Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg is the winter residence of the Danish royal family, four identical rococo palaces arranged around an octagonal courtyard with a statue of Frederick V at its center. Free to see from outside.
City in Denmark
Copenhagen
18 things to see
Copenhagen looks expensive, but a remarkable share of the city is free to enjoy on foot. Wander the colorful 17th-century Nyhavn waterfront, explore the alternative streets of Freetown Christiania, step inside the free-to-enter Marble Church, and catch the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace at noon each day. The grounds of the University Botanical Garden, the Kastellet fortress, and the harbour baths (free swimming in summer) cost nothing, and several museums offer free days, so check schedules before you pay. Biking is woven into daily life here and stays the cheapest, most local way to get around, while affordable street food at the Reffen market keeps eating costs down. Late spring and early autumn bring long daylight and lower prices than peak summer, and a cheap cross-strait train reaches Malmö in Sweden for an easy budget day trip.
What to see
Things to do in Copenhagen
What each one costs, where the cost is known.
Assistens Cemetery
Assistens Cemetery in Norrebro is where Hans Christian Andersen, Soren Kierkegaard, and Niels Bohr are buried. Free.
Christiania
Christiania is a self-governing community occupying a former military base in Christianshavn, established by squatters in 1971. Free to enter.
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace on the island of Slotsholmen is the seat of the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister's office. The tower is free to visit and offers the highest viewpoint in Copenhagen.
Church of Our Saviour
The Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke) in Christianshavn has a famous external spiral staircase winding around the outside of the spire, offering the best panoramic view of Copenhagen from 90 meters up. Entry to the church is free.
Gammel Strand
Copenhagen's historic fish market waterfront along the canal, now a picturesque row of colorful townhouses. Free to stroll, it connects Christiansborg with the pedestrian shopping streets and offers some of the best canal views in the city center.
Kastellet
Kastellet is a 17th-century star-shaped fortress on the Copenhagen waterfront, still an active military base but open to the public. Free.
Kongens Nytorv
Copenhagen's largest square sits at the head of Nyhavn and anchors the city's grandest boulevard. Free to walk through at any hour, it connects the harbor district with the Royal Theatre and the pedestrian core.
Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue on the waterfront at Langelinie, inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Free.
Church of St. Nicholas Copenhagen
A former church converted into a contemporary art center in the heart of the old city. The exterior and surrounding square are free to enjoy, and the building itself is a landmark on every walking tour route between Stroget and the canals.
Nyhavn
Nyhavn is Copenhagen's colorful canal-side street, lined with 17th and 18th-century townhouses in shades of red, yellow, and blue. Free to walk along.
Radhuspladsen
Radhuspladsen (City Hall Square) is Copenhagen's largest public square, anchored by the red-brick City Hall and its clock tower. Free.
Reffen Street Food Market
Reffen is Copenhagen's street food market in the Refshaleoen district, housed in upcycled shipping containers with waterfront views. Free to enter.
Rosenborg Castle Gardens
The Rosenborg Castle Gardens (Kongens Have) are the oldest and most popular park in Copenhagen, surrounding the Renaissance Rosenborg Castle. The gardens are free.
Round Tower
The Round Tower (Rundetaarn) is a 17th-century observatory in the center of Copenhagen. Entry is a small fee.
Stroget
Stroget is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe, running from Radhuspladsen (City Hall Square) to Kongens Nytorv. Free to walk.
Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest operating amusement park in the world, opened in 1843 in the heart of Copenhagen. Entry is paid, with rides costing extra.
Torvehallerne
Torvehallerne is Copenhagen's covered food market near Norreport station, two glass halls filled with gourmet food stalls, coffee bars, and fresh produce vendors. Free to browse.
On foot
Walks and free tours in Copenhagen
Tip-based tours and self-guided routes, which is usually the cheapest orientation there is.
Copenhagen Harbor to Little Mermaid Walk
The Copenhagen Harbor to Little Mermaid Walk is a self-guided waterfront route from Nyhavn to the Little Mermaid statue. Free. The route passes the Royal Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, and Kastellet fortress before arriving at the harbor edge in 1.5 to 2 hours.
Copenhagen Grand Free Tour
The Copenhagen Grand Free Tour starts at the City Hall Steps and covers Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, and Nyhavn harbor in 2.5 hours. Running for over 12 years, it is one of the most established free tours in Scandinavia.
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