Discover Copenhagen

About Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and by far the biggest city in Denmark. Throughout the city, there’s a nautical vibe reflected in the colorful shore-side homes at the harbor. Discover the greatest architectural and cultural sights of the city with our sights suggestions.

Copenhagen is a capital ahead of its time without forgetting its past. Its unrivaled food scene, impressive architecture and design, rich royal history, and a wide array of cultural action offer something for everyone. All year round. The city is carefully planned with pedestrians, cyclists, and green spaces in mind and has received much praise for its remarkably high level of sustainable living.

It is the perfect place to ‘go local’ and, for instance, test your bike riding skills, but an extensive public transport network makes it easy to travel the city in other ways too. Regardless of your preference, rest assured that you’ve arrived in one of the safest and most liveable cities worldwide, where everything is nearby.

Where the bikes rule

Copenhagen is frequently voted one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, and its 546 km of bicycle paths, curb-separated bicycle tracks, bike bridges, cycle superhighways, and bike traffic lights are part of the daily commute for many locals.

The city’s tireless focus on bicycle-centric urban planning and on creating a safe, well-connected, and user-friendly bicycle infrastructure quickly makes most visitors understand that one of the best ways to explore the city is, in fact, by bike. Many of Copenhagen’s hotels provide free bikes for their guests, and both local bike rentals and tour guides are more than happy to assist you with getting out and about the city on two wheels.

A city surrounded by water

Whether it’s the scenic waterfront, the old canals, or inner-city lakes, water takes center stage in Copenhagen. Once a fishermen’s and merchants’ port, Copenhagen’s harbour area evolved into an industrial dock before transforming into today’s popular cultural and recreative space.

Nowadays, the harbour area is a year-round favorite spot for recreational activities such as swimming, kayaking, rowing, stand-up paddling, and fishing, and popular with locals and visitors alike. Equally popular is to walk or cycle around the entire harbour basin and via the 24(!) bike bridges connecting Copenhagen’s city districts crosswise. Alternatively, sit back and enjoy the city from the waterside on one of the many boat tours available.

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Getting Around

The best way to move around Copenhagen is on foot and by bike, especially if the weather is good. If you are tired, or if the weather is unpleasant, you can take advantage of the modern public transportation system that is among the most efficient and reliable in the world, and includes metro lines, extensive bus routes, and an easy-to-navigate train network. Taxis are plentiful but rather expensive.

Copenhagen airport is just 8km away from the city center, and you can easily catch a train, metro, or bus to the center. They come around every few minutes, and the journey takes between 13 and 35 minutes depending on which form of transportation you choose.

Copenhagen Central Station is a beautiful building located in the heart of the city, offering a reliable train system, and various services you might need while traveling – luggage storage, a post office, supermarket, places to eat, shopping center, etc. From there you could get a train, which will take you to Malmö, Sweden in just about 30 minutes through the beautiful bridge connecting the two countries.

History

A progressive city with a rich past

As Copenhagen focuses on shaping a better tomorrow, it does so with great respect for its past. The city is home to one of the world’s oldest monarchies and has a history that traces back to the Viking Ages. Simply put, history is everywhere in Copenhagen. Its cobblestone streets, palaces, and royal artifacts make for a beautiful backdrop to the modern life lived by the Copenhageners of today. Colourful old houses and historic sites intertwine with next-level contemporary architecture and design and are part of the city’s vision to incorporate sustainability on all levels.

Dive deep into Copenhagen’s DNA and history from a long list of museums and royal attractions and experience the historic cultural district of Copenhagen and beyond right here.

Highlights

Nyhavn Harbor

Created in the 1970s Nyhavn as a gateway from the sea to the inner city, it had a notorious reputation. Now it is Copenhagen's hallmark, and a popular picturesque tourist area. It has transformed into a lively space full of restaurants and shops. If you are looking for somewhere to sit back and people-watch during the summer, this is the place.

The Little Mermaid

Inspired by one of Denmark’s most famous fairytales by the city’s most famous wordsmith, Hans Christian Andersen, this statue represents the moment the mermaid gives up everything to be united with the prince she is inlove with. Created by Edvard Eriksen, the statue of the Little Mermaid is one of the most visited spots in Copenhagen.

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Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg is the only building in the world that holds all three of a country’s branches of government - the Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court of Denmark. Some parts are still used by the Royal House, visitors can enter and admire the grand halls and see one of Europe’s largest collections of copperware in the Royal Kitchen.

Town Hall Square

This is a huge plaza in the center of the city, where the Copenhagen Town Hall is situated. The building is beautiful with a mix of Italian Renaissance and medieval Danish architecture. For marvelous views, you can climb the tower; at 106 meters high, it is the tallest in the city. The square itself is a buzzling location, a meeting point, and a home to many street artists.

Tivoli Gardens

Walking from Town Hall Square you will reach the inspiration behind the Disney theme parks: the famous Tivoli amusement park and pleasure gardens established in 1843. Inside you will find yourself in a magical village with cute shops and a lake adorned by well-lit trees that are mirrored serenely in the water. This miniature theme park is famous worldwide and appears in many movies.

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National Museum of Denmark

The museum offers an all-encompassing view of the rich history of one of the leading Nordic countries. The museum is equipped with interactive activities giving an insightful view into Denmark’s past. Learn about everything from the 2,000-year-old bog woman to Viking lore. Through informative exhibitions, you’ll discover the city’s past while learning about the events that shaped the country.

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Amalienborg Castle

The four palaces facing onto the square were originally built as homes for the nobility, but were taken over by the Royal Family in 1794. The sights is named after Queen Sophie Amalie. Today, Queen Margrethe II and her family occupy the upper story of Christian IX Palace, and the Moltke Palace is used for official purposes. The soldiers of the Royal Guard are a unique symbol of the city.

The Round Tower (Rundetårn)

This is a 36-meter-high structure built as an observatory in 1642. Now it still houses a small collection related to the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. A particular treat is the platform, reached by a wide spiral ramp. The top offers magnificent panoramic views over the city. A new attraction is the glass floor hovering 25 meters above the ground where you can peer down into the castle's core.

Find out more about Copenhagen tourist information by visiting the Wonderful Copenhagen Website.

Tourist Office Website