Freetown Christiania
I really want to show you the best things in every city, but sometimes you have to respect the people who live in a place where they don’t want to be filmed. That is in Freetown Christiania. You are welcome to visit this creative part of Kopenhagen, but don’t make pictures.