3 Days in Copenhagen – The Ultimate Copenhagen Itinerary

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Europe. Royal castles, canals, traditional houses, and green spaces make Copenhagen the perfect place to spend a long weekend. So, I put together the ultimate 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary. If you have a couple of extra days, you’ll also find some bonuses at the end of this post.

Let’s work up our itinerary day by day!

About Copenhagen

The city of Copenhagen has the reputation of a green city and with good reason. My first impressions about Copenhagen were that it’s a very well organized city with efficient public transportation and extra care for the environment.

The most popular attractions of the Danish capital are in the city center or within walking distance to central Copenhagen. However, if you have some extra time, you can use that efficient public transit and see more than the inner city or take some day trips.

How much time do I need in Copenhagen? Are 3 days in Copenhagen enough?

3 days in Copenhagen is the minimum time to get a feel of the place and visit some of its main attractions. Truth be told, an extra couple of days can be easily filled with some of the ideas in the Bonus section below.

When to visit Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a beautiful city in any season. However, the best time to visit is during the summer months when you can make the most of your time. Keep in mind that Denmark’s capital is a northern destination. You need a jacket and an umbrella in any season, but the weather is pleasant in summer, and the rain sessions are usually short.

3 Days in Copenhagen Itinerary

I organized this itinerary to include the top things to do in Copenhagen in a short amount of time, keeping in mind their locations and distances. But, before we get to that, the first thing is to bet you into the city. Assuming you will first arrive at Copenhagen airport, the best ways to get to the city centre are by metro or train. The metro, as well as the train station, are inside Terminal 3. The train will get you to Copenhagen Central Station. Depending on where you are staying, the metro might be a better choice. From the airport, head to Kongens Nytorv station in the city center. Here, you can change to metro line M3, a circle that will get you where you need to be. Next, we can start out perfect 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary.

Copenhagen 3 Days Itinerary

Let’s start our 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary. If you only have a long weekend in Copenhagen, where should you go first?

Here are my suggestions for your 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary.

Day 1 in Copenhagen

I’m going to treat the first day in Copenhagen as a one-day Copenhagen itinerary. These are the places you shouldn’t miss if you have a single day in the city.

Radhuspladsen

Start your itinerary in one of the most iconic squares in Copenhagen, Radhuspladsen. The City Hall Square is at the center of Copenhagen. It’s one of the tallest buildings in Copenhagen, and it was inspired by an Italian city hall, the one in Sienna.

You can get to Radhuspladsen metro station suiling lines M3 or M4. The building is open for visitors. If you want to climb the 105.6 meter-high tower, you need to join a guided tour. They are scheduled Monday to Friday at 1 PM and Saturdays at 10 AM. A ticket costs 60 DKK.

There are more towers to climb in Copenhagen. So, unless it’s a Saturday, don’t revolve your whole day around this one.

Christiansborg Palace

Instead, head to Christiansborg Palace, a short walk away from Radhushaven. If you’re traveling by metro, look for Gammel Strand station.

Christiansborg Palace is one of the symbols of Copenhagen. It is the home of the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of State. Parts of the building are also open for tourists, allowing you to take a close look into royal life.

You can visit the Royal Reception Rooms with the impressive Great Hall, the ruins of the first castle, the royal stables, and the royal kitchen. A combined ticket is 160 DKK. You can read more about visiting Christiansborg Palace if you click on the link.

The Tower at Christiansborg is also open for visiting. It’s the highest tower in Denmark’s capital at 106 meters. Moreover, the tower is free to visit. You can only take the elevator to the top level, and there is often a queue as there isn’t much space up there. The views from the top are amazing: you can see a lot of Copenhagen’s tiled roofs and beautiful buildings. You can also stop for lunch or a coffee at the Tower restaurant.

Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM. On Sundays, Chistiansborg Tower is open from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Top tip: If you plan to visit a few Copenhagen attractions and move around using public transport, I recommend buying a Copenhagen Card. It includes free public transport, including to the airport. It also includes access to about 80 attractions at no extra cost.

