How to Spend 3 Days in Copenhagen
Want to maximize your 3 days in Copenhagen?
This guest post by Sara Young of Big Adventures with Little Feet outlines the perfect starting point itinerary for a fun and comprehensive 3 days in Copenhagen to help you plan your own visit!
I recently spent a long weekend in Copenhagen with my boyfriend and our two young sons. We were lucky to have some friends there who made some great recommendations of where to head and what to do.
What we really loved is that it’s easy to navigate around, especially if, like us, you like to cycle as there are some fantastic cycle lanes as it’s really flat!
3 Days in Copenhagen: Quick View
There’s a lot to do in Copenhagen, it’s a city that’s full to the brim of fun for adults and for kids! You could easily spend a week exploring and not be ready to leave, however, if you have three days to enjoy then we’ve picked some of our favorite things to create a perfect itinerary for you.
Day 1: City tour, anal boat ride, dinner at a Michelin star restaurant
Day 2: Little Mermaid sculpture, Kastellet Fortress, Freetown Christiania
Day 3: Amalienborg Palace, changing of the guard, Tivoli Gardens
3 Days in Copenhagen: Full Itinerary
There are lots of incredible things to do in Copenhagen, it’s definitely a city worth visiting, and so I’ve picked the highlights from our visit to share with you. Tip: if you plan to visit multiple paid attractions then consider purchasing the Copenhagen Card to save time and money.
Day 1
Take a walking or bike tour of Copenhagen
Copenhagen is such a fun city to explore, especially in the summer when you can make the most of exploring either by foot, boat or bike. We always love to start with a tour as it means we can get a feel for the history, and get to grips with what there is to see before then going back and spending more detailed time in certain places.
If you have children with you, like we did, then we highly recommend using ScandiKidsTours as they are designed with kids in mind. We did their short walking tour which was great fun!
Otherwise, try this guided bike tour or this small group walking tour as a great way to get to know the city right off the bat.
Enjoy lunch and people watching at Nyhavn
No visit to Copenhagen would be complete without spending some time in Nyhavn, because this is where you’ll find the colorful waterfront buildings that the city is famous for.
As well as being beautiful it’s also got a great vibe and is bustling with both tourists and locals since the old waterfront warehouses have been converted into a variety of restaurants and bars.
If you’re not looking for a sit-down lunch then there are some street food vendors there instead. Something you’ll notice is that Copenhagen has a lot of hot dog stands, and they make a really tasty “on the go” snack – we definitely enjoyed our fair share!
Take a boat ride along the canals
Copenhagen has a lot of waterways, and taking time to discover the city from the water is a lot of fun. After lunch you can easily jump on one of the many classic canal boat tours that leave from Nyhavn.
For a more unique option, book this customizable boat experience that focuses on the hidden gems and participant interests to craft its itinerary.
Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, like we were, then you can rent an electric boat and drive yourself along the canals – our biggest problem was choosing who got to drive!
Dinner at the Alchemist
One of the things that Copenhagen is renowned for, is its vibrant culinary scene ranging from funky street food markets, all the way through to award-winning fine dining. Its most famous restaurant was Noma – once ranked the number one restaurant in the world.
Today, the most coveted dining seats are ones at the Alchemist – 5th on the list of World Best Restaurants – where the menu involves dining on 50 small dishes such as snowballs that taste of tomatoes!
In an ideal world, we’d have loved to have visited; however, with our young kids in tow our fine dining experiences are pretty much non-existent for the next few years.
Top tip: You need to sign up to their newsletter to get onto the waiting list. They open up bookings 3 months in advance, so you’ll need to join the list to even have a chance of dining there.
Day 2
Visit the Little Mermaid
One of the most iconic sites in Copenhagen is the Little Mermaid statue, and no visit would probably be complete without making a visit. But be warned, she really is a little mermaid, so you might be a little underwhelmed if you’re expecting her to be anything but small.
I’d still suggest going to see her, as she’s just a short walk or bike from the city center and you’ll have a chance to then explore the Kastellet (or city Citadel).
