Copenhagen in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit
Have fun in the streets, palaces, beaches and gardens of Copenhagen's eight districts, go in search of the city's giants or enter a haunted cemetery.
Afternoon in Copenhagen | ©Daniel Jurin
Copenhagen is a city with many attractions and the best way to get to know it is to divide your tour by its 8 districts. In København K there are many sites to explore and you will need two days; for København V you can book a full day; Vesterbro, Frederiksberg, Nørrebro and Østerbro are very close and you can visit them together, and Christianshawvn and Amager are neighbors and the best strategy is a shared itinerary.
Day 1: Take a stroll through the palaces, castles and other monuments in København K
København K is part of central Copenhagen and is one of the largest and most interesting areas, its streets are colorful and shelter buildings important to Danish royalty. As you walk around you will find restaurants and cafes for a gastronomic stop.
Be prepared for a long and entertaining day, I recommend walking, renting bicycles or scheduling a bus tour with free stops.
Discover the Marble Church or Frederik's Church
This baroque building took 150 years to build and its structure is inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, inside are preserved a variety of paintings and mosaics. The entrance fee is approximately 5,20 € for adults and 2,90 € for children.
During the summer you can climb any day of the week to the dome, while in winter you can only access during the weekends.
Visit the Amalienborg Palace
An activity that you can not miss is to visit the palaces of Copenhagen, opposite the Marble Church is one of the most important: the Amalienborg Palace.
It is advisable to take a walk during the change of the Royal Guard, to enjoy the parade that starts from the Rosenborg Castle and goes through some areas, such as the Latin Quarter, to finally settle in the palace. This enclosure is located in an octagonal square that houses four palaces, which are:
- Frederick VIII Palace, where the heir to the throne of Denmark resides, so visitors are not allowed.
- Palace of Christian VII, is exclusively for royal events, but can be visited on weekends in July, August and September.
- Christian VIII Palace, during the summer you can visit the Amalienborg Museum, a place where the garments and portraits of the Danish monarchy are kept, I recommend you to visit the piano room and the ballroom.
- Christian IX Palace, the home of the queen, they raise the flag every time she is on the premises and is not available for visits.
In addition, another must-do plan is to book tickets to Christiansborg Palace which is the current Danish parliament.
Tour Rosenborg Castle
Taking a tour of Copenhagen's castles is another stop you can't miss. A few streets away from the Amalienborg Palace, you will find the King's Gardens, where outdoor events are held, sculpture exhibitions and there is a cafe in the famous Hercules Pavilion to spend the afternoon enjoying live music.
Inside the garden you will find Rosenborg Castle that you can visit in summer and winter for approximately 16.75 €. It is an ideal plan for lovers of fairy tales, as its halls have a unique charm and there are exhibitions of jewels of past generations.
Note that in your visit to Copenhagen for seven days may be interesting to purchase Copenhagen Card for free access to many of the attractions of the Danish capital.
Be amazed at the Guinness World Records Museum in Copenhagen
Visiting Copenhagen's museums is another interesting activity to do during your stay in the city. End the day at the Guinness World Records Museum in Copenhagen, which is open from September to June on Fridays and Saturdays, and from June to August every day. On the official website you can find more information about this building.
The entrance fee is about 18,13 € and you can participate in interactive activities such as The Mystic Exploratorie, which has an additional price of about 10 € and allows you to see a haunted cemetery, moving paintings and other optical illusions. In the museum you can also learn which is the oldest flag in the world, who is the tallest man in history and other curious facts that you must discover on your own.
But, in addition, you can visit:
Day 2: Take a tour of the canals and other architectural wonders in København K
Near the canals there are still many areas to tour, such as The Little Mermaid, Nyhavn or the Latin Quarter. What are you waiting for?
Make a stop at the Little Mermaid
Start your day early by visiting the Little Mermaid structure, a statue as significant as the Statue of Liberty in New York. It's a free plan, ideal for taking unrepeatable pictures. The figure was inspired by the tale of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen.
And if you like adventure, don't hesitate to book the Little Mermaid exploration game in Copenhagen where you will discover in the most original way possible some of the most emblematic places of the city.
