How Many Days In Copenhagen For First-Timers GUIDE! (2023)

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Wondering how many days to spend in Copenhagen? If you’re visiting Copenhagen for the first time, I recommend spending at least 3-4 days there.

This gives you enough time to really get a feel for the culture, try some of the local food, visit some of the best areas and hidden gems, and to dip your toes into the buzzing atmosphere Copenhagen has after the sun goes down.

After my initial visit to Copenhagen, I was surprised at how much I fell in love with it. As someone who prefers the peaceful countryside to the bustle of the city, I didn’t expect to like Copenhagen as much as I did.

But Copenhagen isn’t a concrete, grey slab jungle with high-rise apartments and brightly-lit offices. It’s a city full of creativity, hope and togetherness.

And if you don’t believe me, check out CNN’s official ‘happiest country in the world‘ updated list for 2023. Denmark has been voted number 1 for six years, and I believe the Danish capital has a big part to play in this result.

So what makes Copenhagen so special? And why is it one of the greatest cities in the world? In this post, we discuss how long you should spend in Copenhagen, as well as how to make the most of your city break.

So, let’s get started!

“I’ve got to say I’m a little in love…with wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen. The Danish love of style and creativity is alive and well.”

– Phil Rosenthal, Somebody Feeds Phil (Netflix)

How many days should you spend in Copenhagen?

If you’re visiting Copenhagen for the first time, I recommend staying for at least 3-4 nights. There’s enough to keep you busy from morning ’til night, and enough to leave you wanting more.

This also gives you enough time to really explore the ‘hygge‘ way of life. Pronounced ‘hoo-ga‘, this Danish idea highlights the importance of sitting back, getting cosy and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

It could be anything from enjoying a hot drink with a view of the water, a cold morning swim, an afternoon coffee or a late-night chat with friends.

This is celebrated in Copenhagen. You don’t always have to be doing. Just being is enough.

If you’re visiting Copenhagen for the first time, make sure you leave time to explore this way of life. There’s a reason that Finland gets consistently voted the happiest country in the world.

What to do in Copenhagen

If you’re spending 3-4 days in Copenhagen, plan your itinerary around your time. Make sure you have a few of the tourist attractions on your to-do list but also leave some time to enjoy the slower pace and embrace the concept of hygge.

Some of the best things to do in the capital of Denmark include:

• Visiting Nyhavn, a 17th Century waterfront known for its colourful buildings, sailing boats and high-standard restaurants
• Walking around the city centre and getting to know the area
• Having a picnic in The King’s Garden overlooking the Rosenborg Castle (which also holds the Crown Jewels)

• Tasting a world-famous burger at The Gasoline Grill (check out the Somebody Feeds Phil Netflix show if you’ve never heard of it!)
• Take a guided tour of the city on the hop-on, hop-off bus
• Do a free walking tour

• Visiting the Little Mermaid statue, made over 100 years ago by Edvard Eriksen and inspired by Hans Christian Anderson
• Having a picnic in one of the many green spaces
• Climbing to the top of the Round Tower, which was built 1642 by King Christian IV of Denmark

• Experiencing the Changing of the Guard at the Amalienborg Palace
• Try tasty food such as flæskesteg (pork) and smørrebrød (open-topped sandwiches, which often have delicious toppings!)

• Watching the sun go down at Reffen or Broens Gadekokken, both large food markets serving food and drinks from around the world
• Drinking Aperol Spritz and going for a cold water dip at the Ofelia Plads (one of my favourite spots in the whole of Copenhagen)

• Taking a boat cruise or canal tour on the Øresund part of the Baltic Sea
• Stopping for coffee at one of Copenhagen’s many coffee shops (we loved Bagt)
• Visit one of the seven Danish UNESCO World Heritage sites; the Roskilde Cathedral

