While it may not be easy squeezing one day in Copenhagen and see everything, it’s certainly not impossible!
I traveled to Copenhagen from California and only stayed for five nights. Ideally, I would’ve loved to stay longer, but you get very limited PTO in the USA, so I had to make the most of those five days. Luckily, unlike the major European capitals like Paris or Rome, Copenhagen is not too large. This means you can hit some major attractions and find the best places to eat in a day in Denmark’s capital.
How to Move Around Copenhagen
Getting around Copenhagen is super easy with its robust transit system, the Copenhagen Metro, which has four lines. If you purchase the Copenhagen Card, you have unlimited access to the Metro, bus, and entrance to over 80 attractions!
Copenhagen, like Amsterdam, is also one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, with bike lanes larger than car lanes. There are bike rental shops on every corner, and most hotels have free bike rentals for their guests.
If you are planning to stay in the Indre By neighborhood, you can walk or bike around easily. Indry By is Copenhagen’s city centre (where most visitors stay), where the most famous attractions are. This includes Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, The Little Mermaid, and Strøget.
But if you want to explore other neighborhoods like Vesterbro, Nørrebro, and Christianshavn, it’s best to take the metro and the bus. I did walk from Nørrebro to Strøget, but I wouldn’t recommend that for a one-day itinerary in Copenhagen; it was a 30-minute walk!
The Perfect One Day In Copenhagen Itinerary
Morning
For your one-day itinerary in Copenhagen, start your morning in Strøget. At 1.1 km, Støget is one of the longest pedestrian-only streets in the world. Strøget is lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. While most shops don’t open until 10 am, you can have a slow, easy breakfast and experience hygge, the Danish way of living. Hygge is the experience of coziness and soaking up every feel-good moment in your life. Then, join a free walking tour to discover the best things to do in Copenhagen.
Breakfast Recommendation
For coffee and breakfast, I recommend either Emmerys, a Denmark-based coffee chain. Emmerys is located in Magstræde, around the corner between Strøget and Gammel Strand. You can order different drinks like lattes, filtered coffee, and americanos. They even serve iced coffee, which is an American thing!
Emmerys also has a few hearty breakfast options, mostly with a variation of eggs, bread, and butter. Or you can order yogurt, cold-pressed juice, and porridge.
I ordered the julebolle, a delicious Christmas pastry with cinnamon, cardamom, and sugar!
Morning Activities
- Take a free walking tour: On my first full morning in Copenhagen, I took a free walking tour where I met with the group at Copenhagen City Hall. Our guide took us across the block to Strøget, Christiansborg Palace, Højbro Plads (where they also host one of Copenhagen’s many Christmas markets), Nyhavn, and Amalienborg Palace). From Amalieborg Palace, you can take the train back to Strøget, which only takes 12 minutes.
- Shop for souvenirs: Since you only have one day in Copenhagen, you can go shopping at one of the many stores in Strøget for a souvenir that you will cherish for many years to come. Look for a souvenir shop and treat yourself to a cute Nyhavn magnet, a tin of Danish butter cookies (that you can eventually use as sewing storage), a Little Mermaid snowglobe, or a book of Hans Christen Andersens’ fairytales.
- Climb the Round Tower: Right in the heart of Strøget, you’ll see a brown, 34.8-meter cylinder-shaped building. This is the Round Tower, also known as Rundetårn. The building has been around since the 17th century and is attached to the Trinitatis Church and a library. The Round Tower is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic attractions, with its rich history and aerial views of the city. What makes the Round Tower unique is the fact that there are no stairs; instead, there are steep, spiral ramps that turn 7.5 times. This is because horses were able to help carry books and other heavy items. Throughout the climb, there are art galleries, information centers, and rest stops!
Afternoon
This part will be the highlight of your one-day itinerary in Copenhagen. You’ll stroll through Nyhavn, the city’s most photographed attraction, lined with colorful buildings and a canal right through the streets. As cheesy as the Little Mermaid statue is, you should visit her at least once. She is the Mona Lisa of Copenhagen, after all.
