3 days in Copenhagen

Day by day

1. Day 1: Tivoli Gardens and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

   Tivoli Gardens, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and Nyhavn, then Kødbyen (Meatpacking District) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tivoli Gardens

      Opened in 1843 opposite what is now Central Station, Tivoli is one of the world's oldest amusement parks: a garden of lakes, pavilions and thousands of coloured lights with a wooden roller coaster dating from 1914.

   2. Late morning

      Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

      Pair it with Tivoli across the road on a rainy day; the Winter Garden café is a calm place to warm up.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smørrebrød

      Traditional lunch restaurants in Indre By and Nyhavn, and modern counters at Torvehallerne.

   4. Afternoon

      Nyhavn

      Dug in the 1670s to bring ships into the city, Nyhavn's canal is lined with 17th- and 18th-century townhouses painted red, yellow and blue, with wooden sailing ships moored along the quay.

   5. Evening

      Kødbyen (Meatpacking District)

      Bars, clubs and restaurants in white-tiled former slaughterhouses in Vesterbro, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights.

2. Day 2: Rosenborg Castle and Strøget

   Rosenborg Castle, Strøget and National Museum of Denmark, then Nørrebro in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Rosenborg Castle

      Head to the treasury first, then picnic in the King's Garden afterwards.

   2. Late morning

      Strøget

      One of Europe's longest pedestrian shopping streets runs about 1.1 km from City Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv, past department stores, Danish design flagships and the squares of Gammeltorv and Amagertorv.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Danish pastries

      Bakeries across the city, many with queues out of the door on weekend mornings.

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of Denmark

      Start with the Danish prehistory galleries, then take children to the Children's Museum to dress up and climb aboard a Viking ship.

   5. Evening

      Nørrebro

      Natural-wine bars, cocktail bars and cafés around Jægersborggade, Elmegade and Ravnsborggade.

3. Day 3: Amalienborg and Designmuseum Danmark

   Amalienborg, Designmuseum Danmark and The Little Mermaid, then Indre By and the Latin Quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Amalienborg

      Four matching rococo palaces around an octagonal square form the Copenhagen home of the Danish royal family, with a museum of royal apartments in one wing.

   2. Late morning

      Designmuseum Danmark

      Spend time in the chair galleries and the garden courtyard, and browse the museum shop for design souvenirs.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Danish hot dog

      Sausage wagons on Strøget, City Hall Square and near stations.

   4. Afternoon

      The Little Mermaid

      Edvard Eriksen's small bronze of Hans Christian Andersen's mermaid has sat on a rock at Langelinie since 1913.

   5. Evening

      Indre By and the Latin Quarter

      Cocktail bars, student pubs and jazz venues in the lanes of the old city.

Before you go

• Tivoli Gardens: Check season dates before you travel; Tivoli closes between its summer, Halloween and Christmas seasons.
• Rosenborg Castle: Timed tickets are recommended in summer, when the small rooms fill quickly.

If it rains

• Swap in Christiansborg Palace (Slotsholmen): Go up the free tower first (expect a security check), then choose which paid sections to visit.
• Swap in SMK – National Gallery of Denmark (Indre By): Combine it with Rosenborg and the University Botanical Garden across the road.
• Swap in Torvehallerne (Nørreport): Go before noon on a weekday to avoid the Saturday crowds, and try a smørrebrød from one of the open-sandwich counters.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Indre By keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Nyhavn and Frederiksstaden ($$$$) suits first-timers, couples and luxury. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.1 hours in December to 17.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Copenhagen
• 2 days in Copenhagen
• 4 days in Copenhagen
• 5 days in Copenhagen
• 7 days in Copenhagen

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