Welcome to Copenhagen! Oozing with Scandi charm, delicious food and cosy culture, your visit to the Danish capital is guaranteed to be a hit. And with this easy 3 day Copenhagen itinerary, you can leave all the planning to me. Just rock up, ready to visit royal palaces, the famous Tivoli Gardens and interesting art museums, all while enjoying traditional Danish food and cosy dinners.
As well as a detailed itinerary for a weekend in Copenhagen, this guide also has some top tips for visiting the city, the best things to do in Copenhagen and where to eat and drink. Finally, you’ll find some accommodation options for where to stay during your Copenhagen trip.
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Is 3 Days in Copenhagen Enough?
Copenhagen is one of the best city breaks in Europe to take, so 3 days in Copenhagen is perfect! You’ll get the chance to visit the top attractions, a museum or two, and even take a day trip to Sweden if you like. This detailed itinerary will help you make the most of your time on a long weekend in Copenhagen.
There’s loads to see and do in the Danish capital, so you could easily extend your trip to spend a few more days here. Anywhere between 3-5 days is a good amount of time to spend in Copenhagen.
How to Plan a Weekend in Copenhagen
You shouldn’t run into too many issues planning a weekend in Copenhagen, especially with this itinerary under your belt! Here are a few things to know that will make your Copenhagen trip run smoothly:
- You can get between the airport and the city by train or metro, and the connections are really easy and cheap. The metro will take you closest to the centre – head to Kongens Nytorv
- In Denmark, they use the Danish Krone (DKK). Make sure you take out cash or convert money!
- Copenhagen is a walkable city, but the metro system is well-connected and really handy should you need it
- A lot of museums and attractions in Copenhagen are closed on a Monday. Make sure you factor this into your plans.
- You’ll find 7-Eleven convenience stores all over Copenhagen, and they’re great for picking up drinks and snacks on the go. Also, their hot dogs are surprisingly good!
The 3-Day Copenhagen Itinerary
Right, time to get to the good stuff – here’s the complete breakdown of your itinerary for 3 days in Copenhagen!
Day 1 – City Centre & Tivoli Gardens
When you arrive in Copenhagen, the best thing to do is get your bearings by exploring the centre of the city. Head to Kongens Nytorv where you can get your first glimpse of Nyhavn and the surrounding area. If you’d like to get a local insight into Copenhagen, book a city walking tour. Otherwise, browse the shops along Strøget before trying one of the best hot dogs in Copenhagen at Den Økologiske Pølsemand, and then visiting the nearby Round Tower.
The Round Tower, or Rundetaarn, is a grand tower in the centre of Copenhagen, which dates back to the 1600s. It was built by Christian IV, who was king of Denmark at the time, and was built to be an observatory (which you can still see at the top!). A spiral ramp leads you up the tower and you’ll pass by a small museum before you reach the top for some incredible views over Copenhagen!
After visiting the Round Tower, stop for a coffee and Fika (it might be Swedish officially, but the Danes love it too!), and then head to Christiansborg Palace. The former royal palace and current home of the Danish parliament has not lost its stunning ornate interiors, and it’s well worth a visit.
For the first night of your weekend in Copenhagen, visit the famous Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli is an amusement park dating back to the 19th century, making it one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the world! It has a great mix of charming, old-fashioned rides and attractions, as well as modern rollercoasters, meaning you could easily spend your whole evening and night here. I recommend starting with dinner at Tivoli Food Hall before you head into the gardens for an evening of fun.
Get your Tivoli Gardens tickets now!
If you’re not a fan of rollercoasters, there is still loads to do at Tivoli. The whole place is lit up with cute lights in the evening, and it’s lovely to walk around. If you visit during the festive season you’ll find a Christmas market here, and in the summer you can enjoy flowers in bloom and plenty of concerts!
Day 2 – Famous Attractions & Meatpacking District
The second day of this Copenhagen itinerary starts with brunch at studio x kitchen. This cosy spot is the perfect place to enjoy some fresh food and fuel up for the day. Try the folded eggs or the organic cheese and pickle ciabatta and if you’re not full after that, grab one of the delicious cakes displayed at the counter.
From here, stroll along to Amalienborg Palace, passing Frederik’s Church (Frederiks Kirke) on the way. Amalienborg Palace is one of many royal residences in Copenhagen (like Christiansborg Palace you visited yesterday), and this one is the official winter residence of the Danish Royal Family. If you pass by around noon, you can see the daily changing of the guard.
