Two Day Copenhagen Itinerary: Highlights and Attractions

Consistently regarded as the happiest place on Earth, the tiny Nordic country of Denmark prides itself in its pleasant atmosphere, its high quality of life and its cosmopolitan vibe. The country’s capital, Copenhagen, is a city of storybook charm and cutting-edge cool. It is home to colorful neighborhoods, urban parks and a thriving nightlife.

 

TWO DAYS IN COPENHAGEN

Following a visit to Stockholm, I flew to Copehnagen and spend two days exploring Denmark’s pleasant world-class capital city.

Copenhagen woo’ed me with its walkable streets, its beautiful architecture, and its pleasant atmosphere. I found myself falling in love with its mix of urban parks, historic architecture, and delicious (albeit pricy) food. Over the course of my two days, the city delighted me with its colorful houses, its royal palaces and its bikeable streets.

I only wish I’d had a bit more time to discover its top attractions and hidden gems.

 

COPENHAGEN ITINERARY DAY 1

My first day in Denmark’s capital brought me to two of Copenhagen’s most recognized and beloved tourist sites—Nyhaven and the Little Mermaid. Even if you only have one day in Copenhagen, you’ll probably want to include these famous attractions in your itinerary.

 

• NYHAVN

Nyhavn is an emblematic waterfront canal lined with rows of colorful houses that look like the setting of a fairytale. It is the classic postcard image of Copenhagen and the city’s most touristy area.

As one of Copenhagen’s most photogenic areas, Nyhavn is incredibly popular with tourists. Once a busy commercial port known for its dodgy pubs and prostitution houses, Nyhavn has become a vibrant area full of upscale dining options, bars and outdoor cafes.

 

• THE LITTLE MERMAID

From Nyhavn, I made my way along the waterfront toward Copenhagen’s most famous landmark–a world-renowned statue of the Little Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid poses on a rock in the Copenhagen Harbor, where she models for the millions of visitors a year who flock to take her photo. This small, unimposing figure was built in 1913 as a tribute to the city’s beloved author of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen.

The statue has had a turbulent life over the past hundred years. Often the target of vandalism, the now-restored statue has been defaced, decapitated and painted over on numerous occasions.

Andersen’s original tale of the Little Mermaid is a story of tragedy–perhaps a more fitting reflection of the statue’s life than the “happily ever after version” that Walt Disney recreated.

 

• KASTELLET FORTRESS

On my walk back toward downtown from the Little Mermaid statue, I stopped by Kastellet–a star-shaped fortress containing military buildings, windmills and churches. Its colorful buildings and setting in a large urban park, give Kastellet the feeling of being a small folk village within Copenhagen.

Though it isn’t as renowned as Nyhavn or the Little Mermaid, wandering the Kastellet Fortress was one of my favorite free things to do in Copenhagen and a highlight of my two day itinerary.

If I hadn’t been trying to see as much of Copenhagen as possible within the span of 48 hours, I would have likely brought along a picnic and spent the whole day enjoying the greenery and tranquility of the fortress. Yet, with only two days in Copenhagen, my short visit meant I’d be cramming in as many sights and activities as possible.

 

• AMALIENBORG PALACE

Situated between Nyhavn and Kastellet, Amalienborg is a major work of Danish architecture designed by the architect Nicolai Eigtved in the 1750s. The palace’s four buildings surround a circular cobbled square and the statue of King Frederik V.

The palaces of the Amalienborg Slot were originally built as residences for four high-ranking aristocrats—Christian VII, Christian VIII, Christian IX, and Fredrik III.

However, when the old Christiansborg Palace burnt down in 1794, the royal family took up residence at Amalienborg. Since then, Denmark’s reigning monarchs have lived in Amalienborg’s palaces.

The Amalienborg Palace is not open to the public. Nonetheless, visiting its square is one of the top things to do in Copenhagen.

 

COPENHAGEN ITINERARY DAY 2

On my second day in Copenhagen, I continued to explore the pleasant and lively city on foot. The parallels between my hometown of Eugene, Oregon and the Capital of Denmark struck me immediately. Both places are progressive, sustainable and bike-friendly. Both have food trucks, green open spaces and a propensity toward rainy days.

It is no wonder that so many people from my hometown often speak of Denmark as a sort of progressive utopia.

