3 Days in Copenhagen: A Practical Day-by-Day Route

This three-day itinerary groups adjacent islands and districts so you move naturally on foot, bike and harbour ferry without backtracking. Before Day 1, reserve your timed entry slot for Rosenborg Castle and book at least one traditional smørrebrød lunch table.

Day 1: Nyhavn, Amalienborg, Rosenborg Castle, Latin Quarter & Tivoli Gardens

• Morning: start at Nyhavn in the calm morning light, then walk north through Frederiksstaden to the octagonal plaza of Amalienborg Palace, step inside the dome of the Marble Church (Marmorkirken) and stroll the grassy ramparts of Kastellet.
• Midday: walk through Kongens Have to visit Rosenborg Castle and the subterranean Crown Jewels treasury.
• Midday: sit down for a classic three-piece smørrebrød lunch in Indre By or grab fresh open sandwiches at Torvehallerne KBH market halls.
• Afternoon: climb the wide spiral ramp of the Round Tower (Rundetaarn) and wander the bookshop and vintage lanes of the Latin Quarter and Gråbrødretorv.
• Evening: spend the evening inside Tivoli Gardens, riding the 1914 wooden roller coaster and watching the lakeside pagoda lights come on after dark.

Day 2: Slotsholmen (Christiansborg), Glyptoteket, Christianshavn & Reffen

• Morning: cross onto Slotsholmen island to tour Christiansborg Palace, take the free lift up the 106-metre Tower (Tårnet), stroll the tranquil Royal Library Garden and step inside the Black Diamond.
• Midday: visit the palm-filled Winter Garden, Rodin bronzes and French Impressionists at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
• Midday: walk across the Inderhavnsbroen footbridge into Christianshavn, follow the Overgaden canal, climb the external golden spiral spire of the Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke) and stroll the lakeside path of Christiania.
• Evening: hop aboard yellow Harbour Bus 991/992 north to Refshaleøen for sunset street food by the water at Reffen (or in winter, head to Kødbyen in Vesterbro for dinner).

Day 3: Nørrebro Bakeries, Harbour Swim & Louisiana or Frederiksberg

• Morning: cross Dronning Louises Bro into Nørrebro for a hot cardamom bun and filter coffee, walk under the oaks of Assistens Cemetery (Hans Christian Andersen's grave), browse cobbled Jægersborggade and see Superkilen Park.
• Afternoon Option A (City & Harbour): take the M3 Metro to Frederiksberg Gardens and the underground Cisterns, then cycle across the orange Cykelslangen bridge for a late-afternoon dip at Islands Brygge Harbour Bath.
• Afternoon Option B (Coastal Train): ride the regional train 35 minutes north from Nørreport to Humlebæk to spend the afternoon at the clifftop Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (and continue 10 minutes further to Shakespeare's Kronborg Castle in Helsingør).