One of my favorite trips this summer was my long weekend in Copenhagen. Not only was it my first trip to Denmark, but I got to visit my best friend who lives there! It was a fantastic city break, and I loved enjoying the Scandinavian sunshine. If you’re planning a trip to Copenhagen, this post is for you: here’s a 3-day itinerary for Copenhagen!
Where to Stay in Copenhagen
I stayed with my friend on my trip to Copenhagen, but here are a few options for places to stay in the city!
- Budget: Next House – this modern, industrial-chic hostel has capsule-like beds, friendly staff, fun activities, and a convenient location close to the station
- Mid-range: Copenhagen Strand – a centrally located four-star waterfront hotel housed in a historic converted warehouse
- Mid-range: NH Copenhagen Grand Joanne – a stylish four-star hotel close to the train station with cozy rooms and great views from the rooftop terrace
- Luxury: Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden – a five-star boutique hotel with a Bali-inspired (and Insta-famous) indoor heated pool
- Luxury: 25hours Hotel Indre By – this design-forward luxury property has unique, sleek rooms, a gorgeous restaurant, and a sunny terrace
Planning Your Trip to Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, and is very well-connected by transport throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Copenhagen Airport is easily accessed from the city center by public transportation – I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Looking for tours in Copenhagen? Check out options below!
Copenhagen Day 1 Itinerary
Hit the ground running on Day 1, and aim to tick off a number of Copenhagen’s major attractions.
Stroll around Nyhavn
This colorful canal is the most popular place to visit in Copenhagen, but with good reason. It’s effortlessly charming, with a variety of boats in the harbor and picturesque buildings lining the water. Give yourself plenty of time for photos here!
Visit Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the home of the Danish Royal Family, and where the Changing of the Guard takes place every day. You can visit the inside, where there’s a museum, or just admire the building’s elegant exterior façade.
Admire Frederik’s Church
This impressive church is also known as the Marble Church, although it isn’t actually made from marble. The stunning Baroque building is free to enter, but at weekends (or every day in the summer months) you can pay for a ticket to see the view from the dome.
Explore Kastellet
Kastellet was founded in 1626, and is still used for military offices and barracks today. The star-shaped fortress is also open to the public to walk along the ramparts or to pass through the main street. It’s one of the best-preserved fortresses in the country.
Photograph the Little Mermaid
This tiny statue of a mermaid, based off of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, brings in millions of visitors each year. The statue is quite small, but it’s worth the walk out to snap a few photos.
Visit Rosenborg Castle
I loved my visit to Rosenborg Castle, a 400-year-old Renaissance castle with gorgeous interiors. You visit the magnificent royal rooms and can also see the Crown Jewels, which are housed in the treasury in the basement. My favorite rooms were the Marble Chamber and the Great Hall. Don’t miss the ivory collection in the basement! Be sure to wander around the King’s Gardens (especially the rose garden) to snap a few photos of the castle. Entrance is done by a timed slot, and these can sell out during the day – so it’s very important to book your admission ticket online in advance.
Eat and drink at TorvehallerneKBH
For food and drinks, head to TorvehallerneKBH. There are two food halls here, with a variety of venues offering casual drinks and pastries to international eats, along with fresh produce and dairy/meat products. Just outside is Bootleggers, a cozy pub that has free popcorn and good beer.
Experience Tivoli Gardens at night
One unmissable experience in Copenhagen is seeing Tivoli Gardens lit up at night. This amusement park – which I have been obsessed with visiting for years! – is absolutely magical. Tivoli opened in 1843 and is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. Thrillseekers will love the rides, but even if that’s not your thing you can still enjoy the gardens and soak up the fun atmosphere. There are light shows and seasonal fireworks (mainly Saturdays in the summer).
Copenhagen Day 2 Itinerary
Brunch at Riviera
Start your day with brunch/pastries from Riviera, one of the best cafes in Copenhagen. This super-cool spot has freshly baked, tasty sweet treats and outdoor seating. I highly recommend the cardamom buns here!
