The Top 10 Things to Do in Copenhagen

This is not my first post on Copenhagen from my trip earlier this month – check out my top eats and the crown jewels recaps – but it will certainly be the most comprehensive one.  Denmark is a small country, only the size of the state of Massachusetts, has a lot to offer! If you are only visiting the Danish capital for a short period of time here are my suggestions for the top 10 Things to Do in Copenhagen. 

(1) Take a Bike Tour  I chose to take a bike tour over a walking tour and with my delayed flight I almost missed it but I’m so glad I did not! We were able to cover a ton of key points in the city, a few of which I went back to like the palaces, but a handful of which were fine to bike by, here about for 60 seconds, and move on like the library shaped like a black diamond. I found Bike Copenhagen with Mike and was thrilled that Mike, in the photo below, actually gave the tour of the city he has lived in his entire life! 

(2) Explore the Tivoli Gardens: As I didn’t have eons of time to spend in Copenhagen the idea of spending a few hours at an amusement park on the edge of the city was not on the top of my list but I’m so glad I made the trip! It’s half amusement park, half gardens and a gorgeous oasis in the heart of the city.  As the gardens are included in the amusement park like structure it is $15 to get in and then for the advanced rides, another $5 per ride, but well worth the trip!  

(3) Take a Tour of Amalienborg Palace: There are four identical palaces around a square in the heart of Copenhagen’s because London’s one palace or Vienna’s two just weren’t enough for the Dane’s.  I was running late and for the tour queen’s house, that’s not something you want to be late for. There are only four tours a week in English with a very small group and the staff squeezed me in at the last minute and  it was well with it. I wish I had been able to take photos but no photos were allowed – in fact all belongings had to be left in the cloak room and blue historical booties had to be worn. My favorite room was probably the one where the queen hold’s the annual New Year’s ball where she holds a party every year (seen hear). 

(4) Visit Freetown Christiania: I only have one picture of this unique neighborhood as I was advised to not snap away as the locals take it as an insult. This hippie commune / neighborhood was like parts of Brooklyn taken up a notch and I loved the free outdoor jazz concert on Sunday. 

(5) Rent a Bike: After the bike tour the next morning I got a pay as you go membership to Bycyklen which allowed me to pick a bike at any station around the city and ride for an hour at a time 30 DDK ($4).  The city is gorgeous but I wanted to spend more time seeing and less time going to and from so biking around was perfect for me – I took four rides over the course of my stay! 

(6) Take Canal Boat Tour: I had already seen a good amount of the city on my bike tour but I got on a round trip hour long boat ride from Nyvahn on an overcast morning.  Over the course of the eco friendly tour I got to see another perspective on the Copenhagen Opera House, a few of the palaces, the impressive Black Diamond Library, the stock exchange and a different view of the Little Mermaid.

(7) Climb the Towers:  Scenic views of ancient cities are always better when you worked to get there and the vantage points from both the top of the Rundetaarn, the Round tower, and  The Church of Our Savior.  The Rundetaarn was 136 meters up but the vast majority had no stairs, just a beautiful ramp that was well lit with windows looking out to different parts of the city.  This was in stark contrast to the tower of at the top the Church of Our Savior church which was particularly narrow climbing through more than a dozen passage ways and around bells to get to the top! 

(8) Stay Central: When deciding where to stay in a new city I plot out all the attractions and things I want to do on Google Maps and when I’m done I have a cluster of yellow stars and from there cross reference with hotels that meet my criteria in attempt to stay as centrally as possible without paying an arm and leg.  Now money is a different thing for each person and while I am sure there are many hostels when traveling by myself I stay at hotels and was very pleased with the Phoenix, located just across from Amalienborg Palace.  Plus the lobby made for A+ selfies. 

(9) Stroll Along Nyvahn:  These are arguably the most picturesque townhouses in the entire city and definitely the most photographed. I heard one tourist call it the “hub of the city” and while it may not be geographically central and near the key businesses I would have to to agree! 

(10) See the Crown Jewels at Rosenberg: I don’t want to beat a dead hourse so head to my full post on Rosenborg Castle and the Danish Crown Jewels to see my morning where I was virtually alone in the castle and with the stunning royal treasures! 

And there you have it, my top ten with a few dozen photos to accompany the recommendations.  Also be sure to check out my Top Three Eats in Copenhagen if you have not already and I did want to mention that I don’t have the little mermaid on here as my top ten things to do in Copenhagen as I was not that impressed (though she did make the Insta) but I saw her on both my bike tour and the canal cruise so choose either one and she will be crossed of your list.  

Have you been to Copenhagen?