The Most Beautiful Sights in Copenhagen

What are the best attractions in Copenhagen? We are thrilled by the Danish capital, Copenhagen, with its colorful houses at Nyhavn, the Tivoli theme park, and one of the best food scenes in Europe. We'll show you which highlights are worth it. You can visit all the major attractions in Copenhagen in 3 days.

In this article, we will show you why a visit to Copenhagen is worthwhile and which sights you should see. Additionally, I have compiled more interesting places away from the typical tourist attractions in Copenhagen. What should you absolutely see in Copenhagen?

These are the top attractions in Copenhagen for a first visit. I've summarized the most famous landmarks in Copenhagen, as well as the historically significant places in the city and activities that are definitely worth visiting. In my opinion, you should definitely see these noteworthy places on your first visit to Copenhagen.

In summary, these are our most important highlights in Copenhagen.

Of course, you can do much more in Copenhagen. Below are the best sights in Copenhagen. To optimally prepare for your trip to Copenhagen, we have put together some general tips for sightseeing in the Danish capital at the end.

To give you an initial overview of Copenhagen, we have marked the most important attractions on the following map (Google Maps). You can save the map on your computer or phone, making it easy to navigate on-site.

Download map as PDF

I recommend planning 3 to 4 days for a visit to Copenhagen. In this time, you can leisurely explore the most important sights like Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid, Tivoli, and Amalienborg Palace. Additionally, you'll have ample time to discover the charming neighborhoods, visit markets, and enjoy culinary highlights.

Since you can revisit Copenhagen multiple times, it's not a disaster if you can't see all our tips.

Do you have more time? Even better, check out our insider tips for Copenhagen and our suggested 3-day city trip itinerary (with sightseeing program).

The best way to explore downtown Copenhagen is on foot. Start at Strøget, the longest shopping street (1.1 km). It leads you from Nyhavn to City Hall Square and Tivoli amusement park.

The Danish capital, Copenhagen, ranks in our top 10 of the most beautiful cities in Europe. We immediately felt at home and love to return here. With around 623,000 inhabitants, the "hygge" city is still quite manageable.

PS: Here we have realistically listed only the most important sights that you can manage in a weekend. You can find all other places in our insider tips for Copenhagen as well as in our program for 3 days in Copenhagen. You won't starve here, as we have noted all the tips for food in Copenhagen in our food guide.

A real beauty is the 'New Harbor' Nyhavn in the center of Copenhagen. The colorful facades of the tilted gabled houses are one of the city's most famous landmarks. Ideally, start your city trip in Copenhagen right here.

Nyhavn is always bustling and has long ceased to be a hidden gem. Thanks to Instagram, this place is a popular photo spot and it gets busier every year. Our tip: Come early in the morning or later in the evening to escape the tourist crowds and take your photos.

Note: Even though the restaurants look inviting, prices around Nyhavn are correspondingly high. Once, out of necessity (pouring rain), we had a waffle in one of the restaurants. It was not only expensive but also not very tasty.

Small but popular. I guess you will be surprised when you first discover the Little Mermaid (Danish: Den lille Havfrue) too. Because she is much smaller than you imagine when you see photos of her. This only 125 cm tall statue in the harbor basin of Copenhagen nevertheless attracts everyone. She is the city's landmark and one of the most famous attractions.

Before you spot the bronze figure in the harbor, you'll see the crowds of people pushing in front of it. Sit a little away from the statue and just observe. The Little Mermaid sits only a few meters from the shore on a rock. The statue was erected based on the fairy tale of Danish cult author Hans Christian Andersen.

Our tip: In the early morning, you can enjoy the statue alone and in silence. If you go sightseeing by boat, you'll also get to the Little Mermaid, but then you'll only see her from behind.

The best view of Copenhagen is from the tower of the Vor Frelsers Kirke in Christianshavn. First, you must master a few wooden stairs inside the narrow stairwell. Then you continue upwards via a winding spiral staircase at a great height. However, in summer it is often hazy. On warm days, it can also be a close and sweaty affair.

Nevertheless, the climb is worth it. If you have a fear of heights, it's better to visit the Rundetårn. We actually like this view better since you're "closer" to downtown Copenhagen (Indre By in Danish).

Note: The Vor Frelsers Kirke is also known as "Church of Our Saviour".

The Rundetårn (Round Tower) is located in the pedestrian zone in the center. It is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. From here you have a great view of the old city.

The ascent is much easier here because it follows a spiral path upwards.

The Reffen Street Food Market at the shipyard Refshaleøen near the harbor has over 50 stalls. A lot of emphasis is placed on sustainability and ingredients from local sources here.

