One day in Copenhagen

Day by day

1. Day 1: Tivoli Gardens and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

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

   1. Morning

      Tivoli Gardens

      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. Allow 3–5 hours.

   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. Allow 2 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smørrebrød

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

   4. Afternoon

      Nyhavn

      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. Allow 45 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Rosenborg Castle

      Head to the treasury first, then picnic in the King's Garden afterwards. Allow 1.5 hours.

   6. Evening

      Kødbyen (Meatpacking District)

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

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 National Museum of Denmark (Indre By): Start with the Danish prehistory galleries, then take children to the Children's Museum to dress up and climb aboard a Viking ship.
• Swap in SMK – National Gallery of Denmark (Indre By): Combine it with Rosenborg and the University Botanical Garden across the road.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–9 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Cycling. Wide, separated bike lanes cover the whole city, and bikes can be rented from hotels, rental shops and app-based schemes.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Copenhagen
• 3 days in Copenhagen
• 4 days in Copenhagen
• 5 days in Copenhagen
• 7 days in Copenhagen

Questions travellers ask