Best things to do in Copenhagen: 3-day itinerary for first-timers

Copenhagen has been, undoubtedly, one of the most amazing cities I have been to. I was supposed to travel to Sweden on the first place for my job, but since the lovely island of Öland was closer to Denmark than to the Stockholm, I decided to take a few days to get to know the Danish capital and I don’t regret it!

Copenhagen is such a vibrant city! It is the perfect place for foodies, design enthusiast, bookworms and history buffs alike. Also, the beer is not so bad, if you ask me!

I stayed in the capital for four days before heading to Sweden. However, there are so many things to do in Copenhagen that I could have easily stayed for a week! Since it was my first time, I decided to cover some of the basics and add a few extras that some friends suggested me. I really want to go back to cover more ground, but, in the meantime, here are some of my favourite things to do in Copenhagen!

Day 1

I arrived to Copenhagen’s airport late in the evening. And, when I finally made it to my accommodation, I was so tired that I just had energy to grab a bit outside the flat and head back to bed. So my first night was practically lost. However, I covered so much ground in just one day, that I think I made up for the loss.

The first day I did not use any sort of public transportation because I usually like to first explore a new city by foot. So I woke up early, had some breakfast at home and then headed to my first destination in the map! My favourite thing about this day is that all of the things I did were completely free! I mean, excluding the meals, of course, but although Denmark has the reputation of being pricey, you can totally find budget-friendly things to do in Copenhagen.

Black Diamond Library

The Black Diamond Library might not be in your average “Things to do in Copenhagen” list. Nevertheless, since I am a big nerd and I love to visit bookshops and libraries whenever I travel, I decided to start my tour with The Black Diamond Public Library.

Although Copenhagen has a very classic beauty, The Black Diamond is a super modern building right in the heart of the city. It is completely free to get in, however, the study rooms are only for registered members.

It doesn’t take much to explore it and if you need a bit of rest before continuing your Copenhagen tour, you can always grab a drink in the coffee shop and sit in out of the loungers right in front of the canal.

This was a really nice way to start my exploration of the city. Also I am a huge fan of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories, so it was nice to see some volumes in its original language (even though I couldn’t understand a thing).

The Nyhavn

You can’t really talk about things to do in Copenhagen without mentioning the Nyhavn. As with many touristy places, you hear a lot of stuff about it: it is worth it, it is not worth it, it is crowded, it is expensive… There is a whole range of opinions out there, but, personally, I would say it is worth a look. Especially if it is your first time in the city.

I would definitely not recommend eating there or shopping for souvenirs, since most of the stores are over-priced. However, the tiny houses are incredibly adorable (actually, they say one of them belonged to Hans Christian Andersen) and it makes a perfect setting to walk and take some pictures.

There is also a really famous ice cream shop in the area and you can take surprisingly accessible boat tours around the channels. But I will talk more of those later. I general, I think this is one of the things to do in Copenhagen that you have to visit at least once. After you see all the fuss and Instagram some pictures you can get it out of your system and move on to the next stop!

Papiroen – The Paper Island

I can’t stress enough how much I adore discovering markets when I travel. And, so far, Copenhagen has been one of the places with the best food markets I have been to! More than a market, Papiroen is an attraction on its own.

Located within walking distance from the Nyhavn, Papiroen is an old paper warehouse turned into a food paradise. This market is in a small island across the channel and right in front the Opera house. The moment I arrived to the place you get that chilled, relaxed vibe. People are drinking beers and enjoying a bite next to the water and you can hear every possible language imagined around you.

Once you get inside the warehouse, you are spoilt for choice. You can find food from tons of places around the world and catered to any taste. I saw Brazilian, Mexican, Turkish, vegan… However, when in Rome… Well, Denmark, I knew I had to try smørrebrød. This baby is one of the most typical dishes of the country. It basically consists in an open sandwich with a rye bread base and different toppings to cover it.

There were different flavours, some with fish and shrimp. But I decided to go with the vegetarian option and I ordered the potato salad ones (also, they were cheaper). I like everything sandwich related, so I pretty much loved them! The potatoes were creamy and soft and the bread was simply delicious!

