Copenhagen - Do & See
Copenhagen is an old city with historic buildings, royal castles, beautiful parks and harbours, and plenty attractions and activities to keep even the most eager tourist busy. The city centre is characterized by charming architecture and narrow curving streets. But within resent years Copenhagen has supplemented its architectural heritage with new, world-class architecture. It is easy to explore the city and get around, and many sights are within walking distance from one another. Public transportation in Copenhagen is spotless, and you can always catch a bus or metro to get around. It is also possible to rent a bike, and travel the Danish way.
Ripleys Attractions - Guinness World Record Museum
Visit our Ripley´s attractions in the heart of Copenhagen – Guinness World Record Museum. The 1,000 m2 attraction is filled with exciting records in sport, art, nature, science, fashion and music. Meet the world’s tallest man who measured 272 cm or the heaviest, se the sight of 1.382.101 dominoes topping over. The world of music featuring the king of pop Michael Jackson, and the world of fashion featuring Hollywood’s queen of dresses Marilyn Monroe - just some of the many attractions providing entertainment for all the family. Open every day from 10:00 am.
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, in the centre of Copenhagen, has 800 years of history as the power base of the kingdom. Visit the magnificent Royal Reception Rooms, used by the Queen for events such as state dinners and banquets, and the Great Hall with a set of unique modern tapestries from 2000. See also the underground ruins of the medieval castles located on the site, the beautiful Palace Chapel, the Royal Stables and Carriages and the idyllic Court Theatre.
The Karen Blixen Museum
The Karen Blixen Museum is located in the charming old estate of Rungstedlund where the world famous author was born and lived most of her life. Experience the unique atmosphere of the very rooms where books such as Out of Africa and Seven Gothic Tales were written. The museum has a park and many special exhibitions and events. Relax in the cozy café.
Dansk Design Center
The Danish Design Centre presents varying exhibitions of Danish and international design. The Danish Design Centre has a nice shop with Danish and Scandinavian design products. At the Danish Design Centre, visitors also find Café DANSK with a cuisine that is based on the New Nordic Kitchen.The Danish Design Centre is a knowledge centre that offers advice to Danish companies about using design as a tool for innovation.
The David Collection
Experience an atmospheric museum with elegant 19th-century interiors, fine collections of furniture, porcelain, and silver, and work by renowned Danish painters, from Jens Juel and Christen Købke to the internationally acclaimed, Vilhelm Hammershøi. Then, enter a completely different cultural sphere through one of the world’s largest collections of Islamic art. The museum is located in the center of Copenhagen, across from the King’s Gardens. Admission is free.
The Round Tower
Observatory – Platform – Concert and Exhibition Hall
The Round Tower is one of the best known and most popular structures in Denmark. It is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe, and the platform that runs around the Observatory on the top of the tower affords views over the old Latin Quarter of Copenhagen. The road leading to the top takes the form of a white-washed spiral walk, passing the old Library which is the forum of exhibitions and concerts.
Danish Master Painters in The Hirschsprung Collection
The Hirschsprung Collection displays a unique selection of Danish art from the 19th century. The collection gives an almost overwhelming view of the period’s pictorial art, which is one of the most exciting and dynamic in Danish art. Here are works by masters such as Hammershøi, Eckersberg, Købke, Ancher and Krøyer. The museum is set in one of the most beautiful parks in the heart of Copenhagen.
The National museum - Who are the Danes?
Where can you learn about the history of the Danes from the first hunters of the Ice Age to the last hash stall from the ‘free state’ of Christiania? And where can you see one of the world’s biggest collections of exhibits from cultures all over the planet? At the National Museum, Denmark’s biggest museum, admission is free to all the exhibitions.
Tue-Sun 10.00-17.00
Free admission
Statens Museum for Kunst (The National Gallery)
Statens Museum for Kunst, the Danish national gallery, is the only place in Denmark, which features 700 years of Western art and cultural history under one roof. Consequently a visit to the museum means an artistic encounter between classical, modern and contemporary art, just as the museum building in itself represents a fusion of new and old. In addition to the permanent exhibition the museum is also highly capable of delivering temporary exhibitions of international quality and outlook.
Admission to the collections is free. Entry to the temporary exhibitions DKK 95
Opening hours
Tuesdays-Sundays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Mondays closed
Danish Architecture Centre
Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) is Denmark’s leading exhibition venue for new architecture and urban development located in an old warehouse by the waterfront. DAC is offering changing exhibitions, talks, debates and cultural events. Enjoy lunch in the café and visit the bookshop with the finest selection of books on architecture and design. Open all day 10-17 (Wed. until 21)
Louisiana Museum Of Modern Art
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is located 35 km north of Copenhagen with a panoramic view across the Øresund. The interaction between world class art, nature and architecture is unique, and Louisiana is often hailed as “probably the most beautiful museum in the world”. The collection includes significant chapters in 20th century art, and Louisiana is a dynamic framework for grand exhibitions, concerts, literature etc.
Open
Tuesday-Friday 11-22, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 11-18 Closed on Mondays.
The Danish Jewish Museum
Visit the Danish Jewish Museum and experience 400 years of Danish Jewish history in a unique space. The Danish Jewish history is the story of integration and conditions of life, about diversity and humanity. The world famous architect Daniel Libeskind has created the unique exhibition space, situated in the historical center of Copenhagen.
Kronborg Castle
There are few sites in the world where so much drama and history are gathered in one place. Here the cannon-surrounded fortress on the Danish coast merges with the luxurious Renaissance castle. Here the hero Holger Danske’s mighty sword meets Shakespeare’s equally mighty pen - as the ghost of Prince Hamlet glides through the passages. No wonder this place has been added to the World Heritage List.
