Ultimate 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary

Are you planning a how to spend 3 days in Copenhagen and looking for the perfect itinerary to make the most of your limited time? Look no further!

Having spent over a week exploring this city top to bottom, I’ve curated the ultimate Copenhagen 3 day itinerary based on our my experiences in the city.

This itinerary encompasses the best things we did during our visit, helping you decide what to prioritise and ensuring you don’t miss out on the highlights of Copenhagen during your Copenhagen city break.

From iconic landmarks and cultural treasures to hidden gems and culinary delights, I’ve handpicked the most memorable experiences to make your trip truly extraordinary.

On this perfect Copenhagen itinerary you’ll find a guide to how to spend each of your three days in Copenhagen Denmark and it includes Copenhagen must dos such as the Nyhavn Canal Cruise, Tivoli Gardens and some of the best museums in the city.

How to get to Copenhagen

Many people will arrive in Copenhagen by flight from another country, however, if you’re already travelling around Eueop then you may arrive by train, bus or car.

Below, I’ve included various details on how to get to Copenhagen.

Copenhagen flights

Copenhagen Airport is a well-connected Scandinavia airport that’s well-served by many airlines including budget airlines through Europe. We flew from Faro in Portugal to Copenhagen with Ryanair and the flights were pretty cheap.

You can also fly direct from airports in the UK as well as other major European cities and capitals.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

Getting from Copenhagen airport to the city

Once you arrive at Copenhagen Airport, it’s very easy to get to the city centre by taking the subway/Copenhagen metro or an overland train.

From Copenhagen airport to central Copenhagen is about 15 minutes. I recommend taking the metro as there are more stops (so you can find one closer to your accommodation), and it runs a bit more regularly.

Buses and train to Copenhagen

If you’re coming from Sweden you can get the rain from Stockholm to Copenhagen or Malmö to Copenhagen pretty easily since there are direct trains between these cities to the Copenhagen central station.

You can also get the train from Hamburg in Germany and use connections across Europe to travel by train.

The same is true for getting the bus to Copenhagen.

Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!

How to get around Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is an expensive city to visit but you can get around the city without spending too much.

You can walk between most of the top Copenhagen attractions which is free to do and for those that are a bit further away, you can either take the metro, or the buses, ride electric scooters or use the bikes which can be rented on a minute-by-minute basis.

Cycling in Copenhagen

There aren’t many hills in Copenhagen so you won’t get too out of breath as you walk or cycle around and biking in Copenhagen is what the locals do. I’ve never felt safer cycling in a city than I did in Copenhagen and I used to spend pretty much all day, every day cycling around Vancouver which is also quite bike friendly.

We used the Donkey Republic bikes to get around Copenhagen. They’re orange and have phone holders and baskets so you can carry bags (or pastries!) with you. They can be picked up and returned all over the city too.

Copenhagen public transport

Copenhagen also has a really good public transportation system that is clean and efficient.

You can take the metro or bus by buying tickets from ticket machines at the stations and tickets are valid for 90 minutes, so you don’t need to buy a lot of tickets in advance.

If you’re spending three days in Copenhagen, buying the Copenhagen Card is a good way to save on public transport and the best things to do in Copenhagen.

It’s a special tourist card that includes all your bus, train and metro tickets for the duration of your pass across Copenhagen as well as entrance to over 80 museums and attractions in Copenhagen including Canal Cruises and Tivoli Gardens.

Best things to do in Copenhagen Denmark

Three day itinerary for Copenhagen Denmark

This 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary is based on 3 full days in Copenhagen or 4/5 nights in Copenhagen. You can adjust it to suit your own interests by skipping things, spending longer at some attractions than I’ve suggested or adding in some things to do from my 5 day Copenhagen itinerary instead.

