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We just spent 3 days in Copenhagen and honestly fell in love with the city faster than we expected.
Between the cosy cafés, colourful canals and the mix of history and modern design everywhere you turn, it’s such an easy place to explore on foot and a perfect long-weekend city trip.
Our trip was a mix of slow mornings, great food (Copenhagen does brunch so well) and ticking off some of the city’s best attractions without feeling rushed.
We visited in mid November, which meant Christmas markets, twinkly lights and festive events - but this itinerary works year-round!
In this guide, I’m sharing exactly how we spent our 3 days in Copenhagen: the foodie spots we loved, the museums and viewpoints worth visiting, and the little corners of the city that made us want to come back.
Rory Watson
Day 1: Canals, Cosy Cafés, Museums & Shopping
Our first day in Copenhagen was all about settling into the city and enjoying a slow day discovering some of the most iconic spots. We highly recommend just wandering around the city and exploring anything that catches your eye!
Morning: Brunch & Nyhavn
Start the morning at one of Copenhagen's classic brunch cafes. We went to Wulff & Konstali, one of the loveliest brunch spots in the city, which was right by our hotel (Go Hotel City).
We found it on google maps and it turned out to be incredible, with a small plates menu so you can sample lots of different things. There are plenty of these types of cafes located all around Copenhagen!
After brunch, head straight to Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s iconic colourful harbour. Even though it’s a popular spot, it’s absolutely worth seeing - we spent ages taking photos and walking along the harbour.
Afterwards, wander around the nearby shops and Christmas markets (if you're visiting in winter), soaking up Copenhagen's picturesque streets and beautiful stores. We recommend stopping by Magasin du Nord and ILLUM, two of the biggest department stores.
Afternoon: Museums, Coffee & Design Stores
In the afternoon, head to a museum such as the Museum of Copenhagen, which is the one we visited as it was free on a Wednesday (normally 110 DKK - around £12). It features interesting history about Copenhagen but it wasn't very big, there are plenty of other great museums to visit if you prefer something different!
After that, find a spot for some lunch or a pastry - we popped into Sunny for a coffee and pastry (we were still full from brunch), before continuing our browsing through the city’s design shops, including the famous Studio Arhoj, which is full of beautiful Scandinavian homeware.
Evening: Nyhavn After Dark & Dinner
In the evening, loop back to Nyhavn to take some more photos, it looks magical after dark with all the lights reflecting off the water.
For dinner, we highly recommend Palazzo Diner, a relaxed spot that has delicious pasta. If you're visiting between Sunday and Thursday like us, they do a great pasta club deal with cheaper prices.
We had a 3 course menu for 199 DKK (around £23), which is an amazing price for Copenhagen! We definitely recommend booking in advance though, this spot gets busy.
Day 2: Castles, City Views & Iconic sights
Day 2 is all about discovering Copenhagen's royal history, beautiful viewpoints and amazing foodie spots.
Morning: Bakery Breakfast & Rosenborg Castle
We'd recommend heading to one of Copenhagen's many bakeries for a coffee and pasty for breakfast.
We went to H A N S Coffee which was a great spot, their sourdough bun plate and almond croissants are so good and the perfect fuel before heading out sightseeing.
From there, walk over to Rosenborg Castle, a 400-year-old castle housing some of Denmark's greatest treasures.
The King’s Garden is a lovely place to walk around and going inside the castle is definitely worth it to see the grand interiors and the Danish crown jewels.
Afternoon: Lunch, The Round Tower & A Slow Break
Before lunch, you could pay a quick visit to Christiansborg's Tower, one of Copenhagen’s free viewpoints, it gives you a great perspective of the city without spending anything!
After, head back towards the city centre to find some lunch. There are so many great places to go to, we went to Dandelion Burger which was incredible according to Rory (but not so great for us vegetarians - luckily i was still full from breakfast).
The next stop on this itinerary is The Round Tower, a 17th-century tower with a unique spiral ramp instead of stairs, and a 360-degree view over the city at the top - it's a quirky attraction that's worth visiting.
By this point, we were ready for a slower afternoon, so we went back to our hotel to relax before dinner. You could also find a cosy café to relax in, do some more shopping or sightseeing. Copenhagen is great for roaming without any real plan.
