Weekend in Copenhagen Itinerary: 9 Things to Do
If you’re planning to visit Copenhagen but only have a short amount of time available, this post should give you a great idea of how to spend 3 days in Copenhagen.
When you begin planning your trip to Denmark, you may start by asking yourself which are the best Denmark cities to visit? There are many beautiful cities in Denmark, but if you’re short on time you might want to begin with the country’s capital, Copenhagen.
Copenhagen has so many really neat things to see, so whether you’re only spending 1 day in Copenhagen and are wondering what the best things to do in Copenhagen in one day are, or if you’re looking for a Copenhagen itinerary for 7 days, you’ll find some great ideas here of things to see.
Luckily Copenhagen is a pretty walkable city and many of the highlights are close together, so if you’re short on time and are only spending a day in Copenhagen, there are still a lot of things you can see.
If you have a bit more time to visit Copenhagen, seeing Copenhagen in two days is also a good option. You’ll also find some great ideas for 2 days in Copenhagen itinerary here. Seeing Copenhagen in two days is best done by staying in the city center so that you’re closer to a majority of the main attractions that you may want to see.
When considering how many days in Copenhagen would be enough, spending 3 days in Copenhagen would be the minimum time that I would recommend for a visit. This way you don’t have to feel as rushed as you may when only spending 1-2 days in Copenhagen. This post will be specifically focusing on a weekend in Copenhagen itinerary, but feel free to fit in whichever of these attractions excite you on your upcoming trip, no matter how long you stay in the city.
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9 Things to Do When Spending A Weekend In Copenhagen
Rosenborg Castle and Gardens
Checking out the Rosenborg Castle Gardens is a great place to start your trip to Copenhagen. You can go in for a Rosenborg Castle tour, but keep in mind you have to pay a bit for the ability to take pictures inside of the castle, something that I found very worth it. You can find out more about Rosenborg Castle tickets here. If you don’t feel like going in and you just want to admire the architecture from outside, the Rosenborg Castle Gardens are a beautiful place to have a picnic on a nice day.
Strøget
For some really great shopping in Copenhagen, you definitely have to check out the pedestrian shopping street, Strøget.
You can shop at large global brands such as Disney, Sephora and Louis Vuitton, and you can of course find many tourist souvenir shops, but there are a few places I suggest checking out that are specific to Denmark.
Georg Jensen Strøget København
Amagertorv 4, 1160 København, Denmark
Royal Copenhagen Strøget København
Amagertorv 6, 1160 København, Denmark
Illum Strøget København
Østergade 52, 1100 København, Denmark
Magasin Strøget
Kongens Nytorv 13, 1095 København, Denmark
Strøget Copenhagen opening hours on average is at 10am, but be sure to check with ahead of time if you have a specific store in mind before going.
There are also some nice places where you could grab brunch in the Strøget area. Be aware that tourist central places like Strøget usually charge more at their restaurants, so check out some reviews ahead of time!
If going out to eat isn’t a big deal for you, they also have some quick meal options that you may recognize such as McDonalds.
Tivoli
Tivoli Gardens is another really fun place to visit in Copenhagen!
Tivoli in Copenhagen is an amusement park with rides, restaurants and beautiful gardens. You can also sometimes hear live music in the park which is fun to enjoy with a coffee or ice cream.
You can buy your Tivoli tickets here.
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace is a Copenhagen Castle that is currently in use as a Government building. It is where Parliament is held and hosts the Prime Ministers office. If you’re hoping to get a Copenhagen castle tour, you can try that out at Christiansborg Palace Copenhagen, as well as at many other Copenhagen castles.
This is just one royal palace in Copenhagen worth checking out. You can find out more about tickets for Christiansborg Palace here.
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the current residence of the Queen of Denmark. It’s a different style than the other castles that are on this list, and the shape is quite interesting.
Amalienborg Palace is made up of four different buildings creating a square area where you can watch the Amalienborg changing of the guard.
If you’re wanting to visit Amalienborg Palace for a tour during your weekend in Copenhagen, you can see the inside of one of these four palaces, along with neat items owned by the Royal Family and worn/used in big moments of palace life. For example, it’s been years since I visited, but when I was there I saw the outfits worn by the Royal Family during the Christening of the twins. It was fun watching them be worn on tv, then seeing it in real life!
To see the Amalienborg guard change, be in the square by 11:30am when it begins. I would even suggest showing up earlier especially if you’re visiting during peak tourist season so that you’ll be able to get a good view.
