Last Updated on March 7, 2023
This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I receive a small commission at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
Copenhagen in Denmark is one of the top European cities to visit. The bustling city is a great combination of history, culture, great architecture and some of the best food scene. You can easily spend a few days exploring it, but since the city is so compact, you can see the main sights, even if one day in Copenhagen is all you have. Of course with just 24 hours in Copenhagen, you won’t be able to cover everything, but that’s a good enough reason to come back and see more of Denmark’s capital.
How to get to Copenhagen city center
Whether you arrive in Copenhagen by plane or train, getting to the city center is quick and easy.
From the airport
Copenhagen Airport is located in Kastrup, just 7 miles away from Copenhagen Center. The fastest and cheapest way to get there is by Metro. A direct line runs 24/7 and it takes only 15 minutes to get to Kongens Nytorv, which is the closest station to the hooping area of Nyhavn. The journey from the airport to the center requires a 3 zone ticket, which costs 36 DKK and can be purchased at one of the ticket machines.
From the train station
Copenhagen Central Station ( Københavns Hovedbanegård ) is the main train station and the largest in all Denmark. It’s located in the heart of the city, right across the street from Tivoli Gardens. If this is how you arrive in Copenhagen, you are basically a short walk away from all the main attractions.
How to spend one day in Copenhagen
Explore Nyhavn
No visit to Denmark’s capital is complete without spending some time in Nyhavn, which is without a question, the most famous and photographed part of the city. The images of the colorful harbor are the ones, that pop up first, anytime you search for anything Copenhagen related. And for a good reason. The entire harbor is insanely picturesque, with bright colored buildings lining the canal.
There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on one side of the canal, but as expected, they are geared towards tourists and very overpriced. They are fine, if you want to stop for a drink and enjoy the scenery and people watching, but for a meal, I’d go elsewhere.
Take a canal tour
One of the must things to do, especially if you only have one day in Copenhagen, is taking the canal boat tour. The boats depart from the picturesque Nyhavn for a one hour tour, going past some of the city’s main attractions. It’s a great way to get a glimpse of the city from the water’s perspective, as well as to get an idea of Copenhagen’s layout. The commentary during the tour is also a great way to learn more about the buildings. Book your 1 hour Canal Tour here.
Visit Rosenborg Castle
This 400 year old Renaissance Castle was built by King Christian IV and parts of it remain exactly as they were in the 17th century. Since I had just one day in Copenhagen and many more sights to see, I only admired the exterior of the castle and the grounds. But if visiting castles is something you enjoy, definitely spend a couple of hours touring the inside. These days, the castle is mostly a museum, and some of the exhibits include the throne and the crown jewels.
The castle sits in the middle of the King’s Garden, one of Denmark’s oldest gardens. If you happen to visit during the summer, when all the flowers are in bloom, the garden is absolutely spectacular.
PRO TIP: If you time your visit right, you can follow the guards, as they leave Rosenborg Castle at 11.30 am to head towards Amelienborg for the change of guard ceremony, that starts at 12.
Cost: entrance to the Rosenborg Castle costs 130 kr and you can pre-book your ticket online. When booking, you will be asked to choose a time slot, as they have limited number of tickets available for each one.
Open: opening hours vary depending on what time of year you visit, so make sure to check the schedule on the official website.
Watch the change of guard at Amelienborg Palace
Each day at 11.30 am the guards leave the Rosenborg Castle and head to Amelienborg ( home to Danish Royal family ) for a change of guard ceremony, which starts at 12. Since it happens in an open courtyard, with no barriers or gates, you feel more included, unlike let’s say at Buckingham Palace in London. The police is very good at making sure people don’t cross the imaginary lines. Make sure to show up 20 minutes before, to get a front row spot.
Visit Frederik’s Church
Right after the change of guard ceremony, head over to Frederik’s Church, also known as the Marble Church, which is located right next to the Amelienborg Palace. It’s regarded as one of the most beautiful churches in Copenhagen and easily recognizable by its green dome.
Visiting the church is free and you are welcome to do so any day. If you enjoy beautiful views, you can also visit the dome for a small fee. The views from the top are some of the best in Copenhagen. However, you need to time this right as times and days are limited. The dome can be visited on a tour at 1 pm only ( every day in the summer, and Saturdays and Sundays only the rest of the year ). You can check opening hours on the official website.
