Copenhagen, DE Travel Guide

Embarking on my European adventures, I’ve traveled busy city streets and beach getaways, but the draw of Scandinavia remained an uncharted territory until Copenhagen, Denmark, welcomed me with open arms… and I was surely captivated! While it may have cost me a heftier price tag compared to some of Europe’s southern cities, Copenhagen unveils an abundance of culinary delights, unique attractions, and jaw-dropping views. This city is filled with locals relishing each season’s offerings and spirited inhabitants of the iconic Christiania commune. Join me as we unravel the enchantments that have firmly etched Copenhagen into my list of must-visit European gems.

Number of Days to Stay: 3-4 Days

Expenses: $$-$$$$

Best Time to Travel: Although the winters are filled with locals and have less crowds, the best time to visit is the Spring through the Fall. There are a couple of popular attractions that are closed in the winter and the weather isn’t that great to visit. I plan to visit Copenhagen again during the warmer months to get the full experience and liveliness of the city!

Where To Stay
Where To Eat
Activities
Museums
Nightlife
Transportation

Where to Stay:

Indre By (City Center) – If this is your first time traveling to Copenhagen, then it is best to stay in the city center to cover as much as you can during your trip! It is also the easiest way to get to different parts of the city via transportation.

Hotels:

Good Morning City Copenhagen Star Hotel – This hotel was perfect for a few-night stay in Copenhagen as it was in a prime location and the staff were very friendly and helpful! The hotel can fit guests from three to four people in a room and fit the three of us comfortably. It is also pet-friendly! There is a garden that is open in the warmer months and a lounge area if you would like to do some work or chill. We stayed there for four days (which ended up being three due to our flight being canceled), and they were able to accommodate us to not lose money for the first night we were not able to stay. Overall, this is a great and affordable hotel to stay in Copenhagen.

Manon Les Suites – One of the most whimsical hotels I have ever been to. Once you step foot into this hotel, you feel like you are not in Copenhagen and have walked straight into Bali. Manon Les Suites is part of the Guldsmeden Hotels, which are luxury, eco-friendly hotels and are located in five cities around the world. The adults-only hotel gives you access to the famous Jungle Fish indoor pool, gym, rooftop, and saunas. The hotel is on the expensive side, so the three of us decided to treat ourselves to a nice, relaxing day at the hotel as part of our vacation. If you are looking for a unique experience and a once-in-a-lifetime stay, definitely try to stay at Manon Les Suites for at least one night! Detailed information on Manon Les Suites in our blog post.

Vesterbro – Looking to stay where it is easily accessible to the party? Vesterbro is the right neighborhood to easily stumble home in the early hours of the morning. Vesterbro is right outside Indre By, making it accessible to the city center and cheaper to stay in. Although there is the most nightlife in this part of the city, it is also quiet enough to stay in and avoid the crowds.

Copenhagen Waterfront – Finding an accommodation in this area is ideal for the summer time, as you will get the most beautiful view of Copenhagen’s water. Although it may be a bit expensive, you have the ability to walk along the coast to museums, across the water to popular neighborhoods, and still be close to the city center! Don’t forget you can also take a dip in the water and channel your inner Little Mermaid.

Christianshavn – The hippie part of the city, where every corner you can find a local café and canals filled with houseboats. This neighborhood is filled with many “islands” to choose an accommodation from, is close to Freetown Christiania, and right across the water from all the museums and the famous library. There aren’t a lot of hotels as the area is home to locals, but there are great Airbnb and rental options!

Where to Eat:

Calling all foodies! If you are looking for a destination where you can eat some of the best food you have ever tasted, this city is for you! Copenhagen is known for having some of the most highly rated restaurants in the world and is home to many talented chefs. It also has the most Michelin Star-rated restaurants in the world, so no matter where you turn, you are going to have some amazing food. Below are the top-rated Michaelian Star restaurants as well as other establishments that won’t break your bank account and are just as good!

