Ultimate Copenhagen itinerary
Hi all!
Today, I am thrilled to share a comprehensive 4-day travel itinerary inspired by my solo adventure in the vibrant city of Copenhagen. Whether you're a culture enthusiast, a foodie, or just looking for a delightful getaway, this guide has got you covered. So, buckle up for an unforgettable experience in the Danish capital! I absolutely loved this city and even highlighted it in my top 5 city trips to take this year! Of course after that recommendation I can’t leave you hanging without any tips on where to go, where to eat and what to do. So I offer you a full 3-4 day Copenhagen itinerary. Hope you enjoy!
Day 1
I’m going to make a little assumption that you’re starting your first day by travelling to Copenhagen. Once you’re settled my first recommendation is for your lunch. Start at Torvehallerne, one of the best places to satisfy your taste buds. It has over 60 stands with everything from cheeses and luxury wines to smorrebrod, a traditional open-faced sandwich that is a great option for lunch!
Next we’re doing a little shop stop at Stilleben. This is a store that embodies Danish design at its finest. They have clothes, books and some beautiful kitchenware. The store is also just really nice to browse through or get a cute souvenir. Then we will continue our way into the city centre and climb up the Rundetaarn. You can walk up this tower that used to serve as an observatory. At the top you will be rewarded with amazing views over the city!
Our route continues to Det Kongelige Teater, but first I recommend you make a little stop at Sui Ava. This is the cutest little boutique for all things hair accessories. It won’t take up much of your time but it’s definitely worth checking out! After you’ve stocked up, continue your walk to the theatre. It’s an amazing building to see from the outside, but if you’re interested you can also book a tour. At night, the building is beautifully lit up and a sight to see.
For dinner I would recommend Hotel Sanders, it’s right around the corner of the theatre! The place has multiple rooms that have a really elegant ambiance. While the price point is slightly higher, it is nothing outrageous and the food is amazing. I think I’ve had the best truffle pasta I’ve ever eaten here. Incredibly beautiful restaurant full of candlelight and a homey atmosphere. And when you’re done eating you can head up to the rooftop bar for some delicious cocktails!
At this point, you’ve probably had a long day and are ready to go back to your hotel and relax. But if you’re down to have a drink somewhere, I would highly recommend The Jane. This is a bar/club with a wooden interior in the midst of the historic centre. If you’re early, you can sit down and have a drink, but later at night this place turns into a club with a mix of electronic, pop and r&b music. Don’t forget, they have a happy hour from 8-10 pm and offer delicious cocktails!
Day 2
Good morning! Hope you’ve had a good night’s sleep and are fully recharged for day two. Make sure you’ve had some breakfast or bring something with you because you have a full day of exploring ahead of you! We’re starting the day with some culture and visiting Statens Museum for Kunst. This is the national art museum of Denmark and it houses a huge collection of art from not only Danish, but also Dutch, Italian and French artists. It’s a huge building that’s amazing to wander around in and admire all the art.
After art, we’re getting into some history and visiting Rosenborg Slot. This is a castle from the 17th century that houses a collection of crown jewels and authentic interior pieces from that time period. The castle is surrounded by a park where you can relax a bit or, if it’s more your vibe, there’s a botanical garden right across the street!
For a good coffee stop, you can never go wrong with the coffee factory. You can choose between multiple different coffees for that late-morning pick me up. Then you’re going to walk across Kongens Nytorv to see one of Copenhagen’s main events: Nyhavn. The waterside is graced with houses in all different kinds of colours. It’s one of the images you first think about when you think of Copenhagen and to see it in real life is truly something special. Sit on the waterside to admire the houses or take a boat tour.
When you get hungry it’s about time to grab some lunch and my recommendation is right around the corner from Nyhavn at Zeleste. They specialize in seafood but you can also get some meat dishes here. If the weather allows it, try and get a table in the garden. It’s absolutely stunning and a well-kept secret.
