30 Great Things to Do While In Copenhagen

This piece initially ran on Your RV Lifestyle. Read the original here. 

Cheerful, charming, and champions of contentment and quality of life, Denmark is one of northern Europe’s most appealing countries. Old-fashioned charm and modern design seamlessly intermingle in the capital city of Copenhagen, which is contemporary, chic, and oh-so-cool.

Located on the coastal islands of Amager and Zealand, the avant-garde city boasts the perfect blend of culture and history with beautiful castles and palaces, forward-thinking architecture, world-class museums, art galleries, and the world’s oldest amusement park.

History meets progression in this sustainable Scandinavian city and there is a perfect blend of beautiful historic buildings lining cobblestone streets and sleek modern architecture. It is home to colorful and charismatic neighborhoods, each with its own character and vibe, and the city is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world so getting around is easy.

Linked to Sweden via the Öresund Bridge, an incredible feat of engineering that connects the two countries by rail and road, Copenhagen is not only one of Europe’s design capitals but has a burgeoning foodie scene with a profusion of Michelin-starred restaurants.

Hygge, meaning “cozy and comfortable” is in the hearts of the Danes, who love camaraderie and getting together to share stories and delicious local Danish cuisine. Hailed as being one of the most liveable and happiest nations on Earth, Denmark will take you into her ‘hyggeligt’ embrace and make you feel right at home.

Here are some of the best things to do in the city of Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid is a long-standing and much-loved symbol of the city and Denmark. Sculpted by Edvard Eriksen in 1913, the bronze statue was inspired by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s eponymous fairytale. The mermaid sits elegantly on a rock next to the water at the Langelinie promenade and is just four feet high.

Address: Langelinie, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: Little Mermaid Charming Game and Tour

Nyhavn is the most iconic landmark in Copenhagen and one of the city’s gems. The historic waterfront area has a charming 17th-century harbor with traditional wooden ships and modern boats. The quay is lined with pretty pastel-hued, 18th-century merchants’ houses, three of which were once home to fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen.

The picturesque quay is also lined with numerous bars, cafés, and restaurants, some of which serve the best seafood in the city. It is perpetually bustling with locals and visitors but is a must-visit when exploring the city.

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour of Must-See Sights

National Museum of Denmark by Richard Mortel / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is Denmark’s largest museum and boasts a spectacular display of Scandinavian cultural history. Located in the 18th-century Prince’s Palace, the museum features exhibitions from the Stone Age through the Viking Age to modern Danish history.

Be sure to check out the incredible Trundholm Sun Chariot, a Bronze Age artifact dating back to 1,400 BC of a bronze statue of a horse pulling a gold disc representing the sun. Be prepared for crowds in the high season.

Address: Prince’s Mansion, Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: 72-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Classic Copenhagen Route

The Copenhagen Botanical Gardens by Mike Linksvayer / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The Copenhagen Botanical Gardens are a 10-acre green oasis in the center of the city and worth a visit to see the magnificent gardens and the majestic 1870s iron and glass structures that house them. The arboretum is home to more than 13,000 plant species of living flora, housed in a complex of historic 19th-century greenhouses.

Highlights include the Arctic house, in which hi-tech air-conditioning recreates a polar environment for the gardens’ Arctic species, the rhododendron garden, and a glasshouse with cast-iron spiral staircases leading to walkways above the trees. There is also a butterfly house to explore in the summer.

Address: Gothersgade 128, 1123 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Opening Hours: 8:30 am – 4 pm, daily

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour

Christiansborg Palace by Eugene Phoen / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Set on the small islet of Slotsholmen in the heart of Copenhagen, Christiansborg Palace was once a royal palace and is now the seat of the Danish Parliament and home to the Danish Prime Minister’s Office, and the Supreme Court of Denmark.

The palace has some exquisite rooms, some of which are used by the Royal Family for various functions and events, such as the Tower Room and the Oval Throne Room where the Danish monarchs are proclaimed. The Great Hall is where all the Queen’s tapestries hang, depicting 1,000 years of Danish history.

Guided tours of the palace include visiting the Riding School and the little court theatre which was built in 1767.

Address: Prins Jørgens Gård 5, 1218 Copenhagen, Denmark

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen City & Christiansborg Palace Private Walking Tour

The Kaare Klint-Designed Reading Room by lglazier618 / CC BY 2.0

Danish design lovers will delight in the Design Museum Danmark. Housed in a beautiful Rococo building that was Denmark’s first public hospital and is an artwork itself, the world-class museum features one of the world’s largest collections of Danish design.

Exhibits include a wealth of decorative art, ceramics, glass, fashion, textile, and poster art, as well as industrial design from Denmark. You’ll find works by Danish designers like Arne Jacobsen, Kaare Klint, Finn Juhl, Poul Kjærholm, Hans Wegner, and Verner Panton and can enjoy interactive workshops and in-depth guided tours.

Address: Bredgade 68, 1260 Copenhagen, Denmark

Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (Sunday: free 30-minute guided tour in English at 14:00)

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: Inner City Day Trip

Canal Boat Tour in Nyhavn by Jonathan / CC BY 2.0

Get another perspective of the city from the water. Join a hop-on/hop-off boat tour that allows you to board the boat at seven unique spots at any time for 48 hours and see the city in a new light. Glide past famous sights like Amaliehaven, the Little Mermaid statue, and Christiansborg Palace.

