Updated August 2023.

Merchant Harbor

Royal and historic city with some of the oldest monarchies, cobblestone roads, canals, and bikes, maybe even giving Amsterdam a run for its money. Originally a Viking fishing village established in the 10th century, it grew to prominence in the 15th century during the Renaissance.
 
The name Copenhagen stems from its earliest name of “Merchant Harbor” or Købmannahavn. Its location between the Baltic Sea and the northern German trading towns of the Hanseatic League led to its success. Unfortunately, the Hanseatic League repeatedly besieged and laid waste to the town. Its design has shifted multiple times due to multiple fires (1728, 1795), plague (1711-1712), and wars throughout the 19th century and 20th century.

Overview

Path is ~ 6.5 miles of walking
  • 8:00 - 9:15 AM: Kastallet (The Citadel) - Fortress with views of Little Mermaid statue
  • 9:30 - 10:00 AM: The King’s Garden - Denmark’s oldest royal gardens
  • 10:00 - 11:00 AM: Rosenborg Castle - royal castle
  • 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM: Amalienborg Palace - Queen’s residence
    • 12:00 PM: Changing of the Guard
  • 12:45 - 1:15 PM: Frederik’s Church (Marble Church) - iconic domed church not made of marble
    • 1:00 PM: Climb up the dome
  • 1:30 - 2:00 PM: Nhyavn - famous harbor
  • 2:45 - 3:45 PM: Christiansborg Palace - castle and Parliament
    • 3:00 PM: Guided daily palace tour
  • 4:00 - 5:00 PM: Canal Tour - historic boat tour
  • 5:15 - 5:30 PM: Strøget - pedestrian shopping street
  • 5:30 - 6:30 PM: The Round Tower (Rundetaarn) - observatory and viewpoint.
  • 7:00 - 9:00 PM: Tivoli Gardens - fairy-tale theme park
​Click the star to add the map to your Google Maps!​ To view it, simply open Google Maps, navigate to the Menu, choose “Your Places,” click "Maps", and voila, the map should be added.

Tips




​Copenhagen Card
The Copenhagen Card is a great way to be able to see all the attractions in Copenhagen without having to pay additional money.

One can receive the card by downloading the Copenhagen Card (CPH Card) from the app store and buying the right card. One will then activate the card once ready.

Through the app, one can also plan one's itinerary by seeing which attractions accept the card. Sites that accept the card will appear like this *italics*.

One has the option between the Discover and the Hop card. The differences are explained on their website, but I have also included the pros and cons from the site to the right.

Generally, I think the Discover card is the better option and can be cost-effective as long as one goes to at least 3-4 attractions.
Getting Around the City
The easiest way to get around the city is by walking as all the destinations are close together. However, there are buses, trams, and the metro that one can take as well.
METRO:
There are 4 metro lines (M1, M2, M3, M4) each with their respective color that connect different parts of Copenhagen. One can buy tickets at the booths and tap before entering the Metro (blue) and tap after leaving (red).
  • It is an honor-based system, but there are hefty fines if the controller catches you without a ticket. If one uses the Copenhagen Card, you just need to present it to a controller.
  • Inside the metro cars, one should look for the name of the station displayed in the center in red letters. Most trains don't announce the upcoming station, so make sure one knows where they are going.
  • Billboards at each station provide real-time information about when the next train will arrive (usually within 2-5 minutes)

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BUSES AND TRAMS:
  • While the metro is one of the main ways to get around, there is also the tram and buses that one can ride. These are also very timely and get you further out of Copenhagen.
Water
There are free water filling stations throughout Copenhagen. One can find locations through this website. However many of the water filling stations are out of service and the map is not the easiest to use.

1-Day Plan

8:00 - 9:15 AM: Kastallet (The Citadel)
One of the best-preserved fortresses in Northern Europe with a citadel, old windmill, and cannons across a pentagon/star-shaped island with bastions at the corners, which used to encircle all of Copenhagen. Today it is used for military purposes, but one can still walk through

One can take a nice stroll through it and come back around to head to a viewpoint to see the Little Mermaid statue, a sculpture from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale which is said to have taken place here. One can also see this on the Canal Tour as well, but it's better to come in the morning when there are no crowds. ​
The statue was a gift from the famous Danish brewer, Carl Jacobsen (known for spreading Carlsberg beer internationally and whose father founded the Carlsberg brewery) in 1913 after watching a ballet performance of the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre. The statue is a beloved symbol of Copenhagen but has been damaged multiple times as an easy way to make the news. It has been beheaded, arms cut off, and bombed once! 
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Around the south side of the Kastallet is the Gefion Fountain, a beautiful fountain showcasing the legend of the the goddess Gefion, who is said to have plowed and created the island that Copenhagen is on.
9:30 - 10:00 AM: The King's Garden


​​Denmark’s oldest royal gardens. Originally a park and kitchen garden reserved for royalty, hosting guests of Scandinavian kings and a produce garden, which has turned into a park. In the summer, there is a puppet theatre, fountains, a rose garden, the Hercules Pavilion, and a statue of Hans Christian Andersen.
10:00 - 11:00 AM: *Rosenborg Castle*
​Renaissance-style castle since 1606 that served as the royal summer house for famous Scandinavian king Christian IV. It is known for the Great Hall with the coronation thrones and three life-size silver lions. Interestingly, the king's coronation throne is made of narwhal tusk with gilt figures and the queen's coronation throne is made of silver.

