How To Spend A Weekend In Copenhagen, Denmark

We only spent a few days in Copenhagen before embarking on our cruise. In the short time we were here we fell in love with this quaint, biking city. We had fun riding our way through the city on an electric scooter and seeing the best views of the city from the top of the Round Tower. We spent our perfect weekend getaway, strolling down the canals, visiting the oldest amusement park in the world, and seeing the Little Mermaid!

Day 1

Tivoli Gardens

Our first stop of the day was Tivoli Gardens! This is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world! Located right in the heart of the city, it is the perfect way to spend the morning (or afternoon & evening, it stays open until 11 pm). Explore the classic carnival games, relax in the many gardens, and of course try out some of the rides. PS, they have an amazing food court with many delicious choices! And of course, the largest cotton candy we have seen! Admission: Copenhagen Card – Free; Adult – 130.00 DKK or $20.

Round Tower

Stuck right in between different buildings and alleyways is Rundetaarn or the Round Tower. Built in the 17^th century for King Christian IV of Denmark, it was used as an observatory for stargazing. There are no steps to the top of the tower, only 209 meters of a spiral walk. At the top, you are rewarded with gorgeous views of the city. Don’t forget to stop by the library and the floating glass floor (located near the top of the tower, in a small archway). Admission: Copenhagen Card – Free; Adult – 25.00 DKK or $4.

Day 2

Frederiksborg Castle

Wake up bright and early and head out of the city to Frederiksborg Castle. (We took the train from Copenhagen station to Hillerod) then we hopped on bus 321 which took us straight to the castle. Built in the 1600s, for Christian IV, King of Denmark and Norway it was used as a royal residence until 1878 when it was named the Museum of National History. Walk through the stunning palace rooms before heading outside to the exquisite gardens. I suggest giving yourself a lot of time to visit here, as there are many rooms to explore in the Castle and you need extra time to see the gardens.  Admission: Copenhagen Card – Free; Adult – 75.00 DKK or $11.

Day 3

The Little Mermaid Statue

One of the more famous things to visit in Copenhagen is The Little Mermaid statue. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale ‘The Little Mermaid’ she swims to the surface every day to catch a glimpse of her prince. It was unveiled in 1913 and located at the end of the New Harbor. I highly recommend getting here early or later in the evening, as there is not much room around the statue and many people want to get that perfect Instagram photo.

Amalienborg

The home to the Royal Family of Denmark, it is a combination of four identical buildings. Surrounded by the palace square is a statue of King Frederik V. Stop by and watch the Changing of the Guard (every day at noon). Explore the palace and the museum to see what it would be like to live like royalty in a place. Admission: Copenhagen Card – Free; Adult – 105.00 DKK or $15.

Nyhavn

One of the most scenic places to visit in Copenhagen is Nyhavn. The wonderful canal filled with boats and restaurants and lined with colorful houses. Walk down the canal and embrace the beautiful chaotic sidewalks. Have dinner along the canal in the glorious summer weather or stop by one of the ice cream shops for an afternoon snack.

Things to Know:

Here are just a few extra things you should know, before visiting Copenhagen.

Language

The official language in Denmark is Danish, however, there are several minor languages spoken including Faroese, German, and Greenlandic. English is widely spoken as well.

Transportation

All around Denmark, you will see rows and rows of bikes, there are even bike lanes all throughout the city. S-Trains (s-tog) and the metro are easy to use if you need to head across town. Don’t get them mixed up like we did. 🙂 There are only two local lines for the Metro and several for the trains (symbols and maps below). If needed, taxis are readily available as well.

Currency

The krone is the official currency used in Denmark (and it is expensive converting from USD). It is always a good idea to carry some cash, but most places will accept a credit card. We recommend getting the Copenhagen City Card. This will give you access to most attractions in and around the city and will also give you free public transportation.

Weather/Best Time to Go:

We visited Copenhagen in mid-August. We were surprised by how warm the weather got during the day. It was better to walk around closer to the evening when the weather was a bit cooler. Plus, the sun didn’t set until 10 pm!

Spring/Summer: Sun is shining, and the trees are blooming! Spring is a great time to visit, however, if you want slightly warmer weather head to Copenhagen in the July/August months.

Fall/Winter: The cooler air starts to blow, the skies get cloudy, and the snow starts to fall. It can be gorgeous to visit at Christmas time, however, keep in mind the sun usually sets by 3 pm! 

Where to Stay

We stay in a cozy (newly built) Cabinn Copenhagen. The room was quite small, but it did the trick and it was close to a metro stop and the city center!

What to Eat

The most popular Danish dish to eat in Copenhagen is Smørrebrød. This is an opened faced sandwich topped with cold cuts, cheeses, fish, and spreads on rye bread.

We had so much fun exploring Copenhagen! We hope to be back to explore more of Denmark!

Thank you for reading! Until the next destination!

If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!

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