Copenhagen in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

If you're planning a visit to Copenhagen and want to make the most of your stay, here's a three-day itinerary that includes the main sights and a few hidden treasures so you can experience the real Danish life.

From visiting the iconic Little Mermaid statue to strolling through the city of Christiania, enjoying the local culture and cuisine, this guide will give you the best things to do in Copenhagen in three days.

You can start your first day exploring the Old Town on your own or book a private tour of Copenhagen to discover the city on your own.

You'll find some of Copenhagen's most iconic buildings, learn about its history as you stroll through its old buildings and beautiful squares, and sample some of Denmark's typical food and drink at local markets and cafes.

Langeline Park

To begin this city tour of Copenhagen I recommend you start at Langeline Park, a park where you will find many interesting monuments, statues and buildings. Some of the points not to be missed are:

• Nyhavn harbour: it is a lively place with many bars, restaurants and shops, perfect for breakfast on your first day in the city.
• The Little Mermaid statue: the city's most famous landmark and a popular photo spot.
• Kastellet Fortress: a fascinating historical site with a moat, old buildings and a beautiful park, making it one of the best things to do in Copenhagen in spring. It is free to enter and offers several points of interest, such as the Fortress Church and an old gunpowder magazine.

The Marble Church

Continuing along Bredgade, you will reach Frederick's Church, better known as the Marble Church, in just a few minutes. It was built in the 18th century and both the exterior and interior are impressive, with richly detailed decoration and a wealth of sculptures.

Amalienborg Palace

Opposite the church is Amalienborg Palace, another must-see if you want to see the best palaces in Copenhagen. The palace is made up of four identical buildings surrounding an octagonal square.

If you arrive at midday, you'll be able to witness the changing of the royal guard, a traditional spectacle that is over 300 years old.

Rosenborg Castle

After leaving Amalienborg Palace, I suggest you go to Rosenborg Castle, which used to be a summer castle for the royal family and is now a museum. It is famous for its collection of historical objects such as crown jewels, antique furniture, weapons, works of art and for its beautiful gardens.

To get to Rosenborg Castle you should take a 15-minute walk from Amalienborg or take a bus or taxi.

Optional: The National Museum of Denmark

If you are particularly interested in museums, I recommend booking tickets for the National Museum of Denmark, which is a 20-minute walk southwest on Christiansborg Ridebane. It is the most visited museum in Copenhagen and can also be reached by taxi or bus.

The museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions covering Danish history, culture and art from the Stone Age to the present day.

It is an ideal attraction for adults and also a fun visit if you are visiting Copenhagen with children, as it offers interactive activities and educational programmes that present history and culture in an accessible and entertaining way.

• Location: Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 København K.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm (October to May), closed Monday. From June to September daily from 10am to 6pm.
• Admission: approximately €17 for adults. Free with Copenhagen Tourist Card. Children under 17 are free.
• Important information: I recommend booking the Copenhagen Card for free access to museums, other attractions and a free pass on public transport.

On your second day in Copenhagen I suggest a tour of **Copenhagen'**s green spaces and the Free City of Christiania. It is an ideal tour to do by bike, breathing the fresh air of a city oriented to take care of the environment. It is not for nothing that Copenhagen is considered a bike friendly city.

In fact, many of the places I suggest for this day can be seen by booking a bike tour in Copenhagen or renting a bike around the city.

Fælledparken

For starters, I suggest you grab a bike and head to Fælledparken, which is Copenhagen's largest park and has a large expanse of greenery and sports fields. It's one of the locals' favourite places to enjoy nature and relax outdoors.

Here are some of the things to do and see in the park:

• Hiking and biking: the park has several trails and paved paths, ideal for walking or cycling tours around Copenhagen.

• Sports activities: there are several sports courts, such as football, basketball, tennis, a skatepark and chess tables.

• Picnic areas: you can bring your own food or buy it from one of the stalls.

• The playground: with swings, slides and other attractions.

• Fountains and lakes: where you can take a stroll, take photos and enjoy the scenery.

• Sculptures and monuments: such as the statue of the famous writer Hans Christian Andersen.

Copenhagen University Botanical Garden

From Fælledparken you can continue your ride to the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, an oasis of tranquillity and beauty in the heart of the city. You can reach it in approximately 12 minutes by bike along Øster Farimagsgade or in 30 minutes on foot. You can also take a bus or taxi.

The Copenhagen Botanical Garden covers some 10 hectares with over 27,000 species of plants, divided into themed gardens, and an impressive collection of aquatic flora, orchids and cacti.

