Copenhagen Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, stands as a beacon of Nordic charm and urban sophistication. This bustling metropolis, located in the Region Hovedstaden, is celebrated for its rich historical tapestry, cutting-edge design, and commitment to sustainability.
At the heart of Copenhagen lies a treasure trove of attractions. The iconic Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, offers a glimpse into Denmark's cultural heritage. The historic Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's oldest amusement parks, provides enchanting entertainment for all ages.
The city's architectural prowess is evident in the colorful waterfront district of Nyhavn, where 17th-century buildings nestle against contemporary structures like the striking Copenhagen Opera House. The Round Tower, an observatory dating back to the 17th century, offers panoramic views of the cityscape.
Copenhagen is also recognized for its commitment to green living, boasting numerous bike lanes and public spaces that prioritize pedestrians. The innovative district of Ørestad showcases modern, eco-friendly design, while the city's extensive parks and gardens, such as the King's Garden, provide serene escapes.
For art aficionados, Copenhagen's National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) houses an impressive collection of Danish and international masterpieces. The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, situated just outside the city, is a must-visit for contemporary art and architecture enthusiasts.
Culinary explorers will find Copenhagen at the forefront of the New Nordic Cuisine movement, with restaurants like Noma, repeatedly crowned as one of the best in the world, leading the charge. Traditional Danish dishes, such as smørrebrød and frikadeller, can be savored in the city's many cafes and eateries.
The city's design legacy can be explored through its numerous design shops and showrooms, offering everything from classic Danish furniture to avant-garde fashion. Copenhagen's reputation as a design capital is further cemented by events such as 3 Days of Design and Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Copenhagen's appeal extends to its surrounding areas, with the majestic castles of North Zealand and the UNESCO-listed Kronborg Castle in Elsinore just a short trip away. The city also serves as a gateway to other Scandinavian destinations, thanks to its efficient transport connections.
MetroCopenhagen Attractions - What to See and Explore
Copenhagen offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Dyrehavsbakken, Rosenborg, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Botanical Garden. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Copenhagen by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Copenhagen.
Culture
Parken Stadium
Østerbros, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Sankt Jakobs 
Hirschsprung Collection
Østerbros, CopenhagenMuseum of work by Danish artists
Museum Art museum Sølvgades 
Glass Hall
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenTheater Tivolis 
Copenhagen Opera House
Christianshavn, CopenhagenWaterside home of the Royal Danish Opera
Theater Architecture 
Charlottenborg Palace
Indre By, CopenhagenContemporary art in a baroque palace
Baroque architecture Palace Herluf Trolles
Shopping
Strøget
Indre By, CopenhagenFamed pedestrian street lined with shops
Shopping Shopping district Strøget 
Købmagergade
Indre By, CopenhagenShopping Shopping district Strøget 
Nørrebrogade
Nørrebro, CopenhagenShopping Shopping district Helligkors 
Værnedamsvej
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenShopping Shopping district Gl. Kongevejs 
Fisketorvet
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenShopping Shopping centre Fisketorvets
Entertainment
Tivoli
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, Copenhagen19th-century amusement park with rides
Amusement park Tivolis 
Dyrehavsbakken
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenAmusement park with 16th-century origins
Amusement Amusement park Klampenborg 
Star Flyer
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenAmusement Amusement park Amusement ride Tivolis 
Dæmonen
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenAmusement Amusement park Amusement ride Tivolis 
Charlottenlund Racetrack
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Horse track Charlottenlund
Active
Parken Stadium
Østerbros, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Sankt Jakobs 
Brøndby Stadium
CopenhagenSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Vestegnen 
DGI-byen
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Convention center Flæsketorvets Charlottenlund Racetrack
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Horse track Charlottenlund 
Klampenborg Racecourse
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Horse track Klampenborg
Museum
Rosenborg
Indre By, Copenhagen17th-century palace and royal museum
Forts and castles Museum Kongens Haves 
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenFine-art museum of sculpture and painting
Museum Art museum Tivolis 
National Gallery of Denmark