The Amalienborg Palace opening hours are usually from 10am-3pm and closed on Monday’s at the time of writing this post.
Learn more about Amalienborg Palace tours here.
Frederik’s Church (Marmorkirke)
Frederik’s Church Copenhagen is just a short walk down the street from Amalienborg. The architecture of the Frederik’s Church is amazing because it’s made of marble. It is also known as “Marmorkirke” which translates to “Marble Church”.
Seeing the Marble Church Copenhagen is a must in my opinion. When you walk in, the ceiling domes above and is painted beautifully, and the front of the church is so vibrant and beautiful.
Another reason to visit Frederik’s Kirke is for the view! You can pay to go up to the top of the church and get a view over Amalienborg, the water, the opera house, and the rest of Copenhagen!
Our Saviour’s Church
Another really great place to check out during a weekend in Copenhagen for an amazing view is Our Saviour’s Church. The architecture of this church on its own is incredible, but you can also climb the 400 or so steps to the top lookout point and have one of the best views out over Copenhagen!
Nyhavn
If you’re visiting Copenhagen, you definitely have to check out Nyhavn! Nyhavn is the main tourist area that people from around the world recognize. With restaurants and cafes in bright colorful buildings, it’s quite a memorable place, and one worth checking out!
Nyhavn is very centrally located and easy to get to. To experience less crowds, I would suggest beginning your day here since it can get pretty busy as the day goes on.
Canal Boat Tour of Copenhagen
Copenhagen canal tours leave from Nyhavn, so after taking your time to explore the Nyhavn area, hop on one of these tours to check out Copenhagen from the water.
The Copenhagen boat tour takes you on a journey through areas of Copenhagen that may be harder to see from land, as well as gives you a unique view that you wouldn’t get from land.
A bonus of doing this Nyhavn canal tour along the Copenhagen waterfront is you have a guide explaining the history of some of the buildings and landmarks that you are seeing along the way. It’s a great way to learn more about this beautiful city.
Find your canal boat tour of Copenhagen here.
When is the best time to go to Copenhagen Denmark?
Denmark is beautiful all year round, but the spring would be my best suggestion of the best time to go to Copenhagen. The weather is usually pretty nice, the flowers are in bloom, and it feels so great to be out and about.
Summer is also a nice time to be in Denmark, but there will be a lot of tourists around, and as a result, the prices for visiting are likely going to be higher.
Early fall is a nice time as well, and it just at the end of the tourist season so prices should go down and there will be less people around.
Late fall and into the winter are less ideal because Denmark gets very dark and damp during those months which is less enjoyable. If you plan to visit Denmark around this time though, I would suggest in December to take advantage of the cute Christmas markets throughout the city!
Using the Copenhagen City Card
If you’re going to be exploring any of the places listed here, you should look into getting the Copenhagen Card.
By getting the Copenhagen City Card, you’re able to get free or discounted admission to some of Copenhagen’s most popular tourist attractions, PLUS you get free transit! This is definitely worth looking into during your trip to Copenhagen. Find out more about the Copenhagen Card here.
How to get around Copenhagen Denmark?
Copenhagen has a lot of options for getting around. Luckily a lot of the main attractions in Copenhagen are walkable so you can just walk to the different places. If you want to go a bit farther though, you can always rent a bike and join all of the other bikers in the city, or you can also use their public transit (which is free when you use the Copenhagen Card)!
Where to stay in Copenhagen Denmark?
CitizenM
H. C. Andersens Blvd. 12, 1553 København, Denmark
Book Here
Generator Hostel
Adelgade 5-7, 1304 København, Denmark
Book Here
Radisson Collection Royal Hotel
Hammerichsgade 1, 1611 København, Denmark
Book Here
71 Nyhavn Hotel
Nyhavn 71, 1051 København K, Denmark
Book Here
Even if you only have 1 day in Copenhagen, since many of these places are close by, you should be able to fit a lot of them into the day! If you want to know which things you should do in Copenhagen in one day, I would highly suggest Amalienborg, Frederik’s Church, Nyhavn, Nyhavn canal tour and Strøget.
You can easily fit all of these places in if you’re spending 3 days in Copenhagen. These are some great suggestions to fit into your Copenhagen 3 day itinerary, plus it would give you some time to take your time to stroll around and really enjoy the area.
If you’re looking for a Copenhagen itinerary for 7 days, you can fit these places in and more! If you’re spending a week in Copenhagen, I would also suggest doing a day tour to Malmö Sweden!
Have you spent a weekend in Copenhagen? Where would you suggest visiting on a short stay in the city?
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