Skipperkroen ($$) – This was our favorite restaurant on our entire trip! We stumbled upon it while walking around Nyhavn and built up an appetite. From the appetizers to the main meal, every dish we ate ended up empty, as we couldn’t get enough. I had the Smørrebrød and it did not disappoint!

La Bachina ($$)– A walk-in only restaurant with saunas (yes, you read that right) situated right on the water with an amazing view. Although you cannot make a reservation for a table, you can make a reservation for the saunas! There are tables inside to sit at, but the popular option customers take is to sit outside once you have ordered food from the bar due to limited seating. When your order is ready, a server will bring it out to where you decided to have your meal.

Fabro ($) – This is a great lunch and dinner spot for anyone who wants a little taste of Rome in Copenhagen. The restaurant is decorated with notations of Rome, and the food (especially the spaghetti) makes you feel like you’re right in Italy! The establishment is small and takes walk-ins only, so make sure to come at a slow hour and on an empty stomach! Vegan Options!

Tight Restaurant ($$) – When walking into this restaurant, there is a bar where you will find locals situated at, and up the stairs into the main room is a charmingly decorated dining area that makes you feel at home. From the mouthwatering Hake dinner to the sweet, delicious ganache cake, the food makes you never want to leave.

H15 ($$) – This restaurant takes brunch to a whole new level, and if you aren’t looking for lunch, you can casual-dine here as well!

Cantina Italian Bistro ($$) – Because we couldn’t get reservations at Lol, we opted for the second-best-rated Italian restaurant in Copenhagen and it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant and the giant olive tree replica with hanging lights. The food was delightful, as were the espresso martinis! I would highly recommend making dinner plans here.

Luca Pizzeria ($$) – When we needed a late-night snack after our plane ride to Denmark, we stumbled upon this small pizzeria near the riverbend. Between the pizza, quick bites, and salads, it was a great meal to fill us up, and the pizza was really delicious (still not as good as NY pizza though!)

Coffee Fellaz ($) – Located around the corner from Goodmorning Star Copenhagen hotel, we came across this establishment in search of some breakfast and found a winner! From the avocado toast, pancakes, and coffee, we couldn’t get enough of the menu items! Not to forget, the cozy atmosphere and kind locals and staff who also ate at the coffee shop. This is a great spot to feel like a local and leave a little mark of yourself behind before you leave.

Resturant Barr ($$$)
SALT ($$$)
Barabba ($$)
Jordnær ($$$$)
Gasoline Grill ($$) – Located ten minutes from Good Morning Star, it was a cute U.S.-themed restaurant called Gasoline Grill. We were starving after our flight and wanted to find the first place to grab a bite. The burger and vegan burger were delicious, as well as the big beer!

Michelin Star:

Restaurant Lola ($$) – Rated as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city! Unfortunately, we could not eat here as all reservations were full or open at very late hours.
Alchemist ($$$$, 2 Michelin Stars) – If you search on TikTok, this is a highly recommended restaurant by tourists!
Selma ($$) – Rated to have the best Smørrebrød in the city!
Vækst ($$)
Geranium ($$$$, Michelin Stars)
Kadeu (2 Michelin Stars)
Jatak ($$$$, 1 Michelin Star)
Restaurant AOC ($$$$, 2 Michelin Stars)
Sanchez Cantina ($$$)
Kødbyens Fiskebar ($$$)

Vegetarian/Vegan Recommendations:

Atlas Bar Food ($$)
La Banchina
Bistro Verde ($$)
Vital Foods ($)
Beyla ($$-$$$)
V’italian Restaurant ($$)
One Bowl ($)
Hope Bar ($)
Souls Torvehallerne ($$$)
Acacia Restaurant ($$)
42Raw ($$)
BaneGaarden Resturant ($$)
Social Café ($$)

Michelin Star Vegan/Vegetarian:

Ark ($$$) – The most popular green Michelin Star restaurant
Bistro Lupa ($$$)
VeVe ($$$)

You can find all Michelin Star restaurants in Copenhagen here

What to Do:

Activities

Nyhavn – The most popular and picturesque spot in the whole city! Lined with numerous restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, while on the water. Nyhavn is the nautical part of the city with colorful buildings and some of the best seafood spots to grab a bite to eat near the water. Whether you are sitting seaside or taking in the view from inside the establishment, Nyhavn is a sight that you cannot miss!

