How to Spend 3 Days in Copenhagen: Itinerary for First Timers
In this post, we’ll dive into how to spend 3 days in Copenhagen Denmark with a suggested itinerary if it’s your first time visiting Copenhagen!
Copenhagen, Denmark is a gem and a must-visit location for many European travelers. In fact, it may be one of the most idealistic cities in the world. It is clean, beautiful, and there is a whole host of things to do in Copenhagen.
If you’re headed to Northern Europe, chances are good Copenhagen will be on your itinerary. But how many days should you spend in Copenhagen? In this post, we’ll take a look at how to spend 3 days in Copenhagen and see if that’s the right amount of time for you!
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Where to Stay in Copenhagen
With just 72 hours in Copenhagen, you’re going to want to head straight to your hotel upon arrival, drop off your luggage, and set out exploring the city – no time to waste! But first, you must decide where to stay in Copenhagen.
The best place to stay in Copenhagen is going to be in the city center. This puts you within walking distance of most of the best things to do in Copenhagen making getting from place to place a lot easier, faster, and even cheaper!
Depending on your budget, I recommend these hotels in Copenhagen as you’ll be well located in some of the best hotels in the city:
- Best hostels in Copenhagen: Next House Copenhagen | Steel House Copenhagen | Urban House Copenhagen
- Best budget hotels in Copenhagen: Motel One Copenhagen | Hotel Kong Arthur | Hotel Bethel
- Best mid-range hotels in Copenhagen: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel | 25hours Hotel Indre By | citizenM Copenhagen Radhuspladsen
- Best luxury hotels in Copenhagen: Nimb Hotel | Nobis Hotel Copenhagen | Copenhagen Marriott Hotel
Map of Copenhagen
Now that you’ve checked into your hotel, you’ll need to understand how best to explore Copenhagen in 3 days by getting the lay of the land. In the below map of the city, you’ll see the key tourist attractions are labeled to help you get a sense of how far things will be apart.
To give you an idea of distances – if you were to walk from Tivoli Gardens to the Little Mermaid on the other side of the city, it would take about 40 minutes non-stop – about 2 miles. This is equivalent to 20 minutes on the train, 40 minutes on the bus, and 5 minutes by taxi.
To help make the distances more manageable, I’ve grouped each day with the sights that are closest together. You’ll be able to see a lot without overextending yourself (hopefully!). Let’s dive into our 3 day itinerary for Copenhagen!
Day 1: Explore the Center of Copenhagen
Once you’ve landed and checked into your Copenhagen hotel – or at least dropped off your luggage. It’s time to start exploring! After all, you have a big city to try and take in with just 72 hours in Copenhagen.
For your first day in Copenhagen, you’ll want to get an idea of the layout of the city and where you’ll want to spend your time. The best way to do this is to walk. More specifically, I highly recommend starting with a walking tour!
Pro tip: If you don’t arrive early enough in the day to do a walking tour – try to plan one in for the day two as you will learn a LOT on the walking tour.
Take a Walking Tour of Copenhagen
There are endless walking tour options in Copenhagen. You can choose from free options where you simply tip at the end or opt for a paid walking tour. The free tours tend to have much larger groups while small group and private tours will cater more to your needs and interests.
Either way, you’ll get a great experience and feel for the city. Here are some walking tours to check out:
- Guru Walk offers a number of different free walking tours in Copenhagen
- Small Group Walking Tour that explores the highlights of the city (paid)
- Private Copenhagen Walking Tour including highlights and hidden gems with local guides (paid)
Not quite up for a walking tour?
Don’t worry, there’s also segway tours, bike tours, and even a hop-on hop-off bus available!
Snap a Picture at Nyhavn
As you explore Copenhagen, make sure to stop by the waterfront district of Nyhavn. It’s one of the most picturesque parts of the city featuring a canal lined with colorful townhouses, cozy bars, trendy restaurants and more! You’ll really see the city’s charm shine through here, and it’s free!
Head Over to Freetown Christiania
It’s time to cross the river and explore Freetown Christiania – also known as just “Christiania”. This part of town was formed back in 1971 when squatters started inhabitting former military barracks and in essence declared themselves a state.
Today, it is a tax-free commune that is home to about 1,000 people who live by their own laws. While this part of town will seem a bit more “seedy” than the rest of Copenhagen, you will find families and business people also lingering in the streets. It’s not quiet like the US where had I wandered into someplace like this, I would hightail my way out of there. In essence it’s an artist commune.
You’ll find this part of town is covered in spray paint, murals, and art and filled with little colorful houses, shacks, and rundown buildings covered in scaffolding. Inside the buildings there are people of all kinds shopping, drinking, and hanging out. You’re also likely to encounter people selling and using cannabis, that while technically forbidden by Danish law, is debatable in Christiania.
