Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone else about these secret places in Copenhagen! You’ve seen The Little Mermaid, spent an unforgettable night in Tivoli and had your picture taken with the royal guards at Amalienborg Palace. Now it’s time to explore the hidden gems of the city. Here are 11 hidden gems for your next visit, as recommended by VisitDenmark.
Go underground at the Cisterns
The Cisterns in Søndermarken, right next to the impressive Frederiksberg Gardens, is an underground museum featuring modern glass art from Denmark and around the world.
Sauna and winter bath at Refshaleøen
At Refshaleøen lies La Banchina. In the summer, you can sit on the docks down to the water with a glass of wine and some food. But if you’re looking for an extra special experience, you should come here in the winter and enjoy the hot sauna with a subsequent winter dip. The sauna is open at 10-16 (on demand), can accommodate 8 people and costs 40 DKK per person.
Amazing colorful facades
Colorful facades can brighten up even this year’s rainy days, and luckily Copenhagen is full of them. You can start in the old Latin Quarter in the city center and then visit the residential areas Brumleby and Kartoffelrækkerne with their lovely townhouses from the middle of the 19th century, or Olufsgade, all in charming Østerbro.
A hidden green oasis in the center of Copenhagen
Tucked away in Christiansborg Palace, the home of the Danish Parliament, you’ll find The Royal Library Garden. This green oasis can be accessed through the gates on Parliament Square.
Charming Christianshavn
In Christianhavn you can stroll along cobbled streets along the canal, photograph colorful facades and check out charming houseboats. Here are lots of cozy cafes (even floating ones) and restaurants. Tip: Climb the 90 meter high tower of the Church of our Saviour and enjoy the view of Copenhagen.
See Copenhagen from the water
You will definitely see the city in a new way if you see it from the water. Rent a kayak or a GoBoat (it seats 8 people) and plan your own route around the city’s cozy canals or out to the impressive architecture of the harbor and newly built Sydhavnen.
The Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is a green oasis in the middle of Copenhagen, right at Nørreport Station. Walk in the park and visit the beautiful exotic Palm House. Tip: If you’re want a bite to eat or something to drink head to the popular glass markets, Torvehallerne, which is a stone’s throw from the Botanical Garden and take a coffee break in one of Torvehallerne’s many stalls.
Hunt for giants
In the forests outside Copenhagen you will find six large wooden giants created by the artist Thomas Dambo. The giants are made of recycled wood and intended to get the city’s inhabitants to venture into nature and discover new places.
Visit one of Copenhagen’s oldest stores
Perch’s Tehandel is one of Copenhagen’s absolute oldest stores and a real little gem. It opened up the gates in 1835 and not much has changed since then. You have kept the original interior in English colonial style and the range is wide and of high quality.
The resting place of Hans Christian Andersen
Assistens Cemetery in Nørrebro is a peaceful resting place for famous names such as Hans Christian Andersen, Hans Scherfig, Søren Kirkegaard and Niels Bohr. But the beautiful grounds are also enjoyed by the living and you can even take a guided tour. Check out the hip street Jægersborggade just nearby.
Bike on an old railroad
Amagerbanen was once one of the old railroads in Copenhagen. Today, only 1.5 km of the rails remains. But a group of enthusiasts has taken care of the passage, making it possible to ride trolleys through a magical tunnel of leafs.
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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3 Comments
As capital cities go, Copenhagen is very compact. As it’s so flat and bike friendly, you could get round most of these highlights on 2 wheels.
I know that it’s a train ride out of Copenhagen but you can’t visit the city without going to the Viking Ship museum. It is the ultimate hands-on experience. Smelt iron, carve the prow of a Viking ship, try on a warrior’s tunic, row a Viking ship on the sea.
Sauna and winter bath at Refshaleøen
At Refshaleøen lies La Banchina. In the summer, you can sit on the docks down to the water with a glass of wine and some food. But if you’re looking for an extra special experience, you should come here in the winter and enjoy the hot sauna with a subsequent winter dip. The sauna is open at 10-16 (on demand), can accommodate 8 people and costs 40 DKK per person.
