Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn from any qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
This article lists the 15 best things to do in a weekend in Copenhagen + a Copenhagen itinerary for 2 days.
Charming canals, rows of colorful ancient buildings and boats that look like pirate ships – that’s the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Copenhagen. While that’s true and one of the highlights of a trip to Copenhagen, there is so much more to do during a weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The history and culture of Copenhagen, combined with the fact that it is one of the happiest cities in the world are enough reasons to pay a visit to this Scandinavian city. Plus the fashionable locals, cute cafes, colorful old buildings, modern architecture give you enough things to do in Copenhagen in 2 days. If you speak English, then you’ll get by easily on your Copenhagen weekend trip since the locals are friendly, welcoming and are happy to help you in English.
This Copenhagen itinerary for 2 days will help you plan the perfect weekend in Copenhagen and see all everythings that the city has to offer. So pack your best sneakers and let’s dive into this 2 day Copenhagen itinerary.
Get access to 80+ attractions and transport in Copenhagen with the Copenhagen City Card
Table of Contents
Pin This for Later!
How to Plan the Perfect Weekend in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is a beautiful city with a mix of both old and new architecture. There’s never a boring moment here ever. With inviting shopping streets, envious cafes and bars and a number of places to visit in Copenhagen on a weekend, all you need is a great Copenhagen travel guide to help you navigate the attractions of the city with ease.
You need to make sure that you have sturdy walking shoes to traverse the cobblestone steps (this generally applies to all of Europe) and be prepared according to the weather. The Copenhagen weather can get rainy and moody so packing an umbrella would be a good idea, depending on the weather predictions.
See the highlights of Copenhagen with a 3 hour bike tour of Copenhagen.
Are 2 Days Enough in Copenhagen?
Perhaps the most asked question while planning a Copenhagen trip is how many days to spend in Copenhagen? While you can rush and see Copenhagen in 1 day, it’s not enough time to gander through the ravishing streets or delve deep into the palaces and museums in the city. Thus I recommend spending 2 days in Copenhagen. This will give you sufficient time to see all the places to visit in Copenhagen during a weekend and still not feel like you’re running from one point to the other.
Find hotels in the Copenhagen city center on Booking.com
How Much Money Do You Need for a Weekend in Copenhagen?
There’s no beating around the bush here. Copenhagen is an expensive city. During our Copenhagen weekend trip in the spring of 2023, we found that even a simple breakfast of bread and coffee in a local bakery cost us as much as a decent lunch meal for 2 in Germany. That should tell you how expensive Copenhagen is. During your Copenhagen weekend trip, expect to spend €25-30 on breakfast, €40-60 on lunches and €50-70 on dinners for two. You can save money in Copenhagen by choosing to stay in a hotel that offers complimentary breakfast, eating street food for lunch and then having a proper dinner.
Things to do in a Weekend in Copenhagen
Day 1 of Copenhagen Itinerary for 2 Days
1. Tivoli Gardens
A big beautiful amusement park right in the middle of the city, the Tivoli gardens offer a number of rides in addition to tasty and classy food, unlike what is typically served in amusement parks. Not only does the park have fun rides and games but it is also very beautiful and surprisingly clean. What’s interesting about Tivoli gardens though is that it is said to have inspired Walt Disney to come up with Disneyland! That should tell you how amazing this park truly is!!
Opening Hours: The Tivoli garden is open from 31 March to 31 December from 11:00 – 22:00 but stays open longer during summer and on the weekends.
Entry Fee: Entry for people over 8 years costs DKK 155 (approx €20.8), DKK 70 for ages 3-8 and free of cost for children under 3 years of age.
2. National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark is located just a few steps away from the Tivoli gardens. The museum is located inside an 18th century mansion that contains relics and artifacts showing the history of Denmark, including the Viking era. In fact the highlight of the museum are the Viking artifacts and collections. This section even displays a video that shows the Vikings quest to reach Rome. The museum is unmissable if you are spending 2 Days in Copenhagen and are interested in learning more about the history of Denmark.
To save both time and money, buy an entry ticket to the National Museum of Denmark.
3. Stroget
Stroget is the main shopping street in Copenhagen that contains innumerable stores ranging from mid-range to luxury and some street food options as well. When there is nothing particularly special about this shopping street, it is a great place in the middle of the city and the starting point of other major tourist attractions to see in Copenhagen in two days. If you’re lucky then you will catch some very interesting shoes going on in this street such as a flash mob, musicians, and even the juggler who juggles fire..
4. Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace is a 12th century palace that is equidistant from both the National Museum of Denmark as well as Stroget. The palace has a tower that is free to visit. However, visitors are required to go through a security check before going up the tower. Additionally, you can even take a tour of the opulent palace interiors, the stables, artillery and carts by paying an entrance fee. Entry to all of these attractions within the Christiansborg Palace is included in the Copenhagen city card. I find that it is worth buying the city card if you are visiting a number of tourist attractions within a short span of time.
5. Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania is a micro nation and intentional community located inside Copenhagen. The interesting concept, history, the streets and the street art of Freetown Christiania make it the fourth most visited attraction in Copenhagen and thus you cannot miss visiting this place if you’re spending the weekend in Copenhagen. We loved exploring the part of the town that had incredible street art and the big statue of a troll known as “Green George af Thomas Dambo”. We loved the hippie vibe and the artwork, the infamous “pusher street” where cannabis is sold, even though it is illegal in Denmark, was a little too sketchy for my personal taste.
That being said, if you visit Copenhagen during summer then the canal views from Freetown Christiania are just as good as the ones in Nyhavn.
Have fun with an exploration game in Freetown Christiania!
6. Nyhavn – Best Place to Visit in a Weekend in Copenhagen
Find hotels in Nyhavn on Booking.com
Let’s talk about the most famous part of Copenhagen that is an iconic landmark in the city – Nyhavn. This waterfront area holds innumerable colorful buildings that date back to the 17th century. Historically, this was the part of the city where sailors from the ships that docked here would come to enjoy merrymaking with the ladies of the night. The area is nothing like that today and has a number of incredibly cute cafes and restaurants lined along the colorful row of buildings. This part of Nyhavn is pedestrian only and can get extremely crowded. However if you cross over to the other side of the canal, you will get the best pictures and the iconic photographs to remember your Copenhagen weekend trip. This street allows motor vehicles, there is a sidewalk for pedestrians as well with enough room for you to be able to take pictures.
7. Kunsthal Charlottenborg
The Kunsthal Charlottenborg or the Charlottenborg art gallery halls of white range of art exhibits inside a clear and bright setting. The building itself is absolutely gorgeous and located in Nyhavn on the side from where you get the iconic view of the colorful houses.
Opening Hours: The museum opens from 12 to 8 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends.
8. Kings’s New Square
The King’s Square is located on the northwest side of Nyhavn and has beautiful cobblestone steps, a small garden, benches to enjoy the view of the colorful houses nearby and also a view of the Royal Danish Theatre. You can enjoy some street food here and also walk over to the nearby street that houses a number of restaurants. Furthermore, if you’re visiting Copenhagen during Christmas time then you will love the Christmas market at the King’s New Square. If you come here at the right time then you will even catch a parade of the King’s Guard march past.
Day 2 of Your Weekend in Copenhagen
9. Breakfast at Skt. Peders Bageri
When spending the weekend in Copenhagen, you must try a local bakery in order to sample some heavenly Danish bread and also to save a few bucks by not spending money on a lavish breakfast. This way you can have fun, try some local specialties and save money along the way. Skt. Peders Bageri is one of the highest-rated bakeries in Copenhagen where you can sample Danish pastries, cinnamon rolls and cardamom buns, among other things.
10. The Round Tower
A 17th century Tower and Observatory, you can climb up the Round Tower in order to get a bird’s-eye view of Copenhagen during the weekend. The spiral ramp inside the tower will lead you to the observatory at the top. There are even toilets inside the tower and information cards along the way that give you details about the various places to see in Copenhagen. There is even a cafe inside and a gallery that holds exhibitions at times. The round tower is located in the part of Copenhagen that has really good restaurants and is really cool to walk around.
11. Rosenborg Castle
After climbing up the round Tower, take a leisurely walk through the gardens of the Rosenborg Castle. If you buy a ticket to go inside the Rosenborg Castle, then you must head over to the basement to see the Crown Jewels of Denmark. Enjoy the opulence and artwork inside this small palace where you can easily spend around 1 to 2 hours. If you don’t want to spend the time and money to take a tour of the palace interiors then you can just take a walk in the manicured gardens and head over to the next place to visit in Copenhagen during the weekend.
