Things to do in Copenhagen: How to Prioritise Better

Things to see and do in Copenhagen: how to decide what’s worth your time

As a very popular destination, there are lots of things to see and do in Copenhagen that can satisfy any type of traveller. And, after spending 72 hours in here, I can safely say there is enough here to bring me back for another trip, particularly one that involves exploring at a slower pace.

This isn’t a ’25 things’ to see and do list, but rather a list of things I missed and want to come back and explore. It would be remiss of me not to mention the classics that you might want to check out on a first-time itinerary. The key is not to feel like you have to see it all, because you’ll likely end up exhausted and need another holiday when you get home. 

In this post, I’ll cover a variety of neighbourhoods and sights I wanted to visit but didn’t get a chance to, as they caught my interest and might be worth considering outside the typical ‘must-see’ items. The aim isn’t to give you another checklist; rather it’s to give you options so you can decide what’s important to you and how you want to spend your time. 

The classics

When you think of Copenhagen, you might think of the Little Mermaid, the canals, the waterfront and castles. This city is sprinkled with fairytale magic, and it’s easy to see why it has inspired so many stories. Some of the most common sights will include many of the following, and for good reason:

• Amalienborg Palace
• Rosenborg Castle & Gardens
• Tivoli Gardens (on my list for next time)
• Nyhavn
• Christianshavn
• Freetown Christiania (on my list for next time)
• Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (on my list for next time)
• Round Tower
• Kastellet
• The Little Mermaid
• Gefion Fountain

You can read more about many of these sights in my 3-day Copenhagen Itinerary. 

Experience Copenhagen, don’t just see the sights

Much of what I loved about this city was the feeling, the culture and the way people seemed to move through their day. While I only had a short glimpse into this and long summer days may have had something to do with it, I suspect the Danish have a secret that we’re not all in on. 

Copenhagen isn’t just about the classics. It’s so much more, and here’s what caught my attention, including the places I still want to explore next time.

Beyond the centre

Neighbourhoods

• Nordhavn – waterfront, modern, swimming, slower pace, cafes. This is where I stayed and highly recommend. 
• Østerbro – I briefly walked through this lovely leafy residential area with wide streets, bakeries and plenty of charm. You’ll find the famous Juno the Bakery here, but in my opinion it’s not worth going out of your way for. Tasty yes, but nothing extraordinary. 
• Frederiksberg – leafy streets, gardens, quieter pace not properly visited
• Nørrebro – multicultural, independent shops/cafes, Superkilen park
• Carlsberg City District – former brewery, historic, new development not visited. 

Sights/Activities

• Operaparken – a striking new harbourfront park next to the opera house, with winding paths and gardens which I walked past but didn’t get a chance to explore as it was quite late.
• Copenhill – a waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope and recreational space on its roof

There’s so much to explore within Copenhagen itself, but if you have more time, there are additional options further afield to visit. For 3 days, I’d stay in central Copenhagen but if you have more than 4 days, consider adding one of these day trips.

Day trips

• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – 40mins by train out of the city combining modern art, gardens, architecture and calm in a coastal setting
• Malmö – Sweden, 35-40mins across the Oresund Bridge
• Lund – Sweden, university town a further 20minutes from Malmö
• Kronborg Castle, Helsingør – UNESCO world heritage site

What to prioritise based on your time

1 day: a few classic sights including the harbour and waterfront.

3 days: follow my Copenhagen itinerary for suggestions, or pick and choose your own adventure.

4-5 days: add some additional neighbourhoods, museums and experiences to the 3 day itinerary, or choose one day trip. 

6+ days: room to explore the city and surrounds more deeply, with time to venture further afield, into neighbouring Sweden or just revisit what you love and enjoy a slower pace. 

There’s something for every type of traveller in Copenhagen and my suggestion is to focus on what interests you and build your days around that.

How I’d choose what to see and do in Copenhagen

There’s no right way to visit Copenhagen or any other destination. Travel is subjective and it’s about understanding what’s available and what aligns to your interests. 

For myself, increasingly as I get older it’s not about asking what are the top things to see; rather how do I want to feel when I’m visiting somewhere. Often, what makes a destination stick in our minds isn’t just the beauty or the sights, it’s the feeling, or the person you were when visiting. Perhaps it brought out your adventurous nature or fed your soul artistically, or allowed to you to really slow down and feel rested.

Below are some examples of things to do in Copenhagen based on different traveller types:

Art lovers – Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, SMK Statens Museum for Kunst, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

History buffs – Rosenborg Castle, Kastellet, The Round Tower and Amalienborg Palace which is still a working royal residence today.

Architecture & design enthusiasts– Design Museum, The Royal Danish Library, Copenhill, Operaparken, Superkilen Park. The city is also incredibly design forward.

Foodies– Copenhagen’s food scene goes well beyond fine dining. Explore the various street food locations like Reffen & Broens, explore Torvehallerne for speciality foods and smørrebrød. Eat at the incredible bakeries. The city is famous for focusing on seasonal organic produce and sustainable approaches to food. 

Outdoors – Harbour baths in summer, Copenhagen’s parks and gardens, cycling and experience the sauna culture.

Shopaholics – Strøget for the central shopping experience, or explore Nørrebro and Frederiksberg for independent shops and boutiques.

Slow travellers – Any of it, at your own pace. Sit and read a book in a coffee shop for 2 hours, wander the gardens, visit a museum, whatever your heart desires. 

Design your Copenhagen adventure

Don’t try to cram everything into your visit. Depending on how many days you have, design your trip based on interests, geographical proximity and what’s non-negotiable for you. Invariably, you will miss something and that’s ok, it just means there’s more of a reason to return.

And let’s not forget that travel is a means to explore, enjoy and immerse yourself into another culture, another way of life and maybe come back with a little perspective. Slow travel means that however many days you have, you follow what suits your needs, not a prescribed version of what you think you should see and do. Whatever you choose, there’s no doubt that Copenhagen gives you plenty of reasons to slow down, explore and leave something for next time.

Planning a Scandinavian adventure? Why not add Oslo to your trip?
Explore my Norway guides here.

Need a little more help planning your trip? I’ve put together a guide to help you plan more intentionally here.