Continue to Nyhavn
The next stop is a stroll through the colorful houses on the banks of the Nyhavn canal, one of the most popular in Copenhagen. In the area there are restaurants and tattoo stalls, you will also find The Anchor Memorial that every day is decorated with flowers to remember the fallen sailors of World War II.
In the area you will find Kongens Nytorv Square with typical buildings of Danish architecture, which houses the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Royal Theater of Copenhagen ideal for watching a ballet performance or enjoy the art collection.
Also, if you are passionate about architecture be sure to book your ticket to the Danish Architecture Center in Copenhagen.
Stroll through the Latin Quarter and canals
Passing through the Stroget shopping street, you will reach the Latin Quarter where you can stroll through the University of Copenhagen, visit local bookstores and shop for handicrafts.
Through the narrow streets you will return to the piers where you can book a cruise on the canals to watch the sunset, pass in front of striking buildings such as the Black Diamond, where the National Library is located, and return in the evening for dinner by the sea.
Day 3: Search for giants, take a carriage ride and have fun at the amusement park
On the outskirts of the city, about half an hour from the center, plans continue to explore the attractions Copenhagen has to offer. You can take a carriage ride, go on a bike tour to go on a mysterious quest, visit more castles or check out a unique amusement park.
Have fun like a kid at Bakken amusement park
Bakken is the oldest amusement park in the world, operating since 1583, and you can tour the park for free. With the free pass you can take a walk through the Jægersborg Dyrehave Nature Park, where you can watch the deer from afar. If you want to ride the rides and roller coasters you can buy a full pass for approximately 17,57 €.
Carriage ride on Hestevogn Dyrehaven
To feel like in a period movie, you have to go to Hestevogn Dyrehaven where you can organize the tour according to your wishes, you can go into the forest or walk along the road. Another option is to go to the castles or have a barbecue on the cliff.
Visit Kronborg Castle
One of the most important castles north of the city is Kronborg Castle, also known as Hamlet's Castle, as it was used by Shakespeare to write his famous play. You will be able to enjoy exhibits of Danish heritage and pass very close to a Swedish border town. Don't hesitate and book a tour to Kronborg to get there comfortably and make the most of your visit.
Search for the giants
Giants are very important to Norse mythology and Danish culture, so artist Thomas Danbo created six huge statues for tourists and locals to search for on the outskirts of the city.
This is a great way to end the afternoon, the sculptures are made from recycled materials and you can find the map of locations on the official website.
Day 4: Visit Sweden in less than 45 minutes
Live an extreme experience and escape from Denmark to Sweden, on a fast, fun trip departing from the center of Copenhagen. Leaving the city you will concentrate on seeing the best of each end, starting at the Øresund Bridge and ending in Malmö.
Tour the Øresund Bridge and Dragør Havn
Booking an excursion to Sweden is another plan you have to include in your itinerary. The Øresund Bridge is the connection of Denmark and Sweden, it has an approximate span of 7,845 meters.
In the surroundings is the village of Dragør Havn, where you can have breakfast before leaving, walk around the fishing port, discover the typical Danish houses, visit the shopping street Kings Street or go two kilometers further to reach the Dutch village Store Magleby which is located near the area of Amager and has a variety of farms and stores.
Visit the Pildammsparken park
When you arrive in Malmö, you will find the emblematic Pildammsparken, whose entrance is completely free and offers a tour of forests, lakes and gardens, as well as streets adjacent to the neighborhood. In spring and summer you can enjoy Princess Margaret's Flower Street, as the city's landscapers decorate it for the Queen of Sweden.
Malmö Castle
This Swedish structure has been part of the country's culture since 1434 and was built by the Danes. Inside you can enjoy a variety of museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Natural History Museum. Around there is a mill, cafes and a skate park. Another option is to take a gondola ride through the canals of the castle, the general admission to the facilities costs approximately 3.50 €.
Take a food tour
Back in Copenhagen, you will probably want to eat something to recharge your batteries and close the day. The best option is to book a gastronomic tour to get to know the markets, the plants that are the protagonists of Danish food, organic ice cream and chocolate, artisan cheese, local beers and the history that is tied to the typical food of the city.
If on the other hand you prefer more international food, book a menu for the Hard Rock Cafe in Copenhagen.