Copenhagen 3 day itinerary overview

• Day 1: Explore Nyhavn’s colourful houses, take a canal cruise, go up the Round Tower and grab lunch at Torvehallerne, visit Rosenborg Castle and the Botanical Gardens and finish with dinner in trendy Nørrebro.
• Day 2: Kastellet and the Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace Square, St Frederik’s Church, Christiania, Reffen food market, CopenHill, and the Seasnail Swiming pool, Warpigs Brewery + BBQ
• Day 3: Explore Christiansborg Palace, Glyptotek museum, Frederiksberg Castle and Gardens and Tivoli Gardens.

Copenhagen top attractions map

Check out the above itinerary on this map which you can access straight on your phone. Just click the image, or here, to open it up.

Day 1 Copenhagen itinerary: Nyhavn

From your accommodation in Copenhagen, head to Nvyhavn first thing in the morning to enjoy these picturesque and pretty buildings at their quietest before the crowds rock up.

Early morning and sunset was my favourite time to see Nyhavn as in the middle of the day it was extremely busy.

As this is one of the top things to see in Copenhagen, you won’t want to miss it if for no other reason than to say you saw it. Personally, I think there are prettier streets and places to see in Copenhagen that you’ll just come across as you walk around, but you should still visit Nyhavn too!

Nyhavn was once the residence of the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. He lived in different houses in this area and it was while he was living at number 20, that he wrote famous stories like “The Tinderbox,” “Little Claus and Big Claus,” and “The Princess and the Pea.”

In the summer Nyhavn is a lively place with people enjoying food and drinks outside. And in the winter, there’s a Christmas market to explore so it’s worth visiting no matter the time of year you’re in Copenhagen.

Nyhavn canal cruise

Another of the most popular things to do in Copenhagen is to take a canal cruise. This is one of the best ways to see the city while learning about its history and more about the buildings you pass by.

There are a couple of companies that do canal boat cruises or you can rent your own private boat through GoBoat Copenhagen but then you won’t get the information from a tour guide as you sail around.

The canal cruise I took was 2 hours long and really interesting. You start by heading out towards the Little Mermaid where you can view it without waiting in line and then we headed back into the city to go around some of the canals.

I booked my Copenhagen Canal tour through GetYourGuide in advance which I’d recommend especially in the summer since this is one of the most popular things. todo in Copenhagen and they get full!

Note: If you’ve bought a Copenhagen Card, you actually get a free canal tour through that. The email confirmation you get with your card will explain how to redeem your Copenhagen Canal trip.

Top Tips: If you’re doing this in winter or on a colder day, be sure to pack some gloves and a warm coat, my hands were freezing by the end! Also, I recommend sitting on the right-hand side of the boat (as you look at the front to your tour guide) to get a better view of everything you’re going past.

OR, take a walking tour or tour of Copenhagen by bike

If you’d prefer to walk, which has the advantage of getting up closer to the top attractions in Copenhagen, then book a walking tour.

I’m a big convert to walking tours since we did them during our visit to Lisbon, and Copenhagen has some great ones including biking tours so you can cover more ground.

Some of the best walking tours in Copenhagen are these ones:

• Copenhagen Hygge and Happiness Culture Tour: Wander through cute neighbourhoods, and taste your way through traditional foods while living out the concept of “hygge.”
• 3-hour Copenhagen biking tour: Enjoy a 3-hour bike tour of Copenhagen and see all of the top attractions while learning about the city’s history.
• Copenhagen Private Tour with a Local: Book this private guided walking tour of Copenhagen with local who’ll take yo to the best spots and give you their helpful hints and tips

Strøget

From Nyhvn where your canal cruise ends, we’ll head up towards the Round Tower.

If you’re in need of a drink after the canal cruise, or a cinnamon or cardamon bun, then I recommend checking out Buka Bakery or Reinh van Hauen.

From Nyhavn, head through Indre By which is pretty much the centre of Copenhagen, towards Strøget through the city hall square.

This area is the main shopping district of Copenhagen and while you’ll find more independent stores in other parts of the city, walking through here is worthwhile just to look at the architecture.

