City trip Copenhagen – the capital of Denmark is the ideal destination for a city break. Copenhagen is a vibrant, buzzing and compact city. Picturesque houses in Nyhavn, interesting museums, historic and modern buildings, excellent restaurants and of course the famous Danish lunch dish Smørrebrød are perfect excuses for a city trip to Copenhagen. Fashionistas will rave about Stroget shopping district with an abundance of shops and the hippest fashion and design. Copenhagen is an El Dorado for shopping addicts!
The historic centre of Copenhagen is characterized by medieval streets and squares, shopping streets and impressive buildings. Hip and trendy are the districts Norrebro and Vesterbro, formerly the red light district of Copenhagen. The city is not only known for its excellent Carlsberg beer but also for Freetown Christiana, home to the alternative community of Copenhagen; a mix of brightly painted and decorated houses, art galleries, music venues and organic food.
Table of Contents
Copenhagen Card – Flights – Hotels and B&B’s – Sights – Restaurants and Bars – Shopping
Copenhagen Card
Purchase the Copenhagen Card as it ensures you a hassle-free Copenhagen city trip. This city pass allows you free entry to more than 80 attractions and museums in Copenhagen. With this card in hand, you save time and money. Buying single tickets is often more expensive and with this ticket in hand waiting lines are history because this card gives you fast-track entrance at popular attractions. Free public transport and discounts on tours are also included. The Copenhagen Card can easily be booked online in advance.
The City Pass explained
Purchase the Copenhagen Pass valid for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours. This pass allows you free entry to over 80 attractions in Copenhagen, including Tivoli Gardens, the Rosenborg and Kronborg Castles, Carlsberg Brewery and Amalienborg. Free public transport (bus, metro, train, transfer from the airport included) and discounts on tours, restaurants and bars are also included. The Copenhagen Card comes with a guidebook describing the various attractions and how to get there. Each adult is allowed to bring two children under the age of 10. With the Copenhagen Card in your pocket you see more and pay less!
Copenhagen Card
Included:
- 85 attractions and museums
- Public transport
- Transfer from the airport
- Canal cruise
- Valid for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours
- Discount on tours
- Discount in restaurants
- App with Copenhagen guidebook
- 2 children under 10 free of charge
Flights to Copenhagen
Copenhagen Airport Kastrup is the largest airport in Denmark and is located southeast of Copenhagen on the island of Amager. The airport is only 8 kilometers from Copenhagen city centre. Train and metro link the airport to Copenhagen. Journey time is about 15 minutes. Many airlines connect European cities with Copenhagen: SAS, Norwegian, KLM and also low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Transavia.
Airport to Copenhagen centre
Train and metro connect the airport to the city centre. Metro Line M2 takes you to the Kongens Nytorv metro station in Copenhagen centre in 15 minutes. Departures are every two or three minutes from Terminal 3. A ticket for 3 zones costs 36 DKK (about 5 euros). When travelling by train, your journey time and fare are the same as on the metro. The only difference is that the train takes you to Copenhagen Central Station. A taxi ride straight to your hotel will set you back about 300 DKK (40 euro).
Tip: The Copenhagen Card includes transport by metro or train from the airport to the centre of Copenhagen!
Hotel or B&B Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a wide range of accommodation from hotels to B&Bs and from five-star and design to budget accommodation. Are you going to stay in the city centre or in a residential area or in the suburbs: the choice is yours. There is a place to everyone’s taste and for every budget. Even though Copenhagen is known as an expensive city, there are quite a number of affordable 2 and 3-star hotels.
Danhostel Copenhagen City on the Hans Christian Andersens Boulevard 50 is very affordable as are centrally located City Hotel Nebo (Istedgade 6), Absalon Hotel in the vibrant district of Vesterbro (Helgolangsgade 15) and Axel Hotel Guldsmeden (Colbjornsensgade 14) in the same neighborhood. Besides hotels, Copenhagen also offers accommodation in bed & breakfasts and apartments.
The Nimb Hotel and Hotel Skt. Petri are recommended if you want to splash out during your city trip to Copenhagen. The stylish boutique hotel Nimb is located in the famous Tivoli Gardens (Bernstorffsgade 5) in an impressive Moorish-style building. The trendy 5-star design hotel Skt. Petri is located at Krystalgade 22. Hotel chain Bröchner has 5 luxury hotels in Copenhagen, including the five-star Hotel Herman K (Bremerholm 6).
Things to do in Copenhagen
Most Copenhagen attractions are in the centre of the city. As the city is compact, most of the sights and museums can be reached on foot or by bike. The most popular sights of Copenhagen are Nyhavn, the colourful harbour district with restaurants and bars, amusement park Tivoli and, last but not least, the iconic statue of The Little Mermaid. The impressive and beautiful castles, such as Amalienborg, Rosenborg and Christiansborg, and interesting museums such as the National Museum (Nationalmuseet) and the Statens Museum for Art are also worth a visit. Go to the Carlsberg brewery for real Danish beer!