Delve into Copenhagen's nightlife
And to end the day, book a pub crawl in Copenhagen and get into the nightlife of the Danish capital. The tour, which includes a total of five pub crawls, includes two free beers and two free cocktails plus two free shots at each pub.
This tour is private for you and your group, making it a must-do if you are traveling with friends.
Day 5: Explore Christiania, Christianshavn, 8 house and other areas of Christianshavn and Amager
Christianshavn and Amager are neighboring areas, so you can dedicate a full day to them. You can discover the best things to do in Christiania, explore the local beer and walk along the piers.
Discover Christiania
Christiania is an independent town in the Christianshavn area. You will find a hidden paradise decorated with graffiti. Its culture is quite peculiar, so I suggest you go with an open mind for an entertaining tour. One of the best plans is to visit the Badehuset Bath House or try the local beer that is only produced in this corner of Copenhagen.
In addition, you can take the opportunity to book the Freetown Christiania exploration game.
Get to know Christianshavn
At noon you can take a stroll through the picturesque neighborhood of Christianshavn, where I recommend you book a bike tour and spend the whole afternoon exploring its streets full of stores. You can also visit the Copenhagen Opera House, one of the most luxurious buildings where live performances take place.
Visit Amager
It's time to go into the coastal area of Amager, where you will find the Amager beach, ideal for a different day out during the summer. You can take a stroll around the Royal Arena, if you are lucky you will find concerts, sporting events, festivals or other celebrations.
For an authentic Danish beer, take a stroll through the Amager Bryghus brewery and enjoy your drink by the sea. A few streets away you will see the modern 8 House building which is under construction.
You can get close to it comfortably by booking a segway tour of Copenhagen.
Day 6: Don't miss the astronomical clock, the town hall and the Tivoli gardens at København V
Another part of the historic center is København V, it has interesting buildings, such as the astronomical clock that will leave you impressed.
Make a stop at the astronomical clock and Copenhagen City Hall
It is a completely free plan that allows you to know the calendar of the next 500 years, is located in the Copenhagen City Hall. To continue the adventure you can climb the stairs to the top of the tower and get unparalleled panoramic views.
Outside there is a square to rest, the Dragon's Leap fountain and the famous thermometer that measures the current temperature and predicts the weather.
Discover the Tivoli Gardens
Book tickets to Tivoli Gardens and spend the whole day at the second oldest amusement park in the world. It has been in operation since 1843 and has a fascinating structure. You can have lunch on the lake on the St. George's Frigate boat or eat Chinese food at Pagoda.
On weekends you can also see the Tivoli Guard that simulates the Royal Guard and, of course, you must ride the roller coaster. The entrance fee is approximately 19.45 €, but if you buy the Copenhagen Card, you get it for free.
To close, I recommend a tour of the city's bars to taste the local wines and beers.
Day 7: Walk from Vesterbro to Østerbro and get to know its streets, parks and palaces
To finish your itinerary you can pass through the multicultural neighborhood of Nørrebro, visit the luxurious houses in the Østerbro area, enjoy the modern buildings in Vesterbro and marvel at the charm of Frederiksberg.
Discover Vesterbro
Start your visit in the French street of Værnedamsvej, on every corner you will find a restaurant that seems to be taken from Paris. While you're in the area, stop by the Carlsberg Museum, which was originally a brewery. Mid-morning, it is ideal to stroll through the Frederiksberg Have park where people often organize picnics and of course, you must complete your itinerary by entering the Bakkehusmuseet museum.
Don't miss Frederiksberg
You also can't miss to book an excursion to Frederiksborg. Here hides one of the largest palaces in Scandinavia: Frederiksberg Palace, which has a baroque garden and houses the National History Museum of Denmark. In this area you can also visit The Cisterns a mysterious art exhibition, with interactive optical illusions and a variety of events.
Visit other nearby areas
In Nørrebro you can see the Assistens Kirkegaard cemetery which doubles as a park, another option is to cycle through the picturesque streets of Elmegade or Nørrebrogade.
Nearby you will find the Østerbro area, ideally you should stop at Experimentarium an interactive museum with a variety of live demonstrations, or take a look at the asymmetrical streets of Brumleby.