You’ll also pass through a few squares including The King’s New Square (Kongens Nytorv) and Gråbrødretorv Square, and just get a feel for the city.

The Round Tower

Within this busy shopping area, you’ll find the Round Tower which is just like it sounds; a round tower.

At 36 m high, the Round Tower has a super interesting history and is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe dating back to 1642. It’s also one part of the academic Trinitatis Complex along with the University library and Trinitatis Church.

The tower was built as ordered by Christian IV. He was actually responsible for many of the buildings throughout the city. If you look up towards the top of the buildings you can see a CIV mark on them which denotes his part in getting them built.

While you climb to the top of the tower, there are very few steps which might surprise you!

For the most part, you’re going uphill on a flat surface as you go round and around. Along the way, there are a few exhibits about the history of the building and you can get views of the streets of Copenhagen below you.

It’s only the last section where there’s a narrow spiral staircase. There’s a traffic light system in place so you can only have people going up or down at one time which makes it easier to navigate.

The Round Tower is definitely worth going all the way to the top for the views of Copenhagen

• Opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm, daily April – September, 10 am – 6 pm on Tuesdays, and 10 am – 9 pm on Wednesdays from October to March.
• Ticket cost: 40 DKK (€5.50) per adult
• Where to book: In person at the entrance.
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

TorvehallerneKBH Market

From the Round Tower, continue heading slightly north to Torvehallerne for lunch.

You’ll have plenty of options for food at Torvehallerne and I recommend you do a lap of it once to pick out what you want and don’t get envious when you see something else.

I ended up getting a barley mushroom risotto from Grød which is a cafe/restaurant that’s become famous for its porridge. These days they also do acai bowls and risottos and other grain-based meals and the bowl I had was delicious

You can also get some delicious open sandwiches from Hallernes Smørrebrød and great salads from Smag.

You can also get your weekly fruit and veg, meat and fish and beautiful flowers.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 7 pm Tuesday – Friday, 10 am – 6 pm Saturday – Monday

The King’s Garden (Kongens Have)

Another worthwhile thing to see in Copenhagen is the King’s Garden which surrounds the beautiful Rosenborg Castle.

This part and castle are within easy walking distance from Torvehallerne and it’s a great place to go after you’ve filled up on lunch.

The gardens were first arranged by Christian IV in 1606 and laid out in the typical Renaissance Style with a rectangular network of pathways that you can see throughout European cities.

Today, there’s the addition of benches, sculptures and children’s play areas.

It’s a lovely place to walk through or head to with a picnic and you’ll see plenty of people just chilling out here.

• Opening hours: Daily from 7 am – 5 pm/11 pm depending on the season.
• Entrance fees: Free

Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot)

As you walk around the gardens you’ll soon come across Rosenborg Castle which I think is one of the prettiest castles near Copenhagen.

This castle has a moat, stone lions guarding the entrance and some turrets too which make it look a bit like something out of a fairytale.

The castle was built in the 1600s by Christian IV and named after one of his favourite horses. It was used as a royal residence for about a century and now it’s more of a museum.

You can pay to go inside and walk from grand room to grand room, learning about the former royal residents and admiring portraits and their trinkets.

The castle is relatively small (for castles) and has three floors with 24 rooms overall. Many still maintain the decor from Christian IV’s residence but some were changed by later Kings.

Some things not to miss include the Royal Danish Crown Jewels in the basement and the throne room upstairs.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm, daily in summer and until 4 pm in winter. Closed Mondays in winter.
• Ticket cost: 130 DKK (€17.50) per adult
• Where to book: In person at the entrance.
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Copenhagen Botanical Gardens 

Cross over the road into Copenhagen’s Botanical Gardens. This beautiful park is full of plants, herbs and trees that create a relaxing space to walk through. There are also some ponds and a couple of cafes where you can grab a drink and ice cream.