I definitely wish I had had more time/stomach/money to try all the things in the market. I saw some unbelievable coffee and dessert stalls and what can I say about the craft beer! Nevertheless, I decided to wait and try more stuff elsewhere. And I am happy I did, because my next stop was a very nice surprise!

Christiania

I think this is one of those controversial things to do in Copenhagen, but I must confess I found this place super interesting!

The first time I heard of The Free Town of Christiania when my former boss was interviewing me for the job in Sweden. I told her I wanted to visit Denmark and she assured me I shouldn’t miss this place. Basically, Christiania is a borough in Copenhagen, although their inhabitants don’t consider themselves as part of Denmark, or the European Union, for that matter.

This mini island/neighbourhood claims to be outside the government’s authority, which loosely translates to being the only place in the country where people sell and consume marijuana freely and authorities turn a blind eye on them.

When I arrived, I was lucky enough to find a parade in favour of cannabis legalisation. Not even in Ireland I saw that much green.

The moment I entered, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were stalls everywhere offering so many different kinds of joints! This was in the middle of the day and on the street! For obvious reasons, photographers are not allowed and I wouldn’t try to snap some shots, because people will start screaming and booing at you.

The place seems to be built with whatever the constructors had at hand. Everything was made with recycled pieces of wood and hand-painted with different motives. Also, they seem to be self-sufficient. Besides the weed, they also sell jewellery and bohemian clothing and the prices are not so bad either!

Further down the road there is also a food pavilion with different lunch options. Somehow I managed to find my way into a tomato mini farm and I ended up drinking the greatest Bloody Mary in the world!

Contrary to the normal societal norms, everyone was drinking and… doing some other recreational activities in the green areas of the borough. Live music was playing everywhere and people would sun bathe and take naps next to the lake.

They do say police organises raids from time to time, but, besides that, it tends to be a very pacific area of Copenhagen. Definitely not a kid-friendly place and probably not for the faint-hearted ones, but I though it was a great sociological experience! However, if this is your cup of tea, you might want to check out this non-traditional Copenhagen itinerary! It has so many cool stuff to do that you won’t find in other guides.

The Opera House

Boy would I have liked to see a show in the Opera House, but, unfortunately, I just had time for a quick glance and a break at the bar.

The Opera House is right in front of Papiroen Island, so when I was on my way back to the city, I decided to have a nosy. The building is absolutely gorgeous and, although I am sure the plays are amazing as well, I found it to be the perfect place to take a break. I enjoyed a nice refreshment in the bar, used its amazing, big and clean toilet and sat for a while until my legs recovered from the journey.

Even if you are not going to the Opera per se, I would definitely recommend to have a look at this place. Additionally, at least during the summer, there was a lovely square with plenty of seats in front of the water, live music and a couple of food trucks. I liked this place so much that I returned later to grab a light dinner before returning to my accommodation. You guessed right: I got smørrebrød again! This time with hummous and cucumber and it was delicious!

The Little Mermaid

When I started my trip, I knew there were many things to do in Copenhagen. However, I was certain that The Little Mermaid statue was something that I did not want to miss.

Disney film aside, as I mentioned, I am a huge fan of Hans Christian Andersen’s work. And he happens to be the original writer of The Little Mermaid story. My favourite fairy tale is, undoubtedly, the Wilde Swans (I’ll make a post about books and movies to travel to Denmark). But, since there were no swan statues, I decided to go with the next best thing.

I must confess I almost didn’t make it! I had been walking for SO bloody long that every inch of my body hurt. At some point my feet were not responding. But luckily Copenhagen was full of loungers during he summer that I got a chance to rest for a bit and keep going.

The Little Mermaid statue is the most visited attraction in Denmark, so it is no surprise that the place was packed. You had to patiently wait for your turn to take a picture and luckily I found some Mexican girls who agreed to snap a shot of me awkwardly against the statue. After that, there is little to do there, but fortunately the grounds that surround the Little Mermaid are beautiful, so I enjoyed a lovely view while I headed back to my accommodation.

I wanted to try a bit of the nightlife of the place, but I had covered so many things to do in Copenhagen in just one day that I couldn’t take it anymore. I was so wrecked that I basically understood how the Little Mermaid felt when she was given legs (such a nerdy joke, sorry, I am tired).

Anyways, Copenhagen is so beautiful that it was hard just to walk back without any deviations, but I managed to return to my accommodation and get the amount of hours of sleep that Tyra Banks recommends to stay pretty.