Enjoy the waterfront and explore the Kastellet Fortress
The Kastellet used to protect Copenhagen from attacks. However, it’s no longer used as a defense system and is instead home to a beautiful public park as well as some interesting historic buildings. We particularly loved that it’s free to enter, and has some great views.
Enjoy lunch at Broens Street Food
We are massive fans of street food style dining because it allows us to try several different dishes at once. Copenhagen has several fun street food places, and one of the most popular is Broens Street Food.
Whilst you are there, take a short stroll over the Kosmik Rum which is a very cool art installation made up of two large “balls” with stained glass and mirrors inside. They’re free to enter, and as a family we had a fun few minutes enjoying the crazy mirrored experience of being ‘inside them.’
Discover Freetown Christiania
Heading into Freetown Christiania is one of the best things that we did in Copenhagen. It’s a self-governing commune in the center of the city that was started in 1971 on a disused military base. It’s now one of the top 5 tourist destinations in the city.
Before you visit it, I recommend taking a short walking tour around the edge of the community to get more of the history because tour guides are not allowed inside.
In fact, it was considered slightly risky to visit and there were strict rules to follow such as not taking photos. However this all changed when the infamous drug dealing “Pusher Street” was closed down in April 2024.
We visited with our kids and spent several fun hours exploring the area because it’s such a vibrant part of the city filled with street art and music. There are plenty of bars to grab a drink and people watch, and small street food vendors set-up on the roadside.
Our boys particularly enjoyed hanging out in the playground, and hunting for the massive Green George troll that’s made of wooden pallets!
Head for a skate and some food at Reffen
If you love street food and urban vibes then Reffen is not to be missed – it’s got amazing food, great waterfront views, pop-up beach with deck chairs and a very cool skate park. Food-wise it has everything from gourmet hot dogs, to tacos, poke bowls and delicious waffles.
Eating out in Copenhagen can be expensive, however, a visit to Reffen is not only great for cheaper food options, but also for a fun and welcoming party vibe. Consult their website before heading over, as they often have live music nights you could schedule your visit around.
Day 3
Explore the royal residence of the Amalienborg Palace
If you’re into history then the royal Amalienborg Palace and museum are one of the best places to go for more information about the royal history of Denmark. The treasury can also be found there so you will have a chance to see some spectacular jewelry.
However, if you’d like to see the crown jewels you’ll have to head to the Rosenborg Castle. The grounds around this castle are also lovely and often filled with sprawling friends and families.
Watch the changing of the guard ceremony
After you’ve explored the Amalienborg Palace you’ll definitely want to watch the changing of the guard. It happens everyday at 11:30am and depending on when you’re visiting, you might want to get there a little earlier to secure yourself a good viewing spot.
When the monarchs are staying in the palace there is also a fantastic marching band that joins the guards for the ceremony.
Be amused at Tivoli Gardens
Right in the center of Copenhagen, at over 180 years old, is the world’s second oldest amusement park called Tivoli Gardens. The park is designed around a pretty garden with plenty of open space to explore.
There are lots of options for food, such as hot dog stands, cafes and restaurants, or you can take in a picnic if you’re fancying something more casual (and affordable!).
Tivoli is very famous for the amazing entertainment it puts on which is included in the entrance ticket. They have a variety of live concerts and fireworks every Saturday night in the summer.
They also put on some great themed displays throughout the year such as pumpkins at Halloween, and over 500,000 fairy lights for its magical Christmas fair.
You can select from a list of entrance options depending on whether you want to go on the rides or simply explore the gardens. Tivoli Gardens is also included as part of the Copenhagen Card.
Best Day Trips from Copenhagen
Another reason to visit Copenhagen is it is perfectly located for some great day trips:
Cross the border over to Malmo in Sweden
Just 40km from Copenhagen are the beautiful university cities of Malmo and Lund in Sweden. They are both home to some incredibly beautiful buildings and parks, and are perfect if you’re looking for a change of scenery after your time in Copenhagen.
You can easily take a train from Copenhagen to Malmo yourself. Or, book a private guided tour of Malmo led by a local.
👉 Click here to book a guided day tour of Malmo
Visit the city of the Vikings at Roskilde
If you’re into Vikings as much as we are then you’ll definitely want to head to Roskilde Cathedral which is the resting place of almost 40 Danish Viking kings and queens. You’ll also be able to discover 1,000 years of Viking history at the Viking Boat Museum and get to ride on a replica long boat!
