How to spend a day in Copenhagen

Getting There

During a trip to Europe last summer, Aldo and I decided to do a quick trip to Copenhagen. We’ve never been, it was close to Hamburg (where we were staying), and we heard great things about the beautiful City. So we packed a bag, took a train and a ferry (and at one point the train was on the ferry!) to our newest destination – Copenhagen. The train/ferry ride was very pleasant. Also, the scenery was beautiful and it was a relatively quick trip (about 5 hours).

Where to Stay in Copenhagen

We booked a hotel, the AC Hotel by Marriott Bella Sky Copenhagen, which was about 15mins by metro from the City Center. It was a really cool looking hotel and our room had great views! We arrived in Copenhagen around midnight – so we went straight to bed our first night.

Things to do in Copenhagen when you have limited time in the City

The next day (which was our only full day in Copenhagen), we took the metro (from the Bella Center stop). The Bella Center stop was about 2 blocks from the hotel, and took us directly to City Center (Nørreport Station). Since we did not know the City at all at this point, we decided to do a Copenhagen hop-on hop-off boat tour.

Copenhagen (or Kobenhavn) is the biggest city in all of Scandinavia and is recognized as the happiest city in the world! It is known for its intricate designs (which are apparent in its architecture), and there are a number of design museums throughout the City. Additionally, the bike culture is extremely prominent (during rush hour we saw hundreds of bikes on the streets, and a very limited amount of cars). Other things that Copenhagen is known for are its wind energy, its vibrant and colorful houses along the Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid and more! We saw so much by doing the boat tour! Yes, we did not get to spend a lot of time in each place, but we got a better understanding of the City and learned a little more about its culture.

Hop-on Hop-off Boat Tour

Seeing Copenhagen by water was amazing! The boat tour made stops at a number of spots around the City, including:

Nyhavn
Christianhavn
Street Food/ Reffen
The Little Mermaid
Ofelia Plads/Amelienborg Palace
The Black Diamond
Ved Stranden/ Stroget

Nyhavn

Nyhavn is one of the most iconic and most photographed spots in Copenhagen. It is a 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen lined with beautiful, vibrantly colored houses. It is the perfect spot to grab some lunch and people watch or sip a cocktail while gazing at the sunset.

Tivoli Gardens

After the boat tour, we wandered around the City, getting lost in its different neighborhoods. We stopped by the Tivoli Gardens (which is a must-see when visiting Copenhagen). The Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park (2^nd oldest and 2^nd most popular amusement park in the world) right in the middle of the City! There are many rides, restaurants, food stands, the Pantomime Theater (we got to see a show), arcades, an aquarium and more!!

While at the Tivoli Gardens we tried some of the Danish Smørrebrød. The Smørrebrød is a traditional open faced sandwich which can be filled with different combinations of seafood, meats, cheese and vegetables. It was very good – and aesthetically pleasing – see below!

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is a very popular attraction in Copenhagen. She is a bronze sculpture that is displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen. When you hear it’s one of the most popular attractions, you probably imagine a big sculpture, right? Well, that’s not the case with this “Little” Mermaid! She sits 1.25 meters or 4.1 ft tall, and can be pretty easy to miss (but there are constant crowds around her, so don’t worry about missing her). The Little Mermaid came into existence when Hans Christian Andersen (Danish author) wrote the story of The Little Mermaid in 1836. Disney later produced the movie, and since 1913, Copenhagen has maintained a statue in her honor.

Copenhagen by Foot

After the Tivoli Gardens, we walked around the Vesterbro neighborhood where we came across a really cool cocktail bar, the Lidkoeb. There was a little outdoor patio where we sat and enjoyed a drink. Afterwards, we ended up at Mikkeller’s bar, another fun spot where we sat outside and had a beer.

After having a couple of drinks, we were pretty hungry. So we walked around some more and ended up at one of Copenhagen’s top rated … wait for it, BBQ restaurants! The place was called Warpigs. Since we lived in Nashville and experienced great BBQ spots, I think I can say that I know good BBQ when I have it – and I do have to give it to Warpigs, they had some delicious BBQ ribs!

The Verdict

Though we only had one full day in Copenhagen, it was enough for the City to capture my interest and want to go back and explore it again! If you have a chance to go to Copenhagen or you’re thinking of making a trip there, I definitely recommend it! If you’re on a time constraint and that’s stopping you from visiting a new destination, don’t let it! There are many things to do and see, but this charming city lends itself to ravelers looking for a quick visit, due to the ease of getting around.

Since this was a last minute trip, I didn’t purchase my handy guide book. However, if you have a few days in the City, I recommend getting one of my favorite little travel guides – DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Copenhagen.

If you have any questions or want any suggestions, please contact me or comment below! And now… more pictures!