An Itinerary for Visitors

By Ellen Sleeuw, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

I had a few friends and family come to visit me in Copenhagen over the year and by the end I think I found a great way to show them lots of Copenhagen, visiting the tourist attractions, whilst also showing them some of my favourite spots.

I was living in Ørestad, so this was my starting point, but it is easy enough to switch up the routes!

Day 1

I would always recommend hiring a donkey bike, whether this be for the entirety of the visit, a day, or just a few hours. I think that cycling allows you to get from one place to the next so easily and also allow you to see so much more of the city.

I always liked to start by cycling over to Nørreport, as this just felt like a good central location near lots of the more touristy attractions. One of my favourite things to do was to go to Kongens Haven (The Kings Garden) and have a picnic in the park. Either pack your own or grab a BMO from Andersen & Maillard which is just around the corner (this is presuming the weather is nice; if not there are plenty of nice cafes around to escape the rain). From here you are located very centrally, and it is easy to either walk or cycle around the centre. The Round Tower is a classic for a good view, but you can go up The Christiansborg’s Tower (Christiansborg Slotsplads, 1218 København, Denmark) for free and the view is very similar, also less than a 10-minute walk from the round tower. Also in Nørreport are the botanical gardens, as well as the SMK Museum, and then behind these you will find the lakes, which are so nice to walk around, or just take a seat on a bench and watch the world go by (Copenhagen is especially good for people watching!).

You are also in an ideal location to head over to Nyhavn and see the classic colourful houses. And close by is the Kastellet, this is a lovely walk which leads you to the little mermaid (which is quite underwhelming, but a classic tourist spot).

Day 2

Hop back on the bikes and head to Amar Strand. The beach feels like a lovely break from the city and it’s also a great place for a dip in the sea if that’s what you’re into!

From here it is easy to cycle along the beach north towards Refshaleøen, passing the CopenHill, which is free to go up and you get a great view from the top. Continue cycling all the way to Reffen, and there are several things to do up there, such as Lille bakery, Reffen food market, Copenhagen Conttmepoary Museum, and a climbing centre.

Make your way back through Christianshavn, where you can stop off and walk around Christiania, or go up the Church of our Saviour. Also just walking along the canal here and through the buildings is really lovely, with many nice cafes such as HANS Coffee and Café Sandø.

Day 3

You guessed it, back on the bikes! But this time making your way to Frederiksberg. This is just another lovely neighbourhood to wander round. Frederiksberg Have is one of the prettiest parks in Copenhagen. From Frederiksberg it is very easy to either cycle or walk to Vesterbro. This neighbourhood is home to Folkehuset Absalon (old church turned community centre designed by the man who made the shop flying tiger Copenhagen) they have a communal dinner and activities (you have to book in advanced on their website) but they also sell lunch plates, and the food is pretty much what they serve for dinner, it’s really fresh and reasonable! Also in Vesterbro is the old meat packing district which is full of bars, cafes, restaurants, and event spaces, as well as an amazing ice cream shop called Ismageriet.

If you’re still feeling up to it, then to cycle to Nørrebro is a great idea (this would also fit well on all the other days too). Assistens Kirkegård is a beautiful Cemetery where Kierkegaard, Niels Bohr, and Hans Christian Andersen are buried. There is a promenade in the middle lined with trees, which if you walk through you will reach walk through Jægersborggade, a lovely street full of independent shops and some cafes (Meyers bakery has one of the best Cinnamon buns in my opinion). Also at the end is a nice park to just sit and take a break from all the exploring.

Other suggestions

There are so many things to do in Copenhagen, too many things to do in just a few days, but if you have more time then I would also recommend getting the train to Louisiana museum of modern art. The train journey is around 30 minutes, and it takes you to the gallery which is situated on the coast with a big sculpture garden and then inside exhibitions.

There are of course many museums and galleries all around the city, plenty to fit everyone’s preferences!