Copenhagen Holidays

What are the best things to do in Copenhagen?

1. Experience the enchantment of Tivoli Gardens, where warm yellow lights twinkle in every direction and hanging lanterns glow above the heads of joy-seekers. Choose your horse on a charming carousel, ride along wooden tracks on one of the oldest rollercoasters in the world, and soar above the glittering city on a swing. Admire bouquets of handmade lollipops striped and swirled with vivid colours then take one with you on a stroll around the flourishing gardens. The second-oldest amusement park in the world doesn’t seem to be running out of magic any time soon.
2. Staring up at the green-topped towers of Rosenborg Castle, you might just feel like you’ve opened the first page of a storybook. Step into the fairytale and ascend the spiral steps inside Christian IV’s Renaissance castle. Wander alongside an array of finery from sparkling crown jewels dripping in diamonds and emeralds to a throne decorated with what were once said to be unicorn horns (they were later revealed to be narwhal tusks). Don't forget to look to the portraits for royal tales, including one about a scandalous love affair.
3. Copenhagen has plenty of museums apt for hours of dreaming and discovering. Marvel at Viking treasures before stepping further back in time to meet famous women from the Bronze Age, like the Egtved Girl, at the National Museum of Denmark. Delve into the big and small stories that make up the capital at the Museum of Copenhagen. Then find out what keeps Copenhageners smiling at the Museum of Happiness.
4. Relax in a graveyard. Picnic with Hans Christian Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard at Assistens Cemetery, one of the most popular leisure spots in the city where locals are known to lay out among the gravestones. Soak up the sun and cycle through quiet paths shaded by leafy trees. In spring, head to Bispebjerg Cemetery and walk under a canopy of pastel pink cherry blossoms.
5. With so much water around, it’s no wonder Copenhageners love to take a dip. In the summer (and, for those brave enough, the winter) they unwind in sparkling harbour pool baths with city skyline views. For an iconic swim, slap on your swimming goggles and suntan lotion at Islands Brygge. Visiting in the chillier months? Get cosy in a hot tub and watch steam rise into the crisp Copenhagen air.
6. Find out why foodies flock to the city. Across Copenhagen, the sweet smell of sticky pastries wafts through bakery doors. Expect the likes of cardamom buns, cinnamon ‘snails’, Danish dream puffs and the need for plenty of napkins. For savoury delights, open sandwiches (smorrebrod) and classic Danish hot dogs from vendors are easy to come by. Also easy to find are Michelin-starred restaurants – after all, this is the city in which Noma, hailed by some as the best restaurant in the world, cracked Denmark’s culinary scene wide open.