Being the capital of Denmark, and one of the trendiest places in Scandanavia, this city should definitely be added to your bucket list. Check out these 17 awesome things to do in Copenhagen.
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Where is Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is located in the east of Denmark, sitting on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager. The Swedish town of Malmo is actually just a stone's throw by crossing the Oresund bridge.
Copenhagen is located in Denmark near the border of Sweden.
How to Get to Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen can be reached several ways. Here are the different options for traveling there.
Visiting Copenhagen by Air
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, and definitely the easiest place to fly in the country. European cities that fly direct to Copenhagen include Aalborg, Aarhus, Akureyi, Alicante, Amsterdam, Antalya, Athens, Barcelona, Basel, Belgrade, Bergen, Berlin, Bologna, Bornholm, Bratislava, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Faro, Faroe Islands, Frankfurt, Funchal, Gdansk, Geneva, Gran Canaria, Gothenburg, Eindhoven, Hamburg, Hanover, Helsinki, Istanbul, Kalamata, Karup, Konya, Krakow, Kristiansand, Larnaca, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Palanga, Paris, Porto Santo, Prague, Reykjavik, Riga, Rome, Sandefjord, Sevilla, Sofia, Sonderborg Stavanger, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tenerife, Trondheim, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Zagreb, and Zurich.
Cities from the US and Canada that fly to Copenhagen include Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington.
Other International cities that fly to Copenhagen include Amman, Baghdad, Bangkok, Beirut, Cairo, Doha, Dubai, Hurghada, Marrakech, Sharm el Sheikh, Singapore, and Tel Aviv.
Flight Tip: Using Skyscanner you can out from "your city" to "Everywhere". This way you can see whether it's better to fly to Copenhagen or Malmo. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for flying.
Search for a flight to Copenhagen or nearby:
Visiting Copenhagen by Land
Copenhagen is not just well connected by air, but you can also reach it by plenty of neighboring cities in the area by bus or train. There are also some Swedish cities that have service to Copenhagen via land.
Want to book in advance? Here are a couple of options for traveling to Copenhagen from Sweden:
Visiting Copenhagen by Sea
Did you know that Copenhagen is a popular port city? Cruise ships come to dock here every summer during their Baltic itineraries. This is actually how we used to visits much, because we were working on a cruise ship that visited Copenhagen every two weeks! The cruise port is a short bus ride from the heart of the city, and you can definitely see the major highlights on a day trip here.
There are also ferry trips from Oslo, and you can get more info on the official tourism site of Denmark.
Entry Requirements for Denmark
Now that you're ready to travel to Copenhagen, let's go over any requirements you may need to take care of before entering Denmark.
Visa Entry Requirements for Denmark
Denmark allows free travel for nationalities from the European Union, while plenty of other countries can visit for a period of up to 90 days without having to get a visa. Some nationalities require a Schengen Visa, which also would apply to visiting Denmark. Here is the full list of countries that need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone.
The 90/180 Rule
Another important thing to note is that the 90 days apply to all of the countries within the Schengen area. This means that if you are a tourist without a visa, you can just stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period total in all of the Schengen Zone. For example, if you spent 70 days in Spain, then you would only be able to stay up to 20 days in Denmark before having to apply for a Schengen visa.
Covid Entry Requirements for Denmark
Denmark has now lifted all restrictions when it comes to Covid-19.
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Local Adjustments
Whenever you travel there are things that may be different from where you are coming from. Here are a few of the local adjustments to have in mind while traveling to Denmark.
Language
The official language in Denmark is Danish. While it's a pretty tough language, pretty much all locals do speak English too.
Currency
The currency used in Denmark is the Danish Krone. Currently (October 2023) Every 1 USD is equal to 7.04 Krone, 1 euro to 7.46 Krone, and every 1 GDP is equal to 8.56 DKK.
Outlets
Denmark use the same plug types as the rest of Europe, which are types F & K. The standard voltage in Denmark is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Water Potability
The water throughout Denmark is completely safe for consumptions, so we definitely suggest getting a refillable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles.
Tipping Culture
Service is actually built into the bill in the restaurants in Copenhagen, so it's not necessary to tip extra.
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Things to Do in Copenhagen
Now that you know the basics for visiting, here are all of the best things to do in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #1: Check out Nyhavn
Nyhavn is the most iconic area of the city, with its colorful 17th & 18th century buildings, restaurants, & bars, that line the vibrant waterfront. Centrally located and picturesque, this is definitely not a place to miss while visiting Copenhagen.
Nyhavn is one of the best areas to check out in Copenhagen.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #2: Go See The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is one of the most popular spots in Copenhagen. This bronze statue depicts a mermaid turning into a human. It is located on the seaside, and a must see attraction while visiting this city.