The National History Museum is also in this park and worth visiting if you’re with kids, it’s raining or if you have longer than 3 days in Copenhagen.

Besides the outdoor, open-air gardens there’s a large Palm House (conservatory) that is home to more tropical plans. I always love walking around Palm Houses and it’s a great thing to do in Copenhagen if it rains since you’re inside and it’ll feel nice and warm.

There are some spiral staircases in the palm house which reminded me of the Botanical Gardens in Glasgow too.

When I visited there was a long queue to go inside the Palm House, so be prepared for that during your visit.

• Opening hours: 8.30 am – 6 pm, daily in summer and until 4 pm in winter. Closed Mondays in winter. Palm House has shorter opening hours.
• Ticket cost: 60 DKK (~€8) per adult
• Where to book: In person at the entrance.
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Drinks and dinner in the Nørrebro district

Nørrebro was my favourite area of Copenhagen. It’s got loads of bars and restaurants and seems to be the epitome of Copenhagen cool.

There is loads of street art too and I recommend just taking a wander around the little streets until you find somewhere that looks good for dinner and drinks.

I got myself drinks from BRUS Brewery in Nørrebro. They had so many beers on tap and a huge outdoor seating area as well as plenty of seats inside. It seemed to be a popular meeting spot for after-work drinks and had a cool vibe.

We then headed to La Neta Nørrebro which was a cool Mexican restaurant for some tacos.

There are a bunch of wine bars here too where you can get wines by the glass or the bottle alongside some charcuterie and other bar snacks.

Day 2 Copenhagen Itinerary

For your second day in Copenhagen, I recommend hiring a bike, especially if you don’t have free transport through the Copenhagen Card as we’ll be travelling all over and my favourite way to do this is by bike.

Kastellet Citadel

Kastellet Fortress is a beautiful park and historic site all in one and well worth visiting as you cycle around Copenhagen today.

On a map of Copenhagen, you’ll notice a star-shaped park with a moat, green areas and then a fort at the centre. The first fortress was started in 1626 and finished in 1663.

In the past, Kastellet was used as a prison and during World War II, the German forces took over and used it as their headquarters. It’s still a military-owned area today.

As we cycled around Copenhagen one evening, we came past here and locked up our Donkey Republic bikes by the entrance before taking a walk through the fort area and then up on the walls past the windmills. It’s a popular area for walkers and it’s easy to see why.

• Opening hours: 6 am – 10 pm, daily
• Ticket cost: Free

The Little Mermaid

Hop back on your bikes and continue towards the Little Mermaid Statue (Den Lille Havfrue). Along with the colourful houses in Nyhavn, this small statue is something that people associate with Copenhagen.

Though I knew the Little Diver Girl statue in Vancouver’s Stanley Park was similar to this, I hadn’t fully realised just quite how similar the two are, even though the sculptor of Vancouver’s statue denies being inspired by this one.

The Little Mermaid statue was created by Edvard Eriksen in 1913 and is a bronze sculpture of a mermaid sitting on a rock in the water gazing at the passing ships in the harbour and was modelled on that of Eriksen’s wife but based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale.

I ended up going past this statue a few times during our stay in Copenhagen, and the only time it was surrounded by people queuing up for a photo was later in the evening just as the sun was going down.

In all honestly, the statue is really small and while it’s worth checking out as you pass by, it’s not something I’d go out of my way to see it!

Another nearby attraction in Copenhagen is the Genetically Modified Mermaid Statue designed by Bjørn Nørgaard, a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts who described the piece as a humorous look at postmodern society.

This mermaid statue shows a twisted figure with a non-human head. She’s just a 10-minute walk from the original Little Mermaid statue or a few minutes by bike.

Amalienborg Palace Square

After checking out the mermaid statue, follow the cycle path close to the water and make your way to Amalienborg Palace which is the winter residence of the Danish royal family.

