by Scythian / CC BY-SA 3.0   

Dynamic Copenhagen: Where Contrasting Architectural Styles Meet in a Lively Yet Relaxing Atmosphere

A. About Copenhagen

Nickname: The City of Towers

Copenhagen, with around 770,000 inhabitants, is a very dynamic city, popular with visitors for its contrasting architectural styles and its unique, lively, yet surprisingly relaxing atmosphere.

Copenhagen is recognized globally as an exemplar of best-practice urban planning.

The most picturesque area of the city is the Nyhavn, a waterside area (built in the 17th century) with excellent restaurants and enjoyable bars.

Best Things to do in Copenhagen

The Good

The capital of Denmark scores extremely high in location, safety, and cleanliness. It also possesses a large pedestrian zone.

Furthermore, the fantastic Copenhagen Card (www.copenhagencard.com) is by far the best city card we know of. Every single attraction in the whole city (and much more like a canal cruise, a guided tour, or attractions in nearby cities) is included.

Negative Aspects

Prices in Copenhagen are extremely high and there are no sights rated higher than 6/10.

 

B. Best Things to Do in Copenhagen in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than fifty sights in Copenhagen. The following sights and attractions contribute to a score of 6.8/10 in this most important category: 

# Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Founded by the brewer Carl Jacobsen in 1882, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is home to one of the world's best collections of ancient sculpture, mostly Greek and Roman, but also more modern sculptures including thirty-five by Auguste Rodin.

Additionally, the museum is renowned for its collection of paintings which includes an extensive collection of French impressionists and Post-impressionists as well as Danish Golden Age paintings, and a lovely winter garden with a café.

Art and Archaeological Museum Gallery Space: ca. 8,000 m2 / 86,000 ft2 | Galleries: 66 | Artworks on Display: ca. 10,000 | Established: 1897 | Visitors (2017): 410,160

Best Things to do in Copenhagen | Best Cities | No. 31: Copenhagen | Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (museum)

by Daderot (Daderot) / CC0 

 

# Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Operated as the royal residence from 1606 until 1710, today the wonderfully preserved and furnished Rosenborg Castle is open to the public as a museum.

Visitors are drawn in particular to the impressive Knights’ Hall with the coronation thrones and three life-size silver lions, a collection of Danish crown jewels and regalia in the basement as well as the surrounding Kings Gardens.

Castle and Museum Completed: 1624, exhibiting the Royal Collections

Best Things to do in Copenhagen | Best Cities in the World | Copenhagen | Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot, with crown jewels)

by Ikiwaner / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Nyhavn 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Nyhavn is Copenhagen’s historic harbor area, lined by in pastel-colored 17th and early 18th-century double-story townhouses, historical wooden ships, bars, and restaurants.

Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere while strolling along the picturesque canal and sit down for an evening drink or a fine dinner.

City District

Best Things to do in Copenhagen | Best Cities in the World | Copenhagen | Nyhavn (city district)

by Me / CC BY-SA 3.0

 

# National Museum (Nationalmuseet) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Housed in an 18th-century royal mansion Denmark's National Museum — one of the most important cultural and historical institutions in Scandinavia — covers 14,000 years of Danish history, from the reindeer-hunters of the Ice Age, Vikings, and works of religious art from the Middle Ages.

Among its treasures are the famous 3000-year-old Sun Chariot and the remains of the Huldremose Woman.

Archaeological Museum Gallery Space: ca. 10,000 m2 [107,639 ft2] | Galleries: 321 | Established: 1819 | Visitors (2016): 429,119

Best Cities in the World | No. 31: Copenhagen | Things to do in Copenhagen | National Museum (Nationalmuseet)

by Nationalmuseet / CC BY-SA 3.0

# National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Situated in Kastrup, a suburb of Copenhagen, Blå Planet National Aquarium Denmark is one of the most modern aquariums in the world with the second-largest viewing panel in Europe.

The spiral design by the Danish studio 3XN is an architectural highlight that consists of a shiny façade covered with small diamond-shaped aluminum plates.