After lunch we are swiftly moving on to visit Amalienborg, the palace of the Danish royal family. The palace has been in use by the royal family since 1794, but one of the wings is open to visitors! The beautiful old buildings are guarded by traditionally clothed Danish soldiers. Even if you decide not to go inside, the buildings are a stunning piece of architecture that you cannot miss!
Now time for another one of the city’s highlights, the little mermaid statue. From Amalienborg it’s a walk of around 20 minutes, but if you’re short on time the entire city is filled with rental bikes that are super easy to use (I personally used Bolt but I believe there are multiple different companies who offer this). In my opinion the statue was quite underwhelming, but I understand it’s something you want to see on your visit and so I included it! What really surprised me, was the nature around the statue. You have a beautiful sea view from here, but you can also go for a walk through or around Kastellet, the old Danish military base.
When you leave Kastellet you walk straight into St. Alban’s Church, a beautiful church build in English style in 1887. It is the only church of its style in Denmark! Beautiful to look at and on most days you can have a look inside as well, with the exception of Saturdays. Beside the church is the beautiful monument called Gefionspringvandet which tells the story of the island where Copenhagen lies. The legend is that the goddess Gefion was offered as much land as she could plow in one day and night. So she turned her four sons into powerful oxes, who plowed so deep into the land that it got separated and formed an island. An amazing story brought to life!
For a coffee or hot chocolate to go, walk onto Kafferiet. A quaint little coffee store that used to house the king’s mistress. There was a rumour that a tunnel led from there to the palace, but that was never confirmed. Anyway, a good coffee stop full of history!
When thinking of Scandinavia, design and architecture cannot be excluded. That’s why your next stop is the Design museum. It houses multiple collections that show the history of industrial and functional designs. All famous Danish designers’ work can be found here and as a plus, the café has good coffee and cake.
Onto one of the last stops of the day, the Frederiks Kirke! On your way here you will walk through Bredgade, which is full of galleries, antique stores and shops with Danish designs, so make sure to look around and browse through the stores a bit. When you get to the Frederiks Kirke you will be able to admire the highest dome in all of Scandinavia! You can enter the church for free during specific opening times, so make sure to check these beforehand.
For dinner I have two recommendations, because this area is full of nice restaurants! If you are in the mood for a sit-down in a nice restaurant with seasonal dishes in both meat and fish, go to Madklubben bistro. A hip and cosy restaurant where you can eat very well for a good price. If you’re feeling more like good, greasy burgers after walking all day, visit Gasoline Grill! Allegedly the best stations in town can be found in this former gas station. A super cool concept if you are in for a quick, quality bite to end the day!
Day 3
Day 3, hope you’re ready for some more exploring! Today we’re venturing out of the city centre a little bit and we’re starting with breakfast/brunch at Wulff & Konstali. Honestly, I’ve been regularly thinking about this brunch since I had it there, it was that good. It’s also a really nice concept where you get to choose 5 or 7 small breakfast/brunch dishes from savory to sweet. This way you can try a little bit of everything!
After breakfast you’re going to go for a stroll along the river and cross the bridge to the Dansk Arkitektur Center. It’s really interesting to see how much influence Danish architects have had on the world over the years. Plus, there’s an amazing view from the rooftop!
After the first museum, you’re going to make a quick stop at library Den Sorte Diamant. A lot of times, events are organized here but even if there’s no event going on it’s a beautiful building to walk around in for a few minutes. When you’re done exploring here, cross the street to Bibliotekshaven, a nice little square that feels so quiet and calm in the middle of the big city. Here you will find the Danish Jewish museum, which made a lasting impression on me. I had no idea of how this community was fighting to survive here and it was really interesting to learn about their history in Denmark and their customs.
Walking along you are going to find the Nationalmuseet, which will give you multiple expositions covering the history of Denmark. I was super impressed by this museum and the vast amount of things you can learn here. It spans Danish history from hunters and gatherers to the Vikings and holds some of the most precious cultural treasures in its collection.