Christiania – A unique part of the city where the only rule is that there are no rules (kind of.) Free Christiania is a community that started in the 1960s within the city of Copenhagen. It is unrestricted by the city’s economy, where people have the freedom to build houses wherever they please, sell marijuana (and smoke it while in the area,) and set up any kind of store or establishment they want as long as it does not harm anyone else living in Free Christiania. Although we went on a rainy day, it was very cool to see an anarchist community and how people lived there. Note that you cannot take pictures here!

Tivoli Gardens – If you ever wanted to go to Disney World but could not afford it, then going to the amusement park that inspired it is the next best thing and half the cost! Tivoli Gardens is the longest-running Amusement Park in the world and is located right in the heart of the city. I was very upset to not have visited as the park is closed during the winter season, so if it is on your bucket list to catch some cool rides and walk through the famous park, then plan to go in the warmer months!

Kastelellet – We happened to stumble upon the Kastelellet (well, it is very hard to miss considering its size), and it was one of my favorite parts of the trip! The fort was absolutely huge and felt like I was in a real-life fairytale…I was low-key looking for alligators in the moat. You can walk throughout the fort and get amazing views of the church, a windmill, and some of the city. The fort still has a military presence and is used by the military.

Christiansborg Palace – Now the home of Denmark’s government, this palace is over 400 years old and one of the most iconic landmarks in Copenhagen! You can buy tickets to tour the palace and discover the palace’s history for over 100 years. This was another landmark we couldn’t visit, but a friend highly recommended!
Church of Our Savior – Although you must climb up many steps to reach the top, the reward is worth the trip, as you will get the most amazing view of the city! This is another famous tourist spot to visit in Copenhagen, and the time availability to visit is limited, so make sure to reserve a spot as well as to see if it is open! Due to high wind and construction, we were not able to visit the church at all during our trip, which was a bummer, but gives me another excuse to revisit!

Little Mermaid Statue – Famous writer Hans Christian Anderson was a Copenhagen native and wrote some of the most famous Disney movie adaptations of all time, including The Little Mermaid. There is a statue dedicated to this story in the water where you can sit, enjoy the sounds and the views of the waves, and take pictures of the statue. My inner child was thrilled to be in the city where my favorite Disney Princess was created, and a statue inspired by her story.

Den Sorte Diamante (Black Diamond)/ Royal Library – Calling all bookworms! This iconic library is a reader’s dream! One of the largest in the world, it overlooks the harbor. There is a café inside to enjoy food and beverages as well as reading rooms to enjoy text of any kind. I regret not checking this out and sitting down to read some of Hans Christian Andersen’s novels.
Off Stroget – The popular shopping street in Copenhagen where you can find viral food establishments and shop until you drop!
Shop at Magasin du Nord – The Selfridges or Saks Fifth Avenue of Copenhagen! If you’re looking to window shop or splurge on a nice gift for yourself, make sure to have your credit card ready!
Bike around the city – Copenhagen is a biker’s Disney World. It is the popular mode of transportation around the city.
Take a seaplane – You can take a seaplane ride and view the entire city from above!

Visit a ceramic shop or take a ceramic class – Ceramics are a big part of Dutch culture because of the natural clay in Denmark! There are a bunch of unique boutiques in the city to shop at and classes to make your own pottery!

Watch the Guards Change
Visit Rosenborg Castle
Visit Torvehallerne Food Hall
Visit Reffen Street Food Market

Museums

Glyptoteket
Museum of Happiness
Hans Christian Andersen Fairy-tale House

Nightlife

Bars

Curfew Bar – This speakeasy is entered through a library bookcase where you press the doorbell and a worker lets you enter the establishment. When you walk into the bar, you are transported into the 1920s during the Prohibition years. The bar is decorated to make you feel like you are illegally drinking in the U.S. during Prohibitio,n with prints and trinkets paying homage to the roaring 20s. Even the drinks are cleverly named and delicious!