After seeing the palace, head back to Nyhavn to get a proper look at the colourful houses that line the end of the canal. From Nyhavn, you could take a canal boat tour. You’ll pass by many famous Copenhagen attractions along the waterfront, including the famous Little Mermaid statue, so this is a great way to see the city in a different way! Alternatively, you could walk along the waterfront to Kastellet, where you can see the city’s star-shaped fortress, and get up close to the Little Mermaid.
You’ll have definitely worked up an appetite by now, so it’s time to try a Danish speciality, Smørrebrød, for lunch The open sandwiches come with a huge variety of toppings, and some of the best in the city are from Aamanns Deli & Takeaway. Once full of sandwiches, head over to the Glyptotek to spend your afternoon. The huge art museum is also an architecture lover’s dream, as the building is just as impressive as the art collection.
Once the evening rolls around, make your way to the meatpacking district for an evening of delicious food and drinks. As the name suggests, the area was once home to many butchers and factories where meat was processed and then distributed across the city. These days, the meatpacking district still has a strong industrial vibe, but it has been transformed into one of the coolest places to eat and drink in the city. Warpigs, a microbrewery with a Texan-style menu is a must-visit, or grab a cosy Italian dinner at Mother.
Day 3 – Day Trip to Sweden or More Copenhagen Adventures
Start your final day in Copenhagen with some traditional Danish pastries from the oldest bakery in Copenhagen, Skt. Peders Bageri. Cinnamon buns are generally a favourite, but you’ll find a whole range of treats to choose from here.
Now it’s time to choose how to spend your day! I recommend taking a day trip to Malmö. The Swedish city neighbours the Danish capital and is an easy way to explore a second country during your weekend in Copenhagen. Hop on the train over the Øresund Bridge and you can enjoy a day in Malmö full of interesting history and architecture, delicious Swedish food and cosy fika.
Read the Complete Malmö Day Trip Guide
If you’d prefer to stay in Copenhagen, there are plenty of other things to do today. Visit Freetown Christiania- the semiautonomous community in the city, Rosenborg – another royal palace in Copenhagen with beautiful gardens, or the National Museum of Denmark, where you can learn all about Danish culture and heritage.
For dinner, head back to the meatpacking district or try somewhere new. Gasoline Grill and Popl are two super popular burger joints in Copenhagen, or you can find a nice Italian dinner at Fabro. Then enjoy a relaxed drink at Nyhavn Lounge Bar. This cosy spot is tucked away from the waters of Nyhavn and is a lovely way to end your last evening in Copenhagen.
Check out the top things to do in Copenhagen!
Highlights of a Weekend in Copenhagen
If you like to do a bit of your own travel planning, you might not want to follow this Copenhagen itinerary exactly. So here’s a breakdown of all the best things to do and places to eat that I’ve included above!
The Best Things to Do in Copenhagen
- Explore Nyhavn and the historic city centre
- Browse the shops along Strøget
- Climb the Round Tower (Rundetaarn)
- Have fun at Tivoli Gardens
- See some famous Royal Palaces – Christiansborg Palace, Amalienborg Palace, or Rosenborg Palace
- Take a canal boat tour to see Copenhagen from the water
- Walk around Kastellet to see the Little Mermaid statue
- Visit the Glyptotek Art Museum
- Take a day trip to Malmö
- Discover a different side of Copenhagen in Freetown Christiania
Where to Eat and Drink in Copenhagen
- Hot dogs from Den Økologiske Pølsemand
- Street food at Tivoli Food Hall
- Brunch at studio x kitchen
- Traditional Danish Smørrebrød from Aamanns Deli & Takeaway
- Italian food from Mother or Fabro
- Beer and Texan BBQ from Warpigs
- Cinnamon buns from Skt. Peders Bageri
- Burgers from Gasoline Grill or Popl
- Cosy drinks at Nyhavn Lounge Bar
Where to Stay on a Weekend in Copenhagen
I am still a budget traveller at heart, so in a city known for being expensive, I wanted to make sure I found a good deal. Wakeup Copenhagen was a modern budget hotel in a good location, and worked out great for a weekend in Copenhagen!
If you are looking for somewhere special to stay in Copenhagen, Manon Les Suites has been on my Copenhagen bucket list for a long time.
Copenhagen Itinerary Map
Save this handy map before your weekend in Copenhagen and you can use it to navigate around the city.
With this detailed 3 day guide and your handy Copenhagen itinerary map, you’re all ready to enjoy a weekend in one of the coolest cities in Scandinavia! And if you’re looking for more travel itineraries to inspire your next trip, you’ll love this guide on how to spend 5 days in the French Riviera.
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