Cruise on Copenhagen’s Canals

A great way to discover Copenhagen is on a boat ride through its canals. Boats depart in front of Christiansborg Palace at Ved Stranden or from Nyhavn. A cruise takes 1 hour, and a ticket is 99 DKK.

You can rest and, at the same time, admire some of Copenhagen’s most noteworthy landmarks. You will see the famous Little Mermaid statue, the Royal Opera House, and many of Copenhagen’s old and new bridges. Before getting back, the boat will take through Christianshavn, one of Copenhagen’s most colorful and picturesque areas.

A walk

After the canals cruise, it’s time for a walk through Copenhagen’s central area. Head to Storget, the pedestrianized main shopping street, and take a moment to admire the Storks Fountain. Take a short detour and pass through Grabrodretorv, a charming square lined with traditional colorful houses. It’s one of the hidden gems of Copenhagen. The area is also full of restaurants, so you might want to stop here for lunch or dinner on your first day in Copenhagen.

The Round Tower

The final stop on this first day in Copenhagen is The Round Tower (Rundetaarn). This is a special tower, and its main feature is the spiral ramp to the roof. You can read all about visiting the Round Tower in Copenhagen in my post about it. It’s well worth visiting. The inside is unique inside, and there are great views from the roof platform. The tower was initially built as a University Observatory. You will find the oldest functioning observatory in Europe at the top.

Fun fact: The round tower is wide enough to drive up in a car and tall enough for a man to ride on his horse to the top of the spiral ramp.

1st day in Copenhagen tip

If you want to get your bearings, you can start your time in Copenhagen with a free walking tour. It will introduce you to the city and give you a few hints about the best places to visit in Copenhagen.

Day 2 in Copenhagen

For the second day, I prepared both famous places but also some hidden gems of Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid

The itinerary on the second day starts with the Little Mermaid statue. It’s the most famous symbol of Copenhagen, and it was inspired by one of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales. Truth be told, the statue is small and a little disappointing, but if you come here in the morning, you can take your photo with it without the crowds.

The closest metro station is Osterport (M3 and M4 lines).

Kastellet

Kastellet is a star-shaped citadel surviving from the early 17th century. The citadel still has functioning military barracks, but it is open for the public to visit. The fortifications are on an island, surrounded by canals. It’s a good place for a walk, to see the traditional windmill and enjoy nature around it.

There are a few other things to see around Kastellet too. St.Alban’s Anglican Church, the beautiful Gefion Fountain, and the ZinkGlobal sculpture.

Take a moment to look at ZinkGlobal: The Key to the Future statue. The work of Kim Michael talks about finding alternative solutions and adapting to a new world.

Amalienborg Palace

Another day, another palace in this royal capital. Amalienborg has been the home of the Danish Royal Family since 1794. There are four identical buildings in Amalienborg Slotsplads. The square’s main attraction is the ceremonial changing of the guard that takes place at noon every day.

The royal palace, also known as Christian IX’s Palace isn’t open for visitors. However, another building, Christian VIII’s Palace hosts the Amalienborg Museum. This royal museum will introduce you to the public and also to the private lives of Danish queens and kings.

Frederik’s Church

Also known as the Marble Church, Frederik’s Church is a short walk away from Amalienborg Castle. The Lutheran Church has the largest Dome in Scandinavia and creates a peaceful, elegant space. Take a few moments to rest and recollect in this beautiful church.

The Design Museum

The famous Danish Design Museum is closed at the moment (March 2022). However, if open, the museum will take you on a journey through the fascinating world of Danish Design. It’s a 5-minutes walk from Frederik’s Church.

Nyhavn

Passing through Nyhavn, you’ll find the place you’ve seen in any magazine featuring Copenhagen. Nyhavn means The New Port and is one of the most picturesque places in this beautiful city. The colorful houses from the 17th century make the Nyhavn waterfront one of the most popular places in Copenhagen. A walk through Nyhavn is a must whether you have 3 days in Copenhagen or less.

