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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Based on the iconic LEGO® toy bricks, LEGOLAND® Billund Resort is the original LEGOLAND® park and is one of Denmark’s most popular attractions. LEGO-themed attractions, roller coasters, intricate scale models, water rides, and interactive exhibits make the theme park ideal for families with children 2-10 years old.
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.
Lovers of classic fairy tales can pay homage to one of Denmark’s most famous writers and the author of iconic stories like The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Located in Andersen’s hometown of Odense, this contemporary space offers visitors a chance to learn about Andersen’s life and works in a fun and educational way.
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.
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 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.
Step beneath the Nordea Bank and travel back 1,200 years at the tiny but excellent Viking Museum (Vikingemuseet) in Aarhus, part of the larger Moesgaard Museum. Aarhus sits on the remains of Aros, the ancient Viking-founded town hidden beneath the modern streets. This one-room multimedia exhibition delves into the evolution of the Viking settlement over the past millennium with a collection of excavated artifacts and a model city.
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.
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.
Experience centuries of Danish history at this unique open-air museum that recreates a town in Denmark over four separate eras: pre-19th century, the industrial boom of the 1920s, the social revolution of the 1970s, and contemporary life in 2014. Stroll the streets and pop inside replica houses, shops, and workshops, while interacting with costumed “residents” and sampling historic treats.
You don’t have to be a boating enthusiast to appreciate the cutting-edge architecture and engaging exhibits at the M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark. Capitalizing on the country’s seafaring history, this museum informs and entertains with interactive permanent and temporary exhibits. Learn about maritime culture, from its evolving technology to the people behind this legendary way of 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.
A mecca for gearheads and lovers of all things planes, trains, and automobiles, the Technical Museum of Denmark (Danmarks Tekniske Museet) impresses with its vast collection of steam engines, bicycles, cars, and airplanes, plus a variety of exhibits—many of them interactive—focused on science, technology, and industry.
The handsome 12th-century Aarhus Cathedral (Aarhus Domkirke) is a showstopper, towering above the town with its soaring spires that pierce the sky. Architecture buffs will appreciate this landmark church’s mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles, and the 15th-century altarpiece, baptismal font, and frescoes never fail to impress. Visit as part of a city tour or catch one of the frequently scheduled concerts here.
One of the most striking buildings in central Aarhus, the Aarhus Theatre (Aarhus Teater) is also an important cultural hub. This late 19th-century gem houses four stages for theatrical and musical performances in Danish, some with English subtitles. The magnificence of the Art Nouveau facade is matched by the ornate interiors, with gilded details and massive chandeliers, making it a must-see for architecture buffs.
Set along the refurbished Aarhus waterfront, Dokk1 is one of the city’s premier cultural hubs, extending from a library to a concert and theater venue, children’s play areas, and a lounge area for the teens, plus a coffee shop. Here you can fill hours with interactive media and games, storytelling, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and a wide range of cultural events and performances for all ages.