This area is actually home to four palaces and a big courtyard. You’ll have to get off your bike and walk as there are lots of guards and no biking allowed, but it’s worth walking up to the fountain and checking out the buildings. You can also get a great view of Frederik’s Church peeking.

These palace buildings were built in the 18th century for wealthy families but when the Christiansborg Palace burned down in 1794, they became royal residences.

If you happen to be here at midday, you’ll be in time for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. And, if you see flags waving on top of the buildings, you’ll know that some of the royal family are home.

You can visit the Amalienborg Museum to learn about the royal family’s way of life or book a tour of Christian VII’s Palace on select days.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket cost: 120 DKK (~€16) per adult
• Where to book: In person at the entrance.
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Frederik’s Church

Just a short walk from Amalienborg Palace, you’ll find the huge Frederik’s Church also known as Marble Church. It’s beautiful from the outside with its green dome (the largest dome in Scandinavia) and the statue of Danish saints, but even more impressive when you see it from the inside.

It’s actually quite similar looking to St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome and it’s free to go inside. It’s a quick visit, and won’t take you more than 10 minutes, but walking inside is worth it.

You can also climb the dome of Frederik’s Church. There are 260 steps to the top and the view is great as you’ll be able to see downtown Copenhagen, Amalienborg Castle and the harbour and canals.

If you plan on climbing the dome, you can do so on Saturdays and Sundays only at 1 pm. There are only 30 tickets for each day, so be sure to arrive early.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm most days (some variation)
• Ticket cost: Free

Explore Christiania Freetown

From the church, make your way past Nyhavn where you started your day yesterday and ride over the Inderhavnsbroen bridge towards Christiania.

Along the way, you’ll pass Popl, a burger restaurant run by some of those from Noma and an area with some food trucks and outdoor seating just by the canal. This looks like a cool spot, but we’re heading somewhere even cooler for food trucks and outdoor dining later!

Christiania is a unique place in Copenhagen, unlike any other sightseeing spot. It’s a community of about 900 people who follow their own rules instead of those that govern the rest of the country.

Having said there aren’t really any rules, there are rules that visitors should follow which include not taking photos.

In the central area of Christiania, you’ll find some bars and places to eat and then there’s Pusher Street which is kind of self-explanatory. As you wander you’ll also come across Green George, one of Thomas Dambo’s famous wooden trolls!

During the summer months (end of June to end of August) and on weekends throughout the year, locals of Christiania offer guided tours that take you deep into the community. These tours are available in English and cost 40-50 DKK, they’re worth doing to learn more about this unique neighbourhood

Climb up the Church of Our Saviour

Not far away from Freetown Christiania is the Church of Our Saviour which has a dramatic twisty spire that you’ve probably seen as you walk or cycle around Copenhagen.

You can actually go up the top of the church which is pretty cool, especially if you didn’t go up the Round Tower already.

• Opening hours: 9 am – 8 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket cost: 69 DKK (9€30)
• Where to book: In advance online here
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: No

Lunch at Reffen food market

Next, we’re going to take a longer cycle along the river and green areas from Christianshavns Vold.

This is an easy cycle ride and then you’ll come out onto the road and continue north up to Reffen which is a super cool outdoor food market and one of the biggest ones I’ve been to.

Alternatively, you can take the 2A bus from Christiania to Refshaleøen and Reffen.

Whether you decided to cycle or get the bus, you can either get food from one of the many, many stalls at Reffen, or checkout La Banchina and Lille Bakery which are two very popular TikTok/Insta places to visit in this area.

You’ll find food huts here serving food from all over the world, we ended up with some Brazilian and Greek food and they also have cocktails and beer huts.

When we visited there was plenty of space on the benches and chairs but I imagine it gets very busy in the height of summer.

Most of the places at Reffen serve food until 8 pm and over the summer there are often live music events.

