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9 Best Things to Do in Copenhagen (Plus Free Ideas & Local Tips)
In this guide to the best things to do in Copenhagen, you’ll find our nine favourite sights and experiences, the best tours and tickets, free things to do, and tips for saving money with the Copenhagen Card, plus where to stay and answers to the most common questions.
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🗺️ Copenhagen at a Glance
| Attraction | Time needed | Copenhagen Card DISCOVER? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyhavn & canal cruise | 1–2 hours | ✅ Canal tour | First-time visitors |
| Tivoli Gardens | Half a day | ✅ Entry only | Families and evenings |
| Rosenborg Castle | 1–2 hours | ✅ | Royal history |
| Christiansborg Palace | 2 hours | ✅ (tower is free) | Views and politics |
| Freetown Christiania | 1–2 hours | Free | Alternative Copenhagen |
| CopenHill | 1–3 hours | ❌ | Something unusual |
| Torvehallerne | 1 hour | Free to browse | Foodies |
| Harbour baths & harbour bus | 1–2 hours | ✅ Harbour bus | Summer days |
| Little Mermaid & Kastellet | 1 hour | Free | A classic photo stop |
⭐ Top Copenhagen Tours
⭐ Top 9 Things to Do in Copenhagen
⛵ 1. Nyhavn & a Canal Cruise
Nyhavn is the postcard view of Copenhagen: brightly painted townhouses, old wooden ships and waterside cafés. Come early for photos without the crowds, then hop on a canal cruise from the quay. In about an hour you’ll glide past the Opera House, Christiansborg and the Little Mermaid.
🤓 Did you know? Hans Christian Andersen lived at three different addresses on Nyhavn, and wrote his first fairy tales while living at No. 20.
💡 Canal tours are included in the Copenhagen Card DISCOVER.
🎡 2. Tivoli Gardens
Right next to Central Station, Tivoli is part amusement park, part garden and part concert hall. It’s at its most magical after dark, when thousands of lights come on. Tivoli opens in seasons (summer, Halloween and Christmas), so check the dates before you go.
🤓 Did you know? Tivoli opened in 1843, and its wooden roller coaster from 1914 still has a brakeman riding on every train.
💡 Visiting in winter? Tivoli’s Christmas season is one of the best in Europe. See our Copenhagen Christmas Markets guide.
👑 3. Rosenborg Castle & the Crown Jewels
Built by King Christian IV in the early 1600s, Rosenborg is a fairytale Renaissance castle in the middle of the city. Head down to the treasury to see the Danish crown jewels, then wander the King’s Garden outside, which is free. Allow about 1½ hours.
🤓 Did you know? The royal coronation chair is made from narwhal tusks, which were once believed to be unicorn horns.
💡 At 11:30 the Royal Life Guards march from Rosenborg to Amalienborg Palace for the changing of the guard at noon. Follow them for a free bit of royal theatre.
🏛️ 4. Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg is home to the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office and the Supreme Court. You can tour the Royal Reception Rooms, the medieval ruins under the palace and the royal stables. Allow around 2 hours to see it all.
🤓 Did you know? Christiansborg’s tower is the tallest in Copenhagen, and entry to its viewing platform is free.
🌈 5. Freetown Christiania
Founded by squatters on an old army base in 1971, Christiania is a car-free neighbourhood of homemade houses, murals, lakeside paths, cafés and craft shops. Residents closed its notorious Pusher Street in 2024, so it’s calmer than older guides suggest. A guided walk is the best way to hear its story.
🤓 Did you know? Christiania has its own flag: red with three yellow dots.
💡 People live here, so ask before photographing residents or their homes.
⛷️ 6. CopenHill
Only in Copenhagen: a power plant with an artificial ski slope on its roof. You can ski or snowboard all year round, climb the giant wall on its side, or walk up the rooftop trail for views across the city and out to Sweden.
🤓 Did you know? The plant burns the city’s rubbish to heat thousands of Copenhagen homes, while people ski down the roof.