The Little Mermaid Statue is one of the most iconic things to do in Copenhagen.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #3: Have Some Fun at Tivoli Gardens
This amusement park is in the center of the city, and is full of rides, games, and a garden area for events and concerts.
The entrance is 130 DKK, with the addition of the separate prices for each ride and game. This is a great place to spend the day with your family and friends, or to let out your inner child.
Tivoli Gardens is fun for all ages.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #4: Climb to the Top of the Round Tower
Built as an astronomical observatory, this tower is the perfect place to appreciate the views of the city. Also known as Rundetaarn, the Round tower's entrance ticket is just 25 DKK.
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Things to Do in Copenhagen #5: Visit the Christianborg Palace
The Christianborg Palace is the seat of the Danish Parliament, and is located on the tiny island of Slotsholmen. Access to the palace is free, and there is also a beautiful restaurant in the tower that is available to dine in.
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Things to Do in Copenhagen #6: Ride Around in a Christiana Bike
These aren't your typical bikes. Christiana bikes are equipped with a cart in the front, that locals will be seen taking their kids in. We may not be kids, but riding around in these is a seriously fun and different experience.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #7: Have a Picnic at Ostre Anlaeg
With its 3 lakes, sculptures, and lush greenery, this park is the perfect place to spend the day with friends or a loved one to enjoy the sun. Being that Denmark is also pretty expensive, picnics were our go to during the summer months, saving us money, and letting us really enjoy the outdoors. For a bonus, they also hold local concerts here.
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Things to Do in Copenhagen #8: Have a Beer (or Something More) in Christiania
This neighborhood is the fun hipster area of Copenhagen. The former military base has actually turned into what is called "the green light zone" as it was an area where people openly sold weed, which is illegal elsewhere.
Christiania is full of color, a laid back young crowd, and an area of picnic tables and bars, making it the perfect place to relax on a sunny day with an ice cold beer, while people watching. Just keep in mind while visiting- no photos!
This is the outside of Christiania- no photos allowed inside!
Things to Do in Copenhagen #9: Climb to the Top of the Church of our Savior
This baroque style church is located in Central Copenhagen, and has an external winding staircase, boasting some of the city's best views for just 35 DKK.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #10: Check out Rosenburg Castle & Gardens
Over 400 years old, this renaissance castle is home to the crown jewels, the Danish crowns, and the coronation chairs. Enter inside for DKK 120, or admire the outside, with its beautiful gardens free of charge.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #11: Enjoy the Greenery of the Botanical Gardens
These 10 hectares gardens are the biggest in Denmark! Check out the palm house, butterfly house, or national museum.
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Things to Do in Copenhagen #12: Go Shopping at Strøget
The pedestrian street of Strøget is in the center of the city, lined with tons of restaurants and shops. As one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe, this is well worth a visit.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #13: Get a Bubble Cone Ice Cream
Located on Strøget street, are a few different ice cream parlors. Our personal favorite is called bubble waffle, where they have delicious hand-crafted ice cream, served in a light and fluffy bubble cone, and topped off with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or any other toppings you'd like to add. We promise, every calorie is worth it!
Bubble cones ae a great way to indulge on a hot day.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #14: Walk Around the Kastellet Fortress
Also known as the Citadel, this large star shaped fortress has a fountain, church, a mill, and a park area. It is located right near the little mermaid, making it a perfect place to walk through to make your way into the center of the city after visiting the iconic statue at the seaside.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #15: Have Lunch at an Old Church
Located in Nikolaj church, one of the oldest churches in Copenhagen, is the truly unique restaurant Maven. This church in the center of the city, has been turned into an interesting dining experience that offers classic dishes with an elegant twist.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #16: Take a Visit to City Hall Square
This plaza is the center of the city of Copenhagen, and is home to the government buildings, as well as the famous astronomical clock that can be visited from the top of City Hall. City Hall Square also marks the beginning of the famous pedestrian street, Strøget.
Things to Do in Copenhagen #17: Take a Day Trip to Malmo
This Swedish city is located just over the border, only an hour away from Copenhagen! The third largest city in Sweden is perfect for a quick trip, and just a train ride away from the central station.
Malmo, Sweden is the perfect day trip from Copenhagen.
Getting Around Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a very well connected city when it comes to getting from one end to the other, as well as getting to the outskirts. There are
Is Copenhagen Safe?
Denmark, as well as all of Scandinavia has particularly low crime rates, and are rated for the best living conditions, with the happiest people. Copenhagen is a very safe city, and we felt secure walking around by ourselves, or at night.
Other Things to Know About Visiting Copenhagen
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Copenhagen is a great city to visit, with so many things to do. Our favorite time to visit is in summer, when the days are long, there's great weather, and the city really comes to life. Travel to this Danish capital and enjoy all it has to offer.
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