• Opening hours: 11:30 am – 9:30 pm daily (some seasonal variation)

Walk up Copenhill

Once you’re done feasting at Reffen, head back down the way you came towards Copenhill for another unique thing to do in Copenhagen.

Copenhill is not your typical hill. It’s actually a man-made slope created from the waste produced by the city, which is converted into clean energy. It’s a fantastic example of how innovative technology can be used to benefit the environment.

At Copenhill you can go skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking or rock climbing and hiking. Given that Denmark doesn’t have a hill much greater than 200 m above sea level, you may not have thought you could do those sports but you can at Copenhill!

We walked to the top of Copenhill and got some fantastic views out to Malmo in Sweden, or the wind turbines ad of the city too.

This is a fun free thing to do in Copenhagen that I’d recommend for active travellers.

Swim at Kastrup Søbad (Kastrup Sneglen)

If you’ve still got some power in your legs, head south from Copenhill down to Kastrup Søbad.

It’s another easy cycle with no hills and you’ll also pass Amager Strandpark which is a popular beach area where we saw a load of people windsurfing and kitesurfing (and gaining some serious air while doing so!).

Kastrup Søbad is an example of super cool Scandinavian design and it’s a great place to add to your fun 3 days in Copenhagen itinerary in summer especially.

At this structure in the sea, you’ll find people taking dips in the water all year round.

This wooden sculpture is curved like a snail (hence its name Sneglen) and has places for diving off into if you’re a fan of refreshing (cold) water.

This swimming area is free and you can get there by bike, which is what we did, or by taking the M3 train towards the airport. It’s the M3 train I suggest taking back into Copenhagen unless you want to continue cycling!

Warpigs Brewery

After all that cycling, get ready to feast at Warpigs Brewery in Copenhagen’s Meat Packing District. This area is full of cool bars and restaurants and there’s often live music nearby.

My family recommended we went to Warpigs after they’d been during those trips and it didn’t disappoint.

Warpigs does BBQ food and beers and has a huge outdoor seating area as well as seating indoors. It does get very busy so you may need to wait for a seat but tables turn over pretty quickly.

• Opening hours: 11 am until midnight, until 2 am Thursday to Saturday

Day 3 Copenhagen itinerary

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen has a history of over 800 years and is the home of the Danish Parliament (Folketing), the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister’s Office.

The current building you see is actually the 3rd version of Christiansborg Palace, built in 1928 as the previous two burned down! The first building was built all the way back in 1167.

You can get tickets to go inside Christiansborg Palace and see several areas of the palace which is full of beautiful furniture, thrones and artworks. You can visit the reception rooms, the royal kitchens and the tower (which doesn’t need a ticket), the castle ruins, the Great Hall and the stables.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket cost: The combination ticket is 175 DKK (23€ 50) and includes The Royal Reception Rooms, The Royal Kitchen, The Ruins and The Royal Stables
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

This is one of my favourite museums of all time, it’s just so beautiful and the perfect size in my opinion as you can see the majority of it in a few hours.

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Museum in Copenhagen has Danish and French paintings, sculptures, and a temporary exhibit (the one I saw was on the Ancient City of the Sun God and was super interesting). There’s also an area where you can see items from ancient Greece and Egypt.

The first thing you see when you walk in is the beautiful winter garden which is a conservatory-style building full of plants and Roman statues as well as some fountains. It’s such a nice spot to just sit and read or people-watch.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket cost: 125 DKK (17€) for adults
• Where to book: In advance online here
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Frederiksberg Gardens and Frederiksberg Palace

Frederiksberg is like its own little city within Copenhagen and though it’s surrounded by Copenhagen from all sides it has its own municipal council and mayor. However, it’s usually considered a neighbourhood of Copenhagen.

Frederiksberg is one of the wealthier areas of Copenhagen, and you can see that when you walk around. Frederiksberg Alle is a wide boulevard with lots of trees and you’ll find some beautiful green spaces including Frederiksberg Gardens, Søndermarken, and Hostrup Gardens.

