Copenhagen

Four-Day Itinerary for Exploring Copenhagen, Denmark

The Scandinavian countries are often overshadowed by other European destinations. However, in this post I will sing the merits of this alluring capital city and show you why it should be up there on your wanderlust list.

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I visited Copenhagen during the month of June with my two teenaged boys. Let me tell you, they were all about it! My youngest will tell you it was his favorite destination of all the places we’ve ever been. The culture is youthful, vibrant, and modern.

We stayed at the Imperial Hotel, which I booked through Orbitz.com. The location was within walking distance to everything we wanted to see and do. Plus, this hotel has “triple” rooms, which is important when traveling with teens who are adamant about not sharing a bed.

Our four-day itinerary was full, but not jam-packed exhausting. I loved the pace at which we made our rounds through the top attractions and things-to-do. It was a great balance of historical sites and immersing ourselves in the modern-day lifestyle of the locals.

Day 1: Rosenborg Castle, Nyhavn, Hop on Hop off Boat, Reffen Food Market, The Little Mermaid

Our flight on Delta Airlines arrived just before 12 noon. By the time we dropped our luggage off at our hotel and made our way over to our first attraction, it was already 2:30 pm. We had a pretty ambitious day planned considering it was already half over. Thankfully, the sun sets late (close to 10pm) during the summer in Copenhagen. The long daylight hours really work out well for sightseeing!

Our first stop was Rosenborg Castle, a Renaissance-era castle and home to the crown jewels. We purchased our tickets online, which saved us from standing in the ticket queue when we arrived. The rooms were exquisite! I spent most of my time pointing my camera towards ceilings and floors because the detailing was just beyond.

Above photos: Rosenborg Castle

Following our castle tour, we made the 15 minute walk over to Nyhavn for the quintessential view of the boats and brightly colored 17th & 18th-century townhouses that line the canal. It was surreal. Anything that was at one time my screensaver is a bit much when I see it in person and realize it is just as amazing – or more so – than the photo.

Above photos: Nyhavn

I highly recommend The Hop-on Hop-off Boat Tour that stops at Nyhavn. Once you are on the boat, it takes you through the canals and harbor. There are a total of seven stops where you can get off the boat, explore, and then catch a later boat to resume your tour. I’m a huge fan of this sort of thing at the beginning of any new city visit. It helps you get the lay of the land and see a bunch of stuff that you might not be able to cover on-foot. Segways, e-Bikes, and Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours will also achieve the same thing. With all of the canals and waterways in Copenhagen, the boat tour made the most sense! Besides, boats are fun:)

We got off our boat at Reffen so we could grab dinner at the Food Market. There are a ton of food stalls to choose from and the street fare is amazing! We each got something different, and that’s the beauty of it all. There’s something for everyone. Be sure to check the event calendar when making your plans because there’s a whole lot of fun to be had if you happen to hit it on a date with live entertainment.

Above photos: Reffen Food Market

Back on the boat, our next stop was The Little Mermaid. This bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen depicting the fairy tale character created by Hans Christian Andersen is a tourist favorite. It is smaller than you’d expect though. The sculpture is free to visit and can be reached via the canal boat tours or by walking up to the Langelinie shoreline.

Above photo: The Little Mermaid

In the same area is Kastellet, a star-shaped fortification that is now used as military barracks. It is a very peaceful green-space to walk around and explore. The Kastelsmøllen windmill here is of particular interest.

Above photos: Kasetellet

We also stopped by St Alban’s Church and the Gefion Fountain, both of which are right on the other side of the bridge that leads to/from Kastellet.

Above photos: The Gefion Fountain and St Alban’s Church

We eventually made our way back to the boat for our ride back to Nyhavn. From there, it was just a short walk back to our hotel. And that was a wrap for Day 1!

Day 2: Frederiks Church, Ofelia Plads, Christiana, Ved Stranden, Tivoli Gardens

After everyone was fully caught up on sleep, we ventured out for another full day. Our first stop was Frederiks Church, which is also known as The Marble Church because it is largely constructed of Norwegian Marble. From the outside, the turquoise dome stands out against the gray stone of the other buildings and you can anticipate that it is going to be even more spectacular inside. It is!

Above photo: Fredericks Church

It is worth catching up on the history of this church because it took over a hundred years to build due to changes in the Royal Family, architects, and funding. Today, it is part of the Danish State Church, namely an Evangelical-Lutheran church and is still used for regular services. Be sure to check opening hours and tour times to the dome prior to showing up.

