City Weekend Copenhagen

Danes rank among the world’s happiest people. When you visit Copenhagen and the beautiful surrounding region, you’ll see why. The buzzing capital mixes royal history, modern architecture and loads of culture with sustainable living and a mouth-watering selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Day 1: Copenhagen

Come and be charmed by Copenhagen, Northern Europe’s cosiest capital, packed with cafés, shops, and the best restaurants in Scandinavia.

Depending on what time you land in Copenhagen, you’ll want something to eat and something to do once you’ve checked into your hotel. First things first – we recommend that you take the metro from the airport to the city. It’s cheap and easy and you can’t get lost!

Then for a quick bite, head to one of the city’s great bakery cafes. There are so many to choose from – Hart, Meyers, Brød, Laura’s and plenty of independent ones. Wherever you are, you won’t be far from a bakery – guaranteed!

Your best bet for day 1 is to get to know the city. Take a tour of some kind – a boat tour from Nyhavn to see the sights, a cycle tour to stretch your legs or a walking tour from Rådhuspladsen – the city centre is easy to get around.

Day 2: Copenhagen

Now that you know where you are, you can rent a bike and explore Copenhagen’s neighbourhoods. There’s plenty to discover in hipster Nørrebrø, the foodie Meatpacking district, genteel and beautiful Frederiksberg and innovative architecture hub Nordhavn.

There are so many places to visit from Copenhagen and within easy reach using public transport. Head north: you’ve got the choice of the Louisiana, Copenhagen’s world class modern art gallery, Kronborg Castle, also known as Hamlet’s castle, in the city of Helsingør, and the charming beach town of Gilleleje on the Danish Riviera, all an easy train ride from the central station.

In the late afternoon, be sure to take a trip to Refshaleøen, the city’s most up and coming district, where you’ll find Reffen, a food market / bar hangout area where the party can go on all night long in the summer months.

Day 3: Copenhagen

Back in the city, it’s time to explore a bit further. Depending on your preferences, you could dive into Denmark’s history with a trip to Amalienborg palace (the Queen’s residence) or a trip to Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by the King’s Gardens, or even an afternoon marvelling at Viking treasure in the National Museum.

If that’s altogether too much museum for you, why not take a food-themed walking tour from Torvehallerne, or a baking class where you can learn to make Danish pastries from the masters?

Highlights or suggested excursions

Tivoli Gardens

A world-class amusement park

Nyhavn

The name Copenhagen comes from the words for “Merchant Harbor” for a reason. Nyhavn used to be one of the hubs for the ship merchants back in the day. With its colorful facades, Nyhavn is a compulsory stop on the classic Copenhagen tour. Although it may be busy with tourists from all corners of the world, finding a place on one of the many outdoor dining venues is usually easy. Sit down and enjoy a sandwich and a cold beer and indulge in some primo people-watching. Christmas time opens with a cozy Christmas market in Nyhavn, the epitome of ‘hygge’.

Amalienborg

Amalienborg Palace is the Queen’s residence in Copenhagen. The palace consists of four separate rococo palaces around a square, two of which are open to the public. One houses a museum where you can view almost 400 years of royal history in the form of paintings and other objects, and in the second you can get a close look at what the Danish royal residence is like on the inside. Do not miss the changing of the guard that happens every day at 12 noon.

Strøget

Strøget is the central pedestrian street in the center of Copenhagen’s major shopping area. Everything you could want is nearby, from budget options and small independent shops to some of the world’s most exclusive brands. The many small side streets are full of shops, cafes and restaurants with something to suit everyone. If you want to shop for classic Danish design, you can visit Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen or Illums Bolighus.

Canal tour

When the weather is nice, a canal tour is a great way to see iconic sights around Copenhagen. Jump on at Nyhavn or near Christiansborg and follow a tour that takes you past the Opera House, The Black Diamond library and The Little Mermaid sitting on its rock. You continue through Christianshavn’s cozy canals, which are full of houseboats and lined with charming old buildings.

The Round Tower

The Round Tower, built in the 17th century, is Europe’s oldest functioning observatory and is used extensively by amateur astronomers. Once you get to the top via the spiral ramp, you’ll see a striking view of Copenhagen from a viewing platform running around the tower. Horses used to drag carts loaded with books up to the university library at the top, hence the spiral ramp instead of stairs.

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle is a 400-year-old renaissance castle located in the center of Copenhagen. In addition to the beautiful exterior and the royal palace park, there is a lot to discover inside the castle. Inside, you can see three life-size silver lions keeping watch, and do not miss the Danish crown jewels – they can only be worn by the Queen and only within the borders of the country.

Christiania

Copenhagen’s free town Christiania is a colorful and controversial area in Copenhagen that is well worth a visit. The sanctuary was started as a social experiment in the 70’s but has survived and is today a popular excursion destination for both tourists and locals. There are several good cafes and restaurants, and don’t miss the opportunity for a walk among the hilarious and odd houses of Christiania.

*Please note that some visitors may find Christiania, particularly the area around Pusher Street, to be rough. For your own safety, we recommend that follow the Do’s and Don’ts signs up at the entrances and refrain from taking any photos or videos.

Restaurants

Whether you are into bistros or Michelin-starred restaurants, you will find it in Copenhagen. The restaurant scene is among the world’s most distinct and innovative, and it caters to all budgets, tastes and situations. On the menus in Copenhagen you will find delicious food from all over the world, and a strong focus on making exquisite meals from local ingredients in season. This approach was first taken by Noma and the New Nordic cuisine, and is a way of cooking that still makes Copenhagen’s restaurants culinary trailblazers.

Top end restaurants

• Geranium (3*)
• Noma (3*)
• AOC (2*)
• Kadeau (2*)
• Alchemist (2*)
• Jordnær (2*)
• Kong Hans Kælder (2*)
• Marchal (1*)
• Kokkeriet (1*)
• Formel B (1*)
• Kiin Kiin (1*)
• Søllerød Kro (1*)
• Alouette (1*)
• The Samuel (1*)

Mid-range restaurants

• Höst
• Radio
• Uformel
• Selma
• Barr
• Vækst
• No. 2
• Lumskebugten
• Ancestrale
• Italo Disco
• Gorilla
• Osteria 16

Great value restaurants

• GRØD
• Hooked
• UGood
• La Tre Street Kitchen
• Gasoline Grill
• GAO
• Da Gallo Pizzeria
• La Neta
• The Bridge Street Kitchen
• Madglad
• Absalon
• JAGGER Vesterbro