As Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen is known to be a little tough on the wallet. But, it’s also known as one of the world’s most liveable cities. There’s plenty to do without having to break the bank.
From living the royal life and taking a swim to experiencing a city within a city and going on a treasure hunt, here are a few of our favourites.
Trot along to tradition
The march of the Royal Danish Guard is a daily tradition © alex.stark
Here’s a fun fact: Denmark has the oldest flag still in use. Here’s another one: it has one of the oldest monarchies in the world. If you’re a history buff who loves to see tradition at work, do we have something for you.
Every day at 11.30, the Danish Royal Guard (called Den Kongelige Livgarde in Danish) marches from the court of the Rosenberg Castle to Amalienborg Palace – where the queen lives. You can follow the guards through the streets of Copenhagen all the way to the palace. It’s a perfect photo op, walking tour and history lesson all in one.
Plus, you’ll end up at the palace where you can see where the royal family lives, visit Amalienborg Museum (they charge admission) or take a short walk to see the famous little mermaid statue from the fabled Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale.
Become a part of the community
Situated on Sønder Boulevard on the west side of town, Absalon is smack dab in the middle of Copenhagen’s cultural scene. Renovated and reopened in 2015, this old, beautiful church has now become the number one community centre in Copenhagen.
The founder of Absalon (who also happens to be the mind behind the global Flying Tiger stores chain) wanted it to be “the people’s house” – meaning it is always free to enter and open for all. There is almost always a free event (ping pong tournaments, karaoke, film screenings, etc.) in the large, vaulted main room that you are welcome to participate in. Patrons of Absalon are very friendly and easy to strike up conversations with, so it’s a great place to meet people if you’re travelling alone. Or, you could just find a colourful corner and take in the clever way the building was remodelled.
As a community centre, Absalon helps the less fortunate and has many opportunities for volunteers. You can also find a number of budget workshops and communal meals that are wallet-friendly – in case you wanted to stick around for a bite. Check out their programme for a full list of activities, including some DJ sets and concerts for a night out that won’t break the bank.
Pop into a museum or two
Take a breather in the interior garden at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum
While some of the bigger museums and galleries charge, there are a few that offer one free admission day.
Nikolaj Kunsthal, a contemporary art museum right in the heart of the city centre, offers free admission on Wednesdays. Just down the road on the picturesque Nyhavn, Kunsthal Charlottenborg is a contemporary art museum known for well-themed curations. It also has free admission on Wednesdays – only after 5pm, though.
Across the road from Tivoli is Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, a museum for ancient and modern art that has free admission on Tuesdays. Pro tip: bring a book and enjoy the beautifully lush garden in the heart of the museum. The David Collection, a museum boasting a treasure trove of ancient Islamic art, is free every day and well worth the visit.
Note that the free admission usually doesn’t get you into the special exhibitions – but there’s still plenty of art for you to take in. Be sure to check the websites for opening hours.
Go on a hunt for giants
Meet Hill Top Trine! She is one of the “Six Forgotten Giants” © iverina
Lurking in the woods and natural landscapes bordering Copenhagen are six, huge – but friendly – giants. This may sound like Scandinavian folklore but we assure you, it’s completely true.
The “Six Forgotten Giants”, a creation from the mind of Danish artist Thomas Dambo to entice Danes to explore outside the city, are unique sculptures made from recycled wood and each one has a distinct personality. Big enough to climb on, lean against, sleep in and take selfies with, these giants are works of art that make a hike pleasurable for even the ‘citiest’ of city slickers.
It can be a lot to try and see all six in one day as they are spread apart in the outskirts of the municipality – but it’s great to couple a ‘giant hunt’ with another activity if you’re further away from the city centre.
Find the locations and backstories of all the giants on the artist’s website.
Chill out … in a cemetery
We know what you’re thinking: a cemetery, are they serious?! The answer is yes, yes we are. It seems a little unconventional but Assistens Kierkegård, a cemetery in the heart of Nørrebro, is one of the hotspots of Copenhagen. And it’s free!
As Copenhagen is a tiny city, any parks and green space are valuable. On any given day – no matter the weather – you will find all kinds of people spending a little quality time in this beautiful space. If the weather is nice, people will even bring blankets and lay out to tan and have a picnic! Just be sure to pay attention to the signs showing where it is acceptable to lay down and where it’s not.
Whether it’s sitting on a bench with a book, walking the tree-lined paths or looking for famous graves (physicist Niels Bohr, author Hans Christian Anderson, jazz musician Ben Webster and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard are all buried here) – this little picturesque cemetery is a breath of fresh air from the bustle of the city. Have an open mind and give it a try – you’ll be living like a local!
