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Copenhagen is effortlessly cool, culturally rich, and the essence of Scandinavian chic. There is a lot to love here, to investigate and discover at your own pace, but in case you require some inspiration, I’ve put together my favorite 50 unique things to do in Copenhagen. Enjoy!
One of the most liveable cities on Earth, Copenhagen – and Denmark – is driven by a deep-seated desire to be the greenest, the cleanest, and the most sustainable it can be.
Aimlessly wandering its picturesque streets is easy – once you learn to watch out for the constant barrage of cyclists. And getting lost is half the fun in Copenhagen as everything is so compact – besides, the metro or bus is never far away!
Lovers of all things elegant and divine will find themselves almost overwhelmed with the choices – from the New Age Nordic dining and Danish design galleries to the majestic royal palaces, contemporary fashion, and, of course, the famed crown jewels of Denmark.
Copenhagen has gone through a radical change in the past thirty years as it has switched from a principally industrial city to one in which urban design, quality of living, and people are considered first and foremost!
An urban living room for everyone to enjoy, you will quickly experience what a relief it is to simply be in a city that is not only full of uncountable treasures but is so easy to enjoy, being focussed on small details that make living here a delight.
You will see what I mean.
Your first instincts may suggest Copenhagen is perfect for a long weekend jaunt – and it is, but there is also so, so much more to see in this refreshing city you could plan a week-long city escape in Copenhagen and still not come close see it all. So why not just plan to stay longer upfront, or explore Copenhagen as part of a longer sojourn loop around the Baltic to include Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, and all the fabulous things to do in Riga.
Though admittedly, such an expedition would not come cheap…
One of the best cost-saving tips for those who want to see and make the most of this city is grabbing the money-saving Copenhagen Card which offers free admission to 86 attractions and museums – and free transport on trains, buses, metro and harbor busses in the wider Copenhagen region (including to and from the airport!)
If you plan on visiting even just a few museums, the Copenhagen Card will likely save you money, time, and hassle – as it did for me – and you also never need to worry about figuring out which public transport ticket you need.
There are also flexible options for 24, 48, 72, and 120-hour visits – so maybe consider if the pass will be worthwhile for you. I especially loved being able to duck into almost any museum I spotted and see if I liked it, but not feeling obligated to stay for hours because I paid the steep entrance price!
Now we have that covered, let’s dive into this one-of-a-kind city and get inspired by all of the unique things to do in Copenhagen…
50 Unique Things To Do In Copenhagen: Denmark’s Trendsetting Capital!🇩🇰
Page Contents
- 50 Unique Things To Do In Copenhagen: Denmark’s Trendsetting Capital!🇩🇰
- 1. Immerse Yourself In High-Quality Design Danish Museum of Art & Design
- 2. Unleash Your Inner Child At The Historic Tivoli Gardens
- 3. See The City In A New Light With Kayak Copenhagen
- 4. Take A Dip In The Sounds At The Kastrup Sea Baths
- 5. Uncover Copenhagen’s Best Street Food At Reffen
- 6. Give In To The Delights Of Løgismose
- 7. Unearth The Best Of Copenhagen’s Gastronomical Delights With Foods of Copenhagen
- 8. Pay Your Respect to The Kings and Queens of Denmark At Roskilde Cathedral
- 9. See, Hear And Feel Music History At RAGNAROCK
- 10. Connect With Sea Life At The National Aquarium Denmark (Den Blå Planet)
- 11. Delight In The Baking Of Lagkagehuset
- 12. Stand Out From The Crowd At Norse Store Copenhagen
- 13. Admire Centuries Of History At The Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store
- 14. Indulge Your Inner Bookworm At The Politikens Boghal Bookstore