The promenade is full of inviting cafes and restaurants. Any excuse is good to spend more time in Nyhavn, so stop for a coffee, lunch, or a local beer and take in the atmosphere.

Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens is ranked as the number one attraction in Copenhagen. It’s an amusement park with rides for every age, but it offers more than that. It also has peaceful gardens, live music, and many restaurants and shops. It’s a small town that seems to have come out of a fairy tale. Or maybe Tivoli Gardens is the inspiration for some of the world’s best tales. Hans Christian Andersen used to come here. Walt Disney visited the park as well. Anyway, you look at it, you are bound to have a good time at Tivoli Gardens, whether you’re a rides addict or not.

Tivoli is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. At the same time, it’s the second oldest amusement park in Denmark, but always up to date. Tivoli doesn’t get old, but instead, it reinvents and flourishes with every new season.

The gardens are usually open from April to the end of September. There are two more seasons when Tivoli Gardens open throughout the years, Halloween and Christmas.

During the season, the gardens are open every day from 11 AM to 10 PM. On Fridays and Saturdays, the closing time is at midnight.
Entrance for an adult costs 135 DKK on weekdays and 145 DKK on weekends. However, entrance is included in the Copenhagen card if you have it. The rides are paid separately, or you can buy different rides packages as well.

2nd day Copenhagen itinerary tip

End your day with a cold beer in one of the Mikkeller bars in town.
Mikkeller is the story of two childhood friends. They started a beer club, experimenting with yeast and hops in their kitchen. Today, you can find Mikkeller beer in many places in Copenhagen, but also Mikkeller-operated bars in various cities throughout Europe. If you like a craft beer as I do, don’t miss the chance to try one in Copenhagen.

Day 3 in Copenhagen

The last day of the Copenhagen Itinerary isn’t any less busy. There are still a lot of things you need to visit. By this time, I’m sure you are half in love with the city, and you want to explore as much as possible. The first part of the day will give you a different perspective on the city.

Cristianshavn

The first stop of our 3rd-day itinerary is Cristianshavn. Take the subway (lines M1 or M2) to the Christianshavn stop. You will get directly to the bohemian neighborhood called Christianshavn. Colorful houses line the canals where many boats are transformed into permanent residences.
Take a walk and enjoy the unique atmosphere of Christianshavn.

The Church of Our Saviour

Next stop: the Church of our Saviour. Another church? Yes, bear with me.

This 18-century Baroque church has one unique feature. You can climb the 400 steps to the 90-meters high top level. The special part is the external spiral set of stairs surrounding the spire. You will climb the last 150 steps on this spiral and be rewarded with some of the best views of Copenhagen.

The church is open every day from 9 AM to 8 PM, and the entrance fee is 65 DKK (or free entry with Copenhagen Card).

Freetown Christiania

About 200 meters away from the church, you can enter Freetown Christiania. Christiania was occupied by scatterers in the 1970s and declared a free town since. That means that they consider themselves an independent society, not ruled by the Danish government but by their own rules. It’s an interesting concept, and you can read more about Freetown Christiania if you click on the link.

Broens Gadekokken

After exploring Christiania, I suggest heading to Broens Gadekokken for lunch. Broens Gadekokken is an open-air food court on one of Copenhagen’s islands. It’s a good place to rest for a little bit and have a good lunch from one of the food stalls. Choose between Danish, Italian, Mexican food, whatever inspires you. A good craft beer or a glass of sparkling wine will wash everything down.

It’s also the ideal place to spend some time people-watching as the venue is quite popular on a sunny day. Keep in mind, it’s usually closed during the winter months.

Rosenborg Castle

For the rest of day, I suggest visiting one more castle, Rosenborg.

