City guide

Copenhagen

May-August for warm weather and long daylight; November-December for the Tivoli Gardens Christmas marketBest time

DenmarkRegion

Copenhagen is Denmark's capital, built around canals and a historic harbourfront that runs from Nyhavn's coloured townhouses to the Little Mermaid statue. It is one of the world's most bike-friendly cities, with New Nordic dining, Tivoli Gardens' 19th-century amusement park, and Scandinavian design shops filling the compact centre.

What's on in Copenhagen Plan your trip

Photo: Pudelek / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

About Copenhagen

Country: DenmarkPopulation: 660,842Time zone: UTC+1

CopenhagenSee what's on

The vibe & who it suits

Best forCycling and canal sightseeing; New Nordic and fine dining; Scandinavian design and shopping

When to goMay-August for warm weather and long daylight; November-December for the Tivoli Gardens Christmas market

Getting aroundExtensive cycling infrastructure with dedicated lanes; Metro and S-tog trains cover the city; CPH airport is about a 15-minute Metro ride from the centre

Where to stayIndre By (city centre) for canals and sightseeing within walking distance; Vesterbro for the Meatpacking District's restaurants and nightlife

Maybe skip ifYou want budget travel or a slow-paced, sleepy destination

Top things to do in Copenhagen

The most popular sights, with 2026 entrance fees. Prices are adult admission — cheapest at the gate. Many of the best things are free.

Attraction	Entrance	Time	Why go
Tivoli Gardens	Varies	3-4 hours	One of the world's oldest amusement parks (opened 1843), blending historic rides, gardens, pantomime theatre and seasonal festivals right in central Copenhagen.
Nyhavn	Free	30-60 minutes	The iconic 17th-century harbour canal lined with colourful gabled townhouses, historic wooden ships and waterside cafes - Copenhagen's most-photographed street.
Rosenborg Castle	kr 140	1.5 hours	A Dutch Renaissance royal castle (1606-34) built by King Christian IV, now housing the Danish Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia in its Treasury alongside opulent royal apartments.
Christiansborg Palace	kr 120	1-1.5 hours (longer if adding the Ruins/Stables)	Denmark's seat of Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's Office all in one building, while the Queen still uses its Royal Reception Rooms for state functions - unique in Europe.
The Round Tower (Rundetårn)	kr 40	30-45 minutes	A 17th-century tower built by Christian IV as an astronomical observatory, famous for its spiralling cobbled ramp (no stairs) leading to a rooftop platform over central Copenhagen.
National Museum of Denmark	Varies	2 hours	Denmark's largest cultural history museum, covering Danish prehistory (Viking Age, Bronze Age sun chariot), the Middle Ages, and worldwide ethnographic collections in a former royal palace.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek	kr 150	1.5-2 hours	An art museum founded by Carlsberg brewer Carl Jacobsen, celebrated for its Winter Garden palm court, extensive Egyptian and Roman antiquities, and French Impressionist paintings.
The Little Mermaid	Free	20-30 minutes	Edvard Eriksen's small bronze statue (1913) on a harbour rock at Langelinie, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale and one of Denmark's most recognisable symbols.
Amalienborg	kr 125	45-60 minutes for the museum; 20 minutes to watch the guard change	The Danish royal family's working winter residence: four identical Rococo palaces around an octagonal courtyard, with a daily changing-of-the-guard and a museum in one wing.