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum Art museum Vilhelm Dahlerup Kommunehospitalets 
Thorvaldsens Museum
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum dedicated to a single artist
Museum Art museum Slotsholmen 
Amalienborg
Indre By, CopenhagenThe Queen's winter residence, with tours
Nicolai Eigtved Forts and castles Frederiksstaden
Church
Kastelskirken
Østerbros, CopenhagenChurch Baroque architecture Kastellets 
Marmorkirken
Indre By, CopenhagenChurch Nicolai Eigtved Sacred and religious sites Frederiksstaden 
Church of Our Saviour
Christianshavn, CopenhagenBaroque edifice with a corkscrew spire
Baroque architecture Church 
Grundtvigs Kirke
Bispebjergs, CopenhagenMassive church with unique architecture
Church Gothic Revival architecture Grundtvigskirkes 
Holmen Church
Indre By, CopenhagenChurch built for Christian IV in 1619
Baroque architecture Church Holmens
Park
Botanical Garden
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum's expansive plant collection
Botanical garden Park Kommunehospitalets 
King's Garden
Indre By, CopenhagenParkland with pavilions and formal gardens
Park Kongens Haves 
Frederiksberg Gardens
Copenhagen18th-century palace's landscaped gardens
Park Frederiksberg 
Amaliehaven
Indre By, CopenhagenPark Garden Frederiksstaden 
Jægersborg Dyrehave
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenPark Klampenborg
Monuments and statues
Amalienborg
Indre By, CopenhagenThe Queen's winter residence, with tours
Nicolai Eigtved Forts and castles Frederiksstaden 
Equestrian statue of Frederick V
Indre By, CopenhagenMonuments and statues Frederiksstaden 
The Little Mermaid Statue
Østerbros, CopenhagenBronze sculpture and iconic landmark
Hans Christian Andersen Monuments and statues Kastellets 
Copenhagen City Hall
Indre By, CopenhagenTours of an ornate 1905 council building
Art Nouveau architecture National Romantic style architecture Strøget 
Knippelsbro
CopenhagenBridge Civic center Monuments and statues
Art museum
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenFine-art museum of sculpture and painting
Museum Art museum Tivolis National Gallery of Denmark
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum Art museum Vilhelm Dahlerup Kommunehospitalets Thorvaldsens Museum
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum dedicated to a single artist
Museum Art museum Slotsholmen Hirschsprung Collection
Østerbros, CopenhagenMuseum of work by Danish artists
Museum Art museum Sølvgades 
Nationalmuseet
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum of Danish history and culture
Museum History museum Kalvebodernes
Specialty museum
Thorvaldsens Museum
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum dedicated to a single artist
Museum Art museum Slotsholmen Nationalmuseet
Indre By, CopenhagenMuseum of Danish history and culture
Museum History museum Kalvebodernes 
Christiansborg Palace
Indre By, CopenhagenBaroque architecture Thorvald Jørgensen Forts and castles Slotsholmen 
DieselHouse
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenMuseum Science museum Specialty museum Fisketorvets 
Royal Danish Naval Museum
Christianshavn, CopenhagenMuseum Military museum Specialty museum
Theater
Glass Hall
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenTheater Tivolis Copenhagen Opera House
Christianshavn, CopenhagenWaterside home of the Royal Danish Opera
Theater Architecture 
Pantomimeteatret
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenConcerts and shows Theater Vilhelm Dahlerup Tivolis 
Skuespilhuset
Indre By, CopenhagenTheater Concerts and shows Nyhavns 
Bellevue Teatret
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenConcerts and shows Theater Klampenborg
Concerts and shows
Parken Stadium
Østerbros, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Sankt Jakobs Copenhagen Opera House
Christianshavn, CopenhagenWaterside home of the Royal Danish Opera
Theater Architecture Pantomimeteatret
Vesterbro - Kongens Enghave, CopenhagenConcerts and shows Theater Vilhelm Dahlerup Tivolis 
Royal Arena
Amager Vest, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Mejlgårdens Skuespilhuset
Indre By, CopenhagenTheater Concerts and shows Nyhavns
Historical place
Church of Our Saviour
Christianshavn, CopenhagenBaroque edifice with a corkscrew spire
Baroque architecture Church Amalienborg
Indre By, CopenhagenThe Queen's winter residence, with tours
Nicolai Eigtved Forts and castles Frederiksstaden 
Kastellet
Østerbros, CopenhagenStar-shaped military fortress and ramparts
Architecture Historical place Kastellets Holmen Church
Indre By, CopenhagenChurch built for Christian IV in 1619
Baroque architecture Church Holmens The Little Mermaid Statue
Østerbros, CopenhagenBronze sculpture and iconic landmark
Hans Christian Andersen Monuments and statues Kastellets
Sacred and religious sites
Marmorkirken
Indre By, CopenhagenChurch Nicolai Eigtved Sacred and religious sites Frederiksstaden Church of Our Saviour
Christianshavn, CopenhagenBaroque edifice with a corkscrew spire
Baroque architecture Church Grundtvigs Kirke
Bispebjergs, CopenhagenMassive church with unique architecture
Church Gothic Revival architecture Grundtvigskirkes Holmen Church
Indre By, CopenhagenChurch built for Christian IV in 1619
