24 hours does not really give you a lot of time to explore anywhere. Even in a compact city such as Copenhagen you will have to plan if you want to see all of the sights. Such a plan should have a spare minute or two to devour a selection of Danish pastries and Smorresbrød! With this in mind, I decided to put together a guide to 24 hours in Copenhagen for you lovely people, updated following my 2026 Interrail Adventure.
I’ve included everything you can expect from my 24 Hours In Quick Guides, including tested accommodation and restaurants, along with any other top tips. I hope that you enjoy it.
24 Hours in Copenhagen | Your Quick Guide [2026]
Accommodation
Over the years I’ve spent time in multiple hotels in this beautiful city. Here are my two favourites.
- NH Grand Joanne Hotel – Whilst I’m not always a fan of large chains, this hotel was just beautiful. The decor has been done exactly to my taste and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier. I also loved the location and the food.
- Coco Hotel – It was not hard to see why this was the winner of the 2023 Award for the Best Hotel in Scandinavia from Travel and Leisure, as well as other accolades. The hotel is a smaller boutique and the rooms seem and feel very Parisian. I loved the bar here and the snacks. You can check out my Coco Hotel review here.
Breakfast
Assuming you are already in the city, start the day with a spot of breakfast. Since I first wrote this post, coffee culture has well-and-truly hit Copenhagen. In fact, there are now some truly unforgettable bakeries all over the city.
- BUKA – This one is incredibly Insta-famous, however, I get the hype. The pastries and coffee here are both seriously good, especially the pistachio croissants. I would however warn you that the queues here can be wild. In fact, after 9 or so in the morning you can expect to wait a little while before you tuck in to your freshly-baked pastry. However, it will be worth it.
- Hart – I had heard about Hart before we went to Copenhagen. I would say that this is the Danish equivalent of the Southern England-craze of Gail’s. Expect artisan pastries and (actually, very, very good) coffee. These are dotted throughout the city and are easy to find; just look for the white squid.
- Café Oscar – This one is a bit off of the beaten track and we discovered it by accident. I think that once Instagram finds it though it will be a real hit. The café has a really cool vibe with some of the most interesting (?) wall art I’ve seen! What I love most though is the fact that you can build your own breakfast from a list of many items. The coffee is again excellent.
- GRØD – Introducing a porridge specialist restaurant. Now, I know what you’re thinking; it doesn’t sound the most exciting. However, let me assure you that these guys have nailed it. Porridge here is incredibly varied and tasty, coming with many toppings and styles. If you aren’t in the mood for pastries. let me recommend this place. I promise that you’ll love it. P.s. They also do delicious waffles.?
How to Spend your Morning
I’d start the day at Kastellet. This beautifully preserved fortress, constructed in the shape of a star, nowadays mainly serves as a public park. Having said that, the historic site does still house a number of buildings in the centre. This includes a church, soldier barracks, as well as a windmill. It is best enjoyed in the morning before the crowds appear.
Once you have had a peaceful stroll through the grounds, be sure to head to the Langelinie waterfront promenade. This is about a 5 minute walk from Kastellet.
You shoud then find one of Copenhagen’s most iconic tourist sites; the one-and-only Little Mermaid. This is originally based upon the fairy tale of the same name by the legendary Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The small and unimposing bronze statue is an icon and has been a major tourist attraction since 1913. Getting there as early as possible will (hopefully?) mean beating the crowds and the coach-loads of tourists. If you come here any later then you’ll find it difficult to take an unobstructed photo of her.
Top Tip: Nearby is also the Genetically-Modified Little Mermaid; a more modern take on the older statue.
Late Morning
Continue along the waterfront making your way towards Amalienborg Palace. This is the official winter residence of the Danish Royal Family. Rather unusually, the Palace consists of four identical buildings with classic façades around an octagonal courtyard. In the square’s centre, is a monumental statue of Amalienborg’s founder King Frederick V proudly sat upon a magnificent horse. If you get your timings right you may be lucky enough to witness the splendid Changing of the Guards ceremony. This takes place at noon each day. If you miss it, make do with a photo of the Royal guards in their striking uniforms.
