What to do in Two Days in Copenhagen

Welcome to Copenhagen! This whimsical, compact city is incredibly easy to get around. So you only have a couple days here? Not to worry. Follow my itinerary below to see the best of Copenhagen in only two days.

A quick caveat on seasons: I was there in August, and so my recommended itinerary is for a visit from March-October. During the winter, trips to the gardens may hold less interest, and other activities may run on a shortened schedule. Tivoli Gardens, however, is recommended year-round.

As mentioned in my overview, a lot of the tourist activities are covered by the Copenhagen Card. I didn’t get it myself, and saved money by paying for just the museums and tours I wanted to do. I’ll mark which activities can be paid for with the Copenhagen Pass, and what their prices would be for adults otherwise.

For an overview of Copenhagen, including tips to keep in mind when planning and packing for your trip, check out my overall guide.

Day 1

I love free walking tours. It’s a great way to get an overview of the city, both the neighborhoods and fun historical facts that makeup the city’s culture. You’ll meet fellow travelers, and often get recommendations for lunch or coffee shops. Plus, it’s (mostly) free! The payment is a nice tip to your hard-working tour guide at the end. Copenhagen has several walking tours that will hit up many of the main spots, including City Hall, Amalienbourg Palace, the Cathedral, and the famous boats and canal of Nyhvan. Try to take a tour that begins at either 10 or 11am, so you’ll finish just in time for lunch!

Nyhavn Canal with tour boat in the foreground

Depending on where you end up, your guide will have some recommendations for lunch. I also would recommend picking up a sandwich to go, and settling in on the edge or the harbor or canals to enjoy the view. I had a fantastic meal along the water at the outdoor cafe Toldboden, north of the Palace and not too far from the very underwhelming Little Mermaid statue. That’s correct - while she is famous, the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been listed amongst some of the more disappointing sites to visit. The statue itself is small, and the mermaid looks out to a fairly industrial area. It’s also at least the 5th iteration. Previous versions of the statue have fallen victim to wars or to violent teenagers defacing her. You’ll find a long line of tourists wanting to get their photo taken in front of the statue throughout much of the day. Since the city is so compact, if you’re up in the area, it’s worth a quick detour to check out, but I wouldn’t go out of your way. Most boat tours of the harbor will also pass by the statue, so you can see it from behind.

If you’re up in that area, consider walking through Kastellet, a historic military citadel on the edge of Østerbro. It’s still an active barracks, but the grounds, within in a star-shaped fortress, are a beautiful place to wander through. If you’ve ended up further south, walk off your lunch with a stroll through the beautiful neighborhood of Christianshavn.

Late in the afternoon, head back to Nyhavn to pick up an hour-long boat tour of the harbor and canals. Copenhagen has a tight-knit relationship with the water, and some of the best views (and breezes) can be found on the water. There are multiple boats that tour the harbor for about 50-70 kr for a 60 minute ride, covered by the Copenhagen Card. I took Netto, as it was slightly cheaper than Stromma, and heard that they were about the same experience. You rarely need to book far in advance, as boats leave frequently and there’s multiple carriers that leave from Nyhavn. The boats will take you up as far as the Little Mermaid Statue, and back through some of the canals of Christianhavn, while a guide points out the major sites in 3-4 different languages. A couple of fun sites to see:

-Copenhagen’s trash incinerator is built with a large slope. It’s been turned into a man-made ski slope and outdoor recreation area.

-Along the Christianhavn canal is the twisted spire of Our Savior’s Church, a site that can be hiked to the top for those so inclined.

If you want a more personalized tour, or one where you’re more likely to interact with your guides, check out Hey Captain. They run small boat tours (12 people max) that have a more fun, intimate vibe. They also offer blankets and warm drinks in the colder months.

GoBoats and other electric boats can be rented by the hour and are a frequent site late in the afternoon for a great place to enjoy some food and drink.