I even found Eugene’s most distinctive feature–its thriving hippie culture–during my visit to the semi-autonomous neighborhood of Freetown Christiania.

 

• FREETOWN CHRISTIANIA

Christiania is an abandoned army base turned commune that is a haven for free spirits and artists. The neighborhood is famous for the open cannabis trade that takes place in its centrally-located Green Light District. Although marijuana is illegal in Denmark, several dozen booths on Pusher Street sell different types of weed, brownies and pot-related paraphernalia.

Occasional police raids have attempted to clamp down on the hash trade with limited success. But despite a tangible fear of a police crackdown, the residents of Christiania continue to maintain their autonomy by living outside the laws of the Danish state.

For the safety of those in the community, photos of the Green Light District are strictly prohibited. I was, however, able to snap a few pictures of the colorful murals before entering the no photography zone.

While some may find a recipe for happiness in Freetown Christiania’s counterculture atmosphere, others—whether young or old, local or tourist—are sure to discover their own little slice of heaven in Copenhagen’s fairytale castles, colorful neighborhoods, Venice-like canals and green city parks.

 

• ROSENBORG SLOT

The Rosenborg Slot lies just a stone’s throw from the Nyhavn Canal and within easy walking distance of many of Copenhagen’s most notable attractions. The fairy tale castle features turrets, gables, a moat, and a grassy lawn perfect for picnicking and relaxing.

The early-17th-century Rosenborg Slot was built in Dutch Renaissance style, to serve as King Christian IV’s summer home.

Though I did not visit the interior of the Rosenborg Slot, I found its exterior to be a wonderful Copenhagen highlight.

Had my visit to Copenhagen been slightly longer, I’d have loved to take a day trip to some of the other remarkable castles in Denmark.

 

• TIVOLI GARDENS

I ended my visit to the city with a brief look around the Tivoli Gardens–the second-oldest amusement park in the world and one of its most beloved. Founded in 1843, Tivoli is a historic landmark that contains wooden rides, concession stands and open air theaters. It is a place where all facets of Danish society–young, old, families, lovers and friends–come together with the sole purpose of merriment and entertainment.

Glitzy, glamorous and grossly overpriced Disneyland may steal most of the amusement-park thunder, but Tivoli has a nostalgic charm that is unrivaled among the world’s theme parks. So while Disneyland has marketed itself as the “happiest place on Earth,” I couldn’t help but think of Tivoli as the original Disneyland.

How fitting then, that the land of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales (tales that Walt Disney himself helped immortalize) is home to both one of the world’s first amusement parks and the world’s highest rate of happiness.

 

WHERE TO STAY IN COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen is a pricey city. If you’re a budget traveler, there aren’t a ton of cheap accommodation options outside of hostel dorm rooms. Since I was traveling on a budget during my visit, I chose to stay at the lively Copenhagen Downtown Hostel. The hostel suited my needs, though I would have likely chosen someplace quieter were I not traveling solo.

If hostel dorm rooms aren’t your scene, CityHub offers capsule-like private rooms at a reasonable cost. It is clean, well located, and highly rated.

If you’re not concerned with cost, the Nimb Hotel in Tivoli Gardens promises a unique stay. The Moorish style hotel room is immaculate, stylish, and has exceptional reviews.

 

GETTING AROUND COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen is compact and easy to navigate on foot. During my two days in Copenhagen, I walked everywhere and enjoyed the ease with which I could navigate the Danish capital.

If you aren’t keen on walking everywhere, you can opt to rent a bike. Cycling is a popular way of getting around Copenhagen. Like Amsterdam, the city is among the most bike-friendly in the world and getting around on two wheels is part of the city’s DNA. Bike rentals should cost you between 15-20 euros per day.

While you’ll be able to get pretty much anywhere in the city on foot or by bike, renting a car in Copenhagen can be a good option if you are planning visiting surrounding towns and villages.

 

****

It would be naive to believe that Denmark is a utopia devoid of problems. For in our imperfect world, no place is.

But at least on the surface, it seems as though the Danish have found a recipe for happiness that works.

And for a country that sees dark and gloomy days for over half the year, this palpablecontentment speaks volumes.

 

__________________________________

Did You Enjoy this Two Day Copenhagen Itinerary? Pin It!