The Things I Did in Copenhagen That Were Actually Worth It

Halfway through my recent trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, I declared to my friends “I think this is the most pleasant place I’ve ever traveled to.”

This might seem like a silly thing to say, but I meant it. I’ve traveled pretty extensively, but Copenhagen struck me as different from all the rest. 

An effortless air of pleasantness or, “hygge” as the Scandinavians call it (more on that below), made its way into every day of my trip. This feeling was the common thread of all my favorite activities in Copenhagen.

First, a little about embracing hygge…

A major reason why Copenhagen is so special is its presence of “hygge,” a Scandinavian term and concept that means “a warm atmosphere… to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures.” [source]

Hygge is kind of abstract and hard to pin down, but it’s basically a feeling that’s all about slowing down, feeling cozy, and indulging in simple pleasures. 

I touch on this sense of pleasantness and hygge in many of the below-mentioned activities. This is intentional. Hygge is all across Copenhagen — in its parks, charming streets, cozy cafes, and a peaceful feeling in the air. Hygge permeates through everything. 

Embracing this simple concept is one of the best ways to enjoy Copenhagen. Notice hygge, become friends with it, and soak it up. By learning and leaning into hygge, you’ll experience Copenhagen at its best. 

Now, onto my absolute favorite Copenhagen activities that are truly worth doing:

Self-Guided Boat Tour – The perfect way to sightsee 

I love a good boat tour. So when I learned you could rent your own boat to glide around Copenhagen’s canals, I knew my friends and I had to book one. 

We rented through the company FriendShips, which I highly recommend. For about $130 total, four of us were able to rent a small, comfortable electric boat for two hours. 

We showed up to our boat rental with bakery goodies, ready to hit the calm, morning canal waters. After an easy instruction on how to drive the boat, we headed off, passing the most charming, colorful Danish homes and buildings. We sailed through quaint residential areas and right through the city center. 

This boat tour was a highlight of my trip and such an idyllic and serene way to see Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen Free Walking Tour – An Introduction to Copenhagen 

I’ve done a lot of walking tours over the years and let me tell you, the Copenhagen Free Walking Tours are fantastic. It’s not that they include anything particularly groundbreaking, but they’re just extremely well-run. 

My guide was Daniel O. He’s originally from New Zealand but he’s lived in Copenhagen for almost 20 years. He was awesome — friendly, enthusiastic, and engaging.

My group did the Grand Tour of Copenhagen, which lasted about 2.5 – 3 hours. It was extremely well-rounded and we saw almost all the top sites and learned about the city’s history. I really loved the fact that we passed major attractions as well as quaint, colorful streets a little off the beaten path. 

I left feeling like I had a good sense of the city and what places I wanted to return to. 

Daniel also gave us great recommendations. For example, he told us to visit Tivoli Gardens at night instead of during the daytime because the evening lights make the atmosphere extra special. We took his recommendation and were so glad we did. 

👉 Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes! You’ll do a lot of walking. 

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – Inside art meets outside art

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is about an hour outside of Copenhagen and completely worth the day trip. In fact, if you can only do one museum during your visit, make it this one. 

This modern art museum is like an experience of beauty inside and outside. The galleries are set up campus-style and sort of arranged in a circle with a greenspace in the center that overlooks the sea. It’s so picturesque, especially in the summer. 

The collection features a diverse range of classic modernism, sculptures, and contemporary exhibitions. Two of my favorite exhibits were the temporary Chaïm Soutine exhibit and the permanent Gleaming Lights of the Souls exhibit by Yayoi Kusama. 

Visit in the morning to take as much time as you need to see the exhibits. Then, sit at the cafe or relax in the peaceful outdoor landscape. 

Tivoli Gardens – The greatest amusement park you’ll ever visit 

Visiting Tivoli Gardens was one of my absolute favorite things I did in Copenhagen. I’m talking top three. I’ve always felt like some theme parks can be a bit cheesy, but not this one. Cheese aside, Tivoli was all charm. 

You’ll find roller coasters, kid-friendly rides, and plenty of games, shops, and restaurants at Tivoli. But it’s also just a charming place to wander around and enjoy. There are endless nooks and crannies filled with flowers and cute buildings. 

I kept telling my friends that Tivoli was “overwhelmingly pleasant.” To be honest with you, I was actually stunned that a theme park could be so calm and uncomplicated. 

I loved the Demon roller coaster set in the Japanese Garden part of the park (pictured above). The Star Flyer was also super fun and allowed you to see all of Copenhagen from high up. I also recommend visiting in the evening to enjoy the park when the lights come on. 

Indulging in Bakeries – they’re that good 

The bakeries in Copenhagen are top-tier. I tried a handful of them all over the city and enjoyed fantastic sweet and savory goodies at each one. Above all, I noticed that the baked goods were all well-made and never too sweet. 

The places I visited were Hart, Juno the Bakery, Lille Bakery, Atelier September, and Apotek 57. Each one was amazing. And I highly recommend trying a cardamom bun! But truly, you can’t go wrong with anything. 

La Banchina – A place to swim, sunbathe, sauna, and grab a bite

La Banchina is yet another example of that Copenhagen pleasantness I keep talking about. This cafe-restaurant-floating dock is located in the Holmen-Refshaleøen neighborhood and is such a cool spot to check out if you catch Copenhagen on a hot day. 

It’s free to enter and clearly loved by locals. The floating docks and decks are crowded, but once you find an opening, it’s worth it. My friends and I stayed here for a couple of hours, swimming and soaking up the sun and local buzz. There’s even a sauna on-site!

