72 HOURS IN COPENHAGEN

The contents of this article were originally going to detail how to spend 48 hours in Copenhagen. However, I love Copenhagen so much that I could not possibly condense everything into just two days. Thus, this article explains how to explore Copenhagen in three days if you have never been! (For more information on the specific places that I cite, please refer to my article on Copenhagen Must Sees.)

Day 1

Start by checking into 25Hours Hotel Copenhagen Indre By, a centrally located, cutely decorated establishment. Then grab a quick bite at Andersen & Maillard Indre By. Take your baked goods and walk around Nyhavn Harbour, the most iconic and heavily photographed part of the city. It is best to show up as early as possible so you can avoid most of the crowds!

Then walk to Frederik’s Church, a beautiful domed church. Once you’ve had your fill of rococo architecture, head across the street to Amalienborg Palace, the current royal residence. Exit in time to see the changing of the guard in front of the palace, which happens every day at noon! Then grab lunch at Schønnemann. This restaurant, established in 1877, sells smørrebrød, a traditional Danish open-faced sandwich. Absolutely make a reservation in advance, as this cute and homey restaurant is only open for lunch.

Walk off lunch by climbing up the Round Tower. There is only one way up this tower: the Snail Passage. This unique walkway is an ascending spiral ramp that winds 7.5 times around the tower’s hollow core. At the top, you will be met with wonderful views of the city of Copenhagen! Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the cute shops that Copenhagen has to offer. I love Notre Dame for home goods, Studio Arhoj for funky ceramics and glass, and Pico for cute hairclips. End the evening with dinner at Olive Kitchen & Bar.

Day 2

Start the day strong with a pastry at Hart Bageri. Then walk over to the King’s Garden and eat your pastry on a bench while you people watch. Stroll along the hedges until the first timeslot to enter Rosenborg Castle (always get your tickets in advance!) Then have lunch at Aamann’s 1921. This chic restaurant serves an elevated take on the smørrebrød (and might be one of my favorite dishes I’ve ever eaten?!)

Spend the afternoon at Christiansborg Palace, feeling like royalty as you walk through one reception room after the other. Then head to the Christiansborg Palace tower for another viewpoint of Copenhagen from above! End the evening at Marchal, a positively elegant restaurant in Hotel d’Angleterre.

Day 3

Begin your last day at the oldest bakery in Copenhagen, Skt. Peders Bageri. Established in 1652, this small institution serves up (in my opinion) the best baked goods in the city. Then trek out to Grundtvig’s Church. I know this church is a bit out of the way, but it is well worth it. The entire church is made up of approximately six million yellow bricks and has magnificent vaulted ceilings, making for a really gorgeous structure. Be sure to check whether the church is open to the public the morning that you are going, because it is open at varied times throughout the week.

Get back to the heart of the city and spend the rest of the morning at the Glyptoteket, an art museum that houses both antiquities from the times of the Greeks and Romans, as well as Danish and French art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Have lunch at the Michelin recommended French establishment Restaurant Gabrielle.

Then burn your lunch off by walking up 400 steps at Church of Our Savior, a baroque church that has an external spiral winding staircase, offering my favorite 360-degree views of Copenhagen. (And if you only want to choose one climb during your trip – let it be this one.) Then relax on a one-hour Stromma canal cruise, departing from Ved Stranden. Be sure to select a tour with a live guide, and enjoy Copenhagen from the water! This is a wonderful way to view many Danish landmarks, including the Little Mermaid. (I think that she is a little small and not worth the hype, so it is nice to see her from a boat and avoid the crowds from land!)

End the evening at one of my favorite restaurants in Copenhagen, Vækst. I hope you have the most magical time in Copenhagen, and don’t forget to tell me all about it!