What to see in Copenhagen in 1-2 days
How many days are needed to visit the capital of Denmark? You can visit Copenhagen in three days (even if the best option would be to spend four days there). If the weather is nice, the monuments await you! On this page we describe what to do in Copenhagen in two days of sunshine. But if the weather is bad, don't stay in the hotel, visit the local museums we have described in the itinerary on the page “Day 3 (visiting museums when it rains)” unless it's a Monday when they are closed. Don't forget to take our map with you: all the places of interest to visit on days when the weather is good are marked with blue symbols; red symbols mark the ones to save for the rainy days; bars and the best places for tourists are marked in green.
When you open our site from a mobile phone you can start the navigator for public transport from any location (by clicking on the button in the upper right corner of the map, all icons will be transferred into Google Maps).
Page last updated: November, 2024.
Nyhavn
This is the most famous tourist spot in Denmark; it is a district of Copenhagen where the colored houses along the canal are a wonderful sight for all visitors. Nyhavn is indeed a most colorful and beautiful place! In the summer of 2016 a bridge connecting Nyhavn to the district of Christianshavn was opened here.
Christianshavn: Street-food, Christiania and a panoramic view from the church
A unique district, frequented by young people. Here you can try the street-food and enjoy food from all over the world (it is perhaps the only place where you can eat cheaply in Copenhagen). And the place itself is very beautiful, set along the canal. Then continue on to Christiania which has been a free city since 1971 with its own laws. This is a quarter where you will find hippies and artists and where every street is a collection of buildings in different shapes, sizes and different design ideas (for example there is the banana-house, the strawberry-house, the house in glass scaffolding). Drugs are sold openly in Christiania and for this reason it is even forbidden to take photographs in one of the streets.
Not far away is the Church of Our Saviour where there is an organ of indescribable beauty. The bell tower of the Church of Our Savior is a different story! If you climb the 400 steps of this high building to get to its peak (there is no elevator), you will enjoy the beautiful panorama of Copenhagen.
The cost of the visit to the Church of Our Savior is included in the Copenhagen Card (or it costs 45 DKK / €6 / $6.50).
Opening times: every day from 9.30 am to 7 pm (Sundays and holidays from 10.30 am).
Excursion by boat
Why not venture out on this excursion and admire the city from the water? Boats depart every half hour and the excursion lasts 1 hour. Place of departure is indicated on the map.
Price: included in the Copenhagen Card (or 80 DKK / €11 / $12).
The Little Mermaid
This monument personifies the sad and at the same time romantic story by Hans Christian Andersen about true love. It is the symbol of Denmark and Copenhagen. The statue sits on the surface of the water, supported by a pedestal. The visit to the statue of the Little Mermaid is included in the boat excursion, but you can also visit it from the mainland: walk to the Langelinie harbor, not far from Nyhavn.
The Copenhagen Zoo
One of the few zoos in Europe where, starting from November 2016, you can meet the panda, loved by everyone, not to mention other exotic animals. It is best to take bus 26 from the center to get there, or you can take the metro to the Fasanvej stop and then walk for 15 minutes.
Opening times: from 11 am to 6 pm (in July until 8 pm).
Price: included in the Copenhagen Card (or 180 DKK / €24 / $26).
The center of Copenhagen
The city center is highlighted on the map. Walk along its Strøget shopping street. It is the longest pedestrian street in the world and will take you to piazza Amagertorv, where you'll find the Fountain of the Storks and the new Royal Square (Kongens Nytorv). The Royal Theater and the Academy of Art are located there. Strolling around Copenhagen is very pleasant and interesting.
You can also visit the Round Tower (Rundetaarn). It is 36 m high and at the top there is an observation deck from where you can see the whole range of green-brown tiled roofs and towers of Copenhagen.
Entrance to the Round Tower: included in the Copenhagen Card (or 25 DKK / €3.40 / $3.60).
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Palace (1624) has preserved its original aspect. Inside the castle is an exhibition of jewelry and works of art belonging to the kings. There is a park around Rosenborg with numerous sculptures and statues that will fascinate tourists.
Opening times: from 10 am to 4 pm (in July and August from 9 am to 5 pm).
Price: included in the Copenhagen Card (or 110 DKK / €15 / $16).
The Tivoli Gardens
One of the oldest amusement parks in the world (the second-oldest to be precise), Tivoli was opened in 1843. In addition to a large number of extreme attractions and entertainment at Tivoli there are also buildings in the Chinese, Moorish and medieval styles, all immersed in a lush vegetation.
The park is open from 11 am to 11 pm (on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight). But it's best to choose a time to visit Tivoli so you can also stay for the closing, because every day at 10.45 pm there is a laser show on the lake! Try to find a place on the bridge or the square with the “Vertigo” ride. It's a good idea to arrive 20 minutes before the beginning of the show!
Price: entry to the park is included in the Copenhagen Card. But you need to buy individual tickets for the rides. A ticket costs 25 DKK / €3.40 / $3.60 and is valid only for the more simple rides; for the more exciting ones you will need to buy 3 tickets and for all others (most popular) 2 tickets. If you think you would go on at least 4 rides, then you should buy the unlimited individual ticket for 230 DKK / €31 / $33. With this ticket you can also go on the same ride as many times as you want throughout the day.
