Tips:
- Copenhagen is an easy city to travel on foot, but the city is also built for cycling with every street home to a bicycle lane and many docking stations to rent from at ease.
- The weather in Copenhagen can be chilly, so packing layers is a sensible option.
- Midrange hotels get booked up fairly quickly, so it’s a good idea to book rooms plenty in advance, especially if travelling during the most popular seasons.
- Several museums offer free entry, daily or once weekly, so it’s best to check in advance. Seniors and students also often qualify for discounts on some transport fares and museum entry, so remember to bring proof of ID to qualify for discounts.
- It’s worth noting that many of Copenhagen’s museums are closed on Mondays.
- Tivoli Gardens is only open for 4 seasons: Winter, Summer, Halloween, so it’s best to check the opening times before planning when to visit, especially in Spring.
48 Hours in Copenhagen: Day 1
Copenhagen is a compact, contemporary, and forward-thinking metropolis. It’s a city that is the epitome of “Scandi cool.” Regularly voted as ‘the happiest city in the world’, it has in recent years become something of a beacon for hipsters, with its cutting-edge reputation as a modernist city that is pushing the boundaries of food, design and fashion.
There are so many things to see and restaurants to try, and 48 hours is a perfect amount of time to be able to properly explore this city! Copenhagen is known to be expensive, but you can still have an amazing time. Here are some recommendations of things to do and see for anyone visiting Copenhagen for the first time on a mid-range budget:
Brunch / Lunch: Paludan Book Cafe
Address: Fiolstræde 10, 1171 København K, Denmark
After checking into your hotel, begin your day at Paludan Book Cafe, located in the Copenhagen’s old Latin Quarter. This cafe-come-library has become a popular place to enjoy a cup of coffee, and has a unique charm with an interior lined with bookshelves.
There is free wifi, and the food is reasonably priced (especially for Copenhagen standards). They do a great brunch platter and also serve a variety of open sandwiches. It’s a good place to get out a city map to start planning your day ahead over coffee.
Remember to grab a table before ordering, as you order at the tills once you have a table!
The Latin quarter is one of Copenhagen’s oldest and most atmospheric districts, it’s dotted with historic, pastel coloured buildings and post-card pretty scenery.
Its history dates back to the presence of an old campus of Copenhagen University, where Latin was once widely spoken. It’s a wonderful place to explore on foot or by bicycle.
Bycyklen is the city’s state-of-the-art city bike renting scheme, so if you’re keen to ride around the city, look out for the handful of docking stations. It costs around Dkr25 per hour and remember that you can only pay by card via the touch screens.
Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square)
Just a short walk from Paludan book cafe is the City Hall and City Hall square. From here you can walk to the ‘shopping mile’ Strøget, where there are lots of different stores to explore. City Hall Square is also the starting point for the free walking tour of Copenhagen, which lasts 2.5 hours whilst explaining the history and certain point of interest to look out for. If you fancy this, it starts every day around 11am.
Strøget København K:
Strøget (pronounced “stroll”) is the longest pedestrian zone in Europe, so for those who love shopping, this is the place to explore. Among many shops, you’ll find the official flagship Lego shop here, because Copenhagen is the official home county of Lego – it’s worth seeing to reminisce of your childhood and admire the magnificent Lego models!
Straedet
Parallel to Strøget is Straedet, which has many small boutiques such as independent jewellers and antique silver shops. This is the place to go if you prefer a more cosy, less commercial atmosphere whilst shopping and admiring the window displays.
Nyhavn
From both Strøget / Straedet it’s about a 15 minute walk to photogenic Nyhavn “the New Harbour”, the most picturesque spot in the city. When you arrive, you’ll understand why!
Little Mermaid statute
I recommend firstly heading north (about a 10 minute walk) to Langelinje Pier, where you’ll find the bronze statue of the Little Mermaid. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale about a mermaid who gives up everything for a life with a young, handsome Prince on the land, it’s been an iconic landmark here for over 100 years!
It was presented as a gift to the city from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen, who fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance at the Royal Danish Theatre.
After you’ve feasted your eyes on the Little Mermaid, wander back towards the Nyhvan…
…as there’s still a wealth to explore here. Historically, Nyhavn, used to be a busy commercial port, lined with ale houses and pubs. Today, it’s the most recognisable area of the city, with rows and rows of candy-coloured colourful 17th and 18th century townhouses renovated into classy restaurants and trendy bars next to the river.
No.9 is the oldest house in the area, and Hans Christen Andersen used to live at no.20.
Canal Tour from Nyhavn
Once you’ve taken a stroll along the Nyhavn, the best way to see Copenhagen’s sights is taking a boat tour through the picturesque canals. Boats depart from the Nyhavn and circumnavigate around the city. “The Grand Tour” lasts around 1 hour, costing 80DKK.
A guided tour through the idyllic canals will reveal Copenhagen’s churches, castles, old listed houses, new buildings and all other sights of interest. You’ll see main attractions like the National Bank of Denmark, the Opera, whilst sailing the waters.
You’ll also get to go under some incredible bridges (so watch your head) and listen out to the commentary to learn about the buildings and history en route.
Kødbyen (Meatpacking District)
Historically a hub for food and meat companies, the Meatpacking District today is a bustling with late-night opportunities, with a good selection of restaurants and bars.
Evening meal: Mother:
Address: Høkerboderne 9, 1712 København V, Denmark
Not your typical Danish restaurant, but definitely one that the locals recommend. Mother brings hearty Italian food to this Dutch city, sourcing their ingredients from Italy and cooking pizza in their own wood fired ovens – this place has gained a real following!
I recommend booking in advance if you can, because it gets lively, especially at the weekends here. People often wait outside in the cold for a table, yes it is that good!
Mother stands out because they make sourdough pizzas using organic ingredients – the “Bufala” stood out for me. The menu is moderately priced, charging around £50 for a meal for two with a bottle of wine + two pizzas, but you pay for the artisan ingredients.
Tivoli Gardens:
Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest theme parks in the world, so it’s a must-see sight when in Copenhagen. When it opened in 1843, it was the second biggest amusement park in the world. It’s only open during certain seasons, so when we visited in March, it wasn’t open. But it’s still spectacle to see at night, with its colourful light decorations!
out of the office adventures 
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