You can also skipper a solar-powered GoBoat around the city’s harbor under your own steam. These comfy boats putter along at a leisurely pace and you can take in famous sights like the multicolored houses of Christianshavn, the Royal Danish Opera House, and the striking Black Diamond library.

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: 1-Hour Canal Cruise from Ved Stranden or Nyhavn

Jægersborggade in Nørrebro, Copenhagen by Bex Walton / CC BY 2.0

Jaegersborggade is a charming, cobbled street in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro neighborhood lined with brightly colored buildings and a slew of organic produce shops, ceramics and jewelry designers, art galleries, and buzzing bars.

You’ll find the best coffee in town at a specialty micro-roastery and coffee consulting company, The Coffee Collective, and the Michelin-starred restaurant Relæ for an out-of-this-world fine dining experience. The only caramel cookery in Copenhagen is on this street and should not be missed for a sweet treat.

The street’s southern end is home to Assistens Kirkegård, a leafy and exceptionally picturesque cemetery where famous Danes such as Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard are buried.

Address: Jaegersborggade, Nørrebro

Suggested Tour: Copenhagen: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour

The National Gallery of Denmark by SMK Statens Museum for Kunst (Officiel) / CC BY 2.0

The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is Denmark’s largest art museum and is famous for its breathtaking collection of Danish Golden Age art, Danish contemporary art, and one of the world’s best Matisse collections.

Located in Østre Anlæg Park, the gallery houses outstanding collections of Danish and international art dating back seven centuries, as well as special exhibitions, royal collections, guided tours, and workshops.

Make a stop at the Kafereria after your visit to admire the exquisite Danh Vo-designed interiors that feature classic Danish furniture combined with cool designs from Italy and Japan.

Address: Sølvgade 48-50, 1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm / Wednesday 10 am – 8 pm

Suggested Tour: Guided Tour of the National Gallery of Denmark

Moat of the Citadel by Stefan Jürgensen / CC BY 2.0

The Kastellet (Citadel) is a 17th-century fortress in the heart of Copenhagen and one of the most beautiful landmarks in the city. Set on the border of inner Copenhagen and the area of Østerbro, the Citadel was founded by Danish King Christian 4 in 1626 and is used as an HQ for military operations today.

Constructed in the form of a pentagon with sturdy bastions at each corner, Kastellet is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Northern Europe. It is open for the public to enjoy and has several walking and jogging tracks that wind around the Citadel.

Address: Hovedvagt, Kastellet 1, 2100 Copenhagen

Pretty Views from the Hot Tub by Christoffer Grann / CC BY 2.0

Take a break from sightseeing and have a soak against a backdrop of beautiful views. CopenHot is a contemporary and ultra-cool fresco spa in the industrial-hip Nordhavn neighborhood that is perched right on the water with unbeatable views.

This only-in-the-know attraction features a cluster of wooden hot tubs and saunas filled with mineral-rich saltwater and heated from a crackling fire below. This is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a romantic sundowner.

Address: Refshalevej 325, 1432 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11 am – 7 pm

The Cisterns by Wayne Feiden / CC BY 2.0

The Cisterns (Cisternerne) is a multimedia installation space located below the grounds of Søndermarken park and forms part of Frederiksberg Museums as a venue for art exhibitions and other events. The main attraction of the Cistern is the space itself, which was once a vast subterranean reservoir filled with drinking water for the city.

The reservoir also served as a reflection pool for the nearby Frederiksborg Castle and was the only dripstone cave in Denmark. Today, the damp and gloomy labyrinth which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites makes for an interesting, albeit a rather noir exhibition space.

Address: Cisternerne i Søndermarken, Frederiksberg, Denmark

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm / Friday 11 am – 8 pm

Suggested Tour: Guided Tour of the Cisternerne

Reffen Street Food by Stig Nygaard / CC BY-SA 2.0

Reffen Street Food is the largest street food market in Scandinavia, and you’ll find food from all over the world here and a fantastic social vibe. Gastronomy, craft, culture, and community come together in this urban playground set on the quay in Refshaleøen where over 40 vendors sell a variety of organic produce, delicious ready-to-eat meals, and other gourmet delights.

Grab a bite and a drink and hit one of the sun chairs on the quay where you can sit and watch the life at the Copenhagen harbor.

Address: Refshalevej 167 Unit A, 1432 Copenhagen, Denmark

World’s Largest Beer Collection by jill, jellidonut… whatever / CC BY-SA 2.0

Home to more than 22,000 bottles of beer, this collection is simply breathtaking to see. Leif Sonne, an engineer from the small town of Svendborg, has been collecting bottles of beer in every style and brand, and from countries around the world since 1968.

When the collection grew too large for his home, it was moved to Carlsberg Breweries where visitors can take a look at the incredible collection. Leif Sonne now holds the Guinness Book of Records for owning the largest collection of beer bottles in the world.

Address: 100 Ny Carlsberg Vej, Copenhagen, 1760, Denmark

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm

Agnete and the Merman Statue by martin_vmorris / CC BY-SA 2.0

Almost hidden by the waters of the Frederiksholm canal beneath the Højbro Bridge, is one of Copenhagen’s hidden gems. It is an underwater sculpture by the Danish artist Suste Bonnén inspired by the Danish ballad “Agnete og Havmanden” (Agnete and the Merman).

The bronze sculpture depicts the haunting scene of Agnete’s merman husband and her abandoned mer-children longing for their long-lost mother as they reach up towards the surface. It’s easy to miss so keep a keen eye out as you pass by on the boat.