Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and its most populous city. It’s also the most popular city for tourists passing through Denmark to visit. You’ll find a lot of history here, but there’s also some options for fun. For your one day in Copenhagen, tour a royal palace, an offbeat community, churches, and end your day with an amusement park. There’s a lot of variety, but I think that’s what makes exploring Copenhagen fun.
One Day in Copenhagen
This Copenhagen itinerary does not start early. At least, I don’t think it starts early, but you may feel different. Many of the top sights throughout Scandinavia don’t open until later in the morning. So, in order to accommodate 10:00 am opening times, that’s when this itinerary starts.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that because museums open later that they’d be open longer. Nope. Typically the sights close at 5:00, so we need to try to cram as much in between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
So, I recommend having a good breakfast and being at your first stop right when it opens at 10:00 to make an efficient use of your one day in Copenhagen.
10:00 – Rosenborg Palace
I’m starting your one day in Copenhagen with the Rosenborg Castle. If you arrive early, take time to explore the castle grounds and gardens before entering the palace at 10:00. On a nice day (and even on some not so nice days), you’ll find plenty of Danes enjoying the sunshine and walking through the park.
But let’s talk about the palace itself.
Rosenborg Palace was built as a summer residence for King Christian IV in the 1600s. It was Christian’s favorite of the palaces and it’s the place where he chose to die. In the 1800s, the palace was open to the public and now holds artifacts from Denmark’s royal history, including its royal jewels.
I enjoyed walking through the palace although admittedly it’s not the most over the top palace I’ve ever toured (that title still belongs with Versailles, just outside of Paris). But it’s still an interesting to tour, assuming that you like palaces and have a bit of interest in history. Just a note, that the palace itself is very dark, as in it feels like there’s not enough light being let in.
Entrance costs 140 DKK and includes the palace itself as well as the treasury, which houses the royal jewels. Note that bags must be checked in a locker that takes 20 kroner coins. As my hotel was a short walk from the castle, I left my main bag in the hotel and collected it after the palace en route to my next stop, since I had no cash on me.
Tickets can be purchased online, in advance through the official website. I visited in mid April and this was not necessary, but if you’re traveling during the holidays or peak tourist season, it might be a good idea to purchase your ticket in advance.
11:15 – To Frederiks Kirke
Stroll 15 minutes west of Rosenborg Castle and toward Amalienborg. This is another castle complex in Copenhagen, but we’re just focusing on Frederiks Kirke, the large domed church.
11:30 – Frederiks Kirke
I’ve often said that I can’t right a list of things to do in Europe without including at least one church on the list. So even in Scandinavia which has significantly fewer over the top cathedrals than its European counterparts, there’s still a church to explore. For your one day in Copenhagen, I’m adding Frederiks Kirke because it’s my favorite of the several churches I visited in Copenhagen.
So what’s the significance of Frederiks Kirke?
This church is also known as the “Marble Church” for its interior decor. It sits in the Ameliasborg Square, which contains the church as well as Ameliasborg Palace (since we toured Rosenborg Palace, we’re skipping Ameliasborg Palace). This area is where the current King of Denmark resides. It was built in the late 1700s after a fire burned down the royal palaces. Unsurprisingly, it was built with an air of luxury, which is especially evident in Frederiks Kirke.
Entry to Frederiks Kirke is free. Plus the church isn’t huge so it can be a quick visit.
11:45 – To Nyhavn
It’s off to our next stop. We’re walking another 15 minutes to the iconic Nyhavn harbor.
12:00 – Nyhavn
Nyhavn, literally translating to New Harbor, is a favorite among tourists. So much so, that I don’t think you could spend one day in Copenhagen without stopping by at some point.
Its colorful buildings and picturesque setting make it a place where you just want to stop and people watch. There’s plenty of restaurants so if you’re hungry grab a bit to eat (although don’t be surprised if the food is either mediocre or overpriced). But, even if you don’t grab lunch, there’s something fun about just strolling down this canal and taking in the scene.
12:30 – To Christiania
This time it’s a 20 minute walk to Christiania. You could take the metro, but this still requires nearly 15 minutes of walking to get to and from the metro stops. Since it doesn’t save much time and metro tickets cost 42 DKK (over $4 USD), I think walking is a better option. But you could always take the metro (line M1 or M2) from Kongens Nytorv to Christianshavn (a nonstop journey).
12:45 – Freetown Christiania
In the early 1970s, a group of squatters took over an abandoned military base in the city of Copenhagen. It’s now been a half a century later and that community is still standing. Crazily, Christiania has become one of the most visited sights in Copenhagen. It seems nearly all tourists add it to their Copenhagen itinerary.
Your visit here is not about traditional sightseeing. Instead, walk through the town to get a feel for it. Notice how it has a distinctly different feel than the rest of Copenhagen. You’ll find restaurants and shops here, which may seem strange when you consider that Christiania could be considered a long standing “hippie commune”.
When I visited, it felt like so many people just stayed in one area (near the shops and restaurants), but you don’t have to limit your visit here. Christiania exists beyond these streets and that’s where you’ll find the real community. Stroll the paths and realize just how different these lanes feel than the rest of Christiania.
How long you stay is up to you, but I recommend not just wandering through the commercial area, but strolling further beyond it.
When you leave Christiania, take a look up at the sign. “You’re now entering the E.U.”
2:15 – Church of Our Savior
After Christiania, we’re going to start working our way back toward central Copenhagen, but before we get too far, we’re going to stop for one more church. The Church of Our Savior is right nearby Christiania and I think it’s worth a quick stop. This church is famous for its spiral bell tower and it does look that cool.