👉 Book the Grand Day Trip around Copenhagen
Have fun at Bakken the world’s oldest amusement park
Only 30 minutes from Copenhagen is the world’s oldest amusement park called Bakken. You can arrive by train or taxi. Set on the outskirts of the historic royal deer park and close by the beach, this is a fun way to spend a day.
You can enjoy the countryside, go on rides and even take a dip in the sea – which is just what we did when we visited there!
Where to Stay in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a lot of great accommodation options to choose from both in the city center and on the outskirts. Great public transportation means that you can easily get into the city center.
🏨 Luxury Recommendation: Nimb Hotel
You’ll find this impressive hotel on one side of the Tivoli Gardens in the heart of the city. It has been consistently ranked the best hotel to stay in Copenhagen for years in a row – confirmation that it is the most luxurious boutique hotel.
👉 Click here to check prices and availability
🏨 Mid-Range Recommendation: Scandic Kødbyen
Scandic Kødbyen is a new hotel in the trendy Kødbyen district which is a trendy part of Copenhagen with bars, restaurants and galleries all nearby.
👉 Click here to check prices and availability
🏨 Budget: Moxy Copenhagen
The Moxy Copenhagen is a great choice if you’re looking for somewhere that is both central and budget friendly. We also love that it’s part of the Marriott group so you can collect or cash in points when you stay there.
👉 Click here to check prices and availability
How to Get Around in Copenhagen
Getting around Copenhagen is really easy and can be great fun. Like most capital cities it has an efficient and clean public transportation system including the metro.
If you enjoy cycling then Copenhagen is great fun because it has a fantastic system of cycling lanes. Incredibly, over 60% of locals commute to work, school or university by bike each day.
You can also choose to easily walk from attraction to attraction as the pavements are well maintained and the city is very flat.
Insider Tips for Visiting Copenhagen
Having spent a long weekend there ourselves we’ve got a few great insider tips to share with you.
- It’s worth considering the Copenhagen Card because you might be able to save money depending on how you plan your visit. It gives you unlimited public transportation including rides on the canal boats, as well as free admission to more than 80 attractions.
- Dress for the weather. In the summer, it can be very warm which is perfect for shorts and t-shirts. In the winter, temperatures can drop to a chilly daily average of 2°C (36°F). The Danes love to be outside whatever the weather, so remember to bring some warm clothes!
- If you love swimming then there are lots of harbor baths and beaches to explore. Our favorite harbor bath was Islands Brygge Havnebad, which is one of the most popular and largest. They’re great fun and totally free!
- We love cycling and Copenhagen is possibly one of the best cities we’ve been to for it. It’s super easy to get around, just make sure to get a bike with a comfy seat if you plan on traveling a long distance.
FAQ: 3 Days in Copenhagen Itinerary
We’ve picked a few popular FAQ’s on Copenhagen to answer for you:
Is 3 days enough for Copenhagen?
In 3 days you’ll get to explore the main attractions in Copenhagen. We spent 3 days there, and would have loved to have had a few extra days to be able to explore more of the city and to have enjoyed a few more day trips.
Is Copenhagen very expensive?
Yes, it can feel expensive. However, there are loads of fantastic free things to do in Copenhagen. If you’re planning on visiting a few of the paid attractions then it’s worth checking out the Copenhagen Card as it can work out to an excellent value.
What is the best month to visit Copenhagen?
June is a great month to visit Copenhagen as it’s a warm 20-25°C, so you can be outside comfortably, yet it’s not the peak summer months so it’s not too busy.
Final Thoughts: 3 Days in Copenhagen
We had a fantastic time in Copenhagen, so much so that we decided that it was one of our top 5 favorite European capital cities. It has a great mix of attractions, places to eat and things to do, which means that you’ll have an action packed 3 day visit.
About the author:
Sara Young is the author of Big Adventures With Little Feet, a family travel blog with the key aim to inspire parents to travel with their kids. She loves exploring the world with her sons and giving them big adventures, whether that’s hiking or skiing, sailing or surfing.