Rosenborg Castle closes early, at 4 PM or 5 PM depending on the season. From October to April it is also closed on Mondays. An adult ticket costs 145 DKK. There is also a combined ticket for Rosenborg and Amalienborg, which costs 200 DKK. Tickets must be booked online with a time slot, including for those using a Copenhagen Card to enter. If you manage to see the castle on the inside as well, you will see some of the kings’ private quarters, impressive rooms, and the Danish crown jewels. It takes about an hour to tour the castle.

Even if you don’t have time to visit the castle, you should still take a stroll around its beautiful gardens a.k.a. The Kings Park (Kongens Have). From the gardens, Rosenborg Castle seems part of a fairy tale. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Copenhagen, though the capital isn’t short of them.

The Botanical Gardens

Just across the street from Rosenborg Castle, you can visit the Botanical Gardens. The visit to the Botanical Gardens is free, except for the Palm House inside. An adult ticket for the Palm House costs 60 DKK and it includes the visit to the Butterfly House.

The gardens are open every day from 8:30 AM. From April to September, they close at 4 PM, and during the summer they are open until 6 PM.

You can also combine a visit to the botanical gardens with a visit to the Natural History Museum of Denmark and the Zoological Museum. A combined ticket for the two museums and the Palm House costs 105 DKK.

Bonus to the 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary

If you think you’ve seen everything in 3 packed days in Copenhagen, guess again. There’s a lot more to discover in Denmark’s capital and the surrounding area. Read on for a few more ideas of things to see in and around Copenhagen. Add them to your itinerary as you please.

A bike tour

One of the most Danish things to do in Copenhagen is cycling. You can easily rent a bike and make good use of the bike lines everywhere. Alternatively, you can join a bike tour and discover Copenhagen on two wheels.

Day trip to Malmo, Sweden

If you have that extra day in Copenhagen, why not take advantage of its excellent train network and visit charming Malmo in Sweden? Malmo is just a short train ride away from Denmark’s Capital. You can get on the train to Malmo either at Copenhagen Central Station or at Copenhagen Airport. The ride from Copenhagen to Malmo across the famous Ostende Bridge takes about 40 minutes.

You can tour the best things to do in Malmo in less than a full day. Bring your passport with you and some comfortable shoes. Malmo is small and very walkable, and I’m sure you will enjoy your time on your trip to Sweden.

Day trip to Elsinore

From Copenhagen Central Station, you can reach Helsingør (aka Elsinore by its English name) by train, in about 45 minutes. The main attraction here is the castle, but you’ll find more things to do in Elsinore.

Kronborg Castle is a Unesco World Heritage Site, one of the seven sites in Denmark, along with Roskilde Cathedral or Christiansfeld. Kronborg Castle in Helsingør was made famous by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, most of all. We don’t know if William Shakespeare ever visited Kronborg Castle, but he will be forever tied to it.

The entrance is 125 DKK, or free with the Copenhagen Card. Check the opening hours here.

The Maritime Museum of Denmark also has its home in Elsinore. We are talking about a country where no place is too far from the sea surrounding it. Seafaring is part of the Danish blood, and they’ve been good at it for centuries. The Maritime Museum is interactive and fun for the whole family. It’s a fairly new museum. It only opened in 2013, but it already won many architecture awards in recent years. I’ll let you find out why. An adult ticket costs 125 DKK (or included in the Copenhagen Card). Check the opening hours here.

Oresund Aquarium

Another attraction included in that Copenhagen Card, and one I’m sorry I missed. I love visiting aquariums around the world. It’s a great family activity. Even if you’re a solo traveler, spending some time in this peaceful environment is still a great way to recharge.

Oresund Aquarium is open from 10 AM to 4 PM on weekdays and an extra hour on weekends. The entrance fee is 79 DKK for an adult.

There’s also an option to visit Sweden if you extend your trip and take the ferry from Helsingør to its Swedish twin town: Helsingborg.

Shopping in Copengahen

You probably didn’t know that, but Copenhagen is an excellent shopping destination. Fashion and interior design are at their best in Copenhagen. If you love your shopping, make sure to include these two streets in your itinerary: Købmagergade and Pilestræde.

