City guide · København

Copenhagen

A harbour capital of design: the coloured houses of Nyhavn, Tivoli and a city of cyclists

Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, a city built by the sea. You can walk from the colorful houses of Nyhavn to the Little Mermaid statue, then cycle through the lake district to Nørrebro for coffee, and see a mix of monarchy, design, and everyday life: between Christiansborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, and Tivoli Gardens lies one of the streets with the most bicycles in the world. The city is compact; three to four days are enough for the main sights, with a day left over for Roskilde or Malmö. Also worth visiting in the city: the Little Mermaid statue, Christiansborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle, Amalienborg Palace, Kastellet fortress, the Round Tower, Strøget pedestrian street, the National Museum of Denmark, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, the National Gallery of Denmark, Freetown Christiania, the Design Museum and Thorvaldsens Museum.

History

How the city came to be

Copenhagen grew from a fishing and trading port on the western shore of the Øresund, known in old Danish as the "merchants' harbor." Traditionally, the founding of the city is marked by Bishop Absalon's fortress on the small island of Slotsholmen in 1167, built to defend against Wendish pirates; remains of the fortress can still be seen beneath Christiansborg Palace. Copenhagen gained city status in 1254 and became the Danish capital and royal residence in the mid-15th century. During the reign of Christian IV (1588–1648), many landmarks were built, including Rosenborg Castle and the Kastellet fortress. After the great fires of 1728 and 1795, the city was rebuilt to a new plan. Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843 and is one of the oldest amusement parks still operating in the world. Since the 20th century, Copenhagen has been known for its cycling culture, harbor baths, and modern design, and in 2023 it was named World Capital of Architecture by UNESCO.

11th centuryA fishing and trading port settlement appears on the western shore of the Øresund, centered on today's old waterfront area.
1167Bishop Absalon builds a fortress on Slotsholmen island, traditionally regarded as the founding year of Copenhagen.
1254Copenhagen gains city status and related privileges.
Mid-15th centuryCopenhagen becomes the Danish capital and royal residence.
1588–1648During the reign of Christian IV, landmarks such as Rosenborg Castle and the Kastellet fortress are built.
1728, 1795After two great fires, the city is rebuilt.
1843Tivoli Gardens opens.
2000The Øresund Bridge opens, linking Copenhagen and Malmö in Sweden by bridge and tunnel.
2023Copenhagen is named World Capital of Architecture.

Stories

Stories of the city

One line that won over the king

History · Tivoli Gardens

When the former army officer Georg Carstensen asked King Christian VIII for a charter, he argued: "When the people are amusing themselves, they do not think about politics." The king granted him a five-year charter and a plot of land, and Tivoli opened on 15 August 1843.

Tivoli in wartime

History · Tivoli Gardens

In June 1944, Nazi sympathisers blew up the concert hall and other buildings in the park, and the wooden roller coaster was damaged too. The park reopened within a few weeks, and the coaster was repaired and running again the same year.

Andersen and "The Nightingale"

Legend · Tivoli Gardens

Hans Christian Andersen is said to have visited Tivoli when it opened, and the visit is said to have inspired his fairy tale "The Nightingale".

Odyssey Traveller: Tivoli Gardens

Copenhagen at a glance

Best season: Late May to early September is best for a first visit: the days are long, and around the summer solstice in June it stays light past 10 p.m.; harbor baths, canal boats, and cycling are all at their best, July is the hottest and most crowded month, and May and September are relatively quiet. December brings Christmas markets and Tivoli lights, a good fit if you enjoy a festive atmosphere; from January to February it gets dark early, the wind is strong and cold, outdoor sights keep shorter hours, and an itinerary built around museums and cafés works better.
Getting there: Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup Airport) lies about 8 km southeast of the city center; metro line M2 reaches Kongens Nytorv station in about 13 minutes and runs all day, and regional trains reach Central Station in about 13–15 minutes. From elsewhere in Europe you can also arrive by train from Malmö in Sweden across the Øresund Bridge, or by ferry from Norway or Germany. You do not need a rental car in the city.
Getting around: The city center is compact, and most sights are within walking distance; the metro, S-tog (suburban trains), and buses share one fare system, and you can buy tickets at stations or in the DOT app, with fares as officially published. Cycling is the best way to experience local life: the whole city has dedicated cycle lanes, the terrain is flat, rental points are found all over the city, and when cycling you should follow cycle-lane rules and switch your lights on at night. In summer, harbor buses also work as sightseeing boats, while in winter services are reduced, so please check real-time information on Rejseplanen before you travel. Day trips from Copenhagen: Roskilde (the Viking Ship Museum and Roskilde Cathedral), Helsingør (Kronborg Castle, the setting of the Hamlet story), the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (on the Humlebæk waterfront), Malmö (by train across the Øresund Bridge, a seaside city on the Swedish side).
Where to stay: For a first visit, staying within the walkable city center is recommended: the areas around Kongens Nytorv and Central Station are convenient for all sights and make the trip back to your hotel at night easy; if you prefer a local atmosphere, Nørrebro or Vesterbro offer many cafés and small shops, with prices slightly lower than the city center. Accommodation and dining in Copenhagen are on the higher side for Europe, and apartments with kitchens and youth hostels are ways to control your budget; during summer and major events, please book in advance.
Country notes: Money, tipping and red lines in Denmark →

Open in Google Maps

Must see

Places you shouldn’t miss

Theme parkCopenhagen, Denmark

Tivoli Gardens

Opened in 1843 next to Copenhagen Central Station, Tivoli is the world's second-oldest amusement park still in operation; its 1914 wooden roller…

Trips beyond the city

These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.

Classic landmarkHelsingør, Denmark

Kronborg Castle

A Renaissance castle guarding the narrowest point of the Øresund, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000; the Great Hall, the chape…

Regional deep dives

Read deeper into each place

The Nordics · Harbour district / city character

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Rows of coloured gables along a hand-dug 17th-century canal; Hans Christian Andersen lived at Nos. 18, 20 and 67 — every beer at Nyhavn is drunk beneath the windows of the fairy-tale writer.

Explore the local guide ↗

Source leads: Copenhagen city tourism (Visit Copenhagen, official); historical materials on Nyhavn.

Image source · OleNeitzel · CC BY 4.0

Source leads are being checked individually; confirm travel details with local official notices.

Sources