Day 2

For day two I decided to invest a little and get a Copenhagen Card. This is an all-inclusive city card that allows you to enter most of the museums, castles and main attractions of the city for a fixed price.

The card includes access to hundreds of attractions as well as discounts in restaurants and shops and it includes the Tivoli Gardens which are quite pricey to start with. It also allows you to use the public transportation as many times as you want, which was great because my legs decided to stop working on my second day.

The most basic one costs 53.00 euro, which I thought was fair, because I would have spent much more if I had paid for each attraction individually. However, the only downside is that you only have 24 hours to use it.

You can add more time to your card, of course, but it will cost extra. However, for the amount of time and the budget I had, I think the one-day pass worked perfectly for me. As you saw, there are plenty of free things to do in Copenhagen, so one day is enough to explore some of the most popular paid options. Also, you save a lot of time travelling by bus, so you shouldn’t be afraid to miss things out. If you are staying for a short time in the city, I would definitely recommend this option.

Hans Christian Anderson Museum

I was surprised I hadn’t heard anything about this museum until I did some research. But when I arrived I understood why. The Hans Christian Anderson Museum was a super tiny, almost hidden attraction in Copenhagen Centre. I had to pass twice in front of it before realising it was in front of me. Don’t get me wrong; I still think it was adorable. The place told you a bit about the writer’s early beginnings and featured some of his most iconic stories.

However, I think is more children-oriented. If you are travelling with kids, this is definitely one of the loveliest things to do in Copenhagen. For me, it was pretty, but not that entertaining. I was glad I went, but a quick look was enough before continuing with my tour. On the plus size, it is in a very popular area of Copenhagen, so you can do some souvenir shopping or check out some of the clothing stores and book shops around!

Christiansborg Palace

It is hard to choose, but I think this was my favourite place of my trip. There are plenty of things to do in Copenhagen, but I never felt more regal and princess-like than in Christiansborg Palace.

I really wanted to check Hamlet’s castle, but since I was in a short-time frame, I had to go for a different royal residence and I didn’t regret it! Just when you arrive to the palace, a guy in a horse welcomes you to the property. He also did a few turns around the area showing off just enough of his skills. Honestly I cannot think of something posher than this.

After that, you enter the reception, where they make you wrap your shoes some plastic bags to protect the floor. If you are not using a Copenhagen card, I would recommend to book in advance, because the queue was pretty long.

With your standard pass you can see the interior of the palace, the kitchens, the stables and the Theatre Museum that’s right next to the building. It takes several hours to see all of it, so I decided to skip some of the places. However, the main palace is something you won’t want to miss!

Just look at this place! When I entered the first room I kind of understood how Mia Thermopolis felt when she arrived to her palace in Genovia. Except that I don’t have a really wealthy grandma that is inheriting me a country. But honestly, talk about luxury! The Royal Family does not live permanently in Christiansborg Palace, but they still use it for especial occasions.

All of the rooms and halls are incredibly elegant and sumptuous. I even felt a bit under dressed for the occasion, but don’t worry; there is no dress code for this place (although Danish have such an amazing sense of style). However, my absolute favourite was The Queen’s Library.

This place is right out of a fairy tale! It was hard to resist the temptation to sing Beauty and the Beast songs with a background like this! It might seem small, but The Queen’s library has kilometres and kilometres of books among its premises. There are many first editions locked in the shelves, included a bunch of Hans Christian Andersen’s books.

I really could have stayed for hours in this place, but since clock was ticking, I had to say goodbye and continued to my next stop.

Theatre Museum

As I said, the Theatre Museum was inside the Christiansborg Palace, but had an exhibition of its own. This museum was tiny, yet charming. Basically the tour consisted of a walk around the main stage of the theatre where they showed and explain the main aspects of putting a play together. You get to see the behind the scenes aspect and I got a closer look at some of the costumes and props.

I really enjoy theatre, so this was a nice finding. Also, it is small, so it won’t take you long to explore it.

Channel boat tour

Another cool thing about the Copenhagen Pass was that it included a boat tour around the channels of the city. I guess it is one of those touristy things to do in Copenhagen. But since it was already there, I decided to give it a go and I must confess I really enjoyed it!