Tip: A good start to your Copenhagen city trip is a ride on a Hop-on Hop-off bus. Lean back and relax while you pass most of the highlights of the Danish capital. You decide where to get off, which attraction or museum you are going to visit and then you hop on again in to see even more highlights.
Nyhavn
How to get there
Location
Nyhavn is located in the centre of Copenhagen, close to Charlottenborg Palace and Kongens Nytorv Square.
Metro and bus
Kongens Nytorv Metro Station is a 5-minute walk from Nyhavn. Bus route 1A, 26 and 66 have stops close to the entertainment area.
Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s charming harbour, is a must-see during your city trip to the Danish capital. The historic buildings on the quayside with their facades painted in bright colours are extremely photogenic and every photographer’s dream. Swedish prisoners of war from the Dano-Swedish War 1658-1660 dug Nyhavn (New harbour) between 1670-1673. For many centuries, Nyhavn was notorious for the wild nightlife, the fights, the prostitutes and the booze. Today this former seamen quarter offers nightlife and entertainment. The merchant houses and warehouses have been converted into restaurants, bars and cafes. On sunny spring and summer days, Nyhavn is the city’s hotspot, where people come to have a meal and a drink. Every day in summer you can listen to concerts and live music in cafes and restaurants. The harbour is also the starting point of the canal cruise boats that sail through the Copenhagen waterways. The famous fairytale writer Hans Christiaan Andersen lived at Nyhavn, like many other Danish artists.
Amalienborg
How to get there
Location
The palaces of Amalienborg are on Amaliagade and Frederiksgade.
Metro and bus
Kongens Nytorv Metro Station is a 10-minute walk from the palace, bus routes 1A, 20E, 26 and 350S have stops close to the palace.
Amalienborg is the winter residence of the Danish royal family. The complex consists of four palaces in rococo style situated on an octagonal square in the centre of Copenhagen. The equestrian statue in the middle of the square is King Frederick on his horse. Two of the four palaces are open for a visit. The Palace of Christian VIII is the museum of the Glücksburg Dynasty. You will see on your visit offices of Christian IX and X and Frederick VIII as well as the royal dining room, the drawing room of Queen Louise and the royal wardrobe. All rooms have their original furniture and other attributes. The palace of Christian II is only occasionally opened to the public because it is the palace where the royal family receives heads of state and other dignitaries. The Christian IX Palace is the residence of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark.
The changing of the guard takes place every day at noon: a colourful spectacle. The Royal Guard marches from Rosenborg Castle via the city centre to Amalienborg, to take their place in front of the Queen’s door. One of the best places to watch this parade is on Bredgade, near Kongens Nytorv. Amalienborg also includes Amaliehaven, a large park between the palace and the harbour.
The Little Mermaid
How to get there
Location
The statue of the little Mermaid is in the port of Copenhagen at the Langelinje Pier.
Bus
Bus routes 26 and 27 stops at the Folke Bernadottes Allé, Kalkbraenderihavnsgade and Indiakaj, a 10-minute walk from the statue.
Het beeldje van de ‘Kleine Zeemeermin’ is niet heel groot, maar een van de populairste bezienswaardigheden van Kopenhagen. Iedere toerist wil er mee op de foto. De kleine Zeemeermin (Den lille Havfrue in het Deens) zit op een steen in het water aan Langelinje Pier. Het beeldje van 1,25 meter is gebaseerd op het gelijknamige sprookje van de Deense schrijver Hans Christian Andersen en staat sinds 1913 in de haven van Kopenhagen. Het standbeeld is gemaakt door Edward Eriksen. Het beeld is in de loop der tijd meerdere malen door vandalen beklad en beschadigd, maar gelukkig is het altijd weer in ere hersteld.
Tivoli Gardens
How to get there
Location
Tivoli Amusement Park is close to Central Station and Copenhagen City Hall.
Bus
At City Hall Square (Rådhusplads) and H.C. Andersens Boulevard bus routes 12, 14, 26 and 33 have their stops near the entrance of the park.
Attractiepark Tivoli ligt midden in het centrum van Kopenhagen. Tivoli is het populairste pretpark van Denemarken met een bezoekersaantal van ongeveer 4,5 miljoen per jaar. Het werd in 1843 door Georg Carstensen opgericht en is daarmee een van de oudste attractieparken ter wereld. De officiële naam is Tivoli Tuinen, want het park is rijk aan bomen, planten, bloemen, vijvers en wandelpaden. Jong en oud kunnen hier genieten van snelle en minder snelle atracties (van draaimolen tot achtbaan) en allerlei shows. Vooral ’s avonds wanneer meer dan 115.000 lichtjes aangaan, is Tivoli een juweeltje om te zien.
