I have always wanted to visit all the countries in Europe. Of course some of them more than others. When one of my friends decided to move to Copenhagen I thought it was a great opportunity to visit Denmark for the first time. To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of expectations before going there but I was amazed by what this picturesque city has to offer so I had to write a travel guide for you guys!
Copenhagen somehow manages to combine being a dynamic and hip European capital with being a chill and relaxed cute place thanks to its Hygge culture. Hygge is a Danish word meant to be used while feeling cozy and comfortable; a concept so deeply rooted in Danish culture that anywhere you go you feel welcome!
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If you’re planning on going to Copenhagen for a long weekend, below is my ultimate 3-day travel guide and itinerary in this beautiful and vibrant city!
Day 1
Superkilen
Labeled Europe’s strangest public park, Superkilen is an urban open space located in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen. It has a rare and interesting mix of architecture, urban landscape, and art. It brings in urban vibes from all over the world (you can find an outdoor Thai boxing ring, exercise gear from Santa Monica beach or even swing benches from Baghdad.)
Lunch at Torvehallerne
Copenhagen is famous for its organic and sustainable food scene. One of the best ways to experience the culinary side of Copenhagen is to go to one of its many food halls. Torvehallerne has over 60 food stands selling basically everything you could ever dream of. Don’t forget to try Danish pastries and smørrebrød (open-faced sandwich).
Rosenborg Castle
Visit the Rosenborg Castle & the King’s Garden
Within walking distance of Torvehallerne, lies the Rosenborg Castle, which is one of the prettiest castles in Copenhagen to visit. Not only does it holds the Danish Crown Jewels but it also is surrounded by lovely gardens fit for a perfect romantic stroll!
Relax at the Botanical Gardens
If you head across the street from the Castle, you will find the Botanical Gardens. This free open public space covers an area of 10 hectares and is home to the beautiful old Palm House which became Insta-famous because of its white and rusty spiral stairs. Just keep in mind that it is super hot and humid inside! So be prepared especially if you go during winter and you have coats and sweaters on!
The old Palm House
Go on Top of the Round Tower
On your way to The Rundetaarn (Round Tower), do not forget to walk by Landemærket Street. This row of colorful houses is a lovely place to walk by! Then, climb to the top of the tower for amazing views of the city before stopping for a well-deserved coffee break at Democratic Coffee
The Round Tower and the view from above, the Landemærket Street, and the Democratic Coffee
Shop on Strøget
Strøget is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe where you can find Danish and international chain stores, budget stores and luxury brands. LEGO (did you know they were Danish?) is located there too!
Day 2
Morning walk by the Nyboder Houses & Kastellet
Nyboder is a historic district of old yellow houses built in 1631 by Christian IV to accommodate his Danish Navy personnel and their families. It used to be a privileged district to live in. Once you are in the area, you should walk by Krusemyntegade which is a super cute and colorful street.
Nyboder houses
On your way to the Little Mermaid, take a stroll through Kastellet which is one of Europe’s best-preserved city fortresses. Built by Christian IV of Denmark, it now belongs to the Danish Ministry of Defense. If you look at any bird’s eye views of the place, you will notice that it looks like a star! There is also a windmill there that is really photogenic so, check it out.
Kastellet
Pay a Visit to the Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is the most photographed statue in Denmark with more than 4 million snaps taken every year. To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed with the statue because of the hordes of tourists but I guess it is a cliché place you should check out nonetheless.
The Little Mermaid
One of the largest monuments in the city, the Gefion Fountain, is located not far from the Little Mermaid. A statue of Gefion (the pagan goddess) with four bulls in front of her lies atop the fountain. According to an ancient legend, Gefion turned her own sons into bulls and used them to plow the island of Zealand (the main island of Denmark) out of Sweden.