Lunch Recommendation
Head over to Heering, the green building in Nyhavn (right next to the yellow Nyhavn 17 building). Restaurant Heering is a classic Danish eatery. You cannot leave Copenhagen without trying smørrebrød, Denmark’s most famous dish. Smørrebrød is an open-faced sandwich topped with seafood (usually herring, salmon, or shrimp), pickled vegetables, and remoulade; because there are so many toppings, smørrebrød is eaten with a fork and knife.
Restaurant Heering has an extensive smørrebrød menu for lunch, with 20 different variations. If you aren’t a seafood eater, you’ll be happy to learn that there are beef and chicken options. Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy smørrebrød with falafel, potato salad mix, or brie cheese toppings.
The service at Restaurant Heering is fantastic, with kind servers who make sure you have a good meal.
During warmer months, it’s best to eat at Restaurant Heering’s outdoor patio to enjoy the weather and get gorgeous views of the canal!
Afternoon Activities
- Stroll through Nyhavn: No trip to Copenhagen is complete without Nyhavn! Lined with restaurants and cafes, Nyhavn is the perfect spot to enjoy the scenery with a beer in hand on a sunny day or take a canal cruise. It also has a rich history as a commercial port and recreational spot for sailors. Hans Christian Andersen, the famous children’s book author who wrote “The Little Mermaid”, “The Ugly Duckling”, and “Thumbelina”, lived in Nyhavn 67 throughout the later years of his life.
- Watch the changing of the guards at Amalienborg Palace: A few blocks away from Nyhavn, lies Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the Danish Royal Family. Everyday at noon, you can witness the changing of the guards at Amalienborg Palace, who march from Rosenborg Castle 1.4 km away.
- Visit the Little Mermaid: If you have one day in Copenhagen, you’ve got to see the Little Mermaid, a bronze statue crafted by Edvard Eriksen, a Danish-Icelandic sculptor. While most visitors say that the statue is underwhelming, you can’t deny that the story and Hans Christian Andersen are deeply embedded in Danish culture.
Night Time
Dinner Recommendation
For dinner at a mid-range price with a cozy ambiance, check out Væskt, a modern Nordic restaurant that dishes with meat and seasonal fresh produce. Væskt is located in Sankt Peders Stræde, a few streets away from Strøget and across from Copenhagen City Hall.
During my first full night in Copenhagen, I ate at Væskt and ordered a delicious fried cod topped with creamy Buerre blanc, roe, a side of greens, and a glass of Chardonnay.
Væskt is also one of Copenhagen’s prettiest restaurants, with fairy lights and plants all around. There is also a greenhouse inside! According to their website, the ambiance is meant to mimic Danish summer evenings all year round. It doesn’t get any more hyggelig than this!
Nightlife
Skip the nightclubs and head to Bastard Cafe, a bar that serves coffee, beer, wine, and American appetizers like nachos, chicken nuggets, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Food aside, Bastard Cafe is known for its extensive board game collection: they have over 100 board games to choose from! Whether you’re traveling with friends or solo, you’re bound to meet new people and share fun memories with them.
Staying the Night?
For a super cozy stay near major attractions, spend your night at Motel One Copenhagen. It’s a 4-star hotel with the comfiest beds I’ve ever slept in (I seriously felt like I was sleeping on clouds!) and whimsical Scandinavian decor.
The hotel has a breakfast buffet, which isn’t included as a part of your reservation fee, but they offer delicious food like Danish pastries, croissants, eggs, fruit, and yogurt.
The front desk where you check in also doubles as a bar, where you can order drinks and reserve breakfast.
Motel One Copenhagen is right next to Strøget and across the street from Copenhagen City Hall and Tivoli Gardens. There is a metro stop right on the square of Copenhagen City Hall, making it much easier and faster to get around. The metro even goes all the way to the Copenhagen Airport and is a great way to save money rather than getting a taxi or a Viggo (one of the only rideshare services in Denmark, since they do not have Uber). Click here to see the latest rates.
Wrapping Up Your One-Day Itinerary in Copenhagen
This itinerary lets you see the best of Copenhagen in one day. You’ll experience the royal history, hygge culture, commitment to sustainability, and rich food scene. Since time is limited, this itinerary is primarily in the Indre By area.
Should you fall in love with Copenhagen (and I guarantee you will), you will need to come back and explore other neighborhoods like Nørrebro and Christianshavn.
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