Copenhagen is delicious, beautiful, convenient, cool, kid-friendly (in case it’s important to you, it is to me) — I could use so many more adjectives, but you probably know all of them since you are already planning your one day in Copenhagen.
I spent four days in the city, so this itinerary is based on several days of explorations. I tried to create an ideal route that will include both most popular things to do and a lot of delicious foods. One day in Copenhagen might not be enough to cover it all, but you can definitely see a lot of major attractions and try plenty of traditional Danish delicacies (and modern takes on them, too).
A Few Notes on This Guide for One Day in Copenhagen
- Most of the major attractions in Copenhagen are located centrally, so you can walk the whole way. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
- We didn’t use public transport at all, but it’s available and reliable (as in all major European cities). It can be a cool idea to rent a bike, after all that’s the favorite mode of transportation for most people living in Copenhagen. There are bike lanes (often wider than the car lanes) everywhere.
- The stops on this guide are arranged in logical order (and with opening times of each spot in mind) for your convenience. Just type them into Google Maps one after the other.
- I use time stamps for every activity just so you understand what your day might look like. You can, of course, spend more or less time at each spot, just pay attention to the opening times.
Disclosure: this post contains some affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
One Day in Copenhagen Itinerary
8.30 — Breakfast at Studio x Kitchen
Since you only have one day in Copenhagen, start it bright and early at Studio x Kitchen, a cute little cafe that serves incredible breakfast. They don’t take reservations, so try to come right by opening at 8.30. The cafe fills quickly.
I had one of the most popular dishes, folded eggs with nduja butter & cheese, which was stupidly good and easily one of the best things I ate in Copenhagen. The kids tried a platter of rye bread with butter and cheese — excellent in its simplicity. The coffee is good, too.
Apart from delicious food, you will also find beautiful ceramics — that’s where the name Studio x Kitchen comes from (or so I deduced).
Studio x Kitchen — Dronningens Tværgade 52
9.45 — Explore Nyhavn
A 13-minute walk from Studio x Kitchen
I like to cover major attractions right at the start of the day, so after breakfast head to Nyhavn, probably the most iconic and recognized area in the city. If you’ve seen pictures of Copenhagen depicting colorful townhouses right by the canal, that’s Nyhavn.
What used to be a busy commercial port is now a waterfront district filled with restaurants, cafes, and bars. Some of the most popular sites here are the houses where Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish writer, once lived.
Nyhavn 20 is where he lived for 18 years and wrote some of his most famous fairy tales. Nyhavn 18 and Nyhavn 67 are where he spent shorter periods of his life.
The walk by the canal will not take you long, about 30 minutes if you make stops to take pictures and people-watch.
10.15 — Take a Canal Boat Tour
The ticket booths are located right at Nyhavn
Right from Nyhavn, you can take a boat tour down the canal to see some of the major attractions, like Copenhagen Opera House, the Black Diamond (it is a part of the Royal Danish Library, named so because of its black granite and glass exterior), and even the Little Mermaid.
Important: to my mind, seeing the Little Mermaid from the boat is enough if you only have one day in Copenhagen. It’s one of those attractions that’s a bit underwhelming. The statue is quite small and the crowd is rather big. The boat doesn’t come close to the statue, but you can see it well.
Apart from being a really enjoyable experience on a warm sunny day, a boat tour is also great because you can see attractions that you otherwise wouldn’t fit into one day in Copenhagen, like the beautiful Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke) with its spiral staircase.
Tip: the tour takes about an hour. Make sure to start the tour no later than 10.30, so you get to the next stop on this itinerary in time.
Tip: the ticket booths are located along the canal, you might have to wait in line though. If you prefer to be a bit more prepared, get your tickets in advance. The starting point of this tour is a few minutes walk away from Nyhavn.
11.50 — Watch Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace
An 8-minute walk from Nyhavn
Amalienborg Palace is another major attraction that you must see if you only have one day in Copenhagen. Not only can you explore the official residence of the Danish royal family, but also witness changing of the guard.
The palace was built in the 18th century and consists of 4 identical buildings with an octagonal square in the middle, which is where a changing of the guard takes place. To be precise, the march starts from the Life Guard’s Barracks on Gothersgade and proceeds to Amalienborg Palace square where the guards perform their duties in front of a crowd of people.
Tip: be sure to get here a little ahead of time, the ceremony starts at 12.00
Important: I didn’t include a tour of the Amalienborg Palace in this itinerary. If you chose to do so, you’ll need to skip something else later in the day.
12.30 — Visit the Beautiful Marble Church
A 2-minute walk from the Amalienborg Palace
The Marble Church (also known as the Frederik’s Church) is located steps away from the Amalienborg Palace and is one of the most impressive buildings in Copenhagen.
Contrary to what the name suggests, the Marble Church is actually not made of marble. The foundation stone was laid in 1749, but when 6 years later the architect Nicolai Eigtved died, the construction work eventually died down. The building stood incomplete for over a century.
In the late 1800s, Ferdinand Melhdahl took over the original plans and finished the masterpiece by 1894. However, due to budget restrictions, marble had to be swapped for limestone.
You can explore the church for free, but if you want to go up to the dome, a small fee is charged. From the dome you will get spectacular panoramic views of Copenhagen.
Tip: you can visit the dome at 13.00 every day during the summer months and at the same time on the weekends for the rest of the year. Buy the tickets on the spot (there’s no way to reserve them).