Evening: Dinner at Pico Pizza
For dinner, we highly recommend heading to Pico Pizza, known for their small trio of sourdough pizzas, letting you try different flavours and toppings. There are multiple locations and we recommend booking in advance as it was busy on our visit!
Day 3: Brunch, Museums & Tivoli Gardens
Our final day in Copenhagen was fairly relaxed as we had an evening flight, but we managed to fit in the perfect mix of culture, food and cosy winter activities.
Morning: Brunch at Mad & Kaffe & The National Museum
We highly recommend grabbing brunch at Mad & Kaffe, a super popular brunch spot where you can build your own plate from lots of small dishes.
Everything we tried was delicious - it was our favourite meal in all of Copenhagen. Definitely book in advance though as it was very busy!
After brunch, head to the National Museum of Denmark, which is huge and really well put together.
We spent most of the afternoon here - there’s everything from Viking history to modern Danish culture. It’s the perfect indoor activity, especially if the weather isn’t great.
If the National Museum isn't your thing, you can visit one of the many other museums such as the Natural History Museum (and Botanical Gardens), the Design Museum, Danish Architecture Centre, Happiness Museum or even a fun spot like the Museum of Illusions.
Afternoon: Pastries & Coffee Break
No trip to Copenhagen is complete without trying as many pastries as you can, so we stopped at one of the oldest bakeries, Skt. Peders Bageri for an afternoon treat.
We tried their cinnamon buns which were some of the best buns we've ever had - it was ridiculously good! We then grabbed a coffee from the café next door and took a little break, watching the Copenhagen streets out of the windows.
At this point, it was time for us to make our way to the airport to catch our 5pm flight. We had hoped to visit Tivoli Gardens one evening, but it didn’t reopen for the Christmas season until the 14th November (our final day).
Because most of the magic happens after dark, we didn’t think it was worth the entry fee for a daytime visit. However, we did get a glimpse of the impressive Christmas decorations from the outside!
Evening: Tivoli Gardens
A visit to Tivoli Gardens is one of the most popular things to do in Copenhagen, especially in the late afternoon and evening when the park lights up. It's one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, built in the 19th-century!
Depending on the season, Tivoli transforms with themed decorations - the Christmas period in particular is incredibly festive with markets, light displays and cosy winter stalls.
Whether you’re into rides, Christmas lights or just wandering around with something warm to drink, the atmosphere is magical. We were very sad to miss this but will definitely add it to our list for next time!
For dinner, keep things easy and eat at Tivoli’s food court, which has plenty of Copenhagen's best cafe's, restaurants and bars!
Where should you stay for 3 days in Copenhagen?
For a short trip, the best places to stay are neighbourhoods close to the city centre so you can walk to most attractions.
Indre By (City Centre) is perfect as you’ll be near Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle and plenty of cafés - although it'll be the most expensive area. Vesterbro is another great area if you prefer a trendy, local vibe with lots of food spots.
We stayed at Go Hotel City which was in Amager East, it was a convenient location - only a 7 minute journey to the city centre and 6 minute journey to the airport on the metro!
Here are some great hotel options:
- 71 Nyhavn Hotel (Luxury) - A beautiful waterfront hotel with stylish rooms and an incredible location - right on Nyhavn.
- Bryggen Guldsmeden (Mid-range) - Beautiful hotel with gorgeous interiors and a relaxed atmosphere. Great value and close to the water.
- Go Hotel City (Budget) - Clean, modern and budget-friendly with good transport links, perfect if you’re looking for an affordable base.
Is 3 days enough to visit Copenhagen?
Three days is the ideal amount of time to see the highlights without rushing.
You can fit in major attractions like Nyhavn, Rosenborg Castle, The Round Tower, the National Museum and Tivoli Gardens, while still having time for cafés, shopping and neighbourhood wandering.
If you have longer, an extra day or two lets you explore more museums or take day trips (like Frederiksborg Castle or Malmö).
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👋 We hope that you found this guide helpful! Before you go - don't forget to read our other Copenhagen travel guides for more tips, suggestions & advice.
