48 Hours In Copenhagen | Your Ultimate Guide

Copenhagen really has it all. A rich history, green thinking, wonderful architecture, incredible coffee and pastries, as well as some of the loveliest locals you could image. As the gateway to Scandinavia, it is naturally oozing in modern Nordic ‘coolness’ without forgetting the legacy of the past. 48 hours in Copenhagen is a perfect length of time to explore and see what all the fuss is all about, and this ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Copenhagen is one of those places I keep coming back to, most recently Spring 2026. It’s fun, lively, historic and bubbly; truly everything you want for a city break. In my ultimate guide I’ll cover where to stay, what to see, and what my itinerary would look like. I’ll also throw in numerous top tips and personal recommendations.

Without further ado, here is how I would spend 48 hours in Copenhagen.

48 Hours In Copenhagen | Your Quick Guide

Planning Your Trip

Copenhagen can first appear unruly. There is so much to see and there are some really remarkable hotels. Then, you throw in the insane number of day trips and you have an itinerary which is quite difficult to produce.

Travelling to Copenhagen

As one of the major capitals of Europe, Copenhagen has excellent transport links. Most major airports will fly here (around 2 hours from London Heathrow) and regular trains run from elsewhere in Scandinavia and Germany.

The airport is located just outside of the city. You’ll therefore need to catch a short train (around 20 minutes) from the airport to the Station. This costs 36 DKK (around £4.25) one-way and can be purchased from the machines on the day.

Speaking of Copenhagen Station (which, as a side-note, is beautiful), it is also in a prime location to explore. If you are staying at either of my wonderful recommendations (see below), you’ll only have a short walk before you check-in. Equally, if you want to use Copenhagen as a base, perhaps in extension of your 48 hours, you’ll find day trips are easy.

Where to Stay

To the contrary of popular opinion, I’d recommend not staying in the heart of the Old Town. This is because it is becoming (especially recent years) crowded with tourists, especially in peak season. The prices are also very high here, even for Scandinavia. I’d suggest staying ever so slightly away from it, more in the direction of Tivoli and / or the Meat-Packing District.

If I had to suggest a couple of hotels, my personal favourites are:

NH Grand Joanne – This hotel really stole my heart. It has been beautifully decorated with a great deal of thought. I also love the dusky pink tones which radiate throughout it, starting with the fun bikes outside which you can rent. I found the prices here very reasonable and the room was delightful to stay in. You’re also just 5 minutes from the Old Town and 2 minutes from the Station. You can read more about our stay in my quick guide on the NH Grand Joanne Hotel.

Coco Hotel – We really enjoyed our recent stay here. If you aren’t aware, it is a luxurious boutique which is again located near Copenhagen Station. It has been stunningly decorated; I think it resembles more of a Parisian-style hotel. What’s more, the food we had here was excellent. The hotel is part of the COFOCO Group which owns a series of restaurants in Copenhagen, including some of the most fashionable ones. Staying at the Coco gets you a discount of 15% off if you book directly.

Getting Around

Copenhagen is wonderfully compact. In fact, you’ll have no issues wandering the streets in search of things to do. There are also some good transport links throughout the city, including regular buses and trains. Equally, bikes are available for renting everywhere – in fact, 62% of all commuters cycle here.

One tool which is invaluable is the Copenhagen Card. Whilst it does seem quite pricey (£99 for 48 hours) to begin with, it includes all transport and the majority of attractions inside the city. Given that Copenhagen ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world, you’ll quickly make back the money. I’ll include places where you can use this during my guide below.

Itinerary for 48 Hours in Copenhagen

Day 1

Your first day is all about those key sites which need to be visited. Copenhagen has some incredibly famous landmarks to see, as well as delicious food which needs to be eaten. This is how I’d spend my first day in the Danish Capital. However, before we start, I’ve written this from the point of view that you have two full days in the city. If you have less than this, I would chop and change according to your preference.

Early Morning

Let’s start your day the way a morning should start in Copenhagen; a fresh pastry and a coffee. If you’ve seen the hype, it won’t surprise you that I’m taking you to Buka for your first breakfast. I know, it is very mainstream and popular, but there is good reason for this. The food is delicious and the coffee is excellent. If you wanted my personal recommendation, the pistachio croissant is very good. If you’re starting at Coco or the Grand Joanne, you’ll see a fair few of these dotted along as you walk into the Old Town.