Ruby Cocktail Bar – This bar was transformed from a house into a cozy cocktail bar. The cocktails were a little expensive, but absolutely delicious! The staff was very friendly and we really loved the atmosphere. If you are feeling social, make sure to sit at the bigger tables as it is communal seating!

Sam’s Karaoke Bar – You might need a couple of drinks to give you liquid courage to come to this bar, or just to hear some people drunkenly sing. Sam’s was recommended by a friend, and we happened to go on a whim while meeting locals who brought us here!
Hoten Danmark Rooftop
Rabeshave – This is the oldest pub in Copenhagen!
Yellow Bar
Hviids Vinstue Wine Bar ($$$$)
Vega Club
Brus Brewery
Ruby Cocktail Bar
Balderdash

Transportation:

Getting To Copenhagen

Airport – Copenhagen is an international airport, and there are daily flights in and out with many major airlines like SAS and Delta, non-stop. Other airlines like TAP, Iceland Air, Turkish Airlines, and more make one or two stops that can get you to Copenhagen. The airport is very close to the city center, and it is very easy to fly to other European countries from Denmark!

Train – There is a Eurorail that can take you to and around the neighboring countries of Denmark! If you plan on visiting multiple countries, this is a budget-friendly way to travel around Europe and to or from Copenhagen

Ferry – If you are traveling within Denmark, then you may want to look into the many ferry routes you can take from the islands of Denmark! Click here for more information.

While in Copenhagen

Public Transportation –

Metro – The metro is in service 24/7 and it takes about two to six minutes for a new train to depart. The time departures change during the weekends after 1:00 am where the trains will arrive in seven to fifteen intervals. The M3 line “Cityrigen” connects the following neighborhoods: Vesterbro, Frederiksberg, Norrebro, Osterbro, and the city center! There is also a metro that will take you to and from the airport. You can find the metro line map here

Bus – Every three to ten minutes throughout the day, you can find the “A” bus (the primary line of the city.) The S buses arrive and depart every five to ten minutes (during rush hour) and every 20 minutes during off hours. The “S” buses are considered express and make fewer stops, while the “A” buses are considered local. All night buses are “N” buses and run from 1:00 am to 5:00 am every night.

The Harbor Bus – The Harbor Bus is different from the regular bus as the route only goes up and down the harbor, but you can use a regular bus ticket to catch a ride. The bus makes nine stops on the water and can start at Teglholem heading south or start at Orientkajen, which travels north.

If you purchase a Copenhagen card, you get unlimited transportation and will not have to worry about different costs for zones and/or different modes of transportation. The card also has other benefits, like access to 80+ attractions. You can purchase it online here

Taxi/Uber/Private Car Service – Viggo is the “Uber” of Copenhagen, as it is a taxi service app. It is very user-friendly and is the same concept as Uber or Lyft in the United States. When we needed to get to a destination fast, we used Viggo. Otherwise, you can hail a taxi to get you from place to place.

Renting ATVs / Cars / Scooters – Bikes & electric scooters are the easiest rentals to have in Copenhagen and eco-friendly! You can rent a bike from a local bike shop or the Donkey Rental Bike app. There is also an electric scooter app you can download to rent them as well.

In my opinion, Copenhagen is one of those cities where it seems like it came straight out of a fairytale book. Considering they have a fort with a moat, Disney World was inspired by Tivoli Gardens, and it is considered one of the happiest places on earth. on pen and paper, it basically is! Unless you hate the cold, there is nothing bad to say about the city, and that’s only a couple of months out of the year. Between the delicious seafood, Scandinavian culture, marvelous attractions to discover, and friendly Danish citizens, I cannot wait to revisit one day. For now, I will continue to read Hans Christian Andersen’s books and reminisce on the winter we spent in Copenhagen a few years ago.

Warm Regards,

Copenhagen