The next stop on our list is Christiansborg Slot, where the Danish parliament resides. In the tower there are some ruins of previous castles and there is an elevator that will take you to the top of the tower which gives you an amazing view over the city! Walk along Borsen, the old trade fair building and cross the bridge. In the middle of the bridge you will find Kulturtarnet, a cute little watchtower that has now been turned into a café. There’s not many spots to sit here but they have good coffee and some other drinks to replenish.
From here on, the walk to Christiania is not that far. Christiania is a municipality within Copenhagen with about 900 residents. They are creatives who sell their art, tend to cafés and hold concerts. I personally decided to skip this part as it was getting dark early (I was there during winter) and I was alone, but I know it’s one of the most popular things to visit in Copenhagen. So, just letting you know it’s not too far from your location! Just remember, taking photos in the main street is prohibited.
Lastly, my recommendation for your day 3 dinner is Kanalen. A cute restaurant right on the waterside where they serve traditional food with a modern twist. The food is amazing, the view is great and working your way down the wine list will ensure a filled evening program!
Day 4
Last day! I was originally only going to make a three day itinerary but I have too many fun things to share, so here is a bonus day. For this route I suggest taking the rental bikes that can be found on mostly every street in the city. Breakfast today will be served at Bowl Market, where anyone can find a breakfast bowl that suits their taste buds! (I really recommend the acai bowls, they were delicious). After breakfast you can visit the Eliaskirke right across the street. A beautiful church with nine floors, definitely worth a look!
Next, take the bike and ride over to the Tycho Brahe Planetarium. Here they have different interactive expositions on planets, space travel and much more. I really recommend watching a 3D movie about the planets here. The cinema here is dome shaped and so the planets and stars literally fly over your head as you watch. I definitely did not expect to like this as much as I did, I really recommend giving it a chance even if it is not normally your vibe.
For lunch, you’re biking over to Ipsen & Co. This is a small café that serves good coffee and a really nice selection of smorrebrod for you to choose from. If you’re with one or two, take a seat in the window sill!
Who doesn’t like an after lunch stroll? Luckily it’s not far! Bike over to Frederiksberg Have in 5-10 minutes to enjoy this 300 year old green oasis in the city. You have to leave your bike at the entrance, but it is a beautiful park to take a stroll or sit in the sun and relax for a bit. On top of the hill are the Frederiksberg Slot and the Copenhagen Zoo. I did not personally visit this, but it might be fun if you’re travelling with kids! If not, keep strolling on until you get to the neighbourhood Carlsberg Byen. This is an old industrial neighbourhood that is slowly getting turned into a modern and lively place. The contrast between old and new buildings is amazing to see and it’s a good spot to find your next bike.
If you’d like a coffee break, bike over to Dyrehaven for a great, warm beverage and a great selection of snacks! After this you can go straight over to Istedgade, one of the most lively streets in the city. Spend some time exploring the stores, there are more than enough.
For dinner, I’d recommend the brightly pink covered walls of Falang Asiateria. Here you can eat incredible Thai food with a modern twist. Everything here is colourful, the food is great and the vibes are incredible. Have one (or a few) of the incredible wines and when you’re done eating, end your trip with some classic karaoke!
Honorary mentions:
Unfortunately I couldn’t fit everything I wanted into this itinerary and keep it realistic. So here are some honorary mentions!
- La glace (best pastries in the city)
- Ruby (world-renowned cocktail bar)
- Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (the most beautiful museum I’ve ever been to)
- Tivoli (open air theme park)
- Restaurant tight (diverse, seasonal dishes)
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end! I’m so happy with how this Copenhagen itinerary turned out and I hope you enjoy visiting all the sights as much as I did. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them. In addition, if you have any recommendations of your own, let me know because I am definitely planning on going back and exploring more! With that, I wish you the best time in Copenhagen!
Until next time!