Watch the Changing of the Royal Danish Guard
Amalienborg Palace is the residence of the Danish Royal Family where you can watch the Changing of the Royal Danish Guard every day around 12 pm. At the end of the palace, you can find Frederik’s Church, or the Marble Church, famous for its copper green dome. I personally had lunch close by at the Union Kitchen, highly recommended for their infamous latte art. The food was good but the service was terrible. If you go I hope you get a different waiter than we did!
Amalienborg Palace and Frederik’s Church
The Union Kitchen
Check out “The Wave” at Ofelia Plads
If you are visiting Copenhagen during February-March you should also check out the popular art installation called the Wave located at Ofelia Plads. It is an interactive light and sound sculpture in the shape of multiple triangles that are only here during the Frost Festival. The best time to visit is at night time, to see all the light effects in action!
Day 3
Walk along the Canal in Nyhavn
Nyhavn is the most popular place in Copenhagen. This gorgeous waterfront, surrounded by picturesque and colorful little houses, gets pretty crowded with tourists. I advise you to go there early morning if you want to enjoy it without the crowds. The charm and atmosphere of the area will make you fall in love with the city!
Nyhavn
Visit Christianshavn
Christianshavn is a less crowded and more chill Nyhavn. It also has rows of colorful and cute houses but they aren’t as famous. If you are going straight there from Nyhavn, you probably will get hungry. Lucky you, Munchies which is Copenhagen’s famous bubble waffle maker is located in the area. If you want to get another bird’s view of Copenhagen besides from the Round Tower, you can climb on top of the Church of Our Savior. This is a more difficult ascent but the views from above are beautiful.
Munchies’ waffles
Church of Our Savior and the view from above
Then, you should go for a walk through Freetown Christiania which is an autonomous anarchist district in Copenhagen. The area of Christiania is a former military base that hippies began squatting in the 1970s. This now independent society has its own rules and regulations completely separated from the Danish government. For example, there is an open cannabis trade (the trade was closed for half a century but reopened in 2018). Bear in mind that cars are not allowed within the district and neither are photos.
Copenhagen City Hall Square & Glyptotek
Københavns Rådhus (Copenhagen City Hall Square) is a lively place with a lot of street performers and a good atmosphere. You can relax there, grab some local food before heading to the Glyptotek Museum which holds a great collection of Danish and French sculptures that is built around the personal collection of Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries. Not far from the City Hall, you can find one of the oldest streets in Copenhagen called Magstræde. This charming intricate and colorful street is among the few in the city which still feature their original cobbling.
Copenhagen City Hall Square (top left), Magstræde street (top right and bottom left), and the entrance to the Glyptotek Museum (bottom right)
Fun Evening at Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli is basically Disney for adults. This park that opened in 1843 is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world! Filled with roller coasters, theaters, candy shops, restaurants, food stands, and even an aquarium, the gardens sometimes have live ballet & music performances! There are also foreign neighborhoods, a Chinese Tower and a Japanese Garden. The only thing is that it’s pretty expensive. You need to pay both an entrance fee and additional fees for the rides.
Tivoli
Where to Stay in Copenhagen
We stayed at an AirBnB ever in Frederiksberg which is located in a quiet and relaxed neighborhood 25 minutes walking distance from central Copenhagen. It is also a green area with the Frederiksberg Gardens, Søndermarken Park and the romantic Garden of the Faculty of Life Sciences. Another cute place in the neighborhood is the Laundromat Café where you can get an amazing cup of cappuccino!
The Laundromat Café
If you want to keep reading about the beautiful Danish capital, you can check out my article titled the Top Most Instagrammable Places in Copenhagen!
Have you been to Copenhagen? What was your favorite place? Let me know in the comments below!
Bonus: Copenhagen’s Best Locations Map
Now you know the best itinerary to visit Copenhagen in 3 days, I am making your life easier by sending you a free Map with all of the exact locations of the places I mentioned above in my ultimate travel guide!
To receive the interactive map that you can use in Google Maps, just leave your e-mail down below and I will send it to you.
Top Most Instagrammable Places in Copenhagen / 10 Best Things to do in Malmö, Sweden
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