While all are welcome in Christiana, there are three key rules: no pictures, don’t run, and have fun! From the overflowing dumpsters of empty beer and liquor bottles to the art covering every surface to the trash can fires, it was a whole different world. The art was amazing and really makes it worth a visit – I just wouldn’t recommend it after dark!
Climb the Tower at Christiansborg Palace
Another can’t miss activity in Copenhagen is visiting Christiansborg Palace. This palace and government building is the seat of Danish Parliament.
Here you can take a tour of the palace, including the Royal Reception Rooms, the Royal Kitchen, the Ruins, the Royal Stables, and the Palace Chapel. Or, you can skip the grand tour and just go up in “The Tower” for a great city view.
“The Tower” is free to access and is the highest tower in Copenhagen at 106 meters tall. However, “The View” as the viewpoint from Christiansborg Palace Tower is known, is only 44 meters high, but still offers amazing views of the surrounding areas. On a clear day you can also see Sweden!
Visit Tivoli Gardens Amusement Park
During your three days in Copenhagen, you’re going to want to stop by Tivoli Gardens, also known simply as Tivoli. This amusement park opened back in August of 1843 and is the third oldest operating amusement park in the world!
Whether you decide to buy a skip-the-line ticket to enjoy the performances, amusement park rides, and dining options in the food hall, you’ll at least want to walk by to see what the fuss is all about.
Should you decide to go in, don’t miss the opportunity to ride the wooden roller coaster Ruschebanen – also called Bjergbanen or Mountain Coaster. It’s one of the world’s oldest wooden roller coasters and what the park is best known for!
Celebrate Your Trip with a Pub Crawl
Take a trip around the bars of Copenhagen with a guide and other party animals with a pub crawl. If you don’t know where to go out at night, this is the best option to make sure you end up having a fun, and safe, time out on the town.
Not to mention you’ll get to know some of the popular bars and nightclubs in the area with a local guide!
Day 2 in Copenhagen
Your second day in Copenhagen will come around quickly. While you covered a lot of ground on day one, you have a lot more to see and do in Copenhagen!
Start the Day at Amalienborg Palace
No visit to Copenhagen is complete without stopping by Amalienborg, the official residence of the Danish royal family – who also happen to be the world’s oldest monarchy!
When you visit Amalienborg, you can simply enjoy the striking architecture, catch the changing of the guards ceremony, or head inside for a tour of the impressive interior. The complex contains four difference palaces: Christian VII’s Palace, Frederik VIII’s Palace, Christian IX’s Palace, and Christian VIII’s Palace.
Check out ticket information for Amalienborg here.
Look across the River at the Opera House
Admittedly, I walked all the way to the Opera house while I was in Copenhagen, but for most, I don’t think the extra thousands upon thousands of steps are worth it – unless you are a die hard opera fan. Those do exist I hear. But even for those without a keen ear for opera will enjoy the futuristic architecture of the Copenhagen Opera House. Take a look. Admire it. It’s worth it.
Visit the Famous Little Mermaid Statue (Lille Havfrue)
As this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen, you will easily find the Little Mermaid statue, despite its small size. Just follow the crowds along Copenhagen’s harbor to this small statue standing out in the water.
It’s one of Denmark’s most beloved icons and was sculpted by artist Edvard Eriksen to represent the “Little Mermaid” or Lille Havfrue that first appeared in Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairytale story.
As someone once told me, “It is the second most disappointing sculpture you will encounter in all of Europe.” Can you guess what number one is? The little peeing boy statue in Brussels. It’s impressively unimpressive!
To be fair, I found the Brussels statue far more disappointing than this one, but considering it’s fame…. I would hope for a bit more. Nevertheless, you can’t skip out on seeing this famous statue!
Explore Kastellet – “The Citadel”
As you’re leaving the Little Mermaid, swing by Kastellet, Copenhagen’s pentagon-shaped citadel. Built back in 1662, Kastellet is one of the best preserved fortresses. Today, it functions as a public park, so take a walk through it on your way back from the Little Mermaid. It’s free to enter.
Relax on a Canal Tour
After the walking tour and exploring some of the best sights of Copenhagen, you’re going to be ready to have a seat for a bit. What better place to do this than on a boat tour of the canals of Copenhagen?
The best part of exploring by boat is that you’ll see a lot (without walking!) and, you’ll be able see a completely different side of Copenhagen. Opt for a smaller boat when possible so that you can hear the guides input of what you’re seeing along the way.
Walk to Rosenborg Castle
After the boat tour, it’s time to walk again. Head to the King’s Garden and on to Rosenborg Castle. This Danish palace was built in the 17th century and was originallly the king’s summer home. Today, Roenborg Slot (castle) contains a museum, including heirlooms from the Danish royal family.