13.30 – A Break for Buttery Baked Goods at Andersen & Maillard
A 12-minute walk from the Marble Church
The quote on the Andersen & Maillard website goes, “We start our day at 3am to make sure yours begins the way it should — with the perfect coffee and croissant”. And while your one day in Copenhagen is in full swing by now, this is a perfect stop for a little mid-day treat.
Andersen & Maillard is one of the best bakeries in Copenhagen. I tried a spandauer, a traditional Danish pastry filled with custard; a canelé, a French pastry with a custard center and caramelized crust; and a croissant cube (because I fall for viral foods as much as the next girl). Coffee was excellent, too.
Tip: the next stop on our itinerary is lunch, so keep that in mind when you order.
Andersen & Maillard — Ny Østergade 15
14.00 — Lunch at Torvehallerne
A 15-minute walk from Andersen & Maillard
Torvehallerne is an indoor and outdoor food market in the center of Copenhagen. It features two large glass buildings that house over 60 stalls. We stayed at Venders Copenhagen which is conveniently located only a few-minutes walk away from Torvehallerne and had breakfast, lunch, and dinner here on most days. Mind you, there are so many options it felt like a completely new experience every time: from tacos to hot dogs to mezze and beyond.
Here are my favorite spots at Torvehallerne:
Coffee Collective offers amazing coffee. Try their adffogato with soft serve.
Hija de Sanchez makes great tacos.
Rørt has a selection of smørrebrød, traditional Danish open sandwich.
Ma Poule makes an incredible duck sandwich.
Smag is a sandwich and salad bar, but wait wait, stay with me! They offer the freshest, most delicious building blocks for your bowl, like tuna salad, beetroot hummus, or green pesto. It might be my favorite spot of all at the market.
Tip: if you have more than one day in Copenhagen, I would definitely come to the market again. There are way too many great foods you don’t want to miss.
15.15 — Climb the Round Tower
An 8-minute walk from Torvehallerne
The Round Tower is a nearly 400-year-old building that King Christian IV had constructed to allow the astronomers from the University of Copenhagen to observe stars. What used to be a center for Danish astronomy is now one of the most popular tourist attractions.
The famous spiral ramp inside the tower wraps around the hollow center 7 and a half times and leads to an observatory with beautiful 360-degree views of Copenhagen.
Tip: there’s usually a line to buy tickets and get in, but it moves pretty fast.
16.30 — Walk Around the King’s Garden and Admire the Rosenborg Castle
A 5-minute walk from the Round Tower
The King’s Garden (also known as the Rosenborg Garden after the palace situated on its premises) is Denmark’s oldest royal garden. It’s open to public and is a place where locals come to hang out when the weather allows.
In summer, it’s a great chill out spot to take a break after a day of exploring the city. If you have kids, there’s a beautiful wooden playground on the premises of the garden.
The Rosenborg Castle, a 400-year-old home to the crown jewels and royal regalia, is also loaded here.
Important: I didn’t include a tour of the Rosenborg Castle in this itinerary, because the castle closes at 16.00 or 17.00 depending on the time of the year. However, if you are ahead of schedule (or skip something earlier), you can see the Rosenborg Castle inside. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
18.30 — Dinner and Drinks
As mentioned above, we had a lot of our meals at Torvehallerne because it was the best decision for our family with two little kids (we also have to be at the hotel by 19.00 to put them to sleep, so fine dining is not an option at this point).
However, if I were to return to Copenhagen on a solo trip or with a girlfriend, I would consider the places below for dinner!
Barabba (a 15-minute walk from the Rosenborg Castle) serves modern Italian food. According to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants website, “this is a hotspot for Copenhagen’s chefs and restaurant workers who go there for great food, fun vibes and late opening hours”.
Vækst (a 17-minute walk from the Rosenborg Castle) is a greenhouse inspired restaurant that offers a modern take on Nordic cuisine.
Ruby (a 20-minute walk from the Rosenborg Castle) a bar serving both classic and creative cocktails in a stylish space.
If you are looking for a more affordable meal Folkehuset Absalon is an amazing option. It’s located father away from the center, in an old church in Vesterbro neighborhood. Think of it as a communal dinner with friendly strangers. The dinner starts at 18.00, but you have to buy a ticket online until 16.00 on the same day. The cost is only 60 DKK (8 Euros). On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays it’s 100 DKK (13.50 Euros).
If you are looking for more recommendations, checking out The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is always a good idea.
Here your one day in Copenhagen comes to an end! I hope you enjoy this city as much as I did. If you use this guide, let me know in the comments. I would love to hear from you!
What Else to Do in Copenhagen if You Have More Than One Day?
Visit the Home of Carlsberg to learn everything about the famous Danish beer and do beer tasting, too.
Go on a 3-hour bike tour around the city with a local guide.
Do a day trip to see Lund and Malmö on a guided tour.
Where to Stay if You Have One Day in Copenhagen?
Venders Copenhagen
We stayed at this beautiful apartment hotel located in a 19th-century historic building right in the heart of the city. The apartment was large, with a spacious dining and living area, a kitchenette, and a sun-lit bedroom — we always appreciate extra space as we travel with 2 kids.
The location is unbeatable, only a few minutes walk away from the Torvehallerne food market, so your meals are sorted. All the major attractions are also nearby. We explored Copenhagen on foot for 4 days without ever having to use public transport.
This is an ideal location for families with kids, larger groups, or for anyone who prefers to have a little extra space.
