Last updated on April 4th, 2024
Nyhavn, © Can Stock / swisshippo
Visit Copenhagen – Nyhavn
Nyhavn Harbor is a row of brightly painted 17th century houses on the Copenhagen (København) harbor. The name translates to “New Harbour”, but the houses aren’t so new any more. The Nyhavn Harbor waterfront area was built by King Christian V. Nyhavn stretches from Kongens Nytorv Square to the Royal Playhouse, which makes Nyhavn only a couple blocks long. Hans Christian Andersen wrote fairy tales in house #20. The Royal Danish Theater faces Kongens Nytorv Square. From Nyhavn, take a one hour canal cruise with Stromma or Neto-Badene. Try a Hop-on Hop-Off Bus and Boat Tour.
Amalienborg Royal Palace, © Can Stock / swisshippo
Visit Copenhagen – Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park that was an inspiration for Walt Disney to build Disneyland. Grøften Restaurant, in the Tivoli Gardens, is one of the most famous restaurants in Copenhagen. City Hall Square is located at the entrance to the Tivoli Gardens. Wander through the fabulous interior of City Hall and its grounds or take a tour. On the opposite side of City Hall Square from the Tivoli Gardens is the Stroget. The Stroget is the longest pedestrian-only shopping street in Europe. It continues all the way to Kongens Nytorv Square and the beginning of Nyhavn Harbor. Also near the square, visit the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek to see classic Egyptian, Roman and Etruscan art.
Tivoli Gardens Entrance, © Can Stock / frankix
Visit Copenhagen – Kastellet
The Kastellet or Copenhagen Fortress was constructed in the early 1600s as a pentagon shaped rampart. The rampart is now a grass covered mound surrounded by water. Just outside the Kastellet to the south is the Gefion Fountain. The Gefion Fountain is the largest monument in Copenhagen. The legend is that Gefion turned her four sons into oxen so that they could plough and create the island Copenhagen. Beside the Gefion Fountain is St. Albans Church and the Museum of Danish Resistance.
Nyhavn Harbor, © Can Stock / scanrail
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is at the northeast corner of the Kastellet at the water’s edge. Surprisingly, the Little Mermaid is a very small statue with a very large following of spectators. If that’s not your thing, the Genetically Modified Little Mermaid is nearby at the port. Outside the western side of the Kastellet, you will find the Swedish Gustaf Church.
Copenhagen Cathedral, Church of Our Lady
Visit Copenhagen Cathedral
Copenhagen Cathedral (Church of Our Lady) is also known as the National Cathedral of Denmark. A memorial in front of this Lutheran church commemorates the break of Denmark from the Catholic Church. Inside the church are life-size sculptures of the 12 apostles and Christ, created by Bertel Thorvaldsen.
About a block from the Copenhagen Cathedral is Gammeltorv Square, the oldest square in Copenhagen. The Fountain of Charity in Gammeltorv Square is the oldest fountain in the city. Gammeltorv Square is on the Stroget pedestrian walkway. Also close to the Copenhagen Cathedral is the old Round Tower in front of Trinity Church. The Round Tower was built by King Christian IV in 1642 and provides views of the city and an observatory.
Nyhavn, © Can Stock / dd
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace is the seat of the Danish Parliament. Don’t miss the Christiansborg Royal Reception Rooms with their fabulous tapestries. Nearby is the Thorvaldsens Museum with works by Bertel Thorvaldsen. Across the canal from Christiansborg Palace is Gammel Strand Street. Also across the canal from Christiansborg Palace is Saint Nikolaj Church, which now houses the Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center. Saint Nikolaj Church appears frequently in pictures of Copenhagen, because its spire can be seen from so many locations.
On the small island with Christiansborg Palace, you will also find the Old Stock Exchange and the Royal Library and its Black Diamond wing. Visit Denmark’s greatest museum, the National Museum nearby as well. As you cross the bridge to Christiansborg Palace look carefully in the water for the submerged Agnete and the Mermen Statues.
Visit Copenhagen – Hotels
- Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Copenhagen
- Hotel Christian IV
- CitizenM at City Hall Square
Gefion Fountain, © Can Stock / chrisdorney
Amalienborg Royal Palace
Just a couple blocks from Nyhavn is the Amalienborg Royal Palace. The Amelienborg Royal Palace is the winter residence of the Danish royal family. See the changing of the guard. Visit the Amalienborg Museum. Also see the Lutheran Frederik’s Marble Church, which is also known as the Danish National Church and the Church of Denmark. Stroll the Amalie Garden on the Waterfront too.
Christiania, Visit Copenhagen, © Can Stock / maisicon
Visit Copenhagen – Christianshavn
Christianshavn Harbor is series of 17th and 18 century buildings and canals that are filled with sail boats. Christianshavn includes Christiania – a self managed community and spin off of the hippie era. The Church of Our Savior with its spiral staircase steeple is the centerpiece of Christianshavn.
Grundtvigs Church, © Can Stock / Estea
Visit Copenhagen – Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle – 16th century summer palace and garden of King Christian IV. See the king’s elaborate 1596 coronation crown. The Natural Natural History Museum – Botanical Gardens and the National Gallery of Denmark are close to Rosenborg Castle. A few blocks west of the Botanical Gardens takes you to the Søerne or “The Lakes”. The Søerne is a canal that is cut off from other Copenhagen canals.
Little Mermaid, © Can Stock / Kaferphoto
Visit Copenhagen – More Sights
- Carlsberg Brewery – guided tours of one of the oldest breweries in Scandinavia.