Baroque architecture Church Holmens 
Church of Our Lady
Indre By, Copenhagen1800s edifice with iconic sculptures
Church Historical place Strøget
Art gallery
Hirschsprung Collection
Østerbros, CopenhagenMuseum of work by Danish artists
Museum Art museum Sølvgades Charlottenborg Palace
Indre By, CopenhagenContemporary art in a baroque palace
Baroque architecture Palace Herluf Trolles 
Sophienholm
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenMuseum Art museum Vernacular architecture 
The David Collection
Indre By, CopenhagenIslamic, European and Danish art museum
Museum Art museum Gothersgades 
Cisternerne
CopenhagenMuseum Art museum Art gallery Frederiksberg
Music venue
Parken Stadium
Østerbros, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Sankt Jakobs 
Søpavillonen
Indre By, CopenhagenMusic venue Historicist architecture Peblinge 
DR Koncerthuset
Amager Vest, CopenhagenMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Faste Batteris 
Black Diamond
Indre By, CopenhagenMusic and shows Nightlife Hans Jørgen Holm Slotsholmen Royal Arena
Amager Vest, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Mejlgårdens
Memorial
Memorial Anchor
Indre By, CopenhagenMemorial Nyhavns 
Maritime Monument
Østerbros, CopenhagenMemorial Kastellets 
Dragon Fountain
Indre By, CopenhagenMemorial Neighbourhood Strøget 
J.H. Wessel
Indre By, CopenhagenMemorial Trinitatis 
Memorial to Nordic Volunteers and Fallen
Østerbros, CopenhagenMemorial Kastellets
Forts and castles
Rosenborg
Indre By, Copenhagen17th-century palace and royal museum
Forts and castles Museum Kongens Haves Amalienborg
Indre By, CopenhagenThe Queen's winter residence, with tours
Nicolai Eigtved Forts and castles Frederiksstaden Kastellet
Østerbros, CopenhagenStar-shaped military fortress and ramparts
Architecture Historical place Kastellets Christiansborg Palace
Indre By, CopenhagenBaroque architecture Thorvald Jørgensen Forts and castles Slotsholmen 
Sorgenfri Palace
Northern Suburbs, CopenhagenPalace Historical place Forts and castles
Event space
Parken Stadium
Østerbros, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Sankt Jakobs Royal Arena
Amager Vest, CopenhagenSport venue Sport Concerts and shows Mejlgårdens 
Cirkusbygningen
Indre By, CopenhagenMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Nyrops 
Nordatlantens Brygge
Christianshavn, CopenhagenMuseum Civic center Event space 
Fælledparken
Østerbros, CopenhagenHuge park with skate and athletics areas
Park Event space Rigshospitalets
Other categories
StreetSquareHistory museumNeighbourhoodAreaCemeteryBridgeNightlifeLakeTowerMusic and showsCanalScience museumNatural attractionCopenhagen – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Copenhagen, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Kronborg (Elsinore), Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (Fredensborg Municipality), Frederiksborg Castle (Hillerød).
Best Time To Visit Copenhagen
Learn when is the best time to travel to Copenhagen weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience Copenhagen
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Fishcake
A fishcake is a culinary dish consisting of filleted fish or other seafood minced or ground, mixed with a starchy food, and fried. Asian-style fishcakes usually contain fish with salt...
Food
Snaps
Snaps is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in...
Beverage
Akvavit
Akvavit or aquavit is a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Akvavit is distilled from grain and potatoes, and is...
Infused spirit style
Rugbrød
Rugbrød is a very common form of rye bread in Denmark. Rugbrød usually resembles a long brown extruded rectangle, no more than 12 cm high, and 30-35 cm wide, depending on the bread pan in...
Remoulade
Rémoulade is a French cold sauce based on mayonnaise. Although similar to tartar sauce, it is often more yellowish, sometimes flavored with curry, and sometimes contains chopped pickles or...
Dish
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
La Femme au Cheval
La Femme au Cheval is a large oil painting created toward the end of 1911, early 1912, by the French artist Jean Metzinger. The work was exhibited in Paris at the Salon des Indépendants in...
Painting by Jean Metzinger
Green Stripe
The Green Stripe, also known as Portrait of Madame Matisse. The Green Line, is a portrait by Henri Matisse of his wife, Amélie Noellie Matisse-Parayre. It is an oil painting on canvas...
Painting by Henri Matisse
Summer Evening at Skagen. The Artist's Wife and Dog by the Shore
Summer Evening at Skagen. The Artist's Wife and Dog by the Shore is an 1892 painting by P.S. Krøyer, one of the best known of the artistic community known as the Skagen Painters.
Painting by Peder Severin Krøyer
In a Roman Osteria
In a Roman Osteria is a painting by the Danish painter Carl Bloch. It was painted in 1866. One of Bloch's better-known genre scenes, the painting was commissioned by the merchant Moritz G.
Painting by Carl Bloch
View from the Artist's Window
View from the Artist's Window is a painting from 1825 by Martinus Rørbye, a Danish Romantic genre, landscape and architecture painter. It is in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen...
Painting by Martinus Rørbye
Hovedstaden