Are you planning a vacation trip to Denmark and want to explore Copenhagen in 36 hours? There is no shortage of leisure activities in Copenhagen. From exploring the historic Amalienborg Castle to seeing the iconic Little Mermaid statue, there’s something for everyone.
© Mitch Wiesinger
To get a taste of Copenhagen’s rich culture, visit Kunsthuset, which hosts a variety of exhibitions. There are many excellent museums nearby, some with a very strong focus on art and culture. The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, for example, offers a variety of exhibitions featuring Danish and international artists. There are also many restaurants nearby where you can enjoy late night or early morning snacks.
My impression of Copenhagen
I just returned from a weekend in Copenhagen, my first time in the Danish capital. I was truly heartened to find that my expectations were exceeded almost everywhere, as the city boasts a stunning array of architectural gems. It was my first time in Denmark, so I wanted to experience as much as possible, so I packed m.one weekend exploring the city by foot, boat and bike. I managed to explore so much of the city in just two days, including the neighborhoods of Nørrebro, Kødbyen, Frederikskvarteret, Østerbro and Amager. What was amazing to me was the variety of building styles on offer.
© Robin Skjoldborg
Day 1 Start with the museums
After an early breakfast, we recommend meeting at the Rosenborg Castle Gallery at 11:00 am to enjoy the world’s longest art exhibition, and after a walk through the castle’s beautiful gardens and castle, we recommend a lunch break in the beautiful and ancient Tivoli Gardens, and then spend the afternoon exploring Christiania, a “strictly non-commercial” self-governing community that has been run as an autonomous district of Copenhagen since 1971. Why not end your day at Copenhagen Central Station (which is also the second largest train station in Denmark) with a walk up the clock tower and a traditional smorrebrod, an open-faced Danish sandwich, for dinner.
© Kim Wyon
You should definitely start your 36 hours in Copenhagen with a visit to one of the many museums. Copenhagen is for me a place of culture, history and beauty. During your visit, be sure to enjoy the diversity and appreciate the creativity and talent of the city. For a spectacular view, be sure to visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, located right on the edge of the harbor.
© Kim Wyon
Copenhagen is home to over 100 museums. The city has a great appetite for art, regardless of the medium. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is one of Copenhagen’s most impressive museums.
When you’re done visiting the museums, explore the city! Copenhagen has everything from affordable public transportation to get you there to distinctive architecture to get you out and about exploring the city.
The city center is compact enough to explore on foot, but the neighborhoods will surprise you. From filming locations to churches, each area has its own charm to offer. I would recommend exploring the city in 36 hours, dividing it into 6 sections. Møntergade, the pedestrian street in downtown Copenhagen, is lined with stores, including a grocery store that has three versions of sliced liver in its window. This is the perfect place for a quick lunch or to buy unique souvenirs.
Day 2 Breakfast and Botanical Garden
© Kim Wyon
Start your day with an authentic Danish breakfast with rye bread, herring, smoked salmon, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and boiled eggs. You can choose between coffee or tea. After breakfast we will go to the Copenhagen Botanical Garden. Here you will walk through the gardens, see the formal gardens and the small Zen garden. At 3 pm we will go to the National Museum of Copenhagen. This is the largest museum in Denmark with over 100,000 artifacts ranging from the Middle Ages to the present. You can spend hours here if you wish.
At 5:00 pm we head down to Copenhagen Harbor to see the New Carlsberg Brewery. This is one of the most popular attractions of the city with the brewing facility.
How to spend 24 hours in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a very exciting city with an exciting culture, why not spend 24 hours there? You may think it’s not much I could do in 24 hours? I have a solution for you!
- Spend time walking through the beautiful botanical gardens at a slow pace where you can enjoy the scenery and possibly take a nap.
- Eat a traditional Danish breakfast with a donut, a huge pile of bacon or fresh fruit.
- Decide whether you want to explore the Christiansbjerg neighborhood for delicious cinnamon buns or buy individually wrapped items at the Design Museum.
- Visit other museum exhibits in the city’s other neighborhoods to see how other people live.
The best time of the year is the summer time when the weather is very warm with June, July, August when the city of Copenhagen is full of various activities and ceremonies during this time , short trips, theaters, hotels are full of tourists staying in the hostels, they experience a variety of adventures during this season.
Photo by Javier Rincón