The motto is: "Reduce & Reuse." Local vegetables, compostable dishes, and minimizing waste in food are the focus. We like it! Grab a bike and ride here. The location is just great and ideal for chilling and filling your stomach with delicious food.

In the hipster district of Nørrebro, you'll find the Torvehallerne food hall, which has been one of the most popular spots for Copenhageners since 2011. Here you'll find food from all around the world. The best cafés, restaurants, and bakeries in Copenhagen have a stall here. Try the beer at Mikkeller, Vietnamese food at Lele, or coffee at Democratic Coffee.

The colorful Free Town Christiania is really beautiful! Located in the Christianshavn district, you will find the famous settlement of autonomists and hippies here. While hard drugs are frowned upon, cannabis is smoked on every corner.

Christiania is the most visited attraction in Copenhagen after Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid. Everywhere you see artistic murals, colorful houses, and just as brightly dressed residents. Many tourists seek out the famous Pusher Street to obtain cannabis, which is openly offered here.

What we particularly liked: In the summer, regular concerts take place here. Also cool is the giant Green George made from wooden waste, created by artist Thomas Dambo.

Note: There is a strict no-photo policy in Pusher Street. Respect the request and put your cameras away.

The palace is the official city residence of the popular Queen Margrethe II. A raised flag means: Queen is present.

Next door live Crown Prince Frederik and his Mary. In the building next to it, you can visit the working rooms of the kings and get insight into their past lifestyle. Less interesting for me, but probably the highlight for Danes and royal fans.

By the way, Prince Joachim lives above this museum with his wife Marie.

You can also enter this museum for free with the Copenhagen Card!

However, the highlight at Amalienborg Palace is the daily changing of the guard. From around 11:30 am, the guard marches from the barracks next to Rosenborg Castle. In a practiced "choreography," the guards are successively relieved. This can be seen from around noon at the palace. We happened to be there every time the guards marched. It's worth seeing, but not a must.

Rosenborg Castle is one of our favorites. It's located in the royal gardens (Kongens Have). What was once laid out as pleasure gardens is now a small recreational area. Students relax on the park lawns, children play, and mothers watch.

The castle looks particularly impressive from the outside. Inside, you could view the Danish crown jewels. After a long day, however, we weren't in the mood for that. When the sun shines in Copenhagen, you have to enjoy it. So we stayed outside!

The heart of the Danish state beats in the midst of Copenhagen. The Queen, the Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister of Denmark have their seats here.

Since Christiansborg Castle is used daily, we recommend joining a guided tour.

The castle was once built on the ruins of a fortress that has burned down multiple times. Today, it is often simply called "the Castle."

Particularly interesting are the royal reception rooms, the royal stables, and the royal kitchen. I visited Christiansborg Castle on my first visit to Copenhagen thanks to the Copenhagen Card. This saved me 160 DKK, and entrance is included.

Opened in 1843, Tivoli amusement park is the second oldest amusement park in the world. It is located in the center, right next to City Hall. Tivoli includes a large park area, restaurants, cafes, snack stalls, a concert hall, a variety stage, and of course rides. A visit to Tivoli is especially worthwhile in the evening. Everything is beautifully illuminated, and a water show rounds off the visit, although we found the show a bit boring.

(It might have something to do with the fact that one of the world's most spectacular water shows is currently being shown in my hometown of Heilbronn at the BUGA.)

However, the entry fee of around 15 euros does not include rides. For example, a ride on the 80-meter-high chain carousel 'Starflyer' costs about 10 euros. A ride on the old wooden roller coaster with an actual brake operator is something very special, I was told. Nevertheless, I remained steadfast and visited Tivoli Gardens for free thanks to the Copenhagen Card (normally, entrance costs about 15 euros).

More info about visiting the attraction:

Without the continuous rain, I would have never ended up at the Design Museum in Copenhagen. If you want to visit just one museum, then make it this one! I liked this museum the most because it showcases so many products and aspects of Danish design. Therefore, it definitely counts as one of the top attractions in Copenhagen. I particularly loved the furniture.

Since there are always special exhibitions, you should check the official website before your visit. Unfortunately, admission is no longer included in the Copenhagen Card.

Note: The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is marketed as one of the most important art museums in the world. I have visited many museums displaying art from all decades (from antiquity to modern art). It's better to spend your time visiting the Design Museum or the two alternatively mentioned. It's really worth it. Because you'd rather see van Gogh in the Netherlands, Impressionists in Basel or Munich.

In the heart of the city center, you'll find the Botanical Garden. I only became aware of it during the food tour. If you want to distance yourself from the hustle and bustle of the center, you should visit the 10-hectare Botanical Garden. It is beautiful, especially the Palm House.