Visit Tivoli Gardens (again)
If you can, I do recommend going to Tivoli twice, to experience the park during the day. But this may not be in everyone’s budget, or not worth the extra time! But be sure to visit at least once during your trip to Copenhagen.
Wander around the Botanical Gardens
Stroll around the pretty Botanical Gardens, which contain over 13,000 different species of plants in the heart of the city. Pay for a ticket and visit the glasshouses, or just wander around the gardens and lake for free.
Step back in time at Glyptotek
This art museum has both ancient and modern art, and is housed in a truly stunning building. It’s worth visiting just to see the atrium and winter garden alone! Wander through the various art exhibits, before making your way up to the roof terrace. There is an excellent view over the city and Tivoli Gardens from here. The Central Hall is designed like a Roman forum, and complemented by Roman statues.
Relax at a wine bar
Copenhagen has a number of excellent wine bars around the city. Take a late-afternoon tourist break and relax with a glass of wine. Nebbiolo, Melo, and Den Vandrette are all central options around Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv.
Head out to Reffen for street food and great vibes
Reffen is the largest street food market in the Nordics – there are about 35 food stands and 10 bars here. With so many options, it’s hard to know what type of food to choose! I went for a burger from Smashburger by NiceBuns, which was delicious. The setting and atmosphere here is so fun – grab a seat by the water and watch the sun set behind the city! You can get to Reffen by bus or ferry from central spots like Nyhavn.
Copenhagen Day 3 Itinerary
Indulge at Andersen Bakery
Andernsen Bakery is one of the best bakeries in Copenhagen – everything they sell here looks incredible! There may be a line, but it’s worth it. The cardamom bun and tebirkes (flaky pastry with marzipan and topped with poppy seeds) were amazing, and the miso caramel croissant is also popular. Get the goods to go and take them away on a stroll.
Wander through the Garden of the Royal Library
This garden is a peaceful oasis, tucked away off a main canal in the middle of the city. Admire the fountain and impressive architecture, and relax in the lush corners. This was one of my favorite places I visited in Copenhagen.
Visit the Royal Library
This is one of the major libraries in the city, and it’s free to visit and see the modern glass architecture of the Black Diamond, a monolith that opened in 1999. You can also pay for a tour to learn more about the building and the library’s collections.
Explore the canals and pretty streets of Christianshavn
This neighborhood is one of the most picturesque parts of Copenhagen, with classic Danish architecture lining canals and colorful houses. Visit the Church of our Saviour, with its iconic twisting spire – you can climb the 400 steps to the top for city views.
Visit Freetown Christiania
Christiania has historically been the heart of the alternative community in Copenhagen – a space for artists, hippies, and free spirits to come together. There’s a vibrant artistic community still, with fascinating murals and colorful street art all around. Explore the galleries, boutiques, and workshops here. Be sure to respect the photography policy. You can learn a lot more by taking a guided tour of Christiania!
Hit the beach at Amager Strand
For your final afternoon in Copenhagen, head to Amager Strand and soak up the sunshine at the beach. The water is super-clear here, and is great for swimming and sunbathing. But my favorite part of the beach was the view of the Øresund Bridge and across the water to Malmö in Sweden!
Grab a pizza from Acqua E Farina
For your last stop before going to the airport, get a pizza from Acqua E Farina. These wood-fired pizzas are so tasty, and make a perfect final meal in Copenhagen while enroute to the airport. There are only a few tables for dining in at this casual spot, but you can get food to takeaway.
I had the best time on my trip to Copenhagen – this really is a fabulous destination for a city break. A long weekend trip is just enough to scratch the surface and see most of the main sights, without running yourself ragged. But there’s plenty more to see if you prefer a faster pace, or want to day trip outside of the city. I hope this 3-day itinerary post helps planning your trip to Copenhagen!
Have you been to Copenhagen before? What were your favorite things to see and do?
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