Aquarium Biggest Tank: 4 million liters | Total Water Volume: 7 million liters | Tunnel: 16 m | Species: 450 | Established: 2013 | Rank in Our List of The Best Aquariums in The World: #19

Best Things to do in Copenhagen | Best Cities | No. 31: Copenhagen | National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet, Main Tank

by Daniel from Melrose / CC BY-SA 2.0

 

# Tivoli 5  2.6 out of 5 stars

Recognized as one of Europe's oldest and best amusement parks, lovely Tivoli is home to more than twenty attractions and some of the city’s best restaurants and cafés.

Highlights include a wooden roller coaster (Rutschebanen), a scenic boating lake, a Moorish-styled concert hall, spectacular light installations, open-air theaters, flower gardens, and a world-famous pantomime theater.

Amusement Park and Pleasure Garden Opened: 1843 | Number of Attractions: 25 | Number of Rollercoasters: 4 | Land Area: 8.5 hectares / 21 acres | Visitors (2016): 4,6 million

Best Things to do in Copenhagen | Best Cities | Copenhagen | Tivoli (amusement park and pleasure gardens)

by News Oresund / CC BY-SA 2.0

# Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke) 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

This remarkable church in Dutch Baroque style is known for its impressive Helix spire with gilded iron rails and a gilded statue of Christ on a globe.

It is rewarding to climb the Helix spire’s four hundred stairs of the outdoor spiral staircase to enjoy amazing views of the city.

Church | Viewpoint Total Height: 90 m / 295 ft

by Ib Rasmussen / public domain

 

# Little Mermaid Statue 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Located on a rock in the harbor of Copenhagen, this small bronze statue has become Copenhagen's most recognizable symbol. The statue was created by Edvard Eriksen in 1913.

Statue Total Height: 1.25 m | Created: 1913

Best Cities in the World | No. 31: Copenhagen | Things to do in Copenhagen | Little Mermaid Statue

by Avda-berlin / CC BY-SA 3.0

 

# Strøget 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

This charming, traffic-free shopping area in the very heart of Copenhagen contains a series of interconnected streets that are lined with numerous shops, cafés, restaurants, and boutiques. 

Pedestrianized Shopping Area Total Length: 1.1 km

Best Cities in the World | No. 31: Copenhagen | Things to do in Copenhagen | Stroget

by Øyvind Holmstad / CC BY-SA 4.0

# National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

This huge museum houses itwo excellent, connected buildings, Denmark's largest art collection spanning from the 14th century to the present day.

The most famous painting of the fine collection is "The Green Line (Portrait of Madame Matisse)" by Henri Matisse (1905).

Art Museum Gallery Space: 6.700 m2 [72,000 ft2] | Established: 1986 | Visitors (2007): 424,710

Best Things to do in Copenhagen | Best Cities | Copenhagen | National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst, National Fine Arts Museum)

by Henri Matisse

 

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

🌍 = World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Copenhagen

    • Oresund Bridge (Øresundsbroen) 5
    • Amalienborg Palace 5
    • Round Tower (Rundetaarn, Viewpoint) 5
    • Designmuseum Danmark 5
    • Kastellet (Park Area) 5
    • City Hall (Rådhus, Viewpoint) 4
    • Grundtvig (Modern Church) 4
    • Christiania Free Commune (City District) 4
    • Hirschsprung Collection (Art Gallery) 4
    • David Collection (Museum) 4
    • Christiansborg Palace (Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court) 4
    • Torvehallerne (Market) 4
    • Visit Carlsberg (Brewery) 4

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Copenhagen

ROSKILDE CATHEDRAL 5 2.5 out of 5 stars

Roskilde Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Denmark, is a magnificent example of Gothic architecture with a rich history as the final resting place of Danish monarchs, adorned with intricate sculptures and stained glass window

Cathedral 🌍 World Heritage Site: since 1995 | Distance from Copenhagen: 34 km

by CucombreLibre/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Malmö (City, 44 km from Copenhagen) 5

E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Copenhagen (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Copenhagen for at least three entire days:

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Museum) 6

 Rosenborg Castle 6

 Nyhavn (City District) 6

🌍  ROSKILDE CATHEDRAL (34 km from Copenhagen) 6

 National Museum (Nationalmuseet) 6

National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet 6

 Tivoli (Amusement Park) 5

Church of Our Saviour (with Climbable Tower) 5

Little Mermaid Statue 5

 Stroget (Pedestrian Street) 5