You can opt to go in and explore, or continue on your way if you’re running out of steam. Next up… Round Tower.
Climb the Round Tower
You didn’t think you’d get through a day without climbing something, did you?! The Round Tower in Copenhagen is also known as Rundetarn, and is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. Visit during the day to see great views over the city, or come back at night to try your hand at astronomy!
Experience Copenhagen’s Food Scene
During your 72 hours in Copenhagen, make sure to explore the culinary scene of the city! This can be by carefully selecting your meals to include some of their classic goodies, like apple wine, smørrebrød open sandwiches, organic hot dogs, and artisanal cheeses or you can opt to take a culinary experience food tour!
As a food lover myself, I find eating in each new city to be one of my favorite experiences… it’s the inner fat kid shining through :). In any case, you’ll want to make the most of your time eating your way through Copenhagen! One of the best places to do this is at the Torvehallerne Market Hall which features over 60 vendors.
Day 3: Explore the Surrounding Areas
Having explored Copenhagen pretty thoroughly in the first two days in Copenhagen, you can plan a day trip to surrounding areas if you like! Alternatively, if you have not yet accomplished the above – as I like my days FULL, you can revisit those activities that got cut previously.
Day Trip Option 1: Castles!
If you’re trying to decide where to go for a day trip from Copenhagen, I can tell you what I decided to do… Ultimately, with a little bit of research I opted to go castle hunting. That is what you do when you’re in Europe, right?
My itinerary included:
- Frederiksborg Castle and Gardens in Hillerød
- Fredensborg Palace (sometimes referred to as a castle) and Gardens in, you guessed it, Fredensborg
- Kronborg Castle in Helsingør
See the full details about this day trip in its own post: Day Trip from Copenhagen to Three Castles.
Alternate Day Trip Options
Whether you don’t want to navigate transportation on your own or simply castles don’t really speak to you – don’t worry… there are a LOT of things to see around Copenhagen. That’s actually why a lot of people opt to spend more than three days in Copenhagen – you won’t run out of possible attractions!
Here are other awesome ideas for your “free” day in Copenhagen:
- Grand Day Trip: The most popular option for a day trip from Copenhagen is the Grand Day Trip. This trip takes you to many of the highlights of Denmark outside the city, including Kronborg Castle (aka Hamlet’s Castle), Frederiksborg Castle, Roskilde Cathedral, and the Viking Ship Museum. Take a minute to review the details and reviews to see why it’s the top choice!
- Hamlet and Sweden Day Trip: Did you know Sweden is right across the way from Copenhagen? You can easily visit Malmo, Sweden on a day trip! But this tour is even more amazing as you’ll be able to visit Helsingor for Hamlet’s Castle – Kronborg Castle as well. It packs a lot of punch for a day trip! Check out the Hamlet and Sweden Day Tour from Copenhagen details.
- Private Hamlet Castle Tour from Copenhagen: Another great way to see Kronborg Castle is to take a private tour. You’ll be able to go at your own pace and really enjoy the in-depth exploration of this UNESCO Heritage recognized castle. See the details for a private trip to Kronborg Castle.
- Private Half-Day Tour of Frederiksborg Castle: One of my favorite castles near Copenhagen is definitely the Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerod. Find all the details for the Frederiksborg Castle Tour here.
Things to Know Before Visiting Copenhagen
Before heading to Copenhagen for 3 days, you might want to have a few key tips that will make your trip successful.
- Cyclists. Cyclists are everywhere. They plague every road, almost like motorbikes in Vietnam, but the Vietnamese are better drivers! Keep your eyes open as you walk, drive, or cycle yourself to ensure you don’t end up in a bike accident – even as a pedestrian!
- Consider buying a Copenhagen DISCOVER Card to save on over 80 attractions and public transport. With 3 days in Copenhagen, you can buy the 72 hour Copenhagen card to enjoy free admission throughout your stay. Check out the Official Copenhagen Card here.
- The metro in Copenhagen runs 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This makes getting around the city easy. During rush hour, you’ll only wait 2 – 4 minutes between trains. Other times you’ll wait 3 – 6 minutes, although after midnight trains are less frequent so plan extra time into your commute.
- Be polite and punctual while in Copenhagen. If you have a tour that starts at 11am, be there at 10:59am so that you’re not late!
Explore More of Denmark
Now that you know how to spend 72 hours in Copenhagen, it’s time to learn a bit more about Denmark and the surrounding areas. This will help you make the most of your time in this beautiful country. Here are a few posts to get you started.
- How to Spend 3 Days in Copenhagen: Itinerary for First Timers
- How to Visit 3 Castles from Copenhagen: Day Trip Itinerary
- 20 Useful and Fun Facts about Denmark
For more information about Copenhagen and Denmark, check out these handy travel books.
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