“Put Copenhagen on your list!” – a text I sent frequently when asked about our weekend in Denmark. Copenhagen, the Danish Capital, is beautiful, quiet, and so refreshing! The city of stunning architecture, phenomenal food, and the land of bicycles.
As the city that separates Denmark and Sweden, Copenhagen is the key gateway between Scandinavia and mainland Europe. It’s known for this blend of modern design and historic charm. Many famous architects and designers reside in Copenhagen.
With its relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere, it offers an abundance of Danish bakeries, idyllic canals, and countless bicycles. While we stayed for a week, I’m recommending 3 full days in Copenhagen as it’s enough time, but you can hop to other Northern Europe destinations in the same trip without feeling like you’ve missed out on what the city has to offer. Read on for my perfect Copenhagen itinerary.
my traveler’s note
My now husband and I celebrated our marriage in September of 2024 and the Monday after the wedding, he had a work conference in Copenhagen. We decided to turn it into a little ‘mini-moon’ after our nuptials to celebrate! Jack visited in the spring of 2024 for work and raved about Copenhagen. When we found out work would take him back, it was a no brainer for me to join him.
I’m so happy I did. In contrast to some of our other European travels (like Southern France), we stayed in Copenhagen the whole week/weekend. It was incredibly refreshing to be in one spot instead of bounce around! While Jack worked, I ventured around the city with a friend. Then, we spent the weekend together & that’s what this 3 day itinerary will cover.
I always save our adventures to an Instagram Highlight as a personal memory for us, but I also love to write about what we did, what we ate, and all of the things to help you fellow adventurers! Let’s dig into it!
General Tips for Traveling Abroad
Whether you’re a seasoned pond hopper or jet setter, there are always a few things I like to keep in mind when planning vacations in new cities/countries:
- Ask your community: This could be Instagram, Facebook, or connecting with friends who have recently visited. I always put up a question box on Instagram and ask most of YOU for recommendations (and then I share them). It’s singlehandedly the best way for me to collect quick data.
- Research, research, research: It seems obvious to stay, the but more prepared you are for your travels, the more confident you will be when you’re there! I use TikTok for a ton of my travel recommendations (and not just because I’m Gen-Z). It’s because TikTok’s search engine operates like Google. It’s SEO friendly, specific, and quick!
- Lodging: For the most part, Airbnb’s are going to be more cost effective than hotels. That being said, Jack and I are accured a lot of credit card points after planning a wedding and have used those to splurge on hotels. We love the Chase Sapphire card! (we used it for part of our stay in Copenhagen)
- HAVE.A.PLAN: Say it again for the people in the back. This is my top tip because the plan includes ‘just walking around’, you will be disappointed. It’s always a good idea to plan at least 1 to 2 activities each day (it can just be a reservation or a destination to walk to). Having structure to the day is important, even on vacation!
When to visit Copenhagen?
Europe will always be the busiest during peak season: May to September (unless you’re going for ski season). We were in Copenhagen in mid September and it was absolutely gorgeous (sunny and 70 degrees for the whole week). Every local told us how lucky we were with the weather!
From another local, he said that between November and March are pretty grim. Best to visit when the weather is mild and outdoor activities are in full swing! Summer months the weather is in the low 70s. Spring and early fall offer fewer crowds, while still gorgeous weather and a lively city. When we go back to Copenhagen, we’ll plan the trip during a similar time frame.
Arrival into Copenhagen, Denmark
The Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is the largest airport in the Nordic countries and just 8km from the city center. We flew to CPH with a short layover in Amsterdam. Viggo is the taxi service throughout the country and super easy to use. We taxied to/from the airport.
Is Copenhagen expensive?
In comparison to other European countries we’ve visited, we thought Copenhagen was more expensive. From other blogs I’ve read, it will never be cost effective to visit as the country itself has a higher standard of living, high taxes, and a strong currency (the Danish krone DKK).
Because Denmark also prioritizes sustainability and quality, it comes a more of a premium price than other European countries. As a tourist in the city, it’s absolutely noticeable. Everything is elevated and it’s incredible.
Where we stayed
For the first couple of days, we stayed at the Tivoli Hotel in Copenhagen, adjacent to the main train station. Jack had a work conference at this hotel and lodging was covered. As an avid walker, I didn’t mind this location.
It was roughly a mile into the heart of the city, but the Tivoli neighborhood is bussling and easy to see. It also sat along the river and made for easy morning runs and navigating into the city.
For our ‘mini-moon’ weekend, we moved hotels and stayed at the beautiful 71 Nyhavn Hotel which is located in the heart of the Nyhavn strip. You cannot beat the location and the interiors are stunning. We used Chase travel points to stay here! We’re always a fan of staying in AirBnbs abroad as well.