Once back, enjoy the magic hour views (and photo ops) that can be had along Nyhavn. Be sure to check out the Inner Harbor Bridge at the end linking it to Christianhavn- you may notice that it’s a little jagged. That is because the builders of the bridge measured incorrectly, and the two sides weren’t going to link up! They came up with the current design to help fix that problem. Back in Nyhavn, the cafes may look inviting, but they’re going to be twice as expensive and not nearly as good as food bought anywhere else. Feel free to grab an overpriced beer or coffee to enjoy the view, but I would hop a bus or take a bike over to get dinner and explore the hip, diverse neighborhood of Vesterbro. Its trendy eateries and bars make for a great pub crawl. Don’t get too carried away with the Carlsbergs, though, as you’ve got a long day tomorrow!

Day 2

Start off with a morning stroll through the beautiful Botanic Gardens, preferably with a fresh pastry in hand. The gardens themselves are free, and a fantastic way to see some thousands of species of flowers, plants, and trees that are part of their collection. You can further tour some of the 27 glass houses for additional costs (depending on which ones you visit).

From the gardens, consider visiting Rosenborg Castle, a former royal residence with spectacular design and artwork. Entrance is 115DKK, or covered by the Copenhagen card. If you’d rather just see the artwork, head over Ny Carlsberg Gyptotek, an art museum with an impressive amount of both art and antiquities from around the globe. Entrance is 115DKK, covered by the Copenhagen Card, or they have free entry on Tuesdays.

Have lunch at the nearby Torvenhall Food Hall. This glass-and-metal modern food hall has fantastic sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, as well as local products that you can enjoy during your trip or take home with you. Many people get a sandwich to go and eat on the nearby Dronning Louises Bridge.

From there it’s a short walk over to diverse, fun, Nørrebro. Similar to Vesterbro, this neighborhood has also made the transition from somewhat seedy to trendy and hip. The streets have a mix of boutique shops, cool coffee houses, and in demand restaurants. Burn off your lunch with some shopping and walking through the nearby Assistens Cemetery, home of Neils Bohr, Kierkegaard, and Copenhagen’s most famous resident, Hans Christian Anderson. Once you’ve paid your respects, enjoy an early dinner or happy hour at one of Nørrebro’s many craft breweries, including the well-known Mikkeller.

A walk down Blågaardsgade, courtesy of VisitCopenhagen.com

Finish off your two days with a visit to Tivoli Gardens, the famous amusement park in the center of the city, originally founded in 1843. Tivoli is very much a fun fantasyland at any time of year. Summertimes bring late sunset hours, and Friday night concerts. In December they host a festive Christmas market. Definitely check and see what is going on while you’re in Copenhagen. Tivoli itself is made up of rides, dining areas, and many themed buildings and ‘lands’. It will seem very familiar to anyone who’s been to Disney parks, as Tivoli was one of the inspirations for Disney. Tivoli has an entrance fee (covered by the Copenhagen Card) of 130 DKK, and then you pay for each ride you go on - cost varies between 30-90DKK depending on the ride. There’s also an option to buy a package with unlimited rides, for those who know they want to try everything out. Fun fact: One of the world’s oldest roller coasters, built in 1914, can be found at Tivoli.

The park can be busy depending on the events being held. I’d recommend going later in the evening when the crowds thin out some. It’s open until 11pm. I got there at 8:30 myself and stayed for about 2 hours, rarely having much of a wait for the rides. I found the dining areas to be very appetizing as well. And of course at night, you have the benefit of all of the lights making the park seem even more magical. Have a seat on the lawn and feel that your last night in Copenhagen has transported you to an even more faraway place!

Other options to visit in Copenhagen if you have more time:

Climb The Round Tower

https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/round-tower-gdk410741

Visit the Free City of Christiania, an interesting quick trip to see graffitti-d buildings or buy questionable hash

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/denmark/articles/christiania-13-things-to-know-about-copenhagens-hippie-free-town/

Take the train out to Hamlet’s Castle

https://hamlettours.com/kronborg-castle/

I hope you enjoyed this look at what to do in two days in Copenhagen! To learn more about how to plan your trip to Copenhagen, including where to stay and how to get around, check out my guide.

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