Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Copenhagen?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Copenhagen?
Most people spend two to five days in Copenhagen during their visit. The relaxed city offers amazing highlights such as the cuisine, the nightlife scene, the gorgeous scenery, and shopping.
Copenhagen is the capital city of the small country of Denmark. It has a colorful and scenic old town which includes many palaces, gardens, and other landmarks. The city is known for its canals and waterfront setting. It's also a progressive city with many sound environmental policies and a happy population.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Copenhagen? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is popular with tourists and offers some fun sights and attractions. Given only three days, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the cuisine, the nightlife scene, and the gorgeous scenery. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for two to five days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Copenhagen
Shopping in Copenhagen is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Design and style is notorious with Danish culture. You'll find many great local boutique or fashion design shops in town. Købmagergade is one of the busiest and most famous shopping streets in town, but you should also visit the street parallel to it, Pilestræde.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Shopping Tour from Copenhagen hotels to Copenhagen Outlet ($195)
- Private Shopping Tour from Copenhagen hotels to Ringsted Outlet ($235)
The culinary scene in Copenhagen is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. In recent years the celebrity food scene has put this city on the map. There are many Michelin star restaurants around town including the world famous Noma. But there's also a diversity of restaurants to choose from, ranging from elegant, award-winning options to cozy local eateries. Danish food includes a lot of pastries and sandwiches. Make sure you try a rød pølse, or local hot dog from one of the many stands around town.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Copenhagen Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours ($125)
- Copenhagen Food & Drink Private Tour: Scandinavian Delights Tasting ($162)
- Copenhagen Alternative: Vesterbro & Christianshavn with Local Tasting ($146)
Copenhagen is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It is compact enough to explore on foot, but there are also plenty of bikes available as well.
Don't miss Tivoli Gardens during your trip to Copenhagen, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The nightlife scene stays active until the early morning hours with many bars and clubs staying open until 5 or 6 in the morning. Some of the most popular areas for nightlife include Istedgade and EnghavePlads in Vesterbro, Sankt Hans Torv in Nørrebro and some areas around Frederiksberg.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pub Crawl Copenhagen ($44)
The public transit in Copenhagen is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are metros, s-trains, waterbuses, and regular buses available.
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Copenhagen, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. There are many sights and landmarks around town including Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn Harbor, and The Round Tower. Some of the most popular museums are the National Museum of Denmark and the National Gallery of Denmark.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The Forest Tower and Forgotten Giants-A day tour from Copenhagen ($121)
- Copenhagen Self-Guided Murder Mystery Tour by the Round Tower ($27)
- Møns klint and The Forest tower - A day tour from Copenhagen ($205)
Copenhagen is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Known as the happiest city in the world, visitors will feel lighter just walking around this beautiful town. There's a calming effect that will make you enjoy your visit all the more.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Total Copenhagen Walking Tour: Highlights and Hygge ($118)
- Copenhagen : Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour) ($76)
- Highlights and Secrets of Copenhagen Private Walking Tour ($110)
Is 4 days enough time in Copenhagen?
Many visitors spend four days in Copenhagen, as this is a good amount of time to see the relaxed city's major attractions such as the cuisine, the nightlife scene, and the gorgeous scenery. If you have four days to spend here, we have a few suggestions of things to do below.
Nyhavn Harbour, Old Town Copenhagan
How to spend 4 days in Copenhagen
Having 4 days in Copenhagen will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. Indre By is the oldest part of the city and where you'll find most of the sights and attractions. This is where most visitors stay and you'll find many great restaurants and activities to enjoy.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Total Copenhagen Walking Tour: Highlights and Hygge ($118)
- Copenhagen : Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour) ($76)
- Highlights and Secrets of Copenhagen Private Walking Tour ($110)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Is 5 days enough time in Copenhagen?
Five days is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Copenhagen, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Enjoy the chance to dine out at amazing restaurants, dance the night away, take in the beautiful scenery, and go shopping on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Copenhagen as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
Copenhagen
How to spend 5 days in Copenhagen
With 5 days in Copenhagen, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Copenhagen is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Part of what makes the city so great is its compactness and easy accessibility.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Royal Tour of Copenhagen and Dragør - With drop-off at the Cruise ($99)
- Guided Canal Tour in Copenhagen by Electric Boat ($39)
- Boat Tour on Lake Fureso, Denmark's deepest lake ($18)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Copenhagen.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Copenhagen, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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