I’ll be honest, Copenhagen was never at the top of my ‘must-see’ list. But this is where the budget airlines can inspire trips to new places. When looking for a birthday city break, I discovered that flights from Edinburgh to Copenhagen were on sale – so that decided on my birthday destination! Here’s my Copenhagen city break itinerary to help you enjoy your own trip to this beautiful city.
Getting around Copenhagen
At the airport you’ll want to buy a travel ticket so that you can get into the city centre. You can buy single trips, or use the ‘DOT Mobilbilletter’ mobile app on your phone. Or, a really great option is to buy a ‘Copenhagen Card‘ – which not only offers unlimited travel, but entry into many attractions also. They are valid for 24, 48, 72 or 120 hours.
Once in the city, unless you want to visit the outer suburbs, you can walk around the city very easily. Or cycle, if you fancy keeping up with the supremely fit Danes!
Where to stay in Copenhagen
We loved the 4-star Hotel Kong Arthur on the edge of Peblinge Sø, one of the historic lakes that flank the north-east of the city centre. Hotel Kong Arthur is close enough to the central shopping district, but it has the advantage of being slightly away from the tourist areas.
For something special, try the palatial Nimb Hotel at Tivoli Gardens. And for a budget option, try the modern Steel House Copenhagen – which has a pool and a gym!
Things to do on a Copenhagen City Break:
Day 1: Fairytales & Mermaids
Nyhavn
Like all ports, Nyhavn used to have a reputation for gambling, drinking and ladies of the night! These days, the drinking remains a theme, but tourism has overtaken the rest. Once home to Hans Christian Anderson, cute gingerbread houses line the harbour. From here you can choose to do a harbour cruise, or carry on around the harbour to Langelinie to see the Little Mermaid.
If Royal castles are your thing, stop by Amalienborg, the Queen’s Rococo-style winter residence, on your way to the Little Mermaid!
The Little Mermaid
Not as underwhelming as the Mannekin Pis statue in Brussels, the Little Mermaid statue is rather sweet. She is a nod to another time, a character from Hans Christian Anderson, she is now dwarfed somewhat by the industrialisation across the harbour. I quite liked her, although trying to get a photo of her, amongst the throngs of tourists wanting a selfie with her, was quite difficult!
Kastellet
While you’re in the area, visit the star-shaped military fortress and ramparts. With St Alban’s Church next door, it is an area of huge architectural diversity.
On your way from Kastellet to the Statens Museum, why not wander through Nyboder, the world’s first housing project. Or if you have time, why not take a ‘Hygge & Happiness’ walking tour in the area?
Statens Museum for Kunst
The Statens Museum for Kunst is the National Gallery of Denmark. As an art history geek, this impressive museum really blew my socks off. The grand late 19th century building has had an extension put on the back which made room for a modern art gallery. It is a beautiful addition. The Italian Renaissance and Cubist rooms were perfection; and the museum café was a welcome pitstop.
Day 2: History & Hippies
Round Tower
This great value attraction is a fab way to see Copenhagen from the rooftops. The tall round tower has a spiral ramp up to the top, rather than stairs. It is also a planetarium and observatory.
Christiania
Freetown Christiania is a commune of sorts that took over (via squatting) an ex-military base. It is, surprisingly, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen. The open sale of cannabis was always the quaint drawcard to this hippy community. But there have been some issues relating to the drug trade in Christiania – violence, rivalries, and government pressure. I had heard mixed reviews about Christiania, and to be honest, I was relatively unimpressed. All we really wanted was to sit down with a good cup of coffee and take in the atmosphere, but we couldn’t even find one of those. Put it this way, I wouldn’t go out of your way to visit.
National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is beautifully put together. Detailed labels, immense detail, pre-historic remains, all sensitively displayed. Great for adults and kids alike, this museum has some incredible ethnological items and displays. I particularly liked this full Auroch skeleton – an ancient cattle species that was made extinct in 1627.
Day 3: If you have time…
Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. It isn’t open all year round (bad weather and wooden rollercoasters probably don’t mix, right?). It was closed when we visited, but I would definitely like to come back and spend a day there. You can get your skip the line tickets here. Make sure you check the Tivoli Gardens website for their opening seasons before you visit.