Also, did you know that the Louis Vuitton shop in Copenhagen is the cheapest in the world? I was wondering why there is always a queue in front of the store.

Museums in Copenhagen

If you only have 3 days in Copenhagen, it will be impossible to visit all the museums, castles and gardens. I only included a couple of museums in the 3 days itinerary, but there are several museums worth visiting in Copenhagen. You can visit the ones you are most interested in, and build your perfect itinerary in Copenhagen.

The National Museum of Denmark

If you’re passionate about history, this is the place for you. It’s a museum of cultural history where you can see exhibits ranging from Danish prehistory or Vikings heritage to the story of the Danish colonies. Apart from the various exhibits, a great addition is the Children’s Museum. The little ones can experience here different periods in time, and various cultures.

The entrance fee for the National Museum is 110 DKK or free with the Copenhagen Card. Check the opening days for each season on the museum’s website. 

The National Gallery of Denmark

SMK or the National Gallery is the largest art gallery in Denmark. It features Danish art, as well as European works. Among them, there is an impressive Matisse collection.

In addition to the art displays, they also organize art talks, workshops, or art-related events at SMK.

The National Gallery is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM. An adult ticket costs 120 DKK (if you don’t have a Copenhagen Card).

NY Carlsberg Glyptotek

The art gallery was founded by master brewer Carl Jacobsen at the end of the 19th century. It displays both ancient and modern art. The collections of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman art will take you back in time to the respective ancient civilizations. On the other side, they display modern Danish art as well as French masterpieces. They also have special temporary exhibitions, so it’s best to check the NY Carlsberg Glyptotek website for the current exhibits.

One extra reason to visit is the beautiful Winter Garden where you can relax with a coffee.

The gallery is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. A ticket costs 115 DKK if you don’t have a Copenhagen Card which includes entrance to Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. It’s also worth mentioning that entrance is free every Tuesday, so if you have a couple of hours on a Tuesday in Copenhagen, it’s a good idea to check out this gallery.

Amager Beach

I know you don’t see Copenhagen as a beach destination. However, if you have a few more hours, take the M2 metro to Amager Strand. It’s an 8 minutes ride from Kongens Nytorv in central Copenhagen.

Amager Beach Park on Amager island is the place to be on a summer day. Even if the sea is too cold for you, you can still kayak or paddle or just lay on the sand and relax.

Kayaking

Speaking of kayaking, one of the best ways to see Copenhagen is paddling on its canals. If you catch a warm and not very windy day, an hour spent paddling is a great addition to your 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary.

One of the projects that fit perfectly with Copenhagen’s philosophy is Green Kayak. Basically, you can rent a kayak for free, as long as you collect waste. That’s one of the ways locals keep their city and harbor clean.

Carlsberg Tour

When I visited Copenhagen, Carlsberg Visitor Center was under renovations. However, you should check their website and book a tour if it’s available during your trip. After visiting Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, I’d say a beer tour is always a good idea.

Frederiksberg

Frederiksberg is a municipality surrounded by the rest of Copenhagen city, sort of an enclave. It’s a green area, with Frederiksberg Gardens and Søndermarken park to account for that. Another attraction of this area is Copenhagen Zoo, one of the most beloved places to visit by families.

The admission fee is 195 DKK and, you already guessed, it’s free if you have that Copenhagen Card. Check the opening hours here.

Another interesting place to visit is the Cisterns in Søndermarken. The former water reservoirs are now functioning as an exhibitions place. Check the current exhibits, and dress warmly before visiting because the space is cold even during the summer.

Your 3 days Copenhagen itinerary

That’s about it! You have the Copenhagen itinerary all lined up, you just need to choose the things you’re most interested in for your amount of time in Denmark’s capital. Next step: book your flights and accommodation, and you’re ready to go.

Have a great time exploring Copenhagen in 3 days or more, and tell me all about it in the comments below!

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