- 15. Enjoy A Hassle-Free Stay At The Sublime Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER
- 16. Be Disappointed At Copenhagen’s Most Famous Tourist Attraction
- 17. Dine On Contemporary Nordic Cuisine In A Extraordinary Setting At Høst
- 18. Be Inspired At The Kunsthal Charlottenborg
- 19. Admire The Glamorous Copenhagen Opera House
- 20. Explore The Remarkable Danish Architecture Centre
- 21. Uncover The Contemporary Art and Culture Of The North Atlantic Countries
- 22. Get Lost In The Past At Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- 23. Take In The Panoramic View Of Copenhagen From The Round Tower
- 24. Abandon Conformity And Give Yourself To The Freetown Christiania
- 25. Give Free Rein To Your Inner Foodie At The Torvehallerne Food Market
- 26. Step Into The World of Shakespeare’s Hamlet At The Kronborg Castle
- 27. Get Close To Wildlife and Faux Nature At Jægersborg Dyrehave
- 28. Take That Picture-Perfect Photo Of Copenhagen At Iconic Nyhavn
- 29. Visit The Most Important Building In Denmark, the Christiansborg Palace
- 30. Celebrate Diversity, Inclusivity And All Things Queer At Copenhagen Pride
- 31. Expect The Unexpected At Cisternerne
- 32. Spend The Day In Artful Bliss At The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
- 33. Spend The Day Getting To Know The Ordrupgaard Museum
- 34. Mingle With Locals At The Huset-KBH Culture House Copenhagen
- 35. Max Out The Credit Card As You Shop Up A Storm In Copenhagen
- 36. Embrace Your Inner Dane And Hire A Bike To Discover Wonderful Copenhagen
- 37. Get Spiritual – Or Just Take A Break – At Frederik’s Church
- 38. Gawk At 400 Years of Royal Art And Treasure At The Rosenborg Castle
- 39. Wander One Of The Best Preserved Star Fortresses in Northern Europe, the Kastellet
- 40. Get Lost In The Gargantuan National Gallery of Denmark
- 41. Get Acquainted With Wonderful Copenhagen From The Water On A Canal Boat Tour
- 42. Relax With A Film At Cinematek
- 43. Take In The Grandness Of Grundtvigs Church
- 44. Feel At Peace In Bagsværd Church
- 46. Take It All In From Above At The Nimb Roof
- 46. Explore Neighbouring Countries On A Daytrip to Sweden (Lund & Malmö)
- 47. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth At The Art Of Baking Danish Pastry
- 48. Marvel At The Wooden Skyscraper
- 49. Enjoy The Totally Unique Open Air Museum
- 50. See Another Side Of The City On This Alternative Tour Copenhagen
1. Immerse Yourself In High-Quality Design Danish Museum of Art & Design
Danish Design, a functionalistic design and architecture style that developed out of the German Bauhaus movement, is now renown throughout the world, and what better place to get up close and personal with these iconic works of simplicity and functionalism than at the Designmuseum Danmark.
You might be familiar with the Egg chair and the PH lamps – both on display here – or even Sydney Opera House (obviously not on show here!), but Danish design is so much more than just this. Aside from the extensive permanent collection and impressive array of Danish chairs, there are also exhibitions of decorative art, crafts, and industrial design covering both the Western world and Asia – with a focus on the influence of Japanese design on modern Danish designers!
An unmissable and rather unique museum, also hosting a high-fashion cafe and beautiful shop perfect for picking up a few Danish industrial design souvenirs.
2. Unleash Your Inner Child At The Historic Tivoli Gardens
The problem with amusement parks, in general, is that they take an entire day out of your trip and are typically located in some far-flung satellite town, or even worse – require hiring a car!
Luckily these practical Danes have placed their Tivoli Gardens amusement park, a national treasure, right in the heart of everything just a few steps from City Hall and the Copenhagen Central Station.
Founded in 1843, there is something for everyone here with four thrilling roller coasters, including one of the world’s oldest wooden roller coaster, 28 other rides, and a host of cultural attractions – in addition to their summer fireworks shows Halloween Fest in October and Christmas Holidays in December.