Oh, how I loved Copenhagen! The architecture, the history, the culture, the transportation system, and so much more. I wanted to share with you what to see in Copenhagen, Denmark.
When we arrived at the Copenhagen airport, we purchased the Copenhagen card for 72 hours. Which allowed us unlimited use of the public transportation system and free entrance into a huge selection of attractions. For each day you purchase you get that many entrances per attraction, so for example, our 72-hour card allowed us to enter Tivoli three times.
If you missed my post about the hotel we stayed at in Copenhagen you will want to check it out. Let’s just say they have a free wine hour every afternoon and the breakfast was to die for. I cannot recommend the hotel enough: Hotel Danmark.
Tivoli
We chose to end each day at Tivoli and I loved that. Tivoli is a beautiful grand amusement park. I can see why Walt Disney took so much inspiration from here when designing his parks.
There are plenty of rides, things to see, an aquarium, and sometimes concerts. Since we visited three evenings we chose to do something different each time.
I highly recommend riding the third oldest roller coaster in the world, Rutschebanen, which is wooden and each set of cars has a brakeman. It was awesome!
Even if you do not ride any rides the gardens are gorgeous and you can hit free entertainment nightly!
Tip: While entrance to Tivoli is included with the Copenhagen Card, the rides and aquarium are extra. You will also need to use the Tivoli entrance on Vesterbrogade if you are using the Copenhagen Card.
Nyhavn
When you see a picture of Copenhagen it was more than likely taken at Nyhavn. It is a canal lined with ships and the sidewalks are lined with sidewalk cafes.
We grabbed an ice cream cone from Vaffelbageren where we could smell the scent of the waffle cones being made as we approached the building. We enjoyed our ice cream as we strolled along Nyhavn before heading to Amalienborg Palace.
Tip: Due to Nyhavn being filled with tourists the prices at the cafes are very high.
Amalienborg Palace
Queen Margrethe II and her husband live in one of the palaces that make up the palace complex. If the queen is in residence it will be indicated by a flag flying above her home. One of the other mansions is open to the public to show a peek into the royal family.
However, the reason we visited was to catch the changing of the guard that happens every day at noon. While the changing of the guard is a long process and only has fanfare when the queen is in residence, it is still fun to catch.
Little Mermaid
While the Little Mermaid statue is very underwhelming and full of tourists. I do not think that you can go to Copenhagen and not visit it.
Tip: Be sure to watch your belongings when in a crowded tourist area because that’s where the pickpocketers like to hang out.
Canal Tour
Included on the Copenhagen card is a canal tour. This is a fun and relaxing way to see much of the city, to learn about Copenhagen and to see the city in a different way. I highly recommend the relaxing ride.
Rosenborg Castle
When I think of Europe, I think of castles, therefore I really wanted to explore a couple of castles during our trip. The Rosenborg Castle was built by King Christian IV in the early 1600s as his summer residence. It is a finely furnished Dutch Renaissance-style castle that houses the Danish crown jewels and 500 years of royal knickknacks. 
Rosenborg Castle is also surrounded by royal gardens where you will likely fine Dannes relaxing and sunbathing or picnicking in the grass.
Round Tower or Our Savior’s Church
After seeing the city from the canal and street level, we decided to climb to the top of a tower to see the city. We choose to climb the Round Tower, however, Our Savior Church offers an amazing view from the top of their tower too. We choose the Round Tower mostly because we literally walked right past it on our way from Rosenborg to our hotel. The Round Tower is unique in that you climb a ramp instead of stairs.
Magstræde at Rådhusstræde
I wanted a perfect Copenhagen street photo and I found it at the intersection of Magstræde and Rådhusstræde. If you look down Magstræde it curves perfectly with colorful building lining the street. During our visit, the street was quiet allowing me to get the shot I was looking for.
Bonus: Kronborg Castle in Helsingor
To get to Kronborg Castle you will need to take the regional train to Helsingor (about a 1-hour ride) and then walk from the train station to the castle. You will be able to see the castle when you exit the train station. If you do not see the castle, the sound should be to your right as you walk.
Kronborg is a 16th-century renaissance castle that towers above a very narrow area of the sound between the coasts of Denmark and Sweden. It is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle was the headquarters for the collection of the Sound Dues. With guns pointed at the ships in the sound, sailors would not go past the castle without paying the king.
With the increase in money, King Frederick II adorned the castle with spires, sandstone and copper roofs. Kronborg Castle became one of the most beautiful castles from the Renaissance period. However, a fire in 1629 and Swedish occupancy of the castle from 1658-1660 was the despise of the castle. And for the next three hundred years, Kronborg used as a fortress and barracks for the Danish army.
If you visit Kronborg during the summer, you will step right into the set of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. William Shakespeare chose to place Hamlet at Kronborg when he wrote his play. Therefore, Kronborg’s guests will meet the famous characters from the play as they move around the chambers and rooms.
After you tour the castle and the casements, explore the exterior of the castle including a trip to the rocky shore of the sound. This was S’s favorite part of our trip and the ice cream of course. I let S take off her shoes and step into the cold water. She piled and sorted the rocks on the shore, telling me about all the different ones she found and later that evening when we were back at the hotel I discovered she had also stuck some rocks in her pockets to take home. I am sorry, Denmark!
If we did not already have plans to visit Stockholm, Sweden, I would have caught the ferry in Helsingor to Helsingborg, Sweden. So that we could have explored another country.
We enjoyed our time in Copenhagen so much! It is a city I would love to return to and explore more!
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