Copenhagen Travel Guide
Copenhagen is known for the gorgeous colorful buildings and bike-friendly streets but there’s SO much more to it! It’s a European city that appeals to so many different types of travelers with it’s charming neighborhoods, adorable cafés, & historical palaces. I’ll break down how to spend your time in Copenhagen, where to eat, and what you have to do while you’re there in this guide!
How many days to spend in Copenhagen
I would recommend spending 4 days in Copenhagen. I had 3 days and crammed so much in during that time but would have loved another day!
Where to Stay
This was the toughest decision for me being a tourist that doesn’t like to do a ton of touristy things. Everyone says to stay in Indre By (City Center) for your first time since it’s central to everything but I love being in neighborhoods that really give the feel for the city. I did end up splitting up my trip and doing 2 nights in Indre By and 1 night in Vesterbro and thought that worked great for what I was looking for with my trip.
To help you understand the different neighborhoods here’s what you get in each:
Indre By (City Center)
Indre By is Copenhagen’s historic city center, and is packed with iconic landmarks, royal palaces, colorful streets, and charming public squares. It’s home of the famous Nyhavn (waterfront and entertainment district with the colorful townhouses, ships, cafes), Tivoli Gardens (world’s 2nd oldest amusement park) and Strøget (car-free pedestrian shopping street).
Best for: First time visitors
Vesterbro
Vesterbro used to be a working-class district and now is one of Copenhagen’s trendiest neighborhoods, filled with stylish cafés, craft breweries, boutique shops, and a vibrant nightlife scene. It’s also home to the popular Meatpacking District, where you can enjoy some of the city’s best restaurants, galleries, and cultural events.
Best for: People in their 30s & 40s
Nørrebro
Nørrebro is a very diverse and creative neighborhood, known for its multicultural food scene, independent shops, colorful street art, and lively local vibe. It’s a good place to experience the city’s modern culture while relaxing in parks like Superkilen or discovering hidden cafés and vintage stores.
Best for: People in their 20s & 30s
Christianshavn
Christianshavn is built around picturesque canals with a mixture of history, waterfront charm, and modern living. You can find the spiral tower of the Church of Our Saviour, the hippie community: Freetown Christiania, and a bit more laid back vibe.
Best for: People wanting to see a very unique side of Copenhagen, creatives
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg is a more elegant neighborhood known for its grand boulevards, upscale shopping, and beautiful green spaces. You can find the Frederiksberg Gardens, tour Frederiksberg Palace, or enjoy the excellent cafés, restaurants, and relaxed local atmosphere.
Best for: Families
Hotels vs Airbnbs
Deciding to stay in a hotel versus Airbnb is going to be completely up to what you prefer. I stayed in an Airbnb for 2 nights and a hotel for the other night.
I really liked the Airbnb option because you get much more space than a hotel and I always like having a kitchen because I’m not a fan of eating out every meal. One thing about Airbnb’s in Copenhagen, a lot of times these are people’s personal homes so be respectful of the space and if you don’t want to stay somewhere that other people are living most of the time, then go the hotel route. Also, most of these places do not have air conditioning.
My Airbnb was perfect for my first trip to Copenhagen. The location in Indre By (City Center) was in the middle of everything so I was able to see and do a ton without having to walk or bike really far. The balcony was my favorite! I would come back to recoup throughout the day and just chill on the balcony. I linked it here.
I also stayed at a hotel/hostel combo in Vesterbro one night called MEININGER Hotel. I wanted to try to meet some people so I opted for a hotel that might have some community events, a bar, game area, etc. for the last night. I stayed in my own room that was quaint but I really didn’t need much for one night. There are options to stay in dorms that have 6 bunk beds, and for the ladies, there are all-female dorms as well. This hotel was super affordable and the location is minutes away from Tivoli Gardens and walking distance to all the fun things in Vesterbro!