The tour leaves from the Nyhavn, so it was nice to have a second look at the place. When I went boats left every hour. However, it is better to arrive directly and ask, since the itinerary can change. Although it was a bit rainy, the boat was not very crowded and game me a completely different perspective of the city.

The guide gave us really cool fun facts about Copenhagen. Like, apparently, there are places in the city especially designed to look like Amsterdam or that the Royal Family likes to hang out in bars or churches like civilians! I didn’t see Prince Joachim or Princess Marie anywhere, but I would keep my eyes open if I were you.

The tour lasted for about an hour, which is more than enough to cover a lot of spots. They also allow you to bring refreshments or beer on board, because, well, Denmark. So be prepared in advance!

Torvehallerne Food Market

Copenhagen definitely has a killer food scene. With several award winning eateries and a Michelin-star restaurant it is definitely any foodie’s paradise. It really doesn’t matter if you are on a tight budget (like me), if you are looking for things to do in Copenhagen you can’t miss the chance to sample is delicious food!

I had sampled some traditional dishes in Papiroen, but my Airbnb hosts recommended me Torvehallerne food market and who am I to ignore local suggestions? Torvehallerne is definitely more quiet than Papiroen, but in a good way. While Papiroen does attract tons of tourists and it can get really difficult to get a table, Torvehallerne has a more local vibe and plenty of places to walk around and even rest.

The market does offer international food as well. Actually I found a Mexican place that looked quite legit and even had some brands I can only find home. However, I did not leave Mexico to eat Mexican food abroad. That is why I opted for one of the most famous stalls on the market: Ma Poule.

I don’t really like eating much meat, but I read so much about the duck confit sandwiches in this place that I could not miss the chance. Besides, the size of this thing compared to the price was so worth it that I didn’t have to eat dinner afterwards! It cost around 55 DKK (like $10.00 USD). It came with a delicious mustard dressing and the duck was perfectly cooked and crispy.

Torvehallerne is much fancier than Papiroen and has more gourmet options. You can sample cheese and wine and buy fresh produce like fish and meat. After my amazing supper, I decided to treat myself a bit and get a Flødeboller, which is a typical Danish dessert.

This thing is like a cream puff covered in chocolate. They have several flavours, but I opted for the almond and caramel one. I though the filling was going to be more like a marshmallow, but it was so soft and creamy. I could have eaten a dozen and then hated myself for days! But I just got two, thank you very much.

Tivoli Gardens

They say that Walt Disney took inspiration from the Tivoli Gardens to create Disneyland. So that pretty much sets a standard. The Tivoli Gardens are the second oldest attraction park in the world and it is one of the most visited locations in Denmark.

Tivoli offers a bit of everything, food stalls, souvenir shops, fun rides, shows and amazing buildings inspired by other countries. When I arrived, sun was setting so I got the chance to see the incredible light show that illuminated the park. I am sure it is still lovely during the day, but I cannot recommend the view of this place at nighttime.

The ticket itself is not that crazy. It costs around 100 DKK, which is like $17.00 USD. But the thing is that every individual ride has an extra cost once you are inside. I decided to pay just for one ride (it was around $5.00 USD), but I got a bit of luck.

I was casually walking by one of those giant magic carpet mechanical things. Minding my own business I heard the operator screamed at me. He was asking me if I would like to hop in. He had an extra empty spot and since I was alone I was perfect to fill it. Who said being a solo traveller is awful?

Although it doesn’t have the wow factor of Disneyland or Universal Studios, I still found the Tivoli Gardens super charming. I got to attend to a free orchestra performance and snap some gorgeous shots of the place. I don’t think I would go back again, unless I had more budget for rides, but for first-timers I think this is one of those things to do in Copenhagen that you shouldn’t miss.

Day 3

I am afraid day number 3 was not complete because I had to catch a train to Sweden, but I still tried to make the most out of it. I think I covered most of the must-see places, so I decided to chill out a bit and explore the city in a more relaxed manner.

Vesterbro Neighbourhood

I was lucky enough to found a place to sleep in a very cool area of the city. The Vesterbro Neighbourhood is full of great things to do in Copenhagen. This hip, slightly bohemian place has many restaurants, shops and bars around. I really enjoyed getting to know the area and taking leisurely walks around the borough.

