Few queues, lots of street life: on longer trips just one interior a day; the rest from outside, in parks and with long breaks.
Day 110:00–14:53
Nyhavn, Amalienborg & Kastellet
The day’s visit inside is the Amalienborg Museum; Nyhavn, the noon Changing of the Guard, a long smørrebrød lunch, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid.
10:001
Nyhavn 40 min
The 17th-century canal harbour: colourful houses, wooden sailing ships and numbers 20, 67 and 18, where Hans Christian Andersen lived. Copenhagen’s postcard view.
10:40
Walk · 10 min
Along Toldbodgade to the palaces.
10:502
The Amalienborg Museum & the square 55 min
The royal rooms of the last 150 years in Christian VIII’s Palace: the kings’ studies and royal treasures. Then the octagonal square of the four palaces.
The Royal Life Guards march from Rosenborg every day at 11:30 am; the changing takes place at noon on the Amalienborg square. The band plays when the King is in residence.
12:10
Walk · 8 min
To Store Kongensgade.
12:184
Lunch: Store Kongensgade 75 min
Herring, meatballs or roast beef on rye at a smørrebrød restaurant, with a beer or an akvavit.
13:33
Walk · 10 min
Along Esplanaden to the fortress.
13:435
Kastellet 40 min
The 17th-century star-shaped fortress: moats, red barracks and a walk along the ramparts to the windmill. Still a military site; free to enter.
14:23
Walk · 10 min
Down from the ramparts to the shore.
14:336
The Little Mermaid 20 min
The 1913 statue from Andersen’s tale: smaller than you expect, calmer early or late in the day. A view along the Langelinie waterfront.
The day’s visit inside is Christiansborg; then a canal tour, a long lunch at Gammel Strand and a walk along Strøget.
10:001
Christiansborg Palace (inside) 90 min
Parliament and palace in one: the Royal Reception Rooms with the Queen’s tapestries, the ruins of Bishop Absalon’s 12th-century castle under the palace, and the Royal Kitchen.
Reception Rooms 50 min + ruins 25 min + kitchen 15 min
An hour-long boat from Ved Stranden: Christiansborg, Nyhavn, the Opera, the Little Mermaid and the Christianshavn canals from the water. In winter the boats are covered and heated.
At least one museum or iconic interior every day; the rest on the streets, squares and viewpoints.
Day 110:00–15:19
Nyhavn, Amalienborg & the Little Mermaid
Kongens Nytorv and the colourful houses of Nyhavn; the Amalienborg Museum, the Marble Church and the noon Changing of the Guard; in the afternoon the Gefion Fountain, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid.
10:001
Kongens Nytorv 15 min
The city’s largest square: the Royal Theatre, Magasin du Nord and the head of Nyhavn. From late November an ice rink sets up in the middle.
10:15
Walk · 3 min
From the corner of the square to the canal.
10:182
Nyhavn 30 min
The 17th-century canal harbour: colourful houses, wooden sailing ships and numbers 20, 67 and 18, where Hans Christian Andersen lived. Copenhagen’s postcard view.
10:48
Walk · 10 min
Along Toldbodgade to the palaces.
10:583
The Amalienborg Museum & the square 55 min
The royal rooms of the last 150 years in Christian VIII’s Palace: the kings’ studies and royal treasures. Then the octagonal square of the four palaces.
The Royal Life Guards march from Rosenborg every day at 11:30 am; the changing takes place at noon on the Amalienborg square. The band plays when the King is in residence.
12:13
Walk · 3 min
Along Frederiksgade to the church.
12:165
The Marble Church (Frederik’s Church) 15 min
One of the largest domes in Scandinavia, straight across from Amalienborg. Free; visits are limited during services and ceremonies.
12:31
Walk · 8 min
To Store Kongensgade.
12:396
Lunch: Store Kongensgade 60 min
Herring, meatballs or roast beef on rye at a smørrebrød restaurant, with a beer or an akvavit.
13:39
Walk · 10 min
Along Esplanaden to the fountain.
13:497
The Gefion Fountain & St Alban’s Church 15 min
The huge fountain of the goddess who ploughed Zealand out of Sweden with her oxen, and the little English church beside it.
14:04
Walk · 5 min
Over the moat bridge into the fortress.
14:098
Kastellet 40 min
The 17th-century star-shaped fortress: moats, red barracks and a walk along the ramparts to the windmill. Still a military site; free to enter.
14:49
Walk · 10 min
Down from the ramparts to the shore.
14:599
The Little Mermaid 20 min
The 1913 statue from Andersen’s tale: smaller than you expect, calmer early or late in the day. A view along the Langelinie waterfront.
Christiansborg, a canal tour & the National Museum
Christiansborg’s halls and the ruins beneath them in the morning; Børsen, a canal tour showing Copenhagen from the water and lunch; in the afternoon the Vikings at the National Museum and a walk along Strøget.
10:001
Christiansborg Palace (inside) 100 min
Parliament and palace in one: the Royal Reception Rooms with the Queen’s tapestries, the ruins of Bishop Absalon’s 12th-century castle under the palace, and the Royal Kitchen.
Reception Rooms 50 min + ruins 25 min + kitchen 15 min
The 17th-century stock exchange, famous for its dragon-tail spire, burned in April 2024 and is being rebuilt under scaffolding. Views across the canal to Christianshavn.
12:00
Walk · 5 min
Over the bridge to the Ved Stranden landing.
12:053
A canal tour 60 min
An hour-long boat from Ved Stranden: Christiansborg, Nyhavn, the Opera, the Little Mermaid and the Christianshavn canals from the water. In winter the boats are covered and heated.
Inside every major ticketed landmark, with entry and security time included, down to the minute.