Best way to explore the city
Walking or biking! Sure, you can taxi too, but the city is built for activity. Most locals do not own cars (fun fact: the Danish government puts a 125% tax on cars)! We walked everywhere (great way to see the city!) and taxied to/from the airport.
If you’re looking to visit Sweden, you’re able to hop on a train and be in Malmö in less than 30 minutes. And the Danish seaside can be explored by public transport too!
Our Itinerary
Jack and I had Thursday evening, all day Friday and Saturday to explore the city! I am going to give you my highest recommendations on what to do, where to eat, and how to see Copenhagen in it’s fullest!
Go on a Private boat Tour
The canal tour was hands down the best thing we did! It’s one of the more touristy things to do; however, I’d book a Private Copenhagen Boat Cruise in a beautiful Scandinavian mahogany boat any day! Maria gave us a lovely tour of the city by boat. She has so much knowledge about the surrounding area and we lucked out with stunning weather (70 degrees and full sun)!
If you’re looking for a more cost effective option, there are plenty of public offerings along Nyhavn street.
Get the best views of the city
There are two famous towers in Copenhagen that provide panoramic views: Church of Our Saviour and Copenhagen’s Rundetaarn – also called round tower. Both require a small fee to climb.
The Round Tower is sloped and a steady ramp to the top, opposed to the Church of Our Saviour Tower that consists of many small, narrow steps. If you’re afraid of heights or prefer more space, I’d recommend the Round Tower.
Capture Sunset along the water
Friday and Saturday night, Jack and I joined the locals by grabbing a bottle of wine an hour before sunset and watching it near the water. I’ve mentioned it before, but the Danish people are some of the most relaxed and happy people I’ve ever observed.
We said it was a core memory together. Drinking a happy hour glass of wine while sitting next to my sweet husband in the perfect place, talking about our travel adventures and all that’s to come, in a new city together. I’m sure it helped that the sun put on a show…look at this sunset:
It will definitely vary based on the time of year you visit, but anywhere overlooking the Inderhavnsbroen bridge. The Broens Gadekokken is a great outdoor food court with plenty of options for food stalls and beverage.
One night we sat at Restaurant Barr for a glass of wine (pretty pricy for 2 glasses) and the next night we went across the river from the Borens Gadekokken and sat with the locals. It was perfect & we’ll cherish the photos that captured the moment.
Explore the city by foot
I know it sounds silly to put this as one of the best things to do; but like most of Europe, it’s meant be explored by endless steps. Wander down charming streets, find unexpected gems, etc. Every morning, one of my favorite things was to select a bakery for breakfast.
This gave my walking some purpose and allowed me to stop along the way to observe more landmarks. The positive to staying slightly out of the city center (at Tivoli Hotel) is that to get to/from it was approx. 2 miles. Extra activity, we love her!
Landmarks to see in the city:
- Rosenborg Castle: Renaissance-era castle housing Danish crown jewels. Beautiful botanical gardens surrounding the castle. We’re more of the fast pass people through so we just walked by it and admired the beautiful building.
- See the iconic colorful houses in Nyhavn: great for many strolls along the canal and if you take a canal boat tour, you’re probably starting from here.
- Christiana: Freetown christiania is a different side of Copenhagen. You’re not able to take photos, but it’s unlike anything else in the city. It’s a unique social experiment, highlighting creative and independent spirits.
- Tivoli Gardens: Yes there’s roller coasters! It’s one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. It actually inspired Walt Disney to build Disney World.
- Amalienborg Palace: Official residence of the Danish royal family, consisting of four identical buildings, centered around a water fountain and with a view of the beautiful Frederik’s Church (The Marble Church). Christiansborg palace should be on your list, as well if you have time. The royal palaces are gorgeous and make you feel like you’re in a fairy tale!
- The Little Mermaid statue. There are a few other nods to the Little Mermaid throughout Copenhagen too!
Best food & beverage recommendations
Home to world-class restaurants, Copenhagen has some incredible eats! Beyond the Michelin-starred restaurants, it offers a diverse range of dining options. The food scene is internationally renowned, blending innovation, sustainability, and a strong focus to local ingredients.
Perhaps the most notable local dish is the Smørrebrød! It’s a Danish open-faced sandwich, is a beloved staple and served with a variety of topics, from chicken salad to Danish meatballs or seafood, cooked many different ways.