Visiting the garden is one of the best things to do in Copenhagen in summer as you can enjoy a range of outdoor events and activities, including concerts and dance performances.

Tivoli Gardens

From the Botanical Gardens you can set off on your bike or walk to Tivoli Gardens, or you can even get there in 10 minutes by metro. On the way, you will pass interesting sites such as the Copenhagen City Hall building and Copenhagen University.

Booking tickets to Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is highly recommended, as it is one of the oldest and most famous amusement parks in the world, with a wide variety of rides and live shows. Among these are the Christmas shows, so don't miss it if you visit Copenhagen at Christmas.

Tivoli Gardens is also a great place to enjoy food and drink in Copenhagen, with a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars, both inside the park and in the surrounding streets.

Experience the Free City of Christiania

By bike you will reach the Free City of Christiania in about 9 minutes. There are many things to see and do in Christiania, especially exploring the area on foot. I suggest you walk along the main street, Pusher Street, where you will find some bars, craft shops and cultural centres. I also recommend:

• Walk along the path around a canal that starts at the exit of this city. You'll pass bridges and sculptures in the water between the houses in the neighbourhood.
• Visit the lake, a perfect place to relax.
• See the many murals and graffiti that adorn the streets and alleys, where you can discover art galleries, a concert hall and organic produce shops.
• Download the Freetown Christiania exploration game to get to know this area of the capital in a different and fun way.

Christiania is famous for being a partially self-governed neighbourhood, so it's important to pay attention to the sign at the entrance that points out the rules of the locals. It's also of some tourist interest for the price of food and drink, which is almost 50 per cent cheaper than in other parts of the city because it's untaxed.

On your third day in Copenhagen you still have plenty of things to explore, such as the Round Tower, the Workers' Museum and Frederiksberg Palace, which are popular tourist sites with plenty of activities to enjoy.

Round Tower

In the morning I suggest you visit the Round Tower, a historic building that offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. It is one of the attractions you can't miss, even if you are staying for 2 days in Copenhagen.

To get to the Round Tower you can walk from the city centre, which will take you about 15 minutes. You can also take the bus or metro to Gammel Strand or Nørreport station and walk from there. I recommend you start your tour early as the museum opens at 10:00.

At the tower, you can climb to the top via a spiral ramp, which is a comfortable ascent and offers a unique view of the tower's interior. You can also visit the old library located in the tower.

• Location: Købmagergade 52A, 1150 København.
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 20:00 daily.
• Admission: around 5 EUR for adults and 1,5 EUR for children under 15 years.

Workers' Museum

From the Round Tower you can walk to the Workers' Museum, which takes about 10 minutes. It is one of the most interesting museums in Copenhagen and is housed in the architecturally interesting historic Workers' Union and Meeting building.

At the Workers' Museum you will find permanent and temporary exhibitions, including art, photographs, historical documents and objects related to the history of labour in Denmark. There you will learn about the Danish labour movement and its struggle for rights.

The museum has a 1950s-style café where you can try the famous coffee substitute known as Rich's, which was used during World War II, along with the classic Danish chocolate sponge cake; or have a Star beer from the old Danish brewery. You can also have a typical 1892 lunch at the Café & Øl-Halle restaurant in the museum's cellar.

• Location: Rømersgade 22, 1362, Copenhagen K.
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00 daily except Thursdays when it closes at 20:00.
• Admission: about 14 EUR for adults, about 12 EUR for 18-25 year olds and free for under 18 year olds.

Frederiksberg Palace

To continue, you can visit the Frederiksberg Palace, which is 4 km from the Workers' Museum. Here you can tour the halls, exhibitions and palace gardens that tell the story of Danish royalty and everyday life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Frederiksberg Palace is noted for its baroque architecture and impressive marble hall. It is home to the Museum of Danish Art, which houses an extensive collection of art and design objects, ranging from the 18th century to the present day.

Entry to the palace is included in the Copenhagen Tourist Card, so it's a great way for you to visit palaces and tourist attractions at a promotional price.

• Location: Roskildevej 28, 2000 Frederiksberg.
• Opening hours: 10am-5pm daily from April to October and 11am-3pm from November to March.
• Admission: about 12 EUR for adults, 4 EUR for children 6-15 years and free for children under 5 years. Booking the Copenhagen Card costs around 68 EUR.

This has been my suggested itinerary for you to visit Copenhagen in 3 days, and see the most characteristic sights of the city. There is much more to see in this city, so if you stay at least 7 days in Copenhagen, you will really enjoy the experience.