Copenhagen is a city that you visit for the vibe rather than for the sights. Peoples often found the most rewarding parts of Copenhagen to be wandering through the city and looking at the buildings, stopping for coffee at the coffee trucks along the harbor, and window shopping at the design stores. 

Regardless of when you visit, there’s a pretty good chance that it’ll rain on your trip to Copenhagen. The Danish capital gets well over 150 days of rain on average per year, and compared to London, the rainfall is often heavier here.

But even if the heavens open, you certainly won’t be bored. The Danes know that the wind howls and the rain falls for much of the year, and as such, they’ve designed their cities to be enjoyed regardless of the weather

Learn About Danish History at the National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum of Denmark, also known as Nationalmuseet, in Copenhagen.

Discover Danish history through multiple eras at this museum, including—of course—the Viking era. Popular exhibition place is Stories of Denmark, which covers the country’s history from 1660 to 2000. Here, you get a comprehensive understanding of Denmark’s journey to being the prosperous nation that it is today. 

Tickets for the National Museum cost 130 DKK for adults and 120 DKK per person for groups of up to 10 people. Everyone under the age of 18 can enter for free, making it a great choice if you’re visiting Copenhagen with kids. You can also get free entry to the museum if you buy the Copenhagen Card.

Nyhavn

The old harbour, Nyhavn, should be on all first-time visitors’ list of things-to-see in Copenhagen. Every summer the picturesque harbour is bursting with life and you’ll find locals of all ages sitting on the pier, squeezed together side by side. With its cobblestone streets, tall ships, colourful old townhouses and many restaurants and bars – Nyhavn is a great place for a stroll. If you’re feeling hungry, you’ll find plenty of restaurants serving traditional Danish food. A great way to learn more about Copenhagen and the history of Nyhavn is to do a canal tour departing from the harbour.

Tivoli Gardens

It is said that Walt Disney visited and loved the Tivoli Gardens and got so inspired that he created Disneyland after his visit. Even though I have visited the Amusement park numerous times – I still go there when I’m in Copenhagen. It is such a beautiful place and the details never stop to amaze me. Peoples favourite ride is a real classic – the Ferris wheel ‘Ballongyngen’. Tivoli is open for summer, Halloween and Christmas and is known for its themed decorations reflecting each season. 

The Little Mermaid Statue

Being the icon and symbol of Copenhagen and Denmark – I always recommend all first-time visitors to see the statue of The Little Mermaid. The statue is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale and is the most famous mermaid statue in the world. Often seen as being smaller than expected, there is still something magical about her. Situated on Langeline behind the Royal Palace, The Little Mermaid sits on her rock scouting for her prince. If you wish to avoid the big crowds of photo-hungry tourists, a great tip is to pay her a visit early in the morning. She looks especially pretty during the early morning hours when the sun rises behind her.

Freetown Christiania

Christiania is Copenhagen’s alternative neighborhood with homemade houses, galleries, venues, and organic cafés and restaurants. It is open to the public and you’re welcome to explore on your own, but it is also possible to book a guided tour, run by local Christianites. You’re not allowed to take photos at ‘Pusher Street’. I especially like to follow the gravel path around the lake to explore the backside of Christiania. During summer another tip is to visit Christiania on a Sunday for one of the free Sunday concerts on their open-air stage.

The Royal Palace 

The Royal Palace Amalienborg is the residence of the Danish royal family. The palace itself and the guards’ changing ceremony is one of Copenhagen’s top free sights. You can walk right into the beautiful courtyard to have a look at the, in total, four identical palaces. Every day at noon you can experience the changing of the guards.

Refshaleøen

Refshaleøen is one of the tourists favourite spots in Copenhagen. It was once home to one of the world’s largest shipyards, but today it is a trendy and upcoming area. You’ll find plenty of cafés, restaurants, and bars. One of the popular spot is Reffen; an outdoor food court serving food from all over the world. You can go by bike; it is just a short bike ride (approx. 15 minutes) from central Copenhagen, take bus 9A or one of the harbour buses. The harbour bus is also a great way to see Copenhagen from the water.

Conclusion

If you’ve only got time for one, or you need a destination to get you started, check out Illums Bolighus. It’s an enormous department store that sells all sorts of interesting things, from felt flowers and decorations to sheets to outdoor furniture and more. Wandering through feels a little bit like being in a design museum, except that you can actually buy the things on display.