The church itself is free to visit, but it costs 69 DKK to climb the spiral tower. Before you visit, double check the hours of the church. I found that the hours were a bit different than many of the other sights. And don’t be surprised if the church closes for tourism. There was a funeral during my visit so I couldn’t visit inside.
If you plan to climb the tower, you’ll need to purchase a ticket online. You can do it in advance or you can wait until you arrive, but either way, be prepared to purchase the ticket on your phone.
2:45 – To City Hall
I know we’ve done a lot of walking, but this is the last big walk of the day (with the exception of returning to your hotel). It’s a 30 minute walk to City Hall. If you are sick of walking (I don’t blame you), you can save some steps by taking the metro. Head to the Christianshavn metro stop and board either line M1 or M2 to Kongens Nytorv. Then at Kongens Nytorv, transfer to line M4 and ride two stops to Rådhuspladsen.
3:15 – City Hall
In so many European cities, one of the highlights is touring its magnificent cathedral. In Barcelona, that’s La Sagrada Familia. In Paris, it’s Notre Dame. In London, you’ll find Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The list goes on.
Yes, there are churches and cathedrals to visit across Scandinavia, but for me, it seems like visiting City Hall is the equivalent here. Admittedly some city halls in Scandinavia are more impressive than others (Stockholm and Oslo both beat Copenhagen in my book), but I think each is worth a visit. I think it’s interesting how the City Halls, which are there to govern the people, seem to get a higher priority than the churches in this part of Europe.
Anyway, pop inside City Hall and take a quick look around. If this is your first City Hall in Scandinavia, it probably feels impressive as you walk into the large entrance hall. There’s plenty of symbolism here and to make sure you know what you’re looking at, stop and pick up one of the tourist brochures.
3:45 – Hans Christian Anderson
Just next to City Hall, you’ll find the statue of Hans Christian Anderson. It’s said that he’s positioned that way so he can look over at Tivoli Gardens, one of the areas of Copenhagen that he loved so much. Stop over for a quick photo.
4:00 – Tivoli Gardens
After all that sightseeing, it’s time to mix some fun in with your sightseeing. I’m ending this Copenhagen itinerary at Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. And there’s not even a long walk to get here. You can see Tivoli Gardens from City Hall, but you’ll need to walk about a block or so to reach the ticket entrance.
So what do you do at Tivoli Gardens? Well, it’s an amusement park so you could check out some of the rides. However it’s important to note that your entrance ticket does not include any rides and tickets for the rides must be purchased separately (I know, it’s kind of annoying). But beyond the rides you’ll find some stages that offer concerts, several restaurants, games, and plenty of people watching. Plus the gardens are nicely taken care of too.
I didn’t ride any of the rides during my visit to Tivoli Gardens but I did really enjoy just exploring this small park to see what it all had to offer.
5:30 – Traveler’s Choice
This has been a busy Copenhagen itinerary and it’s now time for you to choose how you’d like to spend the rest of it. If you’re not sure, here’s some ideas.
Option 1: Continue to enjoy Tivoli Gardens. At dusk, the lights come on and the park looks beautiful. Note that for summer visitors, this may not be an option because the sun sets very late. However, if you are interested, you can leave Tivoli Gardens and return later. Just make sure to get your ticket stamped.
Option 2: Wander up Strøget and do some shopping. This nearly mile long pedestrian street is full of every kind of shop you may need. Plus there’s plenty of people watching to be found.
Option 3: Treat yourself to a nice dinner after a very busy day of sightseeing.
Option 4: Head back to your hotel and soak in some peace.
The choice is yours so pick from one of these options or something else entirely.
When to Visit Copenhagen
Winters have the fewest visitors and therefore you can expect a slightly lower price. However, winters have the worst weather (expect it to be cold) and have limited daylight. For example, in Copenhagen, the sun rises around 8:30 am and sets at about 4:00 pm in January.
Summers have long days with the sun not setting until 9:00 or 10:00 pm. You’ll also have the best weather. However, crowds are at their highest.
Typically, shoulder season can offer the best mix between daylight hours, weather, and tourist crowds. But I personally would recommend traveling very late spring to very early summer or very late summer into very early fall. Basically, try to catch that cut over between spring and summer or summer and fall.
I traveled in mid April and while the weather was ok, it wasn’t great. Plus some sights still had limited hours. If I were to do this trip again, I’d aim for mid to late May.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed my visit to Copenhagen more than I expected to. I felt busy during my entire visit and saw a lot of variety in my sight seeing. It’s not all churches or all museums, which keeps things interesting. While you’ll obviously need more than one day in Copenhagen to really get to know this city, I found one day to be enough to see the highlights and get a nice feel for the city. Your one day in Copenhagen should be able to answer the question “do I want to visit here again?” Hopefully you’ll be like me and the answer will be yes.
Continue Your Adventure
Copenhagen: Whether you have one day or one week, make sure to add at least one of Copenhagen’s churches to your itinerary. Plus, you can’t miss Tivoli Gardens. Whether you’re just visiting Copenhagen, or venturing beyond the city, start planning your trip with my Denmark Travel Guide.
Scandinavia: Start planning your trip to Scandinavia with this 10 Day Itinerary or this 7 Day Itinerary, featuring stops in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Check out my Scandinavia Budget for a realistic look at travel costs and budgeting tips. Plus, here’s my top tips for traveling Scandinavia.
Sweden: A visit to Sweden will generally include its capital city of Stockholm, which is full of awesome sights and museums. If you have extra time in Stockholm, consider a day trip to either Uppsala or Drottningholm Slott. But don’t miss Gothenburg, another great city that feels more relaxed than Stockholm. Continue your planning with my Sweden Travel Guide.
Norway: While so much of Norway’s beauty is found outside its cities, add a quick stop in its capital city of Oslo. Plus, check out my Norway Travel Guide.