Frederiksberg Gardens are huge and have lawns, canals, and tree-lined paths. There are also waterfalls, a temple, a Chinese summerhouse and animals including swans, geese, ducks, and herons.

Frederiksberg Palace used to be a royal residence that’s now home to the Royal Danish Military Academy. The palace sits on the sloping lawns of Frederiksberg Gardens and was originally built as a summer residence for Frederik IV in 1735. While you can’t go in, it’s still cool to see from the outside.

The gardens are open every day throughout the year, but the opening and closing times vary depending on the season. They usually open around 7 in the morning and close between 5 and 10 in the evening. The best part is that you can enter the gardens for free.

• Opening hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket cost: Free

Tivoli Gardens

And lastly, perhaps one of the most famous attractions in Copenhagen, alongside the mermaid and Nyhavn, is Tivoli Gardens. When it comes to what to do in Copenhagen in 3 days this should definitely be on the list!

I think Tivoli Gardens is best visited in the evening as the sun begins to go down, or after dark when the park gets lit up by Chinese lanterns. Tivoli first opened in 1843 making it the second oldest amusement park in the world.

Tivoli Gardens is more than just a theme park as it not only has loads of amusements and rides, but it also has beautiful parks and landscaping that make it worth visiting even if you don’t want to go on the rides. There are several restaurants, a hotel and a pantomime Theatre too.

Walt Disney was inspired by Tivoli during his visit in 1950 and it’s believed this is what Disney parks ended up being based on so it might seem familiar if you’ve been to one of the Disney Parks before.

Tivoli Gardens is open throughout the year during three periods: mid-April to mid-September, mid-October to early November (for Halloween), and mid-November to late December (for Christmas).

• Opening hours: 11 am – 10 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket cost: 155 DKK (21€) for adults, or get an unlimited ride pass here to try their wooden roller coaster.
• Where to book: In advance online here
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

What to do if you have more than 3 days in Copenhagen

You can easily add to this 3 day Copenhagen itinerary if you have more time. Here are some suggestions to get your started.

Take a day trip to Malmö, Sweden

A day trip to Malmo from Copenhagen is a great way to spend a day if you have more days in Copenhagen to fill.

You’ll visit two countries in one day since Malmö, despite being less than an hour away, is in Sweden!

Whether you decide to book a train or a bus (I recommend the train, it’s the easiest and chapest) you’ll cross over the Oresund Bridge made famous in Nordic Noir ‘The Bridge’.

Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!

Malmö is a super pretty small town with a beautiful sandy beach area, gorgeous old buildings and so many wine bars and great restaurants.

Start in Stortorget, the central square just a 5-10 minute walk from the train station and start exploring!

Be sure to make time for Fika (a Swedish cake and coffee tradition) during your Malmö day trip!

If you have time, take a stroll along the picturesque canals and visit Ribersborg and Malmö Castle and nearby parks.

Islands Brygge

Islands Brygge was once an old dockland that was mostly forgotten or unused. Now, it’s been transformed into a popular hangout spot with Copenhagen locals in the summer who sunbathe on the banks or take a refreshing swim.

As with many parts of Scandinavia, the architectural landscape of Islands Brygge is beautiful and with wandering around even if you decide not to take a swim.

I strongly recommend taking a dip though, it’ll make you feel amazing afterwards and there are several baths and areas where dipping is encouraged.

National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum of Denmark is a cool museum to visit if you’re interested in learning more about Danish history and culture.

It’s located in a pretty building called the Prince’s Palace and inside you’ll find Greek and Etruscan exhibits and artefacts as well as exhibits about the Vikings too.

One of the best things in the museum to see in the National Museum of Denmark is the big cauldron called the Gundestrup cauldron. It’s made of silver and has pictures of animals and magical figures on and dates back to the Iron Age.