Amazing colorful facades
Colorful facades can brighten up even this year’s rainy days, and luckily Copenhagen is full of them. You can start in the old Latin Quarter in the city center and then visit the residential areas Brumleby and Kartoffelrækkerne with their lovely townhouses from the middle of the 19th century, or Olufsgade, all in charming Østerbro.
A hidden green oasis in the center of Copenhagen
Tucked away in Christiansborg Palace, the home of the Danish Parliament, you’ll find The Royal Library Garden. This green oasis can be accessed through the gates on Parliament Square.
Charming Christianshavn
In Christianhavn you can stroll along cobbled streets along the canal, photograph colorful facades and check out charming houseboats. Here are lots of cozy cafes (even floating ones) and restaurants. Tip: Climb the 90 meter high tower of the Church of our Saviour and enjoy the view of Copenhagen.
Sauna and winter bath at Refshaleøen
At Refshaleøen lies La Banchina. In the summer, you can sit on the docks down to the water with a glass of wine and some food. But if you’re looking for an extra special experience, you should come here in the winter and enjoy the hot sauna with a subsequent winter dip. The sauna is open at 10-16 (on demand), can accommodate 8 people and costs 40 DKK per person.
Amazing colorful facades
Colorful facades can brighten up even this year’s rainy days, and luckily Copenhagen is full of them. You can start in the old Latin Quarter in the city center and then visit the residential areas Brumleby and Kartoffelrækkerne with their lovely townhouses from the middle of the 19th century, or Olufsgade, all in charming Østerbro.
A hidden green oasis in the center of Copenhagen
Tucked away in Christiansborg Palace, the home of the Danish Parliament, you’ll find The Royal Library Garden. This green oasis can be accessed through the gates on Parliament Square.
Charming Christianshavn
In Christianhavn you can stroll along cobbled streets along the canal, photograph colorful facades and check out charming houseboats. Here are lots of cozy cafes (even floating ones) and restaurants. Tip: Climb the 90 meter high tower of the Church of our Saviour and enjoy the view of Copenhagen.
See Copenhagen from the water
You will definitely see the city in a new way if you see it from the water. Rent a kayak or a GoBoat (it seats 8 people) and plan your own route around the city’s cozy canals or out to the impressive architecture of the harbor and newly built Sydhavnen.
The Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is a green oasis in the middle of Copenhagen, right at Nørreport Station. Walk in the park and visit the beautiful exotic Palm House. Tip: If you’re want a bite to eat or something to drink head to the popular glass markets, Torvehallerne, which is a stone’s throw from the Botanical Garden and take a coffee break in one of Torvehallerne’s many stalls.
Hunt for giants
In the forests outside Copenhagen you will find six large wooden giants created by the artist Thomas Dambo. The giants are made of recycled wood and intended to get the city’s inhabitants to venture into nature and discover new places.
Visit one of Copenhagen’s oldest stores
Perch’s Tehandel is one of Copenhagen’s absolute oldest stores and a real little gem. It opened up the gates in 1835 and not much has changed since then. You have kept the original interior in English colonial style and the range is wide and of high quality.
The resting place of Hans Christian Andersen
Assistens Cemetery in Nørrebro is a peaceful resting place for famous names such as Hans Christian Andersen, Hans Scherfig, Søren Kirkegaard and Niels Bohr. But the beautiful grounds are also enjoyed by the living and you can even take a guided tour. Check out the hip street Jægersborggade just nearby.
Bike on an old railroad
Amagerbanen was once one of the old railroads in Copenhagen. Today, only 1.5 km of the rails remains. But a group of enthusiasts has taken care of the passage, making it possible to ride trolleys through a magical tunnel of leafs.
As capital cities go, Copenhagen is very compact. As it’s so flat and bike friendly, you could get round most of these highlights on 2 wheels.
I know that it’s a train ride out of Copenhagen but you can’t visit the city without going to the Viking Ship museum. It is the ultimate hands-on experience. Smelt iron, carve the prow of a Viking ship, try on a warrior’s tunic, row a Viking ship on the sea.
Not every visitor to Copenhagen knows about the Street Food market, especially since it’s moved and is no longer as easy to get to.