28 of the best · Copenhagen, Denmark
SMK and the Glyptotek, the National Museum, Designmuseum Danmark, the Hirschsprung’s Golden Age, Thorvaldsens Museum, the Opera on Holmen, the Playhouse on the harbour and the Jazz Festival.
Our 28 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
Browse by type
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Copenhagen.
The Winter Garden
Carl Jacobsen’s museum of sculpture and painting, around its palm-filled Winter Garden under a glass dome.
Denmark’s largest art gallery
Denmark’s largest art gallery, with Danish and international art from seven centuries, by the King’s Garden and the Botanical Garden.
Sølvgade 48–50, 1307 CopenhagenExplore View on map
Henning Larsen
Henning Larsen’s opera house on Holmen, facing Amalienborg across the harbour, with 1,400 seats on its main stage.
The newest official trailers and upcoming films, updated automatically as they are released. Around the lake, look for “versione originale” screenings to see films in their original language.
Trailers play from the official YouTube channels of Rotten Tomatoes Trailers and the studios, and update automatically. Use the playlist button in each player to browse more.
In-depth stories behind the list.
The back story
The SMK and the Glyptotek, the Golden Age painters of the Hirschsprung, Thorvaldsen’s sculptures, Danish design, the Opera on Holmen and the Playhouse on the harbour: the culture of Copenhagen.
Visual arts
The national collections, the Golden Age and Thorvaldsen.
The Winter Garden
Carl Jacobsen’s museum of sculpture and painting, around its palm-filled Winter Garden under a glass dome.
Denmark’s largest art gallery
Denmark’s largest art gallery, with Danish and international art from seven centuries, by the King’s Garden and the Botanical Garden.
Sølvgade 48–50, 1307 CopenhagenExplore View on map
Kronprinsessegade
A collection of Islamic art and European art and design in a townhouse on Kronprinsessegade.
The Danish Golden Age
More than a century of Danish art, from Eckersberg and Købke to Krøyer, Anna Ancher and Hammershøi, in a small museum by Østre Anlæg.
From the Vikings to today
Denmark’s history from the Vikings and the Middle Ages to everyday life today, on Ny Vestergade.
Ny Vestergade 10, 1471 CopenhagenExplore View on map
Beside Christiansborg
The sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen’s life’s work in its painted museum beside Christiansborg.
Contemporary art, underground and by the sea.
By the beach at Ishøj
A museum of contemporary art by the beach at Ishøj, south of the city.
Skovvej 100, 2635 IshøjExplore View on map
An old water reservoir
An underground art space in the old water reservoir beneath Søndermarken; in 2026, Marina Abramović’s Seven Deaths.
On Kongens Nytorv
Contemporary art exhibitions in the palace of Charlottenborg on Kongens Nytorv.
From Christian IV’s Renaissance to BIG’s Superkilen.
Denmark’s national gallery of architecture
Denmark’s national gallery for architecture and design, in BLOX on the harbour.
The crown jewels
Christian IV’s Renaissance pleasure palace by the King’s Garden, with the Danish crown jewels in its Treasury.
BIG, Superflex and Topotek1
A park of three squares, Red, Black and Green, designed by BIG with Superflex and Topotek1, opened in 2012.
Frederik’s Church
Frederik’s Church, the domed “Marble Church” behind Amalienborg, ringed by statues of figures from Danish church history.
Since 1642
Christian IV’s tower of 1642, with its spiral ramp, the oldest working observatory in the city and a view over the rooftops.
Performing arts
Jean Nouvel’s concert hall and a waterfront culture house.
Jean Nouvel
Jean Nouvel’s concert hall in Ørestad, with four halls and the DR Symphony Orchestra.
On the waterfront
A waterfront culture house with around 350 events a year: drama, concerts, dance, comedy and communal dinners.
The national stage on the harbour, and Tivoli’s Pantomime Theatre.
On the harbour
The national theatre for drama, on the harbour at the end of Nyhavn, with three stages and an oak boardwalk.
Since 15 August 1843
The pleasure garden that has delighted Copenhagen since 1843: rides, gardens, concerts and the Pantomime Theatre, and Christmas in Tivoli from mid-November.
The Royal Danish Opera and Ballet on Holmen.
Henning Larsen
Henning Larsen’s opera house on Holmen, facing Amalienborg across the harbour, with 1,400 seats on its main stage.
The national film house and the world’s oldest working studios.
The national film house
Denmark’s national film house near Kongens Nytorv, with Himmelbio, the city’s only open-air rooftop cinema, in summer.
Since 1906
The world’s oldest still active film studios, in Valby since 1906, with guided tours.
Folk & cultural traditions
Porcelain, silver and the national museum of design.
On Bredgade
The national museum of Danish design and craft, in a Rococo building on Bredgade with a museum garden.
Founded 1904
The silversmith founded in Copenhagen in 1904 by Georg Jensen: silver, jewellery, home and watches.
Since 1925
The design store on Amagertorv, dating back to 1925: Danish, Scandinavian and international design, purveyor to the Royal Danish Court.
Amagertorv 10, 1160 CopenhagenExplore View on map
Founded 1775
The porcelain house founded in 1775, in a Renaissance house of 1616 on Amagertorv, with The Royal Café.
Jazz in July and February, documentaries at CPH:DOX.
Every July, and Vinterjazz in February
The city-wide jazz festival each July, with Vinterjazz each February.
