You can easily wander around the city streets in Copenhagen on your own. Some of our best memories have come from exploring cities on foot.  Copenhagen has a lot of art installations across the city which make for nice surprises as you wander on foot.

As well, one of the best ways to get yourself acclimated, and learn a few things at the same time, is to take a guided walking tour.  Most of these tours last two hours and your guide will share quite a bit of the city’s history with you as you pass by popular attractions.  As you are walking along, you can make a mental note of what you would like to stop to explore more in-depth during your visit.

If you are limited with your time, there is one destination you must see in Copenhagen and that’s Tivoli Gardens.  While this is the oldest theme park in the world, you don’t need to go on any of the rides to find Tivoli enjoyable. The gardens and themed areas alone are worth the price of admission.

Tip: Stop for a drink on the patio at the Biergarten.  It was cold and rainy when we visited but with the friendly atmosphere, the complimentary warm blankets, and the great service, it all felt very cozy and enjoyable.

If you are looking for a way to learn more about Copenhagen, and see artifacts from the past, then the National Museum must be on your list of things to do.  You will find exhibits from thousands of years ago, including one from 1400 BC–the Trundholm Sun Chariot.

Tip: Look for the display of ancient “Brudevælte Lurs”, a set of horns found in a bog that is so well preserved that they can still be played today.   They look like something taken directly from a Dr. Seuss story.

As you are walking around the Langelinie Promenade, you are going to find the Little Mermaid Statue.  This statue is one of the most popular landmarks within the entire city and it was created back in 1913 to honor Hans Christian Andersen.  

Tip: While you can try to take a selfie with this statue, it is best if you have someone else take your picture for you. 

Since you are in Copenhagen, if you want to immerse yourself into the lives of the locals, it means riding a bike or walking wherever you want to go (though the public transit system is also a great option).   

A visit to the Botanical Garden is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. It is ten hectares of gardens right in the center of the city.  All the glasshouses were built during the 1870s, but the conservatory is the most impressive. You will have the chance to see more than thirteen thousand different plant species during your visit. 

Tip: The plants that will capture your attention the most will likely be the ones inside the Arctic House which is air-conditioned to support plant species from colder climates.

Nyhavn used to be the worst place to visit in this city, but the area has completely changed over the years.  In fact, it’s now considered a top destination to visit. We recommend grabbing a cup of coffee and walking along the canal to see the colorfully painted houses.  If you love books, you will want to pay close attention to the houses that are numbered eighteen, twenty, and sixty-seven, because Hans Christian Andersen lived in those three houses at different points during his lifetime.  

Tip: These three houses are marked with plaques so don’t worry, you won’t miss them.

Vacations and shopping go hand in hand because everyone needs a souvenir to take home with them.  You’ll find exactly what you want on Strøget, which is a pedestrian street that continues for miles.  The downside to shopping in this part of the city is everything is so expensive.  

Tip: Go all the way down to the end and wander into the Old City where you will find a few stores that have been open for generations and their prices are much more reasonable.  If their prices are also higher than your budget, window shopping is a fun pastime that costs you no money at all!

Walk up to the top of the Round Tower, the oldest functioning observatory in Europe, to get a great view of the city.  Hans Christian Anderson used to visit the library within the Round Tower for inspiration.