There’s plenty of things to see in Copenhagen beyond the candy-coloured Nyhavn and Denmark’s national aquatic beauty, the Little Mermaid.
Go on a treasure hunt to find all 7 of these great hideaways in the Danish capital, each selected from our updated city guide, momondo places. Download it now for free!
University Gardens
Once upon a time, Copenhageners would spend their Sundays dressing up in their finest gowns and visiting the romantic University Gardens. Take a step back in history and enjoy a picturesque walk down the curvy pathways among rose gardens, flower beds, creeks, groves and woods.
This is still the perfect location for tranquil walks and reloading for the everyday buzz. Today it is mostly students and locals who stroll through the beautiful area since it is a bit out of the inner city. However, the University Gardens are a must-see, we recommend you make a trip out of it and seize the area.
Enjoy a stroll down Gammel Kongevej, stop by the local boutiques and let the children roam about in Frederiksberg Gardens. Round it up with an afternoon in the Zoo, and congratulate yourself on having experienced a Copenhagen area that is well off the beaten tourist track.
Where: Bülowsvej 17
Getting there: Bus 2A: Det Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
A Courtyard Sneak Peak
If you happen to come by an unclosed gate, don’t miss the chance to take a sneak peek into one of the charming courtyards that hide out in the centre of the back-to-back apartment buildings. Just a sneak peek is all you need, though; it is a residential area.
There is a huge courtyard located between the streets Fælledvej and Elmegade that is an excellent example of the spacious green areas behind Copenhagen’s housing blocks. It is in these protected environments that everyday life takes place. You’ll see playgrounds, gardens and lawns where kids are playing and families are eating. This is the hidden part of Copenhagen.
Where: Elmegade
Getting there: Bus 5A: Elmegade
Bopa Plads
Like a little Berlin hideaway, the Bopa Plads square is a small, hidden pocket of café relaxation hiding out in the midst of the quiet residential area of Østerbro. Seek it out, and you’re in for a treasure trove of treats.
Have a seat below the treetops, enjoy a cold beer or a glass of lemonade from one of the adjacent cafés and lean into the peaceful ambience. The atmosphere is cosy with an edge that sort of displaces it from the surrounding neighbourhood – very colourful and inviting.
If you are looking to eat, then enjoy classic café fare from the charming Pixie café. While you are here, strolling by delis, antique shops and little boutiques in Nordre Frihavnsgade is another delightful affair. Round up with a cocktail from the nearby Kitjn, and then your day is complete.
Where: Løgstørgade 2
Getting there: Bus 1A: Gustav Adolfs Gade
Østre Anlæg
As you have read about above, Copenhagen is full of pockets of lush greenery you don’t necessarily notice when you traverse the city scape.
Østre Anlæg is another lovely example, hiding out behind the Danish National Gallery. While you are here, have a peek inside the gallery and relish in collections containing seven hundred years of art – and immerse yourself into the picturesque beauty of the park itself.
Take a walk around part of the old moat system of Copenhagen, and bring your children to the huge play-scape including tennis court, paddling pool, covered playing field, large swings and stranded fishing vessel. If the children are tired from all the new impressions, this park makes up the perfect spot for a tranquil reload.
Where: Stockholmsgade 24
Nearest station: Østerport
Kartoffelrækkerne
This setting is probably what many a visitor would imagine Copenhagen to be like. Built in the late 19th century to house the working class of Copenhagen, the crammed yet utterly charming two-storey houses are now among the most popular places to live.
In Danish ‘kartoffel’ means potato, and Kartoffelrækkerne were given their name since they were built on old market gardens and the urban layout somewhat resembled rows of potatoes. They are located in the quiet and cosy eastern parts of Copenhagen, right next to the lakes, the stroll and jogging favourite of many a locals – and Øster Farimagsgade’s abundance of restaurants and cafés. Further enhancing their popularity, they are nestled between the two green oases Østre Anlæg and Fælledparken.
Take a peek!
Where: Skovgaardsgade
Nearest station: Østerport
Assistens Kirkegård
Nørrebro is one of the most colourful and vibrant areas of Copenhagen due to its multitude of cultures, students, bikes, charming greengrocers and ethnic eateries. Right in the middle of the neighbourhood, hiding out behind a long saffron-yellow wall running alongside Nørrebrogade, you will find the lovely, tranquil Assistens Kirkegård.
It is actually a cemetery, but moreover, a park, and one of the most charming of its kind. It has a serenity that sets it apart from the rest of the city. Many a grand character has been put to eternal rest here, including philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and writer H.C. Andersen.
Bring a book and relax on one of the in-between lawns, or enjoy a romantic stroll among trees and lush greenery.
Where: Kapelvej 4
Getting there: Bus 5A: Kapelvej
Brumleby
Children running in and out of unlocked doors, cats lounging in the sun, laundry hanging out to dry, and an overwhelming sense of calm and ease. Curious? Check out the small community, Brumleby, one of the earliest examples of social housing in Denmark, and a very charming one indeed.
This small village of its own has a remarkable sense of unity amongst its inhabitants. It was created for workers by the Danish Medical Association back in the 19th century and got its curious name from the cows that would stand around the area and ‘brumle’, the peculiar Danish word for the sound of cows grassing and chewing.
Go take a peek, and let your children loose in the weirdly twisted playhouses.
Where: Brumleby
Getting there: Bus 1A: Trianglen