Bakeries, Cafes, & Brunch
The Danish know how to make a pastry, wow! I tried the world famous Cardamom rolls from Juno Bakery and the viral croissants from Buka bakery. Ranking them in order of which I recommend:
- Andersen Bakery: I went here twice(!!!) which is a big deal because I try to eat as many of the best places as possible. They had the best pastries and they served iced coffee (a luxury in Europe lol). I also loved that they offered a variety of sweet and savory pastries as well as fresh bruschetta toast and other offerings unique to them.
- Buka Bakery: Best croissant I had all week was at Buka. A nutella stuffed pastry with fresh raspberry jam and raspberries on top. There are a few locations around the city and we went to one north of the main square to escape the tourists.
- Atelier September: One of the cutest spots for brunch. It’s relaxing, serves locally fresh ingredients, and is such a vibe. I ordered the avocado toast with a side of cheese and soft boiled egg. It was so tasty. We went in the middle of the week and had no problem getting in. When we walked by on Saturday, there were 30+ people waiting for tables.
- Original Coffee: excellent lattes and beautiful aesthetic. Jack and I grabbed coffee from here a few times while in Copenhagen. Multiple locations around the city.
- Coffee Collection: another highly recommended cafe shop on social and a few locations around the city. I ordered another lovely latte.
- Hart Bageri: Another bakery with many locations around the city. Jack and I shared a cardamon croissant (YUM!!) and an apple tart (pretty good).
- Juno Bakery: A longer walk north from the city but a highly recommend popular place from TikTok. We enjoyed the cardamom roll and almond pastry. Both tasty; but I liked the cardamon croissant from Hart better.
The oldest bakery in the city is Sankt Peder’s Bakery. It’s known for it’s sticky cinnamon roll!
Drinks, Dinners & Food Halls
Copenhagen’s food halls offer a vibrant and diverse culinary experience, blending local flavors with international cuisine. These food markets are social hubs, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy gourmet meals, craft drinks, and fresh produce. When we lived in Atlanta, we enjoyed a few, but Copenhagen is home to many! And they are so cool to visit, especially if its your first time to the city. It’s an ideal place to get a taste of all the local street food.
- Torvehallerne KBH: a must stop! It has it all. Local farmers market sandwiched between two elevated food halls with a variety of food and beverage options. It’s such a cool design and attraction for locals and tourists alike.
- Reffin: a large outdoor food market & beer hall with a great spot overlooking the harbor. We walked here during the day and it was lovely. It gets packed on the weekends so try to go early to grab a spot.
- La Banchina: if you walk to Reffin, you’ll pass La Banchina on the way. Stop here for a cup of coffee or glass of wine. It’s a local spot, great for sunbathing, a quick bite, and a sauna session (must be booked in advanced). It’s so charming and quiet, compared to Reffin. It was a great place to enjoy a crisp glass of white wine before journeying back. Note: This day I walked 36,000 steps. If you’re short on time or the weather is bitter, take a taxi to this area.
- Melo Wine Bar: excellent wine and quaint shop located right off the main drag, perfect for people watching while sipping your favorite wine.
- Cantina: Every TikTok video I watched recommended this restaurant for dinner. I was skeptical because it seemed to “Americanized”, but the food was incredible! We split a hot honey pepperoni pizza and the spicy rigatoni. I’d recommend making a reservation as we got lucky to walk in on the last day of our trip.
- Rufino Osteria: A local Italian restaurant also recommended on TikTok. It was my only solo dinner throughout the week and the cheese appetizer was delectable! Great atmosphere. I liked my entree, but I think there were better options to order (so that’s on me).
- Gasoline Burger: Go to the first location (near Cantina) which is a old gas station turned into a grill. We loved the “Gasoline Sauce” on the burger with lots of pickles and a tasty patty!
- DØP: There are a variety of hot dog pop ups around the city and this one is the best! I’m still thinking about that glizzy.
- Popl: deemed by our boat driver as the best burger in the city. While it was tasty, Jack and I preferred the Gasolina Burger.
- Tivoli Food Hall: This was close to the Tivoli Hotel and a great lunch or dinner option. We wandered here our first evening and enjoyed steak & fries, a Smørrebrød and elderflower lemonade, and bao buns.
- Meatpacking District: a lively neighborhood that features more of an industrial vibe of the city. Buzzing bars, tasty restaurants, and trendy galleries make up the area.
Other things I considered: taking a cooking class, joining a food walking tour, or visiting some local design museums. And of course you can schedule a bike tour or segway tour, too!
more places to visit
This trip was special because it’s the first trip Jack and I experienced as husband and wife! We were on such a high from celebrating our wedding weekend and it rolled into this trip. I hope you put Copenhagen on your list as its a special place.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to share about traveling that can aid your experience or be shared with others. Let me know if you have any questions; happy to answer them below! Safe travels XO Courtney Paige
already counting down the days until we can go back!