• Exploring Christianshavn, Copenhagen’s ‘free town’ (Freetown Christiania)
• Having a night out in Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District or Studiestræde, Copenhagen’s most well-known LGBT street
• Enjoying live music and jazz at La Fontaine
• Admiring the architecture of Frederik’s Church
• Seeing the cool path and graffiti designs in the Superkilen skate and jogging park

• Being a big kid at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s own theme park
• Admiring the coffee art in one of Copenhagen’s best coffee shops; Union Coffee
• Eating tasty pizza at GORMs near Nyhavn or authentic Mexican food at Hija de Sanchez
• Check out one of the Christmas markets if you’re visiting in the winter months
• Taking a day trip to Malmo, one of Sweden’s prettiest cities!

Where to stay in Copenhagen

As you can imagine, there are hundreds of hotels, hostels and Airbnbs to book in Copenhagen.

Whilst I haven’t stayed in them all (I’d question anyone who has), these are some of my favourite accommodations I return to every time I visit the city.

• For a backpacker-friendly hostel in Copenhagen: Steel House. I loved it so much that I even wrote a detailed review explaining why it’s the best place to stay in the city!

• For a cosy apartment a short walk from the heart of Copenhagen: Eric Vokel Apartments

• For a private flat in the centre of Copenhagen: Fortunstræde apartments

• For a popular hotel a 5-minute walk from Nyhavn: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel

Copenhagen is expensive. Don’t worry too much about being in the centre of town or close to Nyhavn if it’s out of your budget.

Getting around Copenhagen

Not only is the city walkable, but there are thousands (upon thousands) of bikes to hire and use. Bike lanes in Copenhagen are safe and wide, making cycling the most popular mode of transport to get around! It’s also a great way to see the city at a low cost.

If you do want to take advantage of the great public transport, you can buy a Copenhagen Card. This gives you access to free public transport across the entire city AND free access to some of the best tourist attractions!

➡ Need a transfer from Copenhagen Airport? Check out our favourite transfer company here.

How many days in Copenhagen: FAQs

1) What should I do on my first day in Copenhagen?

If you’re in Copenhagen for the first time and want to experience it to its fullest, I recommend heading to Nyhavn to see the famous 17th-century waterfront first. This is one of the most iconic spots in Copenhagen and a must-see.

In the afternoon, head north to the Little Mermaid statue, walk around Churchill Park (Churchenparken) en route and stop off at Ofelia Plads for a drink by the water.

For dinner, either head to one of the street food markets (we love both Reffen and Broens Gadekokken), a well-known restaurant on the water like Noma, or the Gasoline Grill for a giant, delicious (and unhealthy) hamburger.

2) Is 2 days enough in Copenhagen?

Yes! Two days in Copenhagen is a great amount of time to get a feel for the city.

You won’t have enough time to see all of the major sites and attractions, but you’ll be able to try some of the local foods, have a wander around the main streets and enjoy some of the local culture.

3) Is 5 days too much in Copenhagen?

This depends on what you’re like as a person. Copenhagen is a city that attracts hundreds of expats – people fall so in love with it that they end up staying for months on end.

If you’re visiting for the first time, five days in Copenhagen may give you enough time to explore the city by foot and by bike, as well as getting the train to one of the nearby towns or villages to explore the Danish countryside.

4) What is the cheapest month to visit Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is never going to be cheap. It’s one of the most expensive countries in the world, so even at off-peak times, you’re going to be paying steep prices. We live in London, and even we thought the prices were high!

However, for a marginal difference, Copenhagen in the late winter is a teeny-tiny bit cheaper. From the months of January – March, you may be able to spend a little less than peak summer or around Christmas (but don’t bank on saving much).

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How Many Days in Copenhagen: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about how many days in Copenhagen. In my opinion, three to four days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Copenhagen on your first visit.

And if you can’t already tell, Copenhagen is a city that you won’t forget in a hurry (and will be constantly checking flight prices to see if you can return!)

When you’re planning a trip to Copenhagen, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently balancing travelling around the world and living in London with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Copenhagen content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x