Hans Christian Andersen
Growing up, a thick book filled with Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales was one of my most precious possessions. The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes are just a few of the classic fairy tales I must have read a 100 times. Even though I had a limited time in the city, my 1 day Copenhagen itinerary had to include visiting some of Andersen’s sights.
Even though Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Copenhagen is where he spent most of his life and it also became his final resting place. His importance to the city is obvious, which shows in the number of sights dedicated to him. You can see some of them on a self guided tour, as you stroll around the city. One of the most popular is the bronze statue of the Danish writer, located right next to the Copenhagen City Hall. The colorful area of Nyhavn is also where Andersen lived in 3 different houses over the years. Nyhavn 20, 18 and 67 are the exact addresses, and you can see plaques commemorating the fact, that Hans Christian Andersen lived in the building.
Stop by the Little Mermaid Statue
A lot of times, some famous tourists attractions, feel a bit underwhelming in real life. In Copenhagen, that attraction for me was the Little Mermaid Statue. Much smaller in real life than I imagined and surrounded by crowds of people, hoping to get the perfect picture. The bronze statue, created by the sculptor Edvard Eriksen, was first unveiled in 1913. It sits on a rock by the waterside near Langelinje Pier. It was inspired by a ballet performance based on “Little Mermaid”, one of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tales.
Even though the statue doesn’t really live up to its hype, I would still include it in your one day Copenhagen itinerary. Mostly because it’s such an iconic part of the city and a nod to Andersen, who’s without a doubt one of Copenhagen’s most important writers.
Gefion Fountain
While walking towards the Little Mermaid, I ran into Gefion Fountain, that I found much more impressive than the famous statue. The large fountain tells the story of the Nordic Goddess Gefion, who was told by the King of Sweden, that she’ll be granted as much land as she’s able to plow in 24 hours. So she turned her 4 sons into oxen to help her plow as much land as possible. That land later became Zealand, the main island of Denmark.
Today, the fountain is used by many as a wishing well, with people tossing coins into the water for great luck. Definitely plan a quick stop by the fountain, as it’s really stunning, especially with the St Alban’s Church behind it.
If you have more time in Copenhagen
Even though I was able to see some of the city’s highlights during my one day in Copenhagen, there is still plenty more to explore. If you have more time in the city, or simply want to replace some of the spots above with other attractions, here are some ideas.
- Round Tower – the 17th century tower, in the center of Copenhagen, is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. For 25 DKK you can visit and climb to the top for one of the best 360 degree views of the city.
- Tivoli Gardens – one of the city’s biggest attractions, especially if you love amusement parks. Tivoli Gardens dates back to 1843 and it’s the second largest in Europe. You can easily spend hours there, which is one of the reasons I skipped it, since I only had 24 hours in Copenhagen. Tivoli Gardens is very popular, so to avoid waiting in line, it’s recommended you book your ticket ahead of time. This Tivoli Gardens ticket offers different packages and lets you skip the line.
- Food tour – Copenhagen is know for some of the best food scene and some of the world’s finest restaurants can be found in the city. The famous Noma restaurant ranked as the World’s Best Restaurant a few years in a row. If you are not familiar with Danish cuisine, this Copenhagen Culinary Experience Tour will be an excellent introduction.
Click on the Pin below to save for later!
The castle and canals look fabulous. Very interesting to see the soldiers in Busby hats in a blue uniform, having seen the changing of the guard in London where they wear red. We have taken the midnight sun ferry to Bergen from Newcastle, which was gorgeous. I feel like a trip to Copenhagen to check out those colourful buildings should be on my list of travel destination to see next.
I love Copenhagen and your post and photos really make me want to go back to explore more of the city. I will be passing through Copenhagen Airport next month on my way to Sweden but unfortunately don’t have the time for a stopover.
And I agree the mermaid statue is super underwhelming! I’d recommend checking out the alternative genetically modified little mermaid instead for something more unusual and less touristy 😉 It’s a part of a group of sculptures called Genetically Modified Paradise which is an ironic take on the postmodern society.
That’s a great idea, I’ll make sure to check it out next time I’m in Copenhagen. Thanks for suggesting it!