Rosenborg Castle
How to get there
Location
Castle Rosenborg is located in the city park Kongens Have. The entrance to the palace is at the Oster Voldgade 4a.
Metro and bus
Rosenborg Castle is 200 metres from Norreport Station and close to a metro station (lines M1 and M2), train and bus (routes 5A, 6A, 14, 42, 43, 94N, 184, 185, 173E, 150S and 350S).
Rosenborg Castle is located in the centre of Copenhagen, in Kongens Have city park. This city palace dates from 1607 and served as a summer residence of King Christian IV. Rosenborg is built in the Dutch Renaissance style. Since 1838, it has been a cultural history museum. You will find in this museum the crown jewels of the Danish royal family and the throne of the king. The interior of the palace is well preserved: paintings, statues, historical appliances and other special items are on display. Rosenborg is regularly home to special exhibitions. The castle grounds are the perfect spot to relax during your city trip.
National Museum
How to get there
Location
The Nationalmuseet is located in the Prinsens Palace, a royal palace dating back to 18th century. The entrance is at Ny Vestergade 10.
Bus
The nearest bus stop is Stormbroen. Bus routes 1A, 2A, 9A and 14 take you there.
The National Museum of Copenhagen, Nationalmuseet in Danish, is located in the former 18th-century royal palace and close to the popular pedestrian and shopping area Strøget. With the Copenhagen Card in your pocket, entry to the museum is free. The National Museum is the largest cultural history museum in Denmark. Here you will find a fascinating overview of the history of Denmark and the Danes; from 14000 years ago to the 20th century. The exhibits are aimed at both adults and children. There is much to see and do for everyone: interactive displays and an educational playground for children. The permanent collection is huge and in addition there are often temporary exhibitions. Close to the museum is the Victorian Home with original interiors furnished in late-Victorian style. It was the home of merchant Rudolf Christensen.
Restaurants and bars in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has an abundance of fine restaurants: from chic and pricey, such as the Michelin star restaurants Noma of top chef René Redzepi (Refshalevej 96) and Geranium (Per Henrik Lings Allé 4), to modestly priced restaurants. On sunny days the brasseries and restaurants on the quays in Nyhavn are the perfect place to be: outdoor seating and tasty Danish dishes on the menu.
Restaurant tips
Be sure to go to one of the very friendly-priced 9 Cofoco restaurants (Copenhagen Food Company). Restaurant Vespa in the centre at Store Kongensgade 90 specializes in Mediterranean dishes. Restaurant Høst is located at Nørre Farimagsgade 41. Gran Torino (Sortedam Dossering 5) is one of the three restaurants of the popular restaurant chain Madklubben, which stands for quality at affordable prices. Other Madklunbben restaurants are Vesterbro (Vesterbrogade 62) and Bistro De Luxe, a Parisian bistro in modern style at the Store Kongensgade 66.
Copenhagen Street Food (Trangravsvej 14), with almost 40 street food trucks from all over the world can be found in former storage sheds for paper on the Papiroën, paper island. Treat yourself to Asian, Mexican, Colombian, Italian, German and Danish delicacies. Other hotspots are Radio(Julius Thomsens Gade 12) and Høst.
Versterbro, the former red light district of Copenhagen, is a lively area brimming with trendy nightclubs, restaurants and shops. Cartlton, one of the former brothels of Vesterbro, has a new life as a café-restaurant, famous for their tasty salads, fish and pastas (Halmtorvet 14). Larsbjornsstraede is the Quartier Latin of Copenhagen full of restaurants, cafes and shops.
Shopping in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is perfectly suited for shopping. The Danish capital is considered the best shopping city in Scandinavia: Danish design and fashion, large chain stores, department stores and small boutiques. Copenhagen is a paradise for shopaholics and fashionistas!
Copenhagen’s most famous shopping area is Strøget, one of the longest pedestrian areas and shopping streets in Europe. Strøget consists of several interconnected squares and streets: Frederiksberggade, Gammel Torv, Ny Torv, Nygade, Vimmelskaftet, Amagertorv and Østergade. You will find both international chain stores and authentic boutiques and designer stores. In addition, there are many restaurants, cafes and street performers will keep you entertained. Be sure to visit the department stores of Magasin du Nord (Kongens Nytorv 13) and Illum (Ostergade 52). The side streets are home to shops of young Danish designers, such as Day Birger and Mikkelsen, Mads Norgaard and Friis & Company. Other interesting shopping streets in Copenhagen are Ravnsborggade in the Nørrebro and Verstebrogade and Istedgade. Bredgade, Laederstraede, Købmagergade, Grønnegade, Adelgade and Kronprinsengade are in the city centre.
Markets in Copenhagen
Popular flea markets in Copenhagen are the B & W Loppenmarkt, a covered flea market every Saturday and Sunday at the harbour (Refshalevej 163), and the Frederiksberg Flea Market, open every Saturday at the Smallegade held from April to the end of October.