Outdoors · Copenhagen · Denmark
5 best outdoor things to do in Copenhagen
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jiří Komárek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with The Little Mermaid, Freetown Christiania and Islands Brygge Harbour Bath. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 8–10 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 8–10 hours
- Areas
- Langelinie, Christianshavn and Islands Brygge
Outdoors in Copenhagen
Landmark · Langelinie
1.The Little Mermaid
Walk the grassy ramparts of Kastellet on the way, and come early in the morning before the tour coaches arrive.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Christianshavn
2.Freetown Christiania
Walk the paths along the ramparts and the lake to see the most inventive homes, and follow the residents' signs.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- History
Waterfront · Islands Brygge
3.Islands Brygge Harbour Bath
Come on a warm weekday evening when locals arrive after work; lifeguards are on duty only during the summer season.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
Historic site · Nørrebro
4.Assistens Cemetery
Pick up a map at the entrance to find the famous graves, and keep your voice down near recent burials.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Zoo · Frederiksberg
5.Copenhagen Zoo
Combine it with Frederiksberg Gardens next door, where you can glimpse the elephants over the fence for free.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Langelinie | The Little Mermaid | 30 minutes |
| Christianshavn | Freetown Christiania | 1–2 hours |
| Islands Brygge | Islands Brygge Harbour Bath | 2 hours |
| Nørrebro | Assistens Cemetery | 1 hour |
| Frederiksberg | Copenhagen Zoo | 3–4 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 free, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Copenhagen Zoo; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Langelinie, Christianshavn and Islands Brygge): The Little Mermaid → Freetown Christiania → Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Nørrebro and Frederiksberg): Assistens Cemetery → Copenhagen Zoo, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- July: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 9 rainy days, very busy crowds. The warmest and busiest month, with many Danes on holiday; swimming in the harbour and at the beaches is at its best.
- June: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. The lightest month, with daylight past 10pm; harbour baths open and bonfires mark midsummer.
- August: highs of 21°C (70°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. Still summery with the warmest sea of the year; festivals fill the calendar before autumn.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Christianshavn — Canals, houseboats and a spiral church spire across the harbour
- Nørrebro — Diverse streets, Jægersborggade's workshops and Assistens Cemetery
- Østerbro — Elegant apartment streets, Fælledparken and a city beach
- Frederiksberg — A leafy separate municipality with gardens, a palace and the zoo
- Islands Brygge — Harbour-front lawns, a free harbour bath and modern apartments on Amager
More of Copenhagen
All things to do in Copenhagen · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Copenhagen?
The Little Mermaid. Edvard Eriksen's small bronze of Hans Christian Andersen's mermaid has sat on a rock at Langelinie since 1913.
+Which of these are free in Copenhagen?
The Little Mermaid, Freetown Christiania, Islands Brygge Harbour Bath and Assistens Cemetery.