Kick back in Christiania
Take a couple of minutes to gaze at very skilled skaters in Christiania’s skate park © cassandreangeli
Did you know that, technically, you can leave Copenhagen without actually leaving? We’ll explain.
In 1971, a group of anti-establishmentarian hippies occupied an area of abandoned buildings in the centre of the city and established the self-governed Freetown Christiania.
Though this small patch of land does generate some controversy – and you should take care to respect local rules, such as restrictions on photography – Christiania is about much more than pot-shopping on Pusher Street.
A cherished refuge for locals, the landscape is beautiful, the atmosphere is laid-back and there are art galleries, music venues and cheap, organic eateries scattered throughout.
Walking the dusty paths among the trees spotting wacky local houses or sitting by the lake will, of course, cost you nothing and, in the summer, the volunteer-run Café Nemoland puts on free concerts every Sunday, showcasing everything from Danish reggae and dancehall to playful re-interpretations of old protest songs by some of the city’s most famous artists.
Take a breather in the Botanical Garden
What’s better than a walk among rare plants? The Botanical Garden is home to a diverse mix of plants and fungi
Copenhagen’s Botanical Garden contains the largest collection of living plants in the country and serves both as a research area for the city’s zealous botany students and as a green oasis for summer picnics and lying peacefully in the grass.
If the sun isn’t out, you can warm up in the tropical climate of the “palm house”, one of four large greenhouses on the property, housing rare plants like the Indonesian Amorphophallus Titanum. Can you guess from the name what it resembles?
Beware this exotic fiend when it’s in bloom though; the stench it exudes has earned the giant plant its other, equally unflattering, moniker: “corpse flower”. Yuck.
Jump head first into the harbour
Take the plunge in the Harbour Bath at Islands Brygge
Every summer since it first opened, the Harbour Bath at Islands Brygge has been a favourite spot for hordes of overheated Copenhageners who want to cool down and relax after a hard day’s work.
Recently, the open air baths have expanded to include a winter pool, so those with a Viking temperament can enjoy a plunge all year round.
Even if dipping your toes into chilly waters isn’t your idea of fun, the stunning city skyline seen from the waterfront is still worth the trip.
Sleek modern buildings reflect the sunlight, boats bob along the silver water, the twisting verdigrised spires of the Old Stock Exchange jut out into the sky and, last but not least, The Black Diamond – the Royal Danish Library – shines bright and dramatic across the bank.
Explore the grungy Nørrebro neighbourhood
The red square is one of Superkilen’s three main areas and a beloved hangout for locals © pernellecph
For a look underneath Copenhagen’s pretty, cobblestoned surface, mount your bike and head to Nørrebro. Gritty, hip, casual and the most culturally diverse neighbourhood in the city – it’s people-watching-perfect.
Have a picnic between H.C. Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard in the cherished Assistens Cemetery. Browse the weekend flea market set up along its bright yellow outer wall, or window-shop on nearby eco-and-design-obsessed Jægersborggade.
Stop by the polychrome city space Superkilen for a spontaneous boxing match. Watch the cool kids skating in Nørrebroparken. Pet a goat at the ByOasen urban garden. Listen to boom boxes blaring music on Dronning Louise Bridge with the locals.
You’ll feel spoilt for choice.
Walk the city streets
Strøget, in the city centre, is one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets
Cycling is indisputably the best way to get around the Danish capital but the immensely popular Copenhagen Free Walking Tours are also a great way to explore the city.
Tips aren’t mandatory but you’ll want to leave a little something to the enthusiastic team of locals winding you through the city’s streets and stories, determined to pass their passion for Copenhagen onto you.
Choose between a classic, exhaustive three-hour tour that leaves no Copenhagen (cobble)stone unturned, or two 90-minute expeditions – one focused on the city’s historical landmarks, the other centred around the cosy Christianshavn area and neighbouring Christiania.
Skip town for a day
Hang out with the deer in Dyrehaven
If, on the other hand, the biking culture has charmed you and you want to take it up a notch, the 45-minute cycle to the quaint white-and-blue themed Bellevue Beach makes for a beautiful scenic ride – and your destination is a masterpiece of modernist architecture. You’ll have to spend a little on renting a bike but there are some reasonably priced options, including Baisikeli, whose proceeds go toward making bicycles accessible in African countries.
From the functionalist petrol station to the iconic theatre with its convertible roof, the small changing rooms on the sand and the soaring lifeguard towers along the seaside, virtually all the buildings of this “white town” were created by world-famous Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, after winning a competition to design the resort in the 1930s.
When you’re done admiring the coastline, the 1000 hectares of scenic, cultivated woodland in Dyrehaven (The Deer Park) await you just a stone’s throw from the beach.
Along with shy fawn hiding in the scrubland, it’s also home to the world’s oldest operating amusement park, Bakken – it’s like Tivoli, only free to get into.
