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Travel Guide — Denmark
A Copenhagen city guide
24 places · 10-stop walk
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Copenhagen panorama
I only made it to Copenhagen on this trip, so this guide is centered entirely on the capital. I flew into Copenhagen Airport (CPH) and took the train straight into the city center — it takes about 15 minutes and drops you right at Central Station.
I stayed at Next House Copenhagen, a hostel a short walk from Central Station, which made a great budget base. The city is extremely walkable and everything on this list can be reached on foot or by the driverless Metro.
Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is connected to the city by both the regional train and Metro line M2. Both reach the center in roughly 15 minutes — take the train to København H (Central Station) or the Metro to Kongens Nytorv.
I stayed at Next House Copenhagen, a big budget hostel near København H. It put most of the sights on this page within a 20-minute walk.
The inner city is compact and flat. The walking route below covers the main sights in one day; the Metro fills in the gaps for Christiania, Amager and the harbour.
A roughly 8 km loop covering the classic Copenhagen sights. Start at Nørreport, finish back near the center — easy to split over a day with a lunch stop near Nyhavn.
Everything I visited and would send a friend to. Starred entries are the ones I'd put at the top of the list.
Indre By
A 17th-century tower built by Christian IV as an astronomical observatory. A spiral ramp — no stairs — winds 7.5 turns to a platform with views over the old town.
The ramp is easy on the legs and the view is the best cheap panorama in the city.
Christianshavn
A self-proclaimed autonomous commune founded in 1971 on abandoned military barracks, known for its alternative community and colorful homemade architecture.
Walk the ramparts and the lake path — the quiet side is the best part.
King's Garden
A Renaissance castle built by Christian IV in the early 1600s. It houses the Danish crown jewels and royal regalia, and sits in the lovely Kongens Have park.
Rådhuspladsen
The seat of the city council, opened in 1905 on the main square. It houses Jens Olsen’s World Clock, an astronomical clock with over 14,000 mechanical parts.
Frederiksstaden
The residence of the Danish royal family: four identical rococo palaces arranged around an octagonal courtyard facing the harbour.
The changing of the guard happens daily at noon.
Frederiksstaden
A rococo church directly opposite Amalienborg, crowned by the largest church dome in Scandinavia — inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Indre By
A 17th-century church commissioned by Christian IV, forming one complex with the Round Tower and the old university library.
Churchillparken
Copenhagen’s Anglican “English Church”, built in the 1880s in Gothic Revival style next to the Gefion Fountain and the star-shaped Kastellet fortress.
Combine it with a walk around Kastellet — the fortress grounds are free to enter.
Nyholm, Holmen
Denmark’s floating Cold War museum: the frigate Peder Skram, a submarine and a missile boat moored at the old naval base — all open to board and explore.
Run by volunteers, so check opening days before you go.
Holmen
The national opera house on the harbourfront, opened in 2005 — a giant neo-futurist building facing Amalienborg across the water.
Slotsholmen
The seat of the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court — the only building in the world housing all three branches of a government.
The tower viewing platform is free and one of the best views in the city.
Indre By
An art museum founded by the Carlsberg brewing family, holding French sculpture, Egyptian antiquities and Danish Golden Age paintings around a palm-filled winter garden.
Free entry on the last Wednesday of each month.
Rådhuspladsen
Copenhagen’s central public library, sitting in the City Hall complex on the main square.
Havneholmen
Denmark’s national design organisation, housed in the harbourfront BLOX building alongside the Danish Architecture Centre’s exhibitions.
Botanical Garden
The national museum of natural history — zoology, geology and botany collections — located in and around the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden.
Pair it with the Palm House next door.
Christianshavn Canal
A pedestrian bridge by artist Olafur Eliasson made of five circular platforms topped with ship masts, spanning the Christianshavn canal since 2015.
Botanical Garden
A cast-iron and glass palm house from 1874 in the Botanical Garden, with a spiral staircase leading to a walkway through the treetops.
Free entry to the garden; small fee for the Palm House.
Amager
A waste-to-energy power plant topped with an artificial ski slope, hiking trails and one of the world’s tallest climbing walls — plus a rooftop café with city views.
Even without skiing, the walk to the roof is worth it for the view.
Store Kongensgade
One of Denmark’s smallest restaurants — about 15 seats — serving traditional open-faced smørrebrød sandwiches, a short walk from Amalienborg.
Book ahead — it fills up fast, especially on weekends.
Gothersgade
A no-frills burger joint on Gothersgade near Nørreport — cheap, quick and good.
Nørrebro
A tiny local fast-food spot on Elmegade in Nørrebro that has been serving cheap eats since 2001.
Vesterbro
A community kitchen (folkekøkken) on Vesterbro serving a homemade dish of the day with salads and bread for around 85 kr — one of the best-value dinners in the city.
Dinner is communal, 16:30–21:00 — sit at the big tables.
Vesterbro
A community house in a former church where locals and visitors eat together at long tables — nightly communal dinners (fællesspisning) at 18:00 for about 75–100 kr.
Buy a dinner ticket online in advance; arrive before 17:45.
Near Central Station
A large, modern budget hostel a few minutes’ walk from København H — where I stayed on this trip.
Where I stayed — good value and a great base for the center.