Copenhagen Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Copenhagen tours, Nyhavn canal cruises, old town and Tivoli Gardens, food tours, bike rides and day trips to Kronborg (Hamlet’s castle), Frederiksborg and Sweden. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Copenhagen itinerary.
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Explore Copenhagen by interest
Whatever brings you to Copenhagen — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Canal cruises
Nyhavn, the Mermaid and the waterfront.
ExploreOld town & Nyhavn
Palaces, the Round Tower and Strøget.
ExploreTivoli Gardens
The historic amusement park.
ExploreFood & hygge
Smørrebrød, pastries and markets.
ExploreBike tours
See the city as locals do.
ExploreKronborg & Sweden
Hamlet’s castle and a Sweden hop.
ExploreFrederiksborg Castle
A fairytale lakeside palace.
ExploreMalmö, Sweden
Across the Øresund Bridge.
ExploreTop attractions in Copenhagen
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Nyhavn
The colourful iconic harbour.
Canal cruise
See the city from the water.
Tivoli Gardens
The historic amusement park.
Bike tours
See the city as locals do.
Frederiksborg Castle
A fairytale lakeside palace.
Kronborg Castle
Hamlet’s castle at Helsingør.
Malmö, Sweden
Across the Øresund Bridge.
Food & markets
Smørrebrød, pastries and street food.
Copenhagen in 1 day
- 1Nyhavn & canal cruise
- 2Old town & palaces
- 3Tivoli Gardens
- 4Smørrebrød dinner
Copenhagen in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Nyhavn & old town
- 2Tivoli
- 3Day 2: castles or Sweden
- 4Food & hygge
Copenhagen in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Nyhavn & old town
- 2Day 2: castles
- 3Day 3: Sweden or Roskilde
- 4Nordic evenings
Copenhagen with kids
- 1Tivoli Gardens
- 2Canal cruise & Mermaid
- 3The Blue Planet aquarium
- 4A castle day
Copenhagen castles & day trips
- 1Kronborg (Hamlet's Castle), Helsingor
- 2Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerod
- 3Roskilde Viking ships & cathedral
- 4Oresund Bridge to Malmo, Sweden
Copenhagen canals & harbour
- 1Classic canal cruise from Nyhavn
- 2Little Mermaid & Amalienborg from the water
- 3Christianshavn & the Opera House
- 4Sunset kayak or private boat
45 min awayKronborg Castle
Hamlet’s Renaissance castle at Helsingør.
40 min awayFrederiksborg Castle
A fairytale lakeside palace.
35 min awayMalmö, Sweden
Across the Øresund Bridge to Sweden.
30 min awayRoskilde
Viking ships and a UNESCO cathedral.
2 hrs awayMøns Klint
Dramatic white chalk cliffs and forest.
40 min awayLouisiana Museum
Famous modern art by the sea.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Copenhagen visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring to early autumn (May–September) brings the mildest, brightest weather and long days — the best time to visit.
Spring (Apr–May)
Fresh, blossoming days as the city comes alive, with Tivoli reopening for the season.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Long, light days perfect for canals, cycling and the waterfront — the peak and busiest season.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds and cosy cafés — a lovely, hygge-filled time.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and dark, but magical with Tivoli’s Christmas season, lights and markets.
Tivoli seasons
Tivoli is open mainly in summer, plus special Halloween and Christmas seasons — check dates when planning.
One day
Enough for Nyhavn, a canal cruise, the old town and Tivoli.
Two days
Add a castle day trip or a hop to Sweden.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, the royal castles, and Sweden or Roskilde.
Four to five days
Add more museums, Møns Klint and the Louisiana art museum.
A week or more
Use Copenhagen as a base for Zealand and southern Sweden.
Travelling with kids
Mix Tivoli, a canal cruise and the aquarium at a gentle pace.
By bike
Copenhagen is one of the world’s great cycling cities — flat, safe and with superb lanes; renting a bike is the local way to get around.
On foot
The compact centre — Nyhavn, the palaces, Strøget and Tivoli — is easily walkable and flat.
Metro & trains
A modern driverless metro and S-trains link the city and suburbs; one ticket covers buses, metro and trains.
Harbour buses
Yellow harbour buses (part of public transport) glide along the waterfront — a scenic, cheap way to travel.
Day-trip transport
Regional trains reach Kronborg, Frederiksborg, Roskilde and Malmö easily; tours bundle several castles.
From the airport
Copenhagen Airport links to the centre by metro or train in about 15 minutes — fast and easy.
Book cruises & Tivoli ahead
Popular canal cruises, food tours and Tivoli visits are best pre-booked in summer to save queueing.
Currency
Denmark uses the Danish krone (not the euro), though cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere.
Rent a bike
Cycling is cheap, easy and authentic — the best way to see Copenhagen like a local on its flat, safe lanes.
Copenhagen Card
The Copenhagen Card includes transport and many attractions including a canal cruise — good value for busy days.
Copenhagen is pricey
Denmark is expensive, so budget accordingly; food markets, free harbour swimming and cycling help keep costs down.
Eat Danish
Try smørrebrød, a hot dog from a pølsevogn, and pastries; the food markets offer great value and variety.
Canal cruises
Popular guided cruises fill up in summer — book ahead.
Tivoli Gardens
Pre-book tickets to save time at this hugely popular park.
Food tours
Small-group food tours fill up — reserve early.
Castle day trips
Guided castle and Sweden trips fill up — book ahead.
Bike tours
Popular guided bike tours have limited places — reserve ahead.
Summer & Christmas
Peak summer and Tivoli’s Christmas season fill hotels and tours — plan early.
Canal cruises
Around €12–25 for a classic guided canal cruise.
Tivoli Gardens
About €20–25 for entry, more with ride passes.
Walking & bike tours
Around €20–45 for a guided walking or bike tour.
Food tours
Roughly €70–110 for a guided food tour with several tastings.
Castle & Sweden trips
About €55–90 for a guided castle or Malmö day trip.
How to save
Cycle the city, use the Copenhagen Card, eat at food markets, and take regional trains for day trips.
Copenhagen through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh days as the city and Tivoli reopen.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pack layers for cool, changeable weather.
- Best for
- Long, light days for canals and cycling.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The peak season; book cruises and Tivoli ahead.
- Best for
- Crisp, golden, hygge-filled days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely, quieter time for the city.
- Best for
- Cosy days with Tivoli’s Christmas magic.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Dark and cold — wrap up and embrace hygge.