Copenhagen in 2 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

During your two-day itinerary in Copenhagen you can visit Tivoli Gardens, see and photograph iconic sites such as the famous Little Mermaid Statue or the Carlsberg Factory. And, of course, you can't miss Frederiksborg Castle and the Copenhagen Round Tower. In addition, you have to include in your schedule activities such as the exploration game of the autonomous neighborhood of Christiania to get into the alternative culture of the city.

Your first day in Copenhagen will be quite complete, as you will include a visit to the Little Mermaid statue in the harbor, the Carlsberg Factory, the Torvehallerne food market, the alternative neighborhood of Christiania and, finally, you will finish by touring the neighborhood of Vesterbro. For this, I recommend that you book Copenhagen Card so you can enter freely to the different attractions and you can move comfortably around the city.

Each of these activities has its charms. For example, when visiting the Carlsberg Brewery you can learn about the history of this popular beer brand. Or by visiting the Christiania neighborhood, you can find an alternative atmosphere within the city itself. But to make the day as productive as possible, you should be out of the hotel by 8:30 a.m. at the latest.

Have breakfast at Grød, a café specializing in oatmeal dishes

Before enjoying your private tour of Copenhagen, it will be a good time to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Grød, a popular café specializing in oatmeal dishes. The dishes you can enjoy range from oatmeal with fresh fruit and yogurt to savory oatmeal with egg and cheese.

The place is worth a visit for its cozy atmosphere, which makes it the perfect place for you to relax while enjoying a hot coffee or tea before you start your day.

Visit the famous Little Mermaid statue in the city's harbor

It's time to continue touring the city to see some of its iconic sights. And for that, I recommend you book a Little Mermaid exploration game. The Little Mermaid statue is located in the harbor and is a symbol of Copenhagen that attracts crowds of tourists.

In addition to the statue, you can tour the historic buildings in the nearby Nyhavn area or the vibrant bustle of Strøget Street.

Don't miss the Carlsberg Factory

Continue on to the Carlsberg Factory, a must-see if you're a beer lover and also almost 7 kilometers from the Little Mermaid statue. To tour the city, I recommend you sign up for a bike tour of Copenhagen.

At the Carlsberg Brewery you will have the opportunity to learn about the history of beer in Denmark and you can learn about the production processes used to create some of the most popular beers in the country. In order to enter and be fascinated by their brewing processes, you have to attend a guided tour. They last about two hours and the morning tour starts at 11 a.m.

In case you are in Copenhagen for three days or more, and want to include this visit outside this itinerary, you should know that the brewery has several visiting hours: Monday to Thursday, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Fridays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. And if you're still in the mood for more beer tasting, be sure to book a pub crawl in Copenhagen.

Have lunch at the Torvehallerne food market

I recommend going to sample some of the best local dishes and produce at the Torvehallerne food market, where you'll find a wide variety of lunch options, from delicious sandwiches to freshly baked pastries, and dishes made with fresh local ingredients. Spend at least two hours exploring the market's many stalls and enjoying a relaxing lunch. Since this is a place with so many stalls, it's a good place to take a food tour in Copenhagen.

In addition to the food, this place also gives you the opportunity to explore the wide range of stores and boutiques where you can buy everything from local products to unique handicrafts and souvenirs. Around 2 p.m. you should be leaving the market to continue your tour of the city.

Spend an afternoon exploring the Christiania neighborhood

It's time to visit the neighborhood of Christiania. I recommend reading up on some of the things to see and do in Christiania, so you can make the most of your tour. But my recommendation is to book a Freetown Christiania exploration game and spend an afternoon of unlimited fun.

Christiania is known for being alternative and autonomous, a place very different from the rest of the city. Afterwards, I recommend you visit the Botanical Garden, an amazing place to discover the nuances of nature. You can visit the garden at any time of the year, although I recommend you to include it in your list of things to do in Copenhagen in spring. It is important to know that the Copenhagen Botanical Garden has different closing hours depending on the season.

Dinner at Sliders

Once you leave the Botanical Garden, around 6pm, it's time to grab a bite to eat and for that, Sliders is the place to go. This is a burger place that you can't miss because it specializes in burgers and high quality handmade drinks.

At Sliders I recommend you to take the opportunity to enjoy a quiet and unhurried dinner. I suggest you dedicate a little more than an hour to taste some of the burger flavors offered by the local, accompanied by a craft drink. Another option if you prefer to delve into the local gastronomy is to book a gastronomic tour of Copenhagen.

Enjoy the nightlife in the lively Vesterbro district

End the day, enjoying the lively nightlife in Copenhagen, and to do so, the Vesterbro neighborhood is an excellent choice. This neighborhood is popular basically because it is full of bars and nightclubs where you can open the night and continue the party until the time you want.