12. TorvehallerneKBH
This urban market hall has a number of stalls that sell food and drinks and also fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables and seafood. You will even be able to buy flowers or even get a glass of wine or beer at the TorvehallerneKBH market. In fact you can even find a butcher, a cheese shop, a sweet shop and cute bakeries here. They have both indoor and outdoor seating so grab some fresh local products, sit down and enjoy a hearty local lunch in Copenhagen.
Also Read: 11 Things to do in Spring in Paris
13. Frederik’s Church
After a nice lunch at the TorvehallerneKBH market, take a stroll through the city and head over to Frederick’s church which is one of the most beautiful places to visit during a weekend trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. This Lutheran church dates back to the 18th century and its dome is the largest one in Scandinavia. You can take some time to admire the architecture and craftsmanship of this incredible church and then visit the inside absolutely free of cost.
14. Amalienborg
The Amalienborg castle is just a few steps away from Frederick’s church. From the courtyard you can see a number of buildings in the rococo style of architecture. This castle is the home of the current King and Queen of Denmark and it is really cool that they allow visitors to take a tour of the castle interiors to see the artwork and the Queen’s jewels. However, if either the King or Queen is in the building then the tours do not take place at that time. But you can always see the guard changing ceremony here at 12 p.m.
Also Read: What is Denmark Known For?
15. Boat Ride and The Little Mermaid
You absolutely cannot miss taking a boat tour in Copenhagen. There are many boat tours departing from Nyhavn itself so you can just buy tickets on the spot. But in summer there can be long queues for tickets so it’s best to buy your boat tour tickets online, in advance. Most boat tours give you a glimpse of the famous Little Mermaid statue. I felt it was better to see the statue from a boat because seeing it from land gets overcrowded and since the statue is small, it feels very underwhelming.
To make things interesting, book a “Hidden Gems” Canal Tour where you will not only get an insight into upcoming neighborhoods in Copenhagen but also see hidden gems in the city. This is one of the fun things to do in Copenhagen in 2 days. To get around easily during your Copenhagen weekend trip, you can buy a bus and boat hop-on-hop-off ticket that gives you unlimited access to both buses and boats so you can see the city at your convenience.
Where to Stay during a Weekend in Copenhagen City
This Copenhagen itinerary for 2 days really gets you out there exploring the city. And so your hotel is a place where you’ll be coming just to sleep and to freshen up in the morning. Which is why I suggest booking a hotel in the Copenhagen city center so that you are close to all the places to visit in Copenhagen in 2 days.
If you’re on a budget then it makes a lot more sense to book a hostel in Copenhagen. It’s a great way to save money, meet other travellers and since hostels in Europe are quite common and in-demand, you’ll easily find plenty of options. That being said, there are a number of hotels and hostels in Copenhagen ranging from budget to luxury so you won’t be short of options. Take a look at the list of the best places to stay in Copenhagen for a 2-day trip.
Hostels in Copenhagen
Budget-Friendly Hotels in Copenhagen
Mid-Range Hotels in Copenhagen
Luxury Hotels in Copenhagen
- Dinesen Collection Luxury Condos by Royal Danish Theatre
- Rosenborg Hotel Apartments
- Hygge Living – Heart of Copenhagen
Where to Eat During a Weekend Trip to Copenhagen
As mentioned earlier, eating in Copenhagen can get expensive and will be the thing that you spend the most money on, apart from the hotel, during the weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thus to save some money, visit a bakery for breakfast. The most popular bakeries in Copenhagen are Skt. Peders Bageri, Anderson Bakery and Juno the Bakery. For a budget lunch, we loved eating at a small Indian restaurant called Indian Bites which had one of the best chicken tikka masala anywhere in Europe. You can also check out RizRaz for a vegan buffet. Yeerro and Strangas Greek Food serve amazing gyros at low prices. For meat and vegan hotdogs, checkout The Organic Hotdog Stand.
Indulge in a Copenhagen culinary experince tour to savor the delicacies of the city!
Need More Travel Inspiration?
If you’re heading to western Europe then I’m sure you’re looking for helpful travel guides. Take a look at my Europe travel guides, all of which open in a new tab.
- How to Spend 1 Day in Paris
- Plan the Perfect Weekend Trip to Amsterdam
- Day Trip to Burg Eltz Castle in Germany
Did You Like This Copenhagen Itinerary for 2 Days?
If you liked reading this guide to taking a Copenhagen weekend trip + Copenhagen itinerary for 2 days then take a look at my social media handles – Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter to see inspiring pictures and videos of my travels around the world and to be the first one to know when I release a new blog post!
