Are you looking for reasons to visit the capital of Denmark? We have 6 specific reasons for you! Learn what to see in Copenhagen, check out tourist attractions, monuments and other interesting places. The free city of Christiania, Tivoli Park, Nyhavn port and other attractions will not hold any secrets from you!
Although Copenhagen is not large for a capital city it has plenty to offer. You cannot see everything in one weekend, obviously. We suggest what attractions and monuments are worth visiting and what to dedicate your time for. A must-see guide for the capital of Denmark!
Visiting The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is a symbol of Copenhagen, a fairytale figure invented by Hans Christian Andersen. The statue is not very impressive, located on the embankment of Langeline. At any time of the day, it is crowded with tourists with cameras. For those who want to avoid squeezing through groups of tourists, another option to see the Little Mermaid is a cruise ship, where the statue can be seen from the water.
It is perhaps not the biggest attraction in the world, but this is the unquestionable symbol of the capital of Denmark and not seeing it would be like visiting Paris and not going to the Eiffel Tower. A walk will certainly not be in vain, because there are other attractions nearby, in the form of the Kastellet citadel and the magnificent Gefion fountain, which we can see along the way. These fortifications are the oldest European stronghold still in use, and the Gefion fountain is for the Danes what the Trevi fountain is for the Italians.
You can find the Little Mermaid here:
The Little Mermaid was founded by Carl Jacobsen (descendant of the founder of the Carlsberg brewery), and created by the Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen. Over the years, she’s been under attack by various vandals, through which she lost her head, was painted on, or was dressed in various clothes. The Little Mermaid statue is so charming and recognizable that replicas have been made in several places around the world, including in the USA, Brazil and Romania.
Meeting with the queen – Amalienborg
Amalienborg is the winter residence of the royal family, with Queen Margaret II at the helm. The palace complex dates from the end of the 18th century, and since 1795 it has been the official seat of the royal court. The whole complex is built in baroque style, although some describe it as a Danish rococo. Amalienborg is actually four identical buildings, where a statue of Frederick V on horseback is placed in the center.
All of this is located in this part of Copenhagen:
In addition to the well-tended gardens and the Palace Museum, it is worth visiting due to the solemn changes of the guard of the Danish Royal Guard in the main courtyard. Guardsmen are dressed in similar to British uniforms with characteristic beanies of bear fur. Unfortunately, they do not have as much peace and patience as their English counterparts and can nervously react to the attempt to make a joint selfie. The changing of the guard takes place every day at noon. However, to see Queen Margaret with her own eyes, you have to go to Copenhagen on April 16th, when her birthday falls. Then she goes out to the balcony to thank the people for the wishes.
It is worth waiting for the changing of the guard in Amalienborg:
Continuing our sightseeing in Copenhagen, we will find: Green corner – Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens are a combination of gardens with beautiful and well-tended greenery, with a funfair and a place of cultural experiences, where cyclical events and concerts take place. This is where the best concert hall in Denmark is located – Tivolis Koncertsal.
Entrance to the park is paid and currently quite expensive at 110kr. At this price you can see (in the season) a collection of up to 80,000 tulips, which makes a lasting impression. You can take lighted green alleys, or take adrenaline rides. Carousels and modern roller coasters are waiting for their fans. Each of them is separately paid, and the most expensive of them are the rides: a roller coaster, a huge chain carousel or an airplane that rotates around its own axis. In addition, a lake is located on a nine-hectare site, where you can have a meal on the frigate of St. George. The Moorish Palace is also a major attraction of the Tivoli Gardens, in front of which there is a bubble fountain and a medieval castle. Nicest atmosphere prevails around Christmas, when the whole park is illuminated with thousand lights and there is an annual Advent market.
Tivoli Gardens is one of the biggest tourist attractions of Copenhagen:
People in Tivoli Park having fun:
A scrap of freedom – Christiania District
This is an unusual district of Copenhagen. Called Freetown, Christiania is officially recognized by the local government. It has its own rights, flag and, interestingly, even the currency. Entering the area is free, however, it is worth remembering that the residents do not want the visitors to record or photograph in this area.
Christiania was founded in the 70s in abandoned military barracks (almost 40 ha), where hippies settled. Not only temporary houses and small local businesses serving the general public, but also schools and kindergartens were established in this area. Concerts, performances and other happenings are organized here. Christiania, therefore, is an ideal refuge for artists and people with a specific world outlook, but unfortunately also for sex workers and drug dealers.
The Christiania District is located in this part of Copenhagen:
Certain norms apply, which residents are obliged to observe. You cannot bring in or possess weapons, stolen goods or hard drugs in Christiania. It is also forbidden to use violence against others. You cannot use cars or explosives – including fireworks. And the strangest rule is running ban. The local people say that it only introduces nervousness and that criminals or policemen run here. It is also no secret that in Christiania marijuana and hashish are traded and used, which is the main reason for the media interest and buzz around this district.
Carlsberg beer museum
One of the things that is associated with the Carlsberg brewery is its entrance gate, which is decorated with four elephants built in 1: 1 scale. Two of them have their trunks straight, and the other two have their trunks resting on orbs. The elephant gate was made of Bornholm granite and it gives the name of one beer from the local factory – Elephant beer. The entrance to the museum itself is located next to this gate, and a sign with the inscription “visit Carlsberg” is directing to it.
Those interested in visiting the beer museum are invited to this address:
The Carlsberg beer museum was created by keeping a fragment of the production line and the packaging place. Tourists can admire not only the subsequent stages of brewing of this world-famous beverage, but also a huge collection of beer from all corners of the world. As part of the visit, you can also look at the stable, which one once housed draft horses that were pulling the carts with which drinks were distributed. We can also see the barrel making process and the modern production line. At the end, in a cozy bar, you can try two of several types of beer as part of the admission ticket. The tour itself will take about an hour, and the admission costs 85kr.
When visiting Copenhagen, you can also take a walk along the Nyhavn seaside.
Nyhavn is another place strongly associated with Copenhagen. Picturesque, colorful tenement houses are the background of the seaside, and often are depicted in postcards or on the covers of guidebooks. This is where you can rest a while, drink coffee or beer, eat something and just relax. If the bustling atmosphere of the canal does not bother you, you can admire the moored sailboats, barges and fishing boats that sway on the water. This part of Copenhagen used not enjoy a good reputation and nobody wanted to go into this area. The criminal underbelly of the city lived here, as well as sailors, fishermen and other blue collar workers. Today, it is a must see place to visit in the capital of Denmark. It attracts with a multitude of restaurants, cafes and pubs and teems with social life. Hans Christian Andersen, author of world famous fairy tales, has been living there for some time . This is commemorated by plates hanging on individual tenement houses.
Here a small map that facilitates sightseeing and reaching this attraction:
The Nyhavn port, called the New Port, was built in 1673 and stretches from Kongens Nytorv, where a monument to honor the sailors who died in World War II is located. The port is divided into two parts – left and right. The first one is a sunny oasis with restaurants and hotels, the other is more urban, maybe because of the proximity of the city itself.
Current map of Copenhagen
In every decent web guide you can find the map. That is why we present below the current map of Copenhagen, which will allow you to learn about the distances and locations of monuments and attractions in Copenhagen. Thanks, it will not be easier to know how to plan your visit to this city:
Now that you know what to see in Copenhagen, we wish you a great tour of the capital of Denmark! We also invite you to add your opinion on what else is worth visiting and see in Copenhagen. There are many monuments and attractions – it is impossible to list all in one place. Despite everything, we hope that our short guide helped you!