Copenhagen is compact, flat and easy to explore on foot or by bike. In one day you can see the harbour, the royal palaces and the old centre, and still have time to sit by the water.
Morning in Nyhavn
Nyhavn is the 17th-century harbour lined with colourful townhouses and old wooden ships. Hans Christian Andersen lived in three different houses here. Come early, before the cafés fill up, for the best light and the quietest walk.
Amalienborg and the changing of the guard
A short walk north brings you to Amalienborg, home of the Danish royal family, with four palaces around an octagonal square. The Royal Guard changes every day at noon. From here you can continue to the Little Mermaid statue on the waterfront, unveiled in 1913.
See the city from the water
A canal tour from Nyhavn or Gammel Strand is one of the easiest ways to understand the city. In about an hour you pass the Opera House, Christianshavn and many of the main sights.
Afternoon: Christiansborg and Rosenborg
Christiansborg Palace houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court, and its tower offers wide views over the rooftops. Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by the King’s Garden, keeps the Danish Crown Jewels.
Evening at Tivoli
Tivoli Gardens, opened in 1843, is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and sits right next to Central Station. It is at its most atmospheric in the evening, when the lights come on.
Plan your time in Denmark
We include Copenhagen in private tours and multi-country journeys, with guides who speak your language. Explore Denmark.