- Museum of Copenhagen and the Vesterbro area with its boutiques, design studios, cafes and bars.
- Copenhagen Opera House
- Arken Museum of Modern Art
- Havnebadet Islands Brygge – Public pools in the harbor for summer swimming.
- Grundtvigs Protestant Church – located a 10 minute drive north from the old city center.
- Den Bla Planet – National Aquarium Denmark is just a few minutes from the Copenhagen Airport.
Marble Church, © Can Stock / mikos
Frederiskberg Castle
Frederiksberg Slot (Castle) and Gardens – royal residences located about 10 minutes west of the old city center. This is not the same as the better known Frederiksborg Castle, which is about an hour from Copenhagen. From Frederiksberg grounds, head down Ny Carlsberg Vej street to pass through the 4 stone pillars of Carlsberg Elephants and the Dipylon double arch. Add on a Carlsberg Brewery Tour in this area.
Visit Dyrehaven
Dyrehaven is “The Deer Park”, north of town but easily accessible on the S Train. The name refers to the past, when deer filled the fields of the former hunting grounds of Danish royalty. Today it is home to the Bakken Amusement Park.
Saint Nikolaij Church, © Can Stock / vvoennyy
See the Sights near Copenhagen
- Roskilde Viking Ship Museum – see 5 Viking ships, 30 minutes west of Copenhagen. Also visit the Roskilde Cathedral where the kings and queens of Denmark are entombed.
- Take a 40 minute drive to Kronborg Castle, in the city of Elsinore – made famous by Shakespeare in Hamlet. See the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art on your way. On the way back, visit Frederiksborg Castle.
- Take the Øresund Bridge-Tunnel from Copenhagen to Malmo, Sweden.
- For a unique experience for children, travel 3 hours to the Jutland peninsula to visit Legoland – Billund where Lego toys originated.
Christiansborg Palace, © Can Stock / Argument
Copenhagen Street Food
Reffen – more than 50 food stalls operating during the tourist season. Reffen is located across the harbor from the main attractions, so catch the 2A bus or take the Harbour Bus (ferry) to Refshaleøen. Enjoy the harbor view while you eat.
Tivoli Food Hall – about 15 food stalls located beside the Tivoli Gardens, but with no entry fee. The Tivoli Food Hall can get very busy when lots of people are at the amusement park.
Bridge Street Kitchen – Broens Gadekøkken can be reached by walking over the pedestrian bridge from Nyhavn. Local restaurants will often have new recipes for sale at stalls here.
Torvelhallerne Market has two large food stall areas in addition to the markets. Torvelhallerne is great on a rainy day as it’s covered, but there is also an area where you can sit outside. You can get to Torvelhallerne by walking about 15 minutes from the city center. You can also get there on the M1 or M2 metro, plus losts of buses pass by.
Get Around Copenhagen
Public transportation is a good way to get around Copenhagen, but you need cash or the DOT app for bus fares. You can buy fares with credit cards at train and metro stations. You can buy transit day passes on the DOT tickets app or at metro stations too. A transit day pass includes transfers to Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH), which is the hub for Scandanavian Airlines.
The Copenhagen Airport is about 25 minutes by train or metro from Central Station in the old town city center. At the airport, you can catch the train, which connects with Copenhagen Central Station. You can also catch the M2 metro at the airport and ride it to Kongens Nytorv, which will put you in the center of all the popular attractions downtown. From Kongens Nytorv you can catch either the M3 circle route or the M4 metro for 3 stops to reach the Central Station. Transferring between the airport and downtown takes almost exactly the same amount of time whether you take the train or the metro, put the metro will give you better access to the attractions and various downtown hotels.
Harbour Bus
The yellow Harbour Bus runs up and down the main channel of downtown Copenhagen and is included in tickets purchased for the DOT transit system. You can catch a Harbour Bus at the library near Christiansborg Palace and ride this ferry to the Gefion Fountain at the Kastellet citadel or to the numerous street food stalls at Referren. You can also reach the Orientkaj metro station near the cruise ship terminals. The Harbour Bus is covered in a DOT City Pass, but is not included in a Copenhagen Card.
Cruise Ships
Many cruise ships dock at 3 terminals at Ocean Quay (Oceankaj). Bus #164 and a transfer to the M4 Metro Line will take you to the heart of downtown and the Copenhagen Central Station, but make sure you either have cash or a ticket purchased on your DOT app. Some smaller cruise ships dock at Langelinie, which allows passengers to walk directly to the Little Mermaid and the sights of downtown. Langelinie is not well connected to public transit though, so your best bet is to cab if you are traveling with your luggage.
Another great option to get around Copenhagen is Copenhagen City Bike, which has GPS maps on each bike. Use the Copenhagen City Bike app to find the nearest available bike.
Copenhagen Weather
Copenhagen temperatures are cool even in summer. The summer weather in Copenhagen averages around 68 F (20 C) for highs and 50 F (10 C) for lows. June to September are the best months to visit Copenhagen for the good weather.
Visit Copenhagen – Background
Copenhagen is spelled Kobenhavn in Danish. The name translates to “merchant’s harbor”. Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and its largest city. More than a million people live in the city. Copenhagen was founded in 1167 at the current site of Christiansborg Palace. The city has struggled to retain its importance in controlling shipping between the Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. Copenhagen is a major port on ocean liner cruises to Scandinavia. Cruise ships can take the pastoral German Kiel Canal between Copenhagen and the United Kingdom.
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