UltimateCity Guide Copenhagen
Our favourites

The magazine

Stories from Copenhagen, Denmark

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Copenhagen City Guide, in one place.

Areas

Copenhagen by area

From the old town to the new harbour, each district has its own guide: Strøget and Rosenborg, Nyhavn and the royal quarter, the canals of Christianshavn, Vesterbro and the Meatpacking District, Nørrebro across the Lakes, Østerbro, Islands Brygge and Refshaleøen.

The cobbled spiral ramp inside the Round Tower, winding up between whitewashed wallsArea guideIndre By & StrøgetThe old townNyhavn’s gabled houses in yellow, white and blue behind the masts of old sailing shipsArea guideNyhavn & FrederiksstadenThe royal quarterThe canal of Christianshavn, with old houses, a houseboat and moored boatsArea guideChristianshavnCanals and KadeauThe Meatpacking District, Kødbyen, at dusk, with string lights over the outdoor tablesArea guideVesterbro, Kødbyen & FrederiksbergTivoli and the Meatpacking DistrictThe black-and-white striped Black Market square of Superkilen in NørrebroArea guideNørrebroAcross the Lakes

By bike

Copenhagen is flat and compact: rent a city bike and the whole city is yours in half an hour, from Nyhavn to Nørrebro.

  1. Area guideØsterbroGeranium and the Little Mermaid
  2. Area guideIslands Brygge & AmagerHarbour baths and CopenHill
  3. Area guideRefshaleøen & NordhavnThe new harbour

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: the airport and the Metro, tickets and the Copenhagen Card, Danish kroner, cycling etiquette, and itineraries for a first visit.

Copenhagen City Hall and its tower on City Hall SquareBefore you goCopenhagen essentialsThe airport, the Metro, money and 112A driverless Copenhagen Metro train on the elevated line through ØrestadGetting aroundBy Metro, train and bikeM1–M4, DSB and the harbour busesThe painted gabled houses and old wooden ships of Nyhavn reflected in the canal on a clear summer dayItineraryThree days in CopenhagenThe classic first visitThe white façade of Hotel d’Angleterre on Kongens Nytorv in winter sunLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesRosenborg Castle, Christian IV’s Renaissance palace, above its moat under a blue skyItineraryThe Gold weekendd’Angleterre, Marchal and Kong Hans
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendNimb, Geranium and Alchemist

Our advice

Fifteen minutes from the airport

The M2 Metro and the trains leave from Terminal 3 and reach the centre in about 15 minutes (VisitCopenhagen). By Metro, train and bike

Day trips

Beyond the city

Louisiana by the sea, Hamlet’s castle at Helsingør, the kings and Viking ships of Roskilde, Malmö across the Øresund and Frederiksborg on its lake: all within reach by train.

A sculpture on the lawn before the low galleries of Louisiana Museum of Modern ArtBeyond the cityLouisiana & HumlebækModern art by the seaKronborg Castle at Helsingør above its brick rampartsBeyond the cityKronborg & HelsingørHamlet’s castleThe twin spires and brick front of Roskilde CathedralBeyond the cityRoskildeKings, queens and Viking shipsThe Øresund Bridge curving across the sound from its artificial island, seen from the airBeyond the cityMalmö & the Øresund BridgeOver the ØresundFrederiksborg Castle reflected in its lake at HillerødBeyond the cityFrederiksborg & HillerødA castle on a lake

In depth

In depth: Copenhagen, the royal harbour city

Danish cuisine, the royal harbour city, design and music, eating, the grand hotels, film, getting about and where to buy: the stories behind the city.

Christmas huts in Tivoli at dusk, with the lit dome behind the treesChristmas & New YearChristmas in CopenhagenTivoli from 13 November, gløgg and the castlesA herd of fallow deer below the Hermitage hunting lodge in Jægersborg DyrehaveIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild CopenhagenDeer, old oaks and the LakesSmørrebrød on dark rye: beef tartare with crisps, and chicken saladEatDanish CuisineSmørrebrød, herring, cake and New Nordic

At lunch

Go to smørrebrød at lunch, as Copenhageners do: Schønnemann has served it on Hauser Plads since 1877.

  1. FeatureCopenhagen, the classic and the newPalaces, the harbour, the table and design
  2. FeatureCopenhagen on filmNordisk Film, Cinemateket and the cinemas
  3. The back storyDesign and musicThe galleries, the Opera and the Playhouse
  4. The back storyEating in CopenhagenThe starred tables and smørrebrød
  5. The back storyThe grand hotelsFrom d’Angleterre to Nimb

The ULTIMATE letter

Copenhagen in your inbox

An occasional email with new places, events, area guides and our latest in-depth articles. No spam, ever.