I would say that this is the place to hang out at night to grab a drink. Unfortunately, I didn’t give myself the time to do so. However, I did manage to capture some pictures of its breath-taking sunsets. Although it is not exactly in the centre of Copenhagen, it took me just 10 minutes to reach to the downtown. Even if you are not staying near there, I would say it is worth a look.

WestMarket

Seriously, Copenhagen is the perfect place if you like food markets as much as I do! I was walking around the Vesterbro when I decided to stop for some breakfast. The WestMarket had so many choices that it was hard to decide! I ended up choosing a cinnamon pastry because I heard Denmark has some of the best pastries in the world. It certainly did not disappoint.

However, this place offers a wide range of savoury food, as well as coffee and drinks. It is a perfect place to grab a beer at night. The ambiance is very relaxed and chilled and it is easy to start a conversation with the people around you.

Walk around town

I always recommend this, regardless of the place you travel too. Take some time to walk around, with no itinerary, no fixed destination. Just explore the city at your leisure. Visit some of the shops (Denmark has amazing design stores).

I also found some great street performers and some great samples of architecture. Really, I think there is no better way to familiarise yourself with a new place than discovering it at your own pace.

Train Station

Ok, I might have just gone here because I needed to go to Kalmar, but look at this place!

Since the first time I went to Europe I discovered that train stations were very alive spots in the city. They usually have plenty of places to grab a bite, free WiFi and some interesting shops and souvenirs. Copenhagen Train station is right in front of Tivoli Gardens, so you are basically in the heart of the city. This is a great place to start your explorations or even to venture to another nearby cities!

Where to stay in Copenhagen

I booked an AirBnB in the Vesterbro neighbourhood and I simply loved it! It has been one of the coolest places I have stayed and my hosts were an absolute delight.

As I said, I was no exactly in the town centre. Nevertheless, it is close enough and the neighbourhood was lively and not as crazy as the downtown. I had a private small room with a shared bathroom and full use of the kitchen. I was in a top floor, so it was a bit challenging to drag my luggage all the way up there. However, the place was worth it.

You can check Tony and Christina’s place if you want. And, in case you have never used Airbnb before and you want to start, you can use my discount code and get 27.00 Pounds off your first trip!

Other tips for travelling to Copenhagen

Language

Yeah, although Danish is the official language, most of the people speak English and a pretty good one too. So no worries about any language barriers, even older people were very proficient in the language!

Transportation

As I said before, Copenhagen is pretty pedestrian friendly. I had a lovely time walking it and it got me to pretty amazing places. That said, I must also warn you that it is not such a small city. It might take you a considerable amount of time and energy to get from one point to another. The first day I decided to explore most of the attractions in just one area. However, for the rest I did use public transportation.

Buses are super nice and clean and bus drivers are kind and willing to help you with your annoying touristy questions. Also the train service is pretty reliable and efficient. I went from Denmark to Sweden and back with no problems at all. Just remember to bring your ID if you are crossing the border! The first time I saw the immigration staff I was pretty startled, but they were just making a routine check.

Money

It might not come as a surprise that Copenhagen has the fame of being pretty expensive. And, although it is definitely on the pricey side (unlike Slovenia, for example), I think you can find your way around it.

I decided to same some money and book an AirBnB where I could cook stuff. I had breakfast at home most of the time I was there and I saved a significant amount. Additionally, I opted for street markets instead of restaurants.

The Copenhagen card also saved me a significant amount of money. I am pretty sure I would have ended up spending more than 50 euro if I had booked everything separately and paid for public transportation and boat tours. However, if you want specific ideas of what to do in Copenhagen on a budget, you can check this super practical guide.

Yeah, it is a bit dear, but I found Iceland much more expensive. So, don’t be afraid, just plan in advance and you will be able to save a considerable amount.

Final thoughts about things to do in Copenhagen

I can definitely say that Copenhagen was an amazing destination. I dream with the day I can bring my mum and show her around. People are extremely friendly, the food is amazing and the city is simply magical. If you have been to Denmark before, make sure to let me know in the comments which are the things to do in Copenhagen that you think a first-timer shouldn’t miss.

Thanks for reading!

I guess I’ll see you on the road.

Love,

 

 

 

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