Cities / Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen in 48 hours 🧇

Day 1: Nyhavn and Tivoli

• Nyhavn. The colorful harbor houses from every Copenhagen photo.
• Canal tour. Boats leave from Nyhavn and show you the city from the water.
• Rosenborg Castle. A Renaissance castle with the Danish crown jewels.
• Tivoli Gardens. One of the world's oldest amusement parks, open since 1843. Best after dark.

Day 2: bikes, Christiania and the harbor

• Rent a bike. Copenhagen is one of the world's best cities for cycling. Signal before you stop.
• Christiania. A self-governing commune with murals and cafés. No photos or running on Pusher Street.
• The Round Tower. A 17th-century tower with a spiral ramp instead of stairs, and a great view.
• Harbor bath. Locals swim in the harbor at Islands Brygge in summer. The water is clean.

Eat this

• Smørrebrød: open rye sandwiches piled with toppings.
• Kanelsnegl: the Danish cinnamon swirl. Have one with coffee.
• Pølse: a Danish hot dog from a street wagon.

Skip this

• Expecting a giant Little Mermaid. The statue is small; see it on the way to somewhere else.
• Cycling side by side or stopping suddenly. Danish bike lanes have rules.

Getting there

Trains arrive at Copenhagen Central Station (København H), with direct trains from Hamburg and Sweden. Copenhagen Airport is about 15 minutes from the center by metro or train.

Coming from somewhere else in Europe? Compare trains, buses and flights to Copenhagen on Tryp.com (yes, that's where our team works; see About). Planning more of Denmark? Here's Tryp's Denmark travel guide.

Quick answers

Is 48 hours enough for Copenhagen?

It's enough for Nyhavn, Tivoli, Rosenborg, Christiania and a bike ride. Add a day for Louisiana Museum or a trip to Malmö.

Do I need cash in Copenhagen?

Rarely. Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere.

How do I get from Copenhagen airport to the center?

The metro and trains run from the airport to the center in about 15 minutes.

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