What to See in Copenhagen: 10 Places of Interest, Hotels and Weather

Copenhagen is one of the most interesting cities in Northern Europe. Modern and historical at the same time, the Danish capital is a palette of colours, is rich in historical buildings and design, and is one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Its name appears in numerous quality-of-life rankings and always at the top of the list. The amenities and high quality of life, however, are not the only reasons to visit Copenhagen.

That's why we have put together a guide to what to see in Copenhagen in one or two days with a map and weather forecast.

What are the must-sees in Copenhagen? Below you'll find the most unmissable must-sees on a must-visit list.

Christiania

There is an incredible place in Copenhagen: Christiana. The neighbourhood is, since the 1970s, the partially self-managed Free City of Christiana and, since 2011, when its inhabitants bought the land, it is even more autonomous.

There is practically everything in Christiana, from the sauna to the bakery, via cultural centres and craft and theatre production clubs.

The central street is known as Pusher Street because hashish is sold in street stalls. A curious Christmas market also takes place at Christmas.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn, the old harbour district (although literally the name in Danish means new harbour) is the place where Copenhagen's most interesting bars and clubs are located, is colourful and populated with sailboats and sailing ships.

In addition to the beauty of the harbour and the historic quarters, Rosenbourg Castle, squares, beaches and canals, there are streets such as Store Kongensgade, which show how they know how to do beautiful things in this city.

Tivoli Garden

The Tivoli Gardens are one of the most famous amusement parks in the city and the second oldest in the world. They were built in the second half of the 19th century and still retain the same atmosphere and many of the original buildings.

There is everything from theatre to music, roller coasters and modern games, but all in a delightfully retro style and right in the centre of town.

Amalienborg

The Queen's Palace consists of four buildings, two of which are open to the public. One houses the works and art collection of the royal house in a 4000-year history. The other allows visitors to see part of the interior of the royal residence.

Town Hall Tower

At 105.6 metres, Copenhagen City Hall is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Climbing to the top of the tower, climbing 300 steps, provides a fantastic view of the Tivoli Gardens.

Round Tower

Torre Rotonda is one of the oldest observatories in the world still in operation. The ascent to the top is via a spiral without steps. Why? Because horse-drawn carts used to travel up it, bringing books to the observatory library.

Rosenborg

The Rosenborg is a Renaissance palace in the centre of Copenhagen. Here are kept, and can be visited, the Queen's jewels, which only she can wear, but only within the confines of the country.

Little Mermaid of Copenhagen

The Little Mermaid is the symbol of the city and is a bronze representation of the protagonist of Andersen's fairy tale that can be found at the harbour entrance.

National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum is Denmark's largest museum of history and houses numerous permanent exhibitions that take you on a journey through 14,000 years of Danish history. Inside the museum you will also find a section dedicated to the rest of the world. If you want to learn more about the history of this nation, we invite you to visit it.

What to see in two days

What to see and do in the city in two days in Copenhagen? Below we have selected 10 must-see experiences in the city, perfect for spending two or three days in Copenhagen.

Here, we recommend an alternative way to save money on a trip to Copenhagen. How? By sleeping in Malmo and travelling the 15 km to Denmark every day.

Eating in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a gastronomic paradise and gourmets are spoilt for choice. One of the best restaurants in the world, Noma, is located in Copenhagen. You can find the official Noma website here. Apart from that there are cheaper alternatives but still of the highest quality!

The smørrebrød (its pronunciation is more or less 'smuurreh-bruuldt') is the typical Danish sandwich, a kind of tartlet stuffed in original and imaginative ways.

Desserts are best sampled at Conditori La Glace, Copenhagen's oldest patisserie that has been producing the city's best and most renowned cakes, pastries and luxury sweets since 1870.

Copenhagen by bike

Copenhagen is a cycling paradise. Before the Copenhagen municipality improved the service by equipping it with smart bikes (with mini computers), bikes could be picked up simply as you would use a trolley at the supermarket, inserting a coin and then getting it back. Here you can find all the info you need to discover Copenhagen by bike with a one-day itinerary.

Copenhagen is the capital of design and Strøget, the pedestrian street in the heart of Copenhagen's shopping area, and the surrounding streets are the place to be for shopping.

For typical Danish design objects go to Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen or Illums Bolighus. The Fil de Fer boutique at 83 A is a must-see if you like nice things (clothes and accessories).

Magasin is an iconic Danish design department store where you can find everything from clothes and food to bars and restaurants.

Take a boat tour

The best way to visit Copenhagen is to do it on board a boat to admire it from the sea. Start at Nyhavn or near Christiansborg and sail past the Opera House, the Black Diamond and the famous Little Mermaid. Continue through the canals of Christianshavn.

Eating at the market

Torvehallerne is Copenhagen's covered market where you can eat ready-made local produce, from pastries to the typical smørrebrød. An ideal visit even on rainy days.

Visit Copenhagen Parks

The oldest and most visited park is Kongens Have, the royal park near Rosenborg Castle. In the Klampenborg area is Dyrehaven, literally the deer park. Cycling there, you have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful beaches in the area.

Friederiksberg Have is almost a city within a city, where only trees live, however.

Hotels

Where to stay in Copenhagen? The city is full of design hotels and converted places that are definitely worth a stop.

One of the most unusual is the city's smallest hotel in the Vesterbro district. Sleeping in the city is by no means cheap, which is why you can also choose to stay in non-central, well-connected areas to save some money. Among the areas we recommend Vesterbro and Sterbro. You can find all accommodation on Airbnb in Copenhagen at this link.

Weather

Winter in Copenhagen is very cold with temperatures dropping below zero. Compared to other northern European cities, its location makes it less cold than others. In fact, temperatures in winter range from -1 to 8 °C. The best time to travel in the city is from May to September.

Surroundings of Copenhagen

• Kronborg Castle

• Hollerod

• Aarhus

• Bornholm

• Roskilde

Christmas in Copenhagen

Did you know that Copenhagen is the city of Christmas par excellence? For a month and a half during the Christmas season, the city is transformed by being completely covered in illuminations, lights and Christmas decorations.

Elves and Santas walk the streets, gingerbread is served in shops and museums and numerous events and Christmas markets enliven the city. Watch the wonderful Santa Lucia parade with festively decorated kayaks and visit Copenhagen's many Christmas markets.

Map and map

• Denmark

• Copenhagen