Getting around
I took the Metro, train, walked or biked everywhere in Copenhagen! You do not need to rent a car here! I only took an Uber once to get from my Airbnb to my Hotel. Copenhagen is extremely walkable and renting a bike is a must do while you’re there.
Walking: Wear comfy shoes because the sidewalks are made up of cobblestone.
Biking: I used the Donkey Republic app to rent a bike. You can rent by the minute, the hour, 3 hours, or the day. Just a heads up you have to end your rental when you’re done even if your time isn’t up. I went to a food market and thought my time was up but because I didn’t go in and “End Rental” in the app, it kept running the time. And you have to be next to the bike to end it.
Metro/Train: Depending on where you’re staying, the Metro and Train make for very cheap rides to and from the airport. I took the Metro into the City Center when I got to Copenhagen and then was close to the train station at the end of my trip so took the train to the airport when I was leaving. Tickets were around $5 USD, which was much cheaper than an Uber ride.
currency
The currency in Copenhagen is the Danish Krone, however, Denmark is a mostly cashless country so I didn’t end up exchanging any money. I paid with a credit card for everything and never once needed cash.
Things to Do in Copenhagen
#1 – Nyhavn
When you see pictures of Copenhagen, this is most likely what you are seeing. It’s the iconic waterfront lined with colorful 17th-century townhouses, cafés, restaurants, ships, and more. There’s live music at times. I saw it at sunset and early in the morning. I loved the colors at sunset, however if you want it to yourself, get there before 9am and it won’t be flooded with tourists, but nothing will be open yet.
#2 – Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace is home to Denmark’s Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister’s Office. You can access The Tower & The Chapel for free but will have to pay to access the Reception Rooms, Ruins, Kitchen, & Stables. A combo ticket costs 215 DKK online.
#3 – The Round Tower
The Round Tower is Europe’s oldest functioning astronomical observatory and is known for it’s spiral walk to the top with crazy views of Copenhagen. You can enter the church area for free but to go up into the tower is costs 60 DKK.
#4 – Gråbrødretorv
Gråbrødretorv is a historic square in the heart of Copenhagen. I happened to just stumble upon it by chance and it was one of my favorite parts of the city! It has a big plane tree and fountain in the middle and a great area to chill and relax in the middle of the day.
#5 – Studio Arhoj
There is so much shopping in Copenhagen but I’m not really a shopper however I did stumble into Studio Arhoj and it was awesome! It’s an independent artisan shop where you can see the artists glassblowing in the back and creating amazing art. I bought the cute little guy I’m holding in this picture. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s worth checking out!
#6 – Rosenberg Castle
Rosenberg Castle is a 400-year-old Renaissance building that is surrouned by tons of greenspaces and gardens. You can pay a fee, 140 DKK, to go inside and see the interior, Danish Crown jewels, and more, or just admire it from the outside for free, which is what I did!
#7 – Botanical Garden
I love exploring gardens so the Botanical Garden was on my list. It’s in the heart of the city and is home to thousands of plant species and a stunning historic glasshouse. This is free to explore but if you want to visit the Palm House & Butterfly House, it will cost 70 DKK.
#8 – Strøget
Strøget is one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets. It’s packed with luxury boutiques, international brands, and stylish Danish designers. Once again, I’m not a shopper, but it’s still worth walking around and checking out!
#9 – Tivoli Gardens
So many travel bloggers said Tivoli Gardens is a must and I have to say I was hesitant at first, but it was 100% worth it. It’s the second oldest amusement park in the world, created in 1843, and was an inspiration for Walt Disney. It’s filled with fun rides, beautiful gardens, live entertainment, and enchanting evening lights. I’d suggest seeing it during the day and night! You can enter starting at 150 DKK or you can do the entrance & ride pass starting at 389 DKK. Ticket info here.
#10 – Visit Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania is a little hippie community in the Christianshavn neighborhood. It’s a self-proclaimed community known for its colorful street art, alternative culture, and creative atmosphere. Each area of Copenhagen has it’s own style and vibe but Christiania was probably the most unique!