Make sure you don’t miss the section with things from China, Japan, and the Far East. Here you can see some amazing and beautiful Samurai outfits.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket price: 120 DKK (€16) for adults
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Copenhagen Design Museum

My husband is really into cool design and so we spend a few hours walking around the Copenhagen Design Museum one morning.

The Design Museum was founded in 1890 with the goal of encouraging people to create and seek out better-quality goods and to talk about the idea of quality within design.

Though I’d expected the design museum to feature more designs through the ages of everyday objects, it actually had an exhibition on the future. and the weird and cool kinds of technologies we could be using. It was really interesting to see where people think things could go.

It also had a smaller exhibit on common design items like chairs so you get past, present and future designs at the design museum in Copenhagen.

The museum isn’t huge and can be covered in a couple of hours so it’s a great addition to another day of exploring if you have more than 3 days in Copenhagen.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket price: 120 DKK (€16) for adults
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Old Carlsberg Brewery

The Old Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a historic brewery that was once the home of Carlsberg beer.

Established in 1847, this brewery played a significant role in the production and distribution of this well-known Danish beer.

The brewery has impressive architecture, including the iconic Elephant Gate and is now known as Carlsberg City where you can visit the Carlsberg Visitor Center for guided tours.

• Opening hours: Currently closed, expected reopening Autumn 2023
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Take a mini cruise to Oslo

If you’re spending 5 or more days in Copenhagen, I highly recommend booking a mini cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo in Norway. This way you get to experience two counties and get a day in Oslo which is another super cool city.

There are plenty of things to do in Oslo on a budget (or no budget) and you can ride a boat to Oslo from Copenhagen overnight in a comfortable cabin arriving in Oslo in the morning. Then, after a day of exploring you’ll spend another night as you journey back to Copenhagen.

Visit the SMK (Statens Museum for Kunst) Museum

The SMK (Statens Museum for Kunst) is the premier art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, showcasing a huge collection of artworks from the 13th century to the present day.

It’s in abeautiful historic building just across from the Botanical Gardens in Copenahgen and has loads of Danish artowrks and pieces from artists including Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse, and Hammershøi.

You’ll also find temporary exhibitions, lectures, and events.

• Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily (some seasonal variation)
• Ticket price: 120 DKK (€16) for adults
• Included in Copenhagen Card?: Yes

Best places to stay in Copenhagen

When it comes to where to stay in Copenhagen, there are so many districts and areas to choose from, let alone hotels! These top-rated Copenhagen hotels below are places I would recommend to friends and family visiting Copenhagen.

They’re all close to the centre which makes it easy to visit the top Copenhagen attractions and get around the city in three days without wasting too much time travelling.

• citizenM Copenhagen Radhuspladsen: Stylish hotel with good buffet breakfast included and a short walk from Tivoli Gardens
• Motel One Copenhagen: An intimate Danish design hotel inspired by the 50s & 60s fashion with a homey vibe and design furnishings in central Copenhagen
• Zoku Copenhagen: Zoku Copenhagen is an apartment hotel perfect for professionals and business travellers. It has private apartment-style rooms, rooftop social spaces, and convenient access to transportation.
• STAY Nordhavn: In Copenhagen’s cool Østerbro district near Svanemolle Beach, STAY Nordhavn offers comfortable rooms with convenient amenities such as a garden and washing machine.

FAQs about what to do in Copenhagen 3 days

Final thoughts on what to see in Copenhagen with 3 days

From its historic landmarks and royal palaces to its modern design and culinary delights, Copenhagen is. a great city to visit whether you’re on a European backpacking trip, or just planning a Europe city break.

Whether strolling along the picturesque canals of Nyhavn, visiting the famous Tivoli Gardens or enjoying Copenhagen’s food scene, you’re sure to fall a little in love with this city.

Though you could easily spend more than three days in Copenhagen, this amount of time is enough to get a feel for the city and see some of its top attractions.