Without a doubt, this is a place that I would include among the things to see and do in Copenhagen at night because it is only about 10 minutes away from the restaurant where you have eaten previously. It is also a good place to enjoy the partying and the lively Danish nightlife in general.

Once you get to Vesterbro, you can explore the various bars and nightclubs. In fact, if you want to get to know these establishments better, I recommend you sign up for a pub crawl in Copenhagen, which is sure to take you on a tour of these vibrant Danish night spots. There are options for all tastes, from places full of live music to comfortable bars where you can relax and enjoy a good drink.

You will start your day by going to the Copenhagen Round Tower, where you can see a panoramic view of the city. Then you will go to visit the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, which has a wide variety of rides, games and restaurants. And right after that you will go to Frederiksborg Castle, where you can learn about some of Denmark's history.

To have a fairly productive day in which you get to see as much of the city as you can before you leave, you will need to be out of your hotel between 8 and 8:30 am and you can take advantage of some of the stops on the Copenhagen sightseeing bus to save time in between trips.

Enjoy an organic breakfast at local bakery and cafe Det Rene Brød

To start this second and final day in Copenhagen on the right foot, I recommend starting with a hearty breakfast at Det Rene Brød, which is a rather iconic local bakery and cafe in the city. Inside they specialize in high quality organic breads and pastries, so you'll have the opportunity to enjoy an authentic and healthy breakfast at the same time.

Det Rene Brød offers a wide variety of breakfast options, so you can choose from freshly baked breads to juices and fresh coffee to go with it. If you're a vegetarian or vegan, you're sure to find something for you here. It is a traditional place in the city because of the wide range of their menu.

I recommend spending at least an hour in this place so you can enjoy a quiet and healthy breakfast at Det Rene Brød, while appreciating the cozy atmosphere and the city that can be seen from inside the establishment.

Visit the Copenhagen Round Tower

Get up close to the Round Tower and see one of the most beautiful views of the city. This observation tower, also known as "Rundetårn", is located in the center of the city so a good way to visit the place is to sign up for a tour of Copenhagen, where you won't miss the tower experience for sure.

The Copenhagen Round Tower is open Monday through Sunday, from 10 am to 8 pm. How long you decide to stay will depend on how much you want to enjoy the views, but what I recommend is to stay at least a full hour to enjoy both the tower and the view.

Even if you want to have a much more interesting experience to learn more details about this tower, I recommend you sign up for a tour that takes place daily from 11 am to 3 pm and lasts about an hour. And about the season to go up, I recommend you to include it among the activities to do in Copenhagen in summer.

Get to know Tivoli Gardens

Book your tickets to Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, opened in 1843, and another must-see, especially if you visit Copenhagen with children. It has a great variety of attractions. Inside you can find from roller coasters to carousels, and even live shows that include music, theater and dances, depending on the season in which you go to the park.

Although entrance hours may vary throughout the year, it is generally open from mid-April to September, between 11 am and 10 pm. Although the ideal way to see the entire park would be to spend at least a full day touring it, in this case you will stay for just over two hours to enjoy some of the main attractions and see some of the internal scenery.

Lunch at Lagkagehuset

For lunch you can book a food tour of Copenhagen or pop into Lagkagehuset, a bakery and cafe that specializes in making Danish desserts, especially cinnamon cakes, so it's a popular spot for tourists.

Besides the famous cinnamon cakes, the bakery offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options, such as sandwiches and fresh salads, so I recommend you to eat some lunch plate and order for dessert, a good cinnamon cake to taste the real Danish flavor. I recommend enjoying a quick stay of no more than 30 minutes to enjoy the food and pastries.

Be dazzled by the Frederiksborg Castle

Next, head to Frederiksborg Castle, a Renaissance castle on the outskirts of Copenhagen that is a must-see if you are a lover of history and architecture. To do this, you can book a tour to Frederiksborg.

Inside the castle you can request a guided tour where you can learn about the rich history of the fortress and its inhabitants, the best thing about it is that these tours last about an hour, so you will be out of the castle around 16:00 or 17:00, to return to the city.

Dinner at Noma, specializing in Nordic cuisine.

Your last activity of the day will be the world-famous Noma restaurant, which specializes in Nordic cuisine and offers a unique culinary experience. If you are on a budget and haven't made it before, you can book a culinary tour of Copenhagen.

If there is one thing you will like, it is the use of fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, which are well appreciated in their combination of innovative flavors. Among the most popular dishes you will be able to taste are: the sprouts and leaves salad, the lamb meat with fresh herbs and the wild berry ice cream. But before you go, you should know that the prices are high given its popularity and elegance.

With this activity you end your two-day itinerary through the city, to return to your hotel and rest, to return home the next morning.