Food in Copenhagen
While Copenhagen isn’t the cheapest place I’ve visited, there are some great budget food options around. Why not grab yourself a street hotdog – these tasty treats can be fully loaded with pickles and bacon, and cost between 20-30DKK. If you have picky eaters in your group, why not try one of the buffet restaurants along Strøget – you’ll find people waving advertising signs trying to attract the tourists. We particularly enjoyed Halifax Burger (Frederiksborggade 35) – pick a burger, choose a bun, pick what meat/ how much meat, a dip, a side and voila! This is backed up by great quality and service, and averages around 130-150DKK.
Why not combine your Copenhagen trip with a visit to Gothenburg, Sweden – they are connected by public transport!
Copenhagen City Break Itinerary
Copenhagen is really fascinating city with lots to offer visitors; and the people are friendly and polite. It doesn’t have to be as expensive as reputation would lead you to believe – especially if you do your research first. One thing I noticed was that there aren’t many plus-sized people in Copenhagen, so just be prepared for being stared at if you are more callipygian in form. They aren’t derisive stares, but they are common – so try not to develop a complex. On the whole I really enjoyed Copenhagen – I wouldn’t say that it has me by the heartstrings, but it is a convivial and historic place for a weekend break.
Check out my guide to 24 Hours in Copenhagen, for a timed itinerary to one day in the city!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III; and an iPhone6s.
It’s been a long time since I was in Copenhagen. I was at school at the time so maybe didn’t appreciate it quite as much as I should have but I have fond memories and would love to return one day.
Isn’t that always the way – you can’t see it with perspective when you live there!
I did a four day trip to copenhagen many years ago and loved the city. i loved walking down nyhavn in the evening and having a nice pint of the local brew. however i remember (as it was a romantic break away) it did cost me an arm and a leg and came away with open wallet surgery. 😀 but would love a return trip to denmark, not sure on the capital as i want to explore the rest of the country (but not legoland! if my children want to do that, they can do that when they are at college 😀 ) .
Sounds like a nice city break. Love when I get surprised by the cheap tickets, and this sure looks like an interesting trip for your birthday. 🙂
you’re right, we tend to think that Copenhagen is too expensive, but I’m glad to hear that there are options for visiting the city. How much is that Copenhagen card you mentioned? That usually is a good idea when traveling like this.
Thank you for the suggestion, I’ll certainly give it a second thought.
The Copenhagen City Card starts at €55 🙂
I’ve heard the crowds around the Little Mermaid Statue can be overwhelming. It reminds me of trying to photograph the Southernmost point in Key West. There were just so many people lined up to get their photo. Midweek, early mornings helped to find an open frame.
Thanks for taking us back to Copenhagen. We spent a week there before a Baltic cruise one year. And we definitely did find it easy to get around. The colourful store fronts on Nyhavn were an early stop for us. We did pick up our harbour cruise from here. I am sorry we missed going into some of the museums. But the Tivoli Gardens were a lot of fun. So great that you could do this visit to Copenhagen with a cheap flight from Edinburgh.
I haven’t been in Copenhagen in years, and your post makes me want to go back. The Copenhagen Card sounds convenient and a good way to save some money while getting around the city. I’ve never explore the Statens Museum for Kunst, so that’s a must. And I’d happily spend a weekend exploring the National Museum.
Thanks for the handy guide. I always like to check out the local museums to learn more about the history of where I’m traveling. street hot dogs and buffet restaurants? It sounds like an amazing time. I’ll have to get a Copenhagen card to make sure I can take in all the sights! Thanks for sharing!
We had the most enjoyable vacation in Copenhagen, a couple of years ago. Your post has made me nostalgic. 🙂 A good article. Almost all major point of interest has been covered,
This is a great compact guide for what to do in a short amount of time. I’ve been fascinated by the food for a long time. Like your idea of eating street food to keep the costs down. Though the “create your own burger” concept is great. Love the idea of cheap tickets taking you to a new destination!
This is a great list of things to do in Copenhagen! A great way to spend a short city break trip! Thanks for sharing! xo – Kam