Top Attractions
Copenhagen has attractions and sights to suit every taste and interest - and most of them are within walking distance. With a history that dates back to 1043 the city is full of historical landmarks, significant buildings and interesting sights. Be sure to visit Amalienborg Palace - home to the royal family, do a guided canal tour on the harbour and walk down the shopping street Strøget.
Architecture
Contemporary constructions blend in beautifully with historic buildings and palaces in Copenhagen. The cityscape in the centre is dominated by 4-6 storey low-rises rather than the typical glass and steel high-rises found in other capitals. Ørestaden is a new district worth exploring, where you will find the results of modern urban planning.
Guided Tours
Join a guided tour and get the inside scoop on the city by the locals. There are several guided tours with very different focus. Traditional walking tours, such as Show me Copenhagen, will take you to the most significant sights, and for those in shape there are jogging tours where you jog while you sightsee. CPH:Cool shows you the less known places – for instance with a tour around the district of Vesterbro, or a shopping tour around the city centre.
Kids Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a very kids friendly city. Buses and trains have areas reserved for prams and pushchairs, there are children’s’ menus in restaurants, and of course reductions at all museums and galleries. Copenhagen’s crown jewel, Tivoli , is a fairytale for kids, offering both the fun of the fair, and the peace and tranquillity of a park.
Baths and beaches
In Copenhagen you are never far from a beach and during the summer you can also go for a swim at the centrally located harbour pools. Visit for instance Amager Strandpark where you get 4.6 kilometers of white sand beach. Or try Islands Brygge Harbour pool located close to the city. Here you get five basins - two of these are for children.
Inner City
The city centre or inner City is the heart of Copenhagen. Here you will find Copenhagen’s oldest neighbourhood with small, narrow streets and crooked houses. The area also contains a myriad of great shopping streets with cosy cafes, nice restaurants, green areas, parks, charming canals and a modern waterfront. The main artery of the city is the pedestrian street Strøget that runs from City Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv.
On a budget
You do not have to miss out just because you are travelling on a budget. Most museums are either free all week or at least one day a week. Visit the Botanical Garden free of charge, and do not forget to walk down Langelinje where you will find The Little Mermaid. Another free of charge must-see is Christiania – a freetown that was founded by hippies in 1971. During the summer you will find lots of free festivals and live music.
Nørrebro
Nørrebro is a vibrant area of Copenhagen only minutes away from the city centre. Trendy bars and fashionable designer shops lie next door to dodgy dive bars and cheap kebab places. The people here are cool and casual and so is the neighbourhood. The street Elmegade is full of small designer shops, and in the nearby street Ravnsborggade antique shops are lined up.
Vesterbro
Once Vesterbro was mostly known for its infamous red light district. Today it is one of the hippest places around. The district is situated within walking distance from the city centre, right behind the Central Station. It is one of the most fashionable places in the city - not just to live, but to shop, eat, drink and have a great night out.
Tivoli
Tivoli is a must when visiting Copenhagen. The old Garden is situated in the heart of the city centre and appeal to romantics, the young at heart, food connoisseurs and flower fanatics. Scream for your life as you ride the carousels and roller-coasters, or take a quiet stroll and enjoy an ice cream on a bench – and say hello to Columbine and Harlequin. You can also eat at the many restaurants with stunning views of the fountains and thousands of colored lamps. Tivoli has it all.
Christiania
Christiania is a unique experience unlike anything else in the world! It all started with an abandoned military area, a lack of housing and anarchy back in 1971 and ended up with the hippie commune called Christiania. Today, a walk around the place is a totally unique experience. There is "homemade" art everywhere - sculptures, paintings and houses. Each of the houses is unique and interesting in its own way, and in lots of the workshops you can go inside and see creative "Christianitters," as the inhabitants are called, at work. One of the workshops is the factory for the world-famous Christiania cargo bikes.
Today, Christiania is Copenhagen’s most popular tourist attraction after Tivoli, and you can go on a guided tour with Christianitters themselves showing you around.
The actual Christianshavn district, where Christiania is located, has become a fashionable area, and a walk by the canals or coffee in one of the many nice cafés is a good idea.
The National Gallery of Denmark
The gallery is the principal museum for visual arts in Denmark. Its collection consists of almost 9,000 paintings and sculptures, and the museum is also very strong when it comes to special exhibitions with international appeal. The building itself is fantastic architecturally - an impressive mix of old and new with a new steel and glass annex. There is a very bright and airy café with delicious food served in impressive surroundings.
The Deer Park
The Deer Park (Dyrehaven) is a popular and romantic wooded park on the northern outskirts of Copenhagen. Among the old oak and beech trees there are fields and grass meadows where hundreds of deer and stags wander freely. The park is an eldorado for Copenhagen people looking for green spaces for a picnic. Part of the park houses the world’s oldest amusement park, Bakken, which has free entrance.
Horses can be hired at the entrance near Fortunport Hus.
The Opera House
Inaugurated in 2005. Designed by architect Henning Larsen, the concrete and glass building stands majestically by the harbour immediately opposite the Marble Church and the Royal Palaces of Amalienborg. The acoustics are world-class and the same goes for the decorations by a number of Danish artists. From the Opera, there is a fantastic view across the district of Frederiksstaden, the harbour, Amalienborg and the Marble Church.
The Royal Playhouse
The Royal Theatre’s new Playhouse was completed in 2008. The building is not just "state of the art" when it comes to stage and lighting techniques - it is also an architectural monument. In summer, the Ofelia Beach bar is open with lots of events from opera and theatre in the open air, live music and even beach volleyball.
