4 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

      Allow 3–5 hours (mid-priced). Come in the evening when the lights come on; an entry ticket alone lets you stroll, and ride passes only pay off for several rides.

   2. Late morning

      Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

      The rooftop terrace looks over Tivoli.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smørrebrød

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

   4. Afternoon

      Nyhavn

      Allow 45 minutes (free). Buy a drink from a shop and sit on the quayside like the locals instead of paying restaurant prices, and come early in the morning for photos.

   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: Canal and harbour boat tour and Rosenborg Castle

   Canal and harbour boat tour, Rosenborg Castle and Strøget, then Nørrebro in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Canal and harbour boat tour

      The low boats squeeze under some very tight bridges.

   2. Late morning

      Rosenborg Castle

      Allow 1.5 hours (mid-priced). Head to the treasury first, then picnic in the King's Garden afterwards.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Danish pastries

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

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Nørrebro

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

3. Day 3: National Museum of Denmark and SMK – National Gallery of Denmark

   National Museum of Denmark, SMK – National Gallery of Denmark and Rundetårn (Round Tower), then Indre By and the Latin Quarter in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Museum of Denmark

      Allow 2–3 hours (mid-priced). Start with the Danish prehistory galleries, then take children to the Children's Museum to dress up and climb aboard a Viking ship.

   2. Late morning

      SMK – National Gallery of Denmark

      The permanent collection is free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Danish hot dog

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

   4. Afternoon

      Rundetårn (Round Tower)

      Allow 45 minutes (low cost). Stop at the library hall halfway up for its exhibitions, and peer down through the glass floor into the tower's hollow core.

   5. Evening

      Indre By and the Latin Quarter

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

   About 35–40 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Regional train to Humlebæk, then a 10-minute walk.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

      About 35–40 minutes by train (Regional train to Humlebæk, then a 10-minute walk); about 35 km.

   2. Day

      Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

      A museum of modern and contemporary art in a seaside villa linked by glass corridors, with a sculpture park of works by Henry Moore, Alexander Calder and others running down to the Øresund and views across the water to Sweden.

   3. Evening

      Back in Copenhagen

      Dinner: try Stegt flæsk med persillesovs.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Tivoli Gardens and Rosenborg Castle before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 14–18 hours of visiting over 4 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
• 3 days in Copenhagen
• 5 days in Copenhagen
• 7 days in Copenhagen

Questions travellers ask