Spread out over two market halls in the heart of Copenhagen, Torvehallerne Market is the place to go for local and imported produce and gourmet delicacies. Along with around five dozen stalls and vendors selling everything from pastries to oysters, you'll find cute restaurants and cafes serving tasty treats from Denmark and beyond.
The National Museum of Denmark (Nationalmuseet) is the country's largest cultural and historical museum. Exhibits encompass 14,000 years of Danish history and include a prehistoric Sun Chariot, Egyptian mummies, and an original hash stall derived from Copenhagen’s infamous commune, Christiania.
Right in the middle of Copenhagen, City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) is a major focal point for residents and visitors alike. It's a popular spot for all sorts of events, from protests to outdoor markets. Features include a statue of Hans Christian Anderson and the Dragon Fountain, which depicts a battle between a dragon and a bull.
Rosenborg Castle Gardens, otherwise known as the King's Garden or Kongens Have, is Denmark’s oldest royal green space, established in the early 1600s by King Christian IV. Today the Renaissance-style park—famous for its huge flower beds, hedges, and adjacent eponymous castle—is a popular retreat for Copenhagen locals and tourists alike.
Learn about the stars above at Copenhagen’s aptly named Planetarium (formerly the Tycho Brahe Planetarium). Since 1989, this science museum and Imax theater has been educating visitors about the cosmos through exhibits, films, and the occasional lecture.
With its colorful painted buildings and boats passing by, Christian’s Harbor (Christianshavn) is one of Copenhagen’s most picturesque areas. Laid out as a town for the merchants that traded goods with other European cities, the area is now a thriving hub with homes, businesses, trendy cafes, and restaurants.
Originally the private collection of Carl Jacobsen, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Glyptoteket) is now one of Denmark’s best-known art museums and houses over 10,000 works within its Renaissance-inspired halls. The Glyptotek is most famous for its ancient Egyptian and Greek sculpture, although it also holds an extensive painting collection.
Dramatically set on the shores of Øresund (the Sound), the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is Denmark’s leading modern and contemporary art institution. Behind its glass-fronted facade are more than 3,000 pieces, including works by Picasso, Warhol, and Bourgeois. Visitors also enjoy the museum’s idyllic seafront sculpture park.
Founded in 1859, Copenhagen Zoo is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Europe. The animal inhabitants of the 27-acre (11-hectare) zoo span all corners of the globe, including rare and endangered species such as polar bears, rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, and lions.
Housed inside the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Casino Copenhagen is the only casino in the city. Step inside to find a wide array of table and video games, from roulette to poker to slot machines, along with live sports betting.
Taking a prominent place among the charming old buildings and striking modern architecture of Copenhagen's oldest district, Kunsthal Charlottenborg is one of the city's top cultural destinations. The palace is home to the Royal Danish Academy of Art, which features an extensive collection of contemporary art and regularly hosts special exhibitions.
Copenhagen’s Vesterbro neighborhood was once a famous rough-and-tumble red-light district. After receiving a thorough makeover, the area is now known for its fashion-forward art scene, extensive restaurant selection, and vibrant nightlife.
Find out how Carlsberg became one of the biggest names in beer worldwide with a trip to the place where it all started. The brewery was first opened on this site in the 1840s, and visitors can see some of the original beer-making equipment, learn how the drink is made, and enjoy a craft beer tasting.
This museum showcases an extensive collection of works by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who designed well-known creations such as the Lion of Lucerne and the tomb monument of Pope Pius VII. While Thorvaldsen's works are the museum’s main draw, it also features paintings from other European artists and Greek and Roman antiquities.
The summer residence of the Danish Royal Family, Fredensborg Palace is a grand country home north of Copenhagen. For one month a year, visitors can explore the palace interiors and live like royalty for a day.
The National Aquarium Denmark (Den Blå Planet) is one of Northern Europe’s largest aquariums, with over 20,000 marine mammals and fish housed within its sleek modernist facade. Designed to resemble a whirlpool when viewed from above, the structure is set on the banks of the Øresund straight.
A going-out staple of the Danish capital since 1995, Hard Rock Cafe Copenhagen draws crowds of residents and visitors alike with its high-energy live music performances, American-inspired comfort food, cocktails, and wealth of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. Right in the center of town, it’s near many of Copenhagen’s top attractions.
The Ordrupgaard Museum houses one of the most considerable collections of Danish and French modern art in northern Europe. Take a day trip from Copenhagen to explore the galleries and special exhibitions, the contemporary extension designed by Zaha Hadid, the sculpture park (Art Park Ordrupgaard), and the Finn Juhl House.
The Karen Blixen Museum (Karen Blixen Museet) at Rungstedlund honors the author of the famous memoir, Out of Africa. Blixen was born on this historic estate in 1885 and returned to live there after her years in Kenya. Visit the preserved interiors, collection of artwork, and documentary exhibition to learn more about her life.
As the smallest of Copenhagen’s three cruise port terminals, Nordre Toldbod Cruise Terminal is located in the heart of the city, making it the ideal starting point for exploring Denmark’s capital. Typically reserved for smaller cruise ships and megayachts, the port receives visitors from destinations such as the Baltics, St. Petersburg, and the United Kingdom.
Copenhagen's Ocean Quay cruise port is a bustling travel hub. Over 300 ships arrive in Denmark’s capital every year, a city famous for its seamless urban design, 17th- and 18th-century architecture, and thriving bike culture. The port is also a great jumping-off point for cruises to the Baltics, St. Petersburg, Britain, and even Greenland.
Housing the extensive collection of the late Danish lawyer and businessman Christian Ludvig David, this museum features a variety of Islamic art, with a hall devoted to miniatures. Other highlights found throughout the heritage building—David’s former home—include handicrafts, furniture, Danish silver, and porcelain.
As the seat of the Danish government, Christiansborg Palace is one of Copenhagen’s most important landmarks; but it also hides a secret. The palace sits on the ruins of two earlier castles, the eldest being 800 years old. Deep below the palace lies a maze of atmospheric ruins that transport visitors back to medieval Copenhagen.
In the vaults beneath Copenhagen’s centuries-old King Christian IV’s brewhouse lies the Lapidarium of Kings (Kongernes Lapidarium). Housing hundreds of royal sculptures, statues, and monuments amassed from all around the country, the collection serves as an impressive homage to Denmark’s royal history.
Located on an island southeast of Copenhagen's city center, Amager Museum (Amagermuseet) offers visitors a glimpse into a way of life that’s long-since disappeared. Reconstructed rooms recreate the interiors of old Danish farmhouses, while embroidered traditional costumes and displays of hand-weaving provide insight into the fashions of a bygone era.
Formerly known as Kunstforeningen, GL Strand is a contemporary exhibition space that showcases the best of established and upcoming Danish and international art. It’s housed in a townhouse from 1750 but has undergone plenty of redesigns to transform it into an ideal exhibition space.
The Circus Museum (Cirkusmuseet) is Denmark’s colorful celebration of all things under the big top. This cheery museum is home to a collection of circus-themed memorabilia and interactive exhibits, but the biggest draw is the Circus School, which offers juggling, trapeze, clown, and other hands-on workshops each Sunday.