Day 110:00–15:39
Nyhavn, Amalienborg & the Little Mermaid
Kongens Nytorv and the colourful houses of Nyhavn; the Amalienborg Museum, the Marble Church and the noon Changing of the Guard; in the afternoon the Gefion Fountain, Kastellet and the Little Mermaid.
10:001
Kongens Nytorv 15 min
The city’s largest square: the Royal Theatre, Magasin du Nord and the head of Nyhavn. From late November an ice rink sets up in the middle.
10:15
Walk · 3 min
From the corner of the square to the canal.
10:182
Nyhavn 30 min
The 17th-century canal harbour: colourful houses, wooden sailing ships and numbers 20, 67 and 18, where Hans Christian Andersen lived. Copenhagen’s postcard view.
10:48
Walk · 10 min
Along Toldbodgade to the palaces.
10:583
The Amalienborg Museum & the square 55 min
The royal rooms of the last 150 years in Christian VIII’s Palace: the kings’ studies and royal treasures. Then the octagonal square of the four palaces.
The Royal Life Guards march from Rosenborg every day at 11:30 am; the changing takes place at noon on the Amalienborg square. The band plays when the King is in residence.
12:13
Walk · 3 min
Along Frederiksgade to the church.
12:165
The Marble Church (Frederik’s Church) 15 min
One of the largest domes in Scandinavia, straight across from Amalienborg. Free; visits are limited during services and ceremonies.
12:31
Walk · 8 min
To Store Kongensgade.
12:396
Lunch: Store Kongensgade 45 min
Herring, meatballs or roast beef on rye at a smørrebrød restaurant, with a beer or an akvavit.
13:24
Walk · 10 min
Along Esplanaden to the fountain.
13:347
The Gefion Fountain & St Alban’s Church 15 min
The huge fountain of the goddess who ploughed Zealand out of Sweden with her oxen, and the little English church beside it.
13:49
Walk · 5 min
Over the moat bridge into the fortress.
13:548
Kastellet 40 min
The 17th-century star-shaped fortress: moats, red barracks and a walk along the ramparts to the windmill. Still a military site; free to enter.
14:34
Walk · 10 min
Down from the ramparts to the shore.
14:449
The Little Mermaid 20 min
The 1913 statue from Andersen’s tale: smaller than you expect, calmer early or late in the day. A view along the Langelinie waterfront.
15:04
Walk · 10 min
North along the shore.
15:1410
The Langelinie pier 25 min
The promenade pier along the shore: ships entering the harbour, with Refshaleøen and the wind turbines opposite.
Christiansborg, a canal tour & the National Museum
Christiansborg’s halls and the ruins beneath them in the morning; Børsen, a canal tour showing Copenhagen from the water and lunch; in the afternoon the Vikings at the National Museum and a walk along Strøget.
10:001
Christiansborg Palace (inside) 100 min
Parliament and palace in one: the Royal Reception Rooms with the Queen’s tapestries, the ruins of Bishop Absalon’s 12th-century castle under the palace, and the Royal Kitchen.
Reception Rooms 50 min + ruins 25 min + kitchen 15 min
The 17th-century stock exchange, famous for its dragon-tail spire, burned in April 2024 and is being rebuilt under scaffolding. Views across the canal to Christianshavn.
12:00
Walk · 5 min
Over the bridge to the Ved Stranden landing.
12:053
A canal tour 60 min
An hour-long boat from Ved Stranden: Christiansborg, Nyhavn, the Opera, the Little Mermaid and the Christianshavn canals from the water. In winter the boats are covered and heated.
Since 8 October 2026 Copenhagen Airport has run extra security screening, and on some days the queues reached an hour. Be there 2 hours before Schengen flights and 3 hours before non-Schengen flights; non-EU travellers should also allow time for the new Entry/Exit System (EES) registration at the border.
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The metro runs 24/7; line M2 takes about 15 minutes from the airport to Kongens Nytorv. Buy tickets in the DOT Billetter app or at station machines; buses, metro and trains in the city share the same ticket.
🎟️
Using several museums, a canal tour and public transport over 2–3 days? The Copenhagen Card can pay off; check what it covers before you buy. Copenhagen Card
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Card is accepted almost everywhere and some places don’t take cash. The currency is the Danish krone (DKK), not the euro.
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Bike lanes are separate from the pavement and very fast: don’t walk in them, and look out for cyclists before you cross.
🌙
In winter it gets dark at 3:30–4 pm, so we put outdoor stops around midday and museums in the morning and late afternoon. Danes sit down to dinner at 6–7 pm; book the popular places.
Times are for a typical weekday. Some places open later or close on Sundays and Mondays; enter your dates and the planner adjusts the route.
Frequently asked questions
Which museums and landmarks can you visit inside in 2 days in Copenhagen?
Relaxed pace: Amalienborg Museum, Christiansborg Palace and Ved Stranden. Balanced pace: Amalienborg Museum, Christiansborg Palace, Ved Stranden and The National Museum (Nationalmuseet). Packed pace: Amalienborg Museum, Christiansborg Palace, Ved Stranden and The National Museum (Nationalmuseet).
How far ahead should I book tickets?
Timed tickets sell out fast. Our advice: Amalienborg Museum at least 2 days ahead; Christiansborg Palace at least 2 days ahead; Ved Stranden at least 2 days ahead; The National Museum (Nationalmuseet) at least 1 day ahead.
Is 2 days enough for Copenhagen?
Two days is ideal for the main sights: one day for Nyhavn, Amalienborg and the Little Mermaid, one for Christiansborg, a canal tour and the National Museum.
How do I fit the route to my own arrival and departure times?
Enter the city, your arrival and departure times and your pace in the planner on the home page. It trims the route around your flights, skips closed days, works out ticket deadlines and lets you download a PDF.
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