Inside, one can see the king's private writing cabinet, bathroom, Danish crown jewels, wax figures of royal inhabitants, and one of the world's finest Venetian glass collections. 
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Reserve tickets online, even if one has a Copenhagen Card, since entry is all time-based.
11:15 AM - 12:30 AM: *Amalienborg Palace*
The Queen’s residence in Copenhagen, it consists of four Rococo-style palaces around a square. One can visit two of the palaces: a museum and the Danish royal residence, with the idfferent rooms reflecting different time periods. Highly recommend checking out the Gala Hall if admittance is allowed. The changing of the guard occurs everyday at noon.
12:45 - 1:15 PM: Frederik's Church (Marble Church)
Copenhagen’s most impressive church, known for its Rococo style and the copper-green dome, the largest one in Scandinavia. This 18th-century Lutheran church is referred to as the Marble Church not because it’s made of marble but because that was the original plan. Unfortunately, the original architect passed away and the church was abandoned. When construction began again, the budget forced the material to be swapped from marble to limestone. Finally, the church opened in 1894, 145 years after the first stone was laid. Around the building are prominent theologians, with the most famous being Danish philosopher Kierkegaard.

Climb up to the dome at 1 PM everyday during the summer months and on weekends throughout the remainder of the year. 
1:30 - 2:30 PM: Nhyavn

​The 17th-century harbor is where Copenhagen received its name. Filled with beautiful ships, colored houses, and seafood restaurants, this area is also where canal tours can start.
Head to Ved Stranden to pre-book the 4:00 PM or 5:30 PM Canal Tour.
Along the way to Christiansborg Palace, one will pass the Det Kongelige Teater (Royal Danish Theater), founded in 1748 as the theater for the king, but is now the country's theater. It is know for opera, ballet, and concerts.

The other building is the Børsen (Danish for "the Exchange"). This Dutch Renaissance-style Old Stock Exchange is known for its spire, where 4 dragons' tails are intertwined. According to legend, the spire guards against enemy attacks and fire, and surprisingly, the building has never burnt down even though neighboring buildings have burnt down. It, unfortunately, isn't open to the public but hosts gala dinners, conferences, and parties.
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Det Kongelige Teater - Royal Danish Theater
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Børsen - stock exchange building with a spire made of 4 dragons intertwined tails
Head to the Ved Stranden ticket booth to purchase Canal Tour ticket.
2:45 - 3:45 PM: *Christiansborg Palace*
On Castle Island, it houses the offices of Parliament, the prime minister, and Denmark’s queen. It was rebuilt in 1928 after the first two were burned down. Formerly it served for 800 years as the royal residence, and one can still see the Royal Reception Rooms (Tower Room and Oval Throne Room) and the Great Hall, where the Queen's tapestries are laid out. Otherwise, the Royal Stables, the Royal Kitchen, the Palace Chapel, and the ruins are open for visitation.

​One can only visit for guided English tours of the Royal Kitchen, ruins, and stables (open at 1 PM) at 3 PM everyday. 
4:00 - 5:00 PM: *Canal Tour (Departure from Ved Stranden)*
The famous Canal tour since 1904 goes to the Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, the Old Stock Exchange, the Black Diamond Library, and to the Little Mermaid statue. Then, it'll head through Christianshavn's canals before returning back to the starting point. Unfortunately, these tours can't be pre-booked through the card, so one should head to the ticket booth before heading to the Christiansborg Palace.