#11 – Church of Our Saviour
This church is beautifully designed on the inside but is known for its famous spiral staircase that wraps around the exterior of it to the top for a panoramic view of Copenhagen. It’s free to go inside the church but costs 70 DKK to go up the staircase.
#12 – La Banchina
La Banchina is a fun spot to hang on a warm day or at sunset. There’s a café you can get food at as well as drinks or take a dip in the harbor. It’s a great spot to have a little picnic with food and wine and hang with friends!
#13 – Assistens Cemetery
I biked through Assistens Cemetery to go explore the Nørrebro neighborhood and it’s a beautiful green space that’s both a historic cemetery and the final resting place of some famous Danes, including Hans Christian Andersen.
#14 – Superkilen Park
Superkilen Park was such a cool park in Copenhagen! It’s where art, recreation, and cultural landmarks from around the world come together in a vibrant urban landscape.
#15 – Jægersborggade Street
This famous street in Nørrebro was under construction when I was in Copenhagen so it was much more laid back but it’s home to uber-chic bars, bakeries, & boutiques.
#16 – Meatpacking District
The Meatpacking District was once an industrial hub and now has transformed into one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, packed with restaurants, breweries, nightlife, and contemporary art galleries.
Things I’d do next time!
Food Recommendations
TorvehallerneKBH Food Hall
This gourmet food hall is the fanciest food hall I’ve ever been to but SO worth it. It features local produce, artisanal specialties, and some of the city’s best casual dining options.
Reffen Street Food Market
Reffen was one of my favorite spots I hung out at in Copenhagen. It’s a street food market with different foods from around the world! There are dozens of food stalls, you can get some craft drinks and there’s a very lively outdoor atmosphere. I would suggest going for sunset but check the hours ahead of time because most of the places close down as soon as the sun starts setting.
Ismageriet
Known as the best ice cream in Copenhagen, there’s multiple locations all around Copenhagen.
Copenhagen Hot Dog Deli City
You have to try a Copenhagen street dog at some point! I’d give this one 8/10.
bakeries
Andersen & Maillard
I ate so many pastries throughout my time in Copenhagen but Andersen & Maillard was my favorite bakery. My Airbnb owner suggested getting a “BMO” (a cheese sandwich but way better than that) from there so I got that, a pastry, and a chocolate chip cookie and that cookie was amazing! Everything from there was 10/10.
Buka
I got a twisted chocolate pastry that was incredibly fresh! Buka was my second favorite bakery and has multiple locations.
Hart
Hart has quite a few locations and I was told to try a cardamon bun from there. I went later in the day and got the vanilla & cardamon soft bun. It was still fresh at 5pm and delicious!
Coffee Shops
Orsa
My favorite coffee on this trip came from Orsa in Vesterbro. I went back two days in a row for an iced latte! But heads up, there are signs all over that say “No F*cking Laptops” so this is not a spot to work at.
Hans
This cute little shop that has street level views has a clean aesthetic and good coffee.
Lille Petra
This coffee shop has the cutest courtyard and a backroom that gives library vibes. It does NOT have WIFI though, just a heads up.
Coffee Collective
There are a few locations around Copenhagen and I hit up the one in Nørrebro while exploring that neighborhood. It’s a good central point between the famous Jægersborggade Street & Superkilen Park.
Bars/Breweries
K-Bar
If you want a low key cocktail bar in the heart of the city, check out K-Bar.
Kayak Bar
For gorgeous views of the water and the city, check out Kayak Bar and sit on the patio.
Anarkist
Checked out Anarkist after Tivoli Gardens and had some fantastic beers. There’s a patio you can sit on if you went to Tivoli Gardens otherwise plenty of space inside.
Warpigs
Copenhagen definitely does breweries right and my favorite was Warpigs in the Meatpacking District! Lots of outdoor and indoor tables to hang at.