I recommend heading to Reffen Food Market after your sun tanning and swimming to grab a bite to eat. 

Reffen Food Market – A canal-side market with every cuisine imaginable 

Reffen Food Market feels like the queen of all food markets. This outdoor, canal-side food market has an incredibly diverse range of vendors. I’m talking about everything from Danish to Kurdish to Filipino food. It kind of blew my mind. 

You have to stop here if you’re visiting the Holmen-Refshaleøen area (or even if you’re not). I recommend ordering from a few different vendors if you have the appetite for it. I ordered a chicken kebab from Gosht (pictured above), parmesan fries from Ramsløg, and a mango rum soda from the cocktail bar. 

Nab a picnic table by the water and enjoy the perfect lunch or dinner experience in Copenhagen. 

Copenhagen Contemporary – Browse thought-provoking exhibits and get crafty 

Copenhagen Contemporary is another cool spot around the Holmen and Refshaleøen area. This massive warehouse is an art museum and exhibition space that features some really cool contemporary works. It also has interactive art stations where you can make your own crafts. 

I loved Aftershock, an immersive exhibit by James Turrell. The Children’s exhibition: The Fantastic Bus by Jakob Martin Strid was also super cool. 

Christiania & Christianshavns Vold – An idyllic nature preserve

Here I go talking about how pleasant Copenhagen is again. 

Christianshavns Vold is the nature preserve located adjacent to the Freetown Christiania commune. This natural area is peaceful and I highly recommend going for a stroll here after exploring the more touristy places in Christiania. 

It’s the perfect place to have a small picnic, bike, and relax with friends or a good book. The pond is calm and adorable cottages dot the shoreline. My friends and I spent an hour or so sitting on the shore, soaking up sun, and watching the ducks go by. It’s perfectly idyllic. 

Malmo – Take a day trip to Sweden for top-tier vintage and thrift shopping 

Malmo, Sweden is a paradise for those who love vintage and thrift shopping (myself included). Luckily, it’s just a quick day trip away from Copenhagen. 

This small city abounds with thrift stores and vintage shops. I’m talking about at least 20 stores within a small, walkable area. You can find everything from unique vintage clothing to homewares.

We spent all day browsing stores like Humana Second-Hand, Björkå Secondhand, and Pop Boutique. I found so many gems like a vintage halter top from the 60s and a folk-style mini-vest.

Frederiksborg Castle – A cozy and historic castle outside of Copenhagen 

Frederiksborg Castle is another mini-day trip from Copenhagen you can get to by train. This is a nice change of scenery compared to many other castles around Europe. Particularly, because the decor and materials are darker and more understated. It gives the whole castle a cozy atmosphere. 

The Frederiksborg Castle Chapel, the Privy Passage, and the Great Hall are some of my favorite spots in addition to some of the individual rooms. Set aside a whole morning or afternoon to wander the castle and its grounds. The place is massive. 

Thorvaldsens Museum – Look up & see beautifully painted ceilings 

I stumbled into the Thorvaldsens Museum because it was free museum day. It’s a quaint museum with a smaller collection than others around Copenhagen. However, it’s the building itself that makes it worth visiting. 

The Greek-inspired building was built in 1848 to house the work and personal collection of Danish artist, Bertel Thorvaldsen. Today, the building looks about the same as it did back then. 

The vividly vibrant blue and yellow ceilings were the most distinguishing feature of the building. Many of the rooms even displayed intricate patterns amidst the brightly painted ceilings. It is stunning to see in person. 

Thorvaldsens Museum isn’t super huge, so you only need an hour or two to see everything. But I think it’s worth a stop. 

Designmuseum Denmark – Learn about the history & importance of Danish design 

Danish design is well-known around the world for its minimalism, functionality, and quality. It definitely plays a role in the city’s pleasant “hygge” atmosphere I’ve talked so much about. 

I’m so glad I visited Designmuseum Denmark to learn more about Denmark’s design history. It was fascinating to learn about why design impacts our daily lives whether we realize it or not. 

For example, one exhibit explained how the specific warmth or coolness of light can affect productivity, or how a simple bench can impact a sense of community. 

Biking – Explore Copenhagen like the locals do

Biking is one of the best ways to get around Copenhagen. There are protected bike lanes all across the city and, since Copenhagen is so flat and safe, biking is a really nice way to see the sights.

We rented bikes through the Donkey Republic app, which cost about $20 for a day pass. Each Donkey Republic bike even had its own name! My bike’s name was Seppe and my friends’ bikes were Ambre and Ellen. 

This tiny little detail just topped off my growing list of cute things about Copenhagen.  

Playgrounds & Recreation – Enjoy Copenhagen like a kid

Copenhagen has long been ranked one of the most livable cities in the world. There are many reasons for this. However, one tiny detail I noticed was the city’s simple use of public space. 

Things like public trampolines, gym equipment, and swings were scattered around the city. This makes Copenhagen feel a little like a grown-up playground. 

My friends and I discovered some canal-side trampolines after leaving our boat tour and before heading to a museum. This quick pit stop was so fun and made our afternoon a little more memorable. 

👉 Read Next: A Guide to Where to Stay in Copenhagen

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Thanks for reading my favorite things to do in Copenhagen! I hope you get to enjoy all of these activities if you visit. I loved them and I hope you do, too. My guess? You’ll tick these items off your list and like me, you’ll start saying to yourself “Wow, this is so pleasant…”