Above photos: Fredericks Church

Just a couple blocks away, our next stop was Ofelia Plads, where we waited for the Hop-on Hop-off Boat to pick us up. We bought 24-hour tickets late in the day on our first day, so we were able to continue to use them the next morning. The boat took us through Christianshavn and the tiny canals on the opposite side of the sea port. The canals are lined with the coolest houseboats and all walks of life. We disembarked near the Børnehusbroen Bridge so we could wander around the ‘hood.

Above photos: Christianshavns Kanal

There are a couple great things to do in this area: (1) climb to the top of Church of Our Savior and (2) stroll through Freetown Christiania. I 1000% recommend climbing The Tower of Church of Our Savior if you are able. On the way up, you’ll be able to see the church bells and enginerering. Once at the top, the views of Copenhagen are the best! The climb involves about 400 stairs and the last 150 are outside. Incredible tho!

Above photos: Church of Our Savior and views from the top

Freetown Christiania is really interesting. It is a “live and let live” kind of place where anything goes. There are a lot of shack-like houses, street art, and easy-living folks. In hindsight, I would maybe have elected to skip this area with my impressionable teenagers. We definitely saw some stuff that I was not ready to explain. Also, the community has a “no photography” policy. I took a couple pictures from the outskirts, but once inside respected the guidelines of its residents.

Above photos: Freetown Christiana

We caught our boat back where we got off earlier and continued on through Frederiksholms Kanal, which goes around Christianborg Palace. Our tickets for the palace tour were not for a couple days, but this gave us the opportunity to see the palace from all sides. All of the bridges are so pretty!

Above photo: The Circle Bridge in front of The National Library

Above photos: Frederiksholms Kanal and the 18th century Marmorbroen Bridge

We disembarked for the final time at Ved Stranden. From here, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon strolling down the notable Strøget and the many side streets filled with shops and cafes. This was a very well-spent afternoon lunching, shopping, and exploring.

Above photo: Ved Straden

After we dumped our shopping loot off at our hotel, we ventured out again for an evening at Tivoli Gardens. This amusement park is smack in the middle of Copenhagen, but once you are inside the gates, it is another world. The rides are loads of fun and the gardens are beautifully maintained. The ride that inspired “It’s a Small World” at Disney World is here, called The Flying Trunk. It is based on the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen and is absolutely a must-see for all ages!

Above photos: Tivoli Gardens

Day 3: Day Trip to Kronborg Castle

If you are a Shakespeare fan or simply love renaissance plays, then this day trip is for you:) My eldest has been way into Shakespearean literature and dramatic role play since he hit double-digits. So, when I realized we were going to be this close to Kronborg Castle, the home of Hamlet, I knew we would want to make the time to go.

Kronborg Castle can be easily reached by train. No need to rent a car. It is a perfect day trip from Copenhagen and will allow you to see a little more of the Danish countryside.

Above photos: Kronborg Castle

A complete post of our day trip to Kronborg Castle can be found here.

In addition to visiting the castle, we also had time to take the ForSea Helsingør ferry across the water to Helsingborg, Sweden. This was really just for kicks and so my youngest could claim another country on his map. The Øresund Strait is lovely to traverse. During our quick visit we were able to see Kärnan, a tower from a medieval castle with impressive views from the top.

Above photos: Crossing the Öresund to Helsingborg, Sweden

Above photos: Kärnan and views of Helsingborg, Sweden

Day 4: The Round Tower, Christianborg Palace

We had ourselves a good lay-in after our late night, followed by a very leisurely coffee and pastry ritual at a local cafe to help us kick-start our last day in Copenhagen.

Our visit to Christianborg Palace was the highlight of our day. I’ve toured a fair number of royal residences, and this one was really special. When making plans to visit, it is important to check the official website for opening hours and partial closings due to official functions of HM the Queen.

The palace has five areas to explore including The Royal Reception Rooms with The Great Hall, The Royal Stables, The Royal Kitchen, The Ruins under the palace, and Christiansborg Palace Chapel. We purchased the Combination Ticket for access to all of these areas and enjoyed them immensely. Even the gift shop was fun!

Above photos: Christianborg Palace

The Royal Stables are now used to showcase a collection of historical carriages. Neat to see the way they used to roll, but I still prefer paved asphalt and my cush SUV! We really spent quite a length of time at Christianborg Palace, and I am glad we didn’t have anything else on our agenda so we could take in the full experience here.

Above photos: The Royal Stables

After our time at the palace, we made the spontaneous decision to rent Lime electric scooters. We had seen them around the city — along with masses of bikes — and figured we’d take them for a whirl. They are just $1.00 to unlock and then $0.15 per minute. You can download the App to your smart phone before you go or do it on the spot. If you haven’t tried them, they are a lot of fun and available in cities all over the world.

Above photo: Bikes and scooters in Copenhagen

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