Situated in the downtown area of Copenhagen, the 10-hectare Botanical Garden is open to everyone; only the Palm House incurs a separate entry fee. However, with the Copenhagen Card, it's free of charge.

View info on opening hours and entry fees on the official website. As mentioned, we visited here as part of the food tour (info in the article for Food tips in Copenhagen). Without the tour, we would have never learned that there is a special honey from bees in the Botanical Garden (and it tastes great).

Copenhagen has many streets and hidden corners adorned with beautiful street art. Check out my report with tips for Copenhagen off the tourist paths, where you'll find details about that.

Are you only in Copenhagen for a short time? Then I highly recommend booking a city tour or a ticket for the hop-on/hop-off bus. This way, you certainly have a compact overview of the city. I also enjoy bike tours.

Here are the city tours I recommend:

View my detailed experiences of the best city tours in Copenhagen here

I recommend combining these travel guides:

Copenhagen is most beautiful in the summer months from June to early September. In the winter months, it is cold and the days are short. We find that June and September are worthwhile since everything is green and you avoid the peak travel season in the summer.

The weather is very changeable like everywhere in Scandinavia. We were very lucky in September and had a lot of sunshine, but you should always expect rain.

The quickest way to get to Copenhagen is by plane. Flights are often quite cheap (from Stuttgart or Düsseldorf with SAS for about 180 euros, Berlin with EasyJet or Norwegian for under 100 euros) and only take 1 hour and 30 minutes. We are aware that this mode of travel is not sustainable or environmentally friendly. If we fly within Europe, we compensate for the flight on Atmosfair.

From Northern Germany, traveling by Flixbus or Deutsche Bahn is often cheaper, faster but not necessarily more convenient. From Hamburg, you can already travel by train for 65 euros.

If you're on a Scandinavian road trip with a motorhome, you usually arrive via the mainland (ferry from Fehmarn to Rødby) and then continue to Copenhagen.

The fastest way from Kastrup Airport to downtown Copenhagen is via the metro M2. It gets you to the eight-kilometer distant center in just 15 minutes.

First, you need a metro ticket, which you can buy from one of the machines. These are hard to miss. A one-way trip costs 36 Kroner (about 4.80 euros). The trains run every 10 minutes during the day, and about every 20 minutes on weekends and in the evenings.

The trip by metro to Nørrebro takes about 15 minutes.

When taking the metro from the airport to downtown, you should sit in the front. The train operates autonomously, and the front is entirely glassed in. This way, you can get your first impressions of Copenhagen right after your arrival.

Opinions about Copenhagen are clear: Everyone loves the city by the water. Here are a few facts and pieces of information:

The capital of Denmark is known for its high quality of life and is indeed one of the more expensive travel destinations in Europe. Costs vary depending on travel style and budget. Accommodation, food, and activities can be pricey, but there are also many free or low-cost ways to enjoy the city.

Therefore, you should plan your budget in advance to enjoy your trip to the fullest. A useful tool is my city trip diary, where you can plan, keep track of costs, and jot down memories.

Currently, the best free travel credit cards for traveling are the DKB Bank Debit Card, GenialCard (Hanseatic Bank), and the Mastercard Gold of TF Bank. With a setup of at least two of these cards, you can almost always withdraw cash at ATMs abroad for free and pay locally without foreign currency fees! -> Here you can find all the tips with my experience for the best travel credit cards in comparison.

Our recommendation for Copenhagen is to purchase a Copenhagen Card for sightseeing (My review of the Copenhagen Card). This city pass for visitors is ideal for visiting attractions, museums, and classic tours for free. Additionally, you can use all public transportation with the card.

The card is available for 24, 48, 72, or 120 hours (1 to 4 days). If you visit many attractions, this is definitely worthwhile. I love these city passes because then I don't have to worry about tickets and admission fees.

You can purchase the Copenhagen Card here.

If you're unsure, you should check my detailed report on the Copenhagen Card here.

There's nowhere more beautiful and relaxed to ride a bike than in Copenhagen. Cyclists have the right of way. The network of bike paths is 467 km long, and growing. You can rent one of the city's 2000 white bikes, "Bycycler." Much more convenient are the orange Donkey bikes. You know the principle: download the app, sign up and rent and return bikes wherever you want. It couldn't be easier.

However, you can comfortably reach almost all attractions in Copenhagen on foot.

These were our top 11 sights in Copenhagen. You can find many more details in the following articles with travel tips for Copenhagen:

Tell us your favorites! Which attractions in Copenhagen should tourists definitely not miss? Do you have any further questions or useful info? We look forward to your comment at the end of the article.

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