💡 The rooftop hiking trail is free, so you can enjoy the view without skiing.
🥐 7. Torvehallerne Food Market
These two glass market halls near Nørreport station are packed with stalls selling smørrebrød (open sandwiches), fresh fish, coffee and Danish pastries. It’s an easy lunch stop and a good place to try local food without restaurant prices.
🤓 Did you know? There’s an unofficial order for eating smørrebrød: herring first, then other fish, then meat, then cheese.
🏊 8. Harbour Baths & the Harbour Bus
Copenhagen’s harbour is clean enough to swim in. On warm days, locals head to the harbour bath at Islands Brygge to jump straight into the water. The yellow harbour buses are part of the public transport network, so they make a cheap mini-cruise.
🤓 Did you know? With GreenKayak, you can borrow a kayak for free if you collect litter from the harbour while you paddle.
💡 The harbour buses are included in the Copenhagen Card DISCOVER.
🧜 9. The Little Mermaid & Kastellet
The Little Mermaid is Copenhagen’s most famous statue, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. She’s smaller than most people expect, so pair her with a walk around Kastellet, the star-shaped fortress next door, and the dramatic Gefion Fountain.
🤓 Did you know? The statue has lost her head twice, in 1964 and 1998, both times to vandals.
💡 The Little Mermaid is a 20–25 minute walk from Nyhavn, so a hop-on hop-off bus is an easy way to get there and see the other highlights on the way.
🧭 Copenhagen Tours by Type
Can’t decide? Browse Copenhagen tours by type and find the one that suits you.
🆓 Free Things to Do in Copenhagen
- Stroll along Nyhavn and the harbourfront
- Climb Christiansborg’s tower for city views
- Visit the Little Mermaid, Kastellet and the Gefion Fountain
- Watch the changing of the guard at Amalienborg at noon
- Picnic in the King’s Garden at Rosenborg
- Explore Freetown Christiania
- Swim at the Islands Brygge harbour bath in summer
- Walk up CopenHill for the view
- Find Hans Christian Andersen’s grave at Assistens Cemetery
🎟️ Is the Copenhagen Card Worth It?
💡 Copenhagen Card tip: the Copenhagen Card DISCOVER includes public transport across the Capital Region, including trains to and from the airport and the harbour buses, plus entry to 80+ attractions such as Tivoli Gardens, Rosenborg Castle, Christiansborg Palace and a canal tour. If you’re visiting two or three paid attractions in a day, it usually pays for itself. It covers Tivoli entry, but not the rides.
🚌 Prefer sightseeing by bus? The Copenhagen Card HOP swaps public transport for hop-on hop-off buses, plus entry to 40+ attractions. Compare both Copenhagen Cards.
🏨 Plan Your Copenhagen Trip
Where to stay: see our Copenhagen Travel Guide → Where to Stay for the best areas.
✈️ Getting there: flights to Copenhagen take around 2 hours from the UK, with direct routes from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK airports. Compare times and prices on Flights to Copenhagen, or book your flight and hotel together and save with Copenhagen holiday packages.
Find more things to do in Copenhagen:
🧳 Late flight home? Drop your bags with Bounce luggage storage and enjoy your last day hands-free.
🛡️ Before you go: book Airport parking ahead, since it’s usually cheaper than paying on the day. And don’t forget Travel insurance: compare cover in a few minutes, so you’re protected if plans change, bags go missing or you need medical help abroad.
Start your holiday in comfort with Airport lounges, with food, drinks and a quiet seat away from the crowds.
Flying early? Stay the night before at an Airport hotel and skip the 3am alarm.
🚢 Arriving by cruise ship? Copenhagen is one of Europe’s busiest cruise ports. Browse cruises.
🚄 Travelling on by train? Malmö in Sweden is just 35 minutes away. Find train tickets.
⛴️ Heading to Norway? The overnight ferry to Oslo sails from Copenhagen. Find ferries.