The main tour company included with the Copenhagen Card is through Stromma. Alternatively, one can use Hey Captain for another experience. 
5:15 - 5:30 PM: Strøget
Central pedestrian street through Copenhagen’s major shopping area with its name as a fun pun of the English word “stroll”. Located on this street is the Church of the Holy Spirit (open M-F 12 - 4 PM and Sat 11 AM - 1 PM), the first abbey in Copenhagen and a Franscian monastery turned  Lutheran church that has one of the largest and most unusual organs in Scandinavia. It also has beautiful stained glass windows.
5:30 - 6:30 PM: *The Round Tower* (Rundetaarn)
​17th-century tower and oldest functioning (still) observatory in Europe for astronomers. It served as the center of Danish astronomy for the nearby university and is part of the Trinity Complex: a church at the bottom, a library hall above (now an exhibition space), and the observatory at the top of the tower. It provides a beautiful vantage point of Copenhagen.
7:00 - 9:00 PM: *Tivoli Gardens*
Central theme park that is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world and inspired Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney. There are over 4 million people who visit this park every year. The Copenhagen Card provides entry but each ride requires separate tickets. It's recommended to head at night, with some of the lights and decorations giving the feeling of walking through a fairy tale. 
  • Tivoli’s oldest and most popular ride is Rutschebanen, “The Roller Coaster”, constructed out of wood back in 1914 and one of seven roller coasters in the world that still have a man in a cart controlling the brakes manually.
  • Other notable rides are Tik Tak, a fun spinning ride similar to Teacups, and Daemonen, an intense roller coaster.
  • Check out the restaurant Gemyse for plant-based food inside a greenhouse. However, outside the park (no tickets needed), there is the Tivoli Food Hall with over 15 different stands. Of course, the park also has lots of places for one to buy snacks.
Depending on when goes, at night, there is also the Tivoli Illuminations show on the Tivoli Lake.

Museums

Like other major metropolitan areas, Copenhagen has an extraordinary amount of interesting museums to visit. I've listed the ones in order that one might want to visit:
  • *Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek*: Over 10,000 pieces of art and archaeology from Greece through France. Famous artists are Paul Gauguin and sculptor Auguste Rodin. It’s also known for its winter garden.

  • *National Museum of Denmark* (Nationalmuseet): Denmark’s largest museum discussing Danish culture. Inside the 18th-century Prince’s Palace, the history starts from the Stone Age to modern-day, but there is also an ethnographic section, Classical and Egyptian artifacts, and a section dedicated to toys.

  • *Botanical Garden*: Gardens within a conservatory with a butterfly house and a tropical palm house dating to 1874. It contains the largest Danish collection of living flora with over 13,000 plant species.

  • *Cisternine*: Venue for exhibitions and events that was once a subterranean reservoir filled with 16 million liters of water. This unconventional museum is an underground labyrinth cave with stalactites and stalagmites. 

  • Den Blå Planet, National Aquarium Denmark: Northern Europe's largest aquarium.

  • *SMK*: National Gallery of Denmark with Danish and international art.
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  • *Frihedsmuseet*: Museum of Danish Resistance regarding the Danish resistance during the German occupation of Denmark 1940 - 1945.

Other Attractions

Green Kayak
One of the coolest ways to see Copenhagen is by renting a kayak onto the canal and heading south, where the canal tours don’t go.
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Green Kayak is a non-profit initiative to reduce waste in the Copenhagen Harbor. One can take a kayak out onto the water for free, but with the expectation of picking up trash and filling up buckets at the same time! Head to Kayak Republic to rent a Greenkayak, and get there early since there's only 2 free Greenkayaks (each seats two). Otherwise, one can rent regular kayaks.
  • *Church of Our Savior (Vor Frelsers Kirke)*: Opened in 1696, the Palladian-style church has a magnificent oak spire with a gilded statue of Christ on a globe. The church also contains a carillon with 48 bells and an organ built in 1698. One can also climb 400 steps up the spire for a beautiful view. Inside the church there are elephant symbols representing the order of the elephant honoring King Christian V. This church is also one of the places they searched for the entrance to the center of the earth in Jules Verne's novel.
  • Freetown Christiana: Copenhagen’s “free town” starting in the 1970s as a social experiment that has become an excursion destination.
  • Copenhill: Innovative waste-to-energy plant that has turned into a multi-purpose building with a 1,300-foot ski slope, climbing wall, and café.
Copenhagen has over 13 places to swim along the canals. These areas are roped off with lifeguards stationed everywhere.

Restaurants

Copenhagen is known for sustainability with the following restaurants are known for their passion for the eco-sourced food and sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Marv & Ben: High-end Danish restaurant with set-course menu. Reservations are recommended to enjoy a 2.5-3 hour-long experience. However, if one is in a rush, one can also ask for a shorter amount of time.
  • DØP: Organic hot dog stand by The Round Tower. Try the goat meat!
  • Geranium: Ranked best restaurant in the world in 2022 and run by the 2011 world's best chef, Rasmus. Kofoed. Reserve it months in advance.
  • Lagkagehuset: Chain of bakeries in Copenhagen that sell delicious "Danishes" 
  • Noma: One of the highest-rated restaurants in the city with fresh food from local greenhouses.
  • Ark: Vegan casual dining.

Traditional dining options for famous open-faced sandwiches of Smørrebrød are shown below:
  • Schønnemanns: One of Copenhagen's oldest restaurants, with delicious lunch.
  • Aamaans: Famous deli with multiple Smørrebrød options.
Try the Stegt flæsk, the national dish of Denmark, fried pork belly strips served with potatoes and parsley.

​One should also try the Danish spirit of Akvavit or their famous Carlsberg Pilsner​.

Other Resources

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