From Amalienborg, take a short detour to the beautiful rococo Frederik’s Kirke. This is commonly known as the ‘Marble Church’ – any guesses why? It is well-worth a visit inside. The interior is magnificent.
After being in a world of rococo splendour, you should spend the next part of your 24 hours in Copenhagen at Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square). In my opinion, this is the real epicentre of the old city. It was constructed for the King in 1908. However, nowadays the square is home to a variety of important establishments. You can find the Royal Theatre, the D’Angleterre Hotel and the Charlottenborg Academy here. From Kongens Nytorv (or on your way there) you are just a stone’s throw away from one of the most beautiful (and perhaps touristy) parts of the city; the colourful Nyhavn.
No trip to Copenhagen is complete without a visit to the historic commercial port. This is where ships from all across the world would dock and deliver their goods to the Danish merchants. In the present day, the beautiful old buildings have been renovated and now contain a mix of classy restaurants and (very expensive) watering holes. Nyhavn is a wonderful place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. You should take time to relax and enjoy the laid back atmosphere, jazz music and delicious food.
Top Tip: Whilst a beautiful view, I would strongly recommend against having a drink here. These are classic tourist traps and the notoriously expensive Copenhagen will seem even more pricey.
Lunch and Early Afternoon
Whilst possibly basic and late to the party, I am going to recommend Gasoline Grill for lunch. I really enjoyed our food here – no wonder it was voted one of the best burgers in the world! I’d suggest going to the original one (the old Gas Station – not too far from the port). Be warned though as this place runs out of burgers pretty quickly so you’ll need to get there early.
You can either eat your food outside the restaurant or take it with you elsewhere. Personally, with the Kongens Have (Kings Garden), Botanisk Have (Botanical Gardens) and the Ørstedparken nearby, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to a green place to enjoy your lunch.
After you have eaten lunch, you should explore the inner city’s streets by foot. First, head to Kultorvet, the Rundetaarn (which provides great views and is one of the most interesting buildings in the city) and Christiansborg Slot (the Danish Parliament building) but also be sure to wander through the smaller side streets, you are bound to find charming squares and pretty buildings hidden from the main tourist trail.
Late Afternoon
If you are visiting the city in spring or summer, you simply cannot miss an evening at Tivoli Gardens. Founded in 1843, the amusement park and pleasure gardens have become a national treasure and an international attraction. Fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen visited many times, as did Walt Disney and many other celebrities, each and every one of whom fell in love with the gardens. The wonderful thing about Tivoli is that there is something for everyone, young and old. The Gardens are beautiful and you’ll see exotic architecture, historic buildings and fun rides scattered throughout. I would suggest timing your visit for the early evening so you can enjoy Tivoli just as the thousands of twinkling lights create a magical atmosphere, unique to anything you will have experienced before. If you are feeling peckish, you can also enjoy a lovely meal within the gardens (and not too expensive!).
There are two ticket options here. You can either just explore the gardens (150 DKK) or add on a ride pass for 389 DKK in total (including entrance). Each ride costs 85 DKK in the park if you don’t buy the ride pass, so it is well worth buying the combined ticket at the desk so that you can enjoy as many of the rides as you want.
Dinner
One of the places I really loved for dinner this time was Delphine. It is a Mediterranean restaurant just by the Coco Hotel (5 minutes from Tivoli). The food here is just incredible and I loved the attention to detail with the decor. I’d thoroughly recommend it.
Alternatively, I also enjoyed Les Trois Cochons; a French restaurant in the heart of the city. Again, a very vibey interior. Other great options are Vækst or Høst for a traditional taste of Scandinavia.
Final Thoughts | 24 Hours in Copenhagen
24 hours in Copenhagen is the perfect amount of time to gain a flavour of the city. I’ll emphasise the word flavour here; the city really needs a little bit longer to truly understand and enjoy it. There is just so much to see and there are some incredible day trips which can be taken too. For now though, I hope that this guide has been helpful in planning your next trip.
1 comment
Wow, I never realised how much Copenhagen has to offer, it looks beautiful!! Great post x