Walking through the Old Town is best enjoyed early, around 09:00 or so. This is before the crowds descend and you can take in more of the atmosphere. Continue walking until you get to your first stop is Nyhavn. This is the most iconic spot in Copenhagen and is famed for its colourful buildings along the waterfront, allegedly there to bring in sailors during the darker months. You’ll be able to spot older, wooden ships in the quay and could even go on a short boat ride here if you wanted.

Late Morning

Continue your walk and head around the docks. This is one of my favourite spots in Copenhagen, especially when the weather is sunny and crisp. Continue your walk along the waterfront to Amaliehaven, a small park which is worth a short stop in. Then, from here, it is a short walk to the Royal Palaces. There are 4 in total, each named after a previous Danish Monarch. You can see the Change of the Guard process between 11:30 (when the guards leave) and 12:00 (when the new guards arrive).

Your next stop should then be the visible Frederik’s Church / Marmorkirken, otherwise known as the “Marble Church”. You can’t miss this from the Royal Palace and it takes just two minutes to walk here. Inside is the largest domed ceiling in Scandinavia, which dates back to the 18th Century. I personally loved seeing this and it is free to enter.

After leaving the church, continue towards the Kastellet Park. This is one of my favourite spots in the city. Whilst you have the famous fortress here, you also can see the legendary Little Mermaid statue here. As a lover of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tales, I always look forward to returning here. However, be prepared. The statue is surprisingly small and it will be crowded.

Lunch

Catch the bus (1076) to the stop Nørreport, which is back towards the centre of Copenhagen. I’ve taken you here as it takes you on a fun route back through the Old Town.

Alternative Suggestion: If you don’t mind walking, instead make a short detour to see Rosenborg Castle before you have lunch. We did this via a walk through Østre Anlæg and really enjoyed the experience.

The main reason though is for Torvehallerne. This is a gigantic Food Hall and acts as both a fresh supermarket and restaurant court for locals and tourists. In my opinion, this is the ideal spot for lunch. My personal tip would be to sample lots of different things here and to taste your way around. You could easily spend hours in the hall feasting.

Afternoon

From the Food Hall, it is a short walk to one of the most iconic spots in Copenhagen; Rundetaarn. This “Round Tower” is actually an observatory, but is mostly known for its equestrian staircase, which dates back to the 17th Century to grant horse-drawn carriages access to the top.

Because of its unique staircase, you’ll get an almost surreal experience walking up. In fact, you’ll feel as if you aren’t actually making any progress as you climb. Take time to really appreciate the flooring too; I found it beautiful. At the top of the tower is the view, perhaps one of the best in Copenhagen.

Entrance to the Round Tower 60 DKK for adults, 40 DKK for students and free for anyone aged 17 or under. It is also not included in the Copenhagen Card.

Dinner / Evening

During the later parts of the afternoon, I’d suggest heading back to the hotel and then to the Tivoli Gardens. This quaint theme park is a bit of a National Treasure, and is filled with fun rides and meticulously cared-for gardens.

The entrance fee is covered by your Copenhagen Card (usually 150 DKK), but it does not include a ride pass which is needed to go on the rides. However, it gives you a discounted price and is significantly cheaper with it. Some of my favourite rides include the Star Flyer (which you can’t miss) and the Flying Trunk, a longer ride which goes through the fairy tales of Hans Christian Anderson.

Tivoli also has you covered for dinner too. When you enter you’ll be spoilt for choice; we had a very hard time decided where to go. One place I would recommend is of course the Gasoline Grill, which is part of the company which once won awards for its burgers (still excellent, by the way). You also have the Tivoli Food Court for variety, as well as plenty of other cuisines. If you aren’t after fine dining and are looking to have a more relaxed evening, this is perfect.

For more information on Tivoli, check out my Visiting Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen | Your Quick Guide.

Day 2

Your second day in Copenhagen can be spent in a variety of ways. You can either see more of the city, or take a day trip or two. Either way, I have you covered with the options below. I hope that you enjoy.

Before we get started though, we need breakfast! Today I’m taking you to my favourite bakery in Copenhagen; Hart. Every visit I have here is fantastic and there are multiple shops around the city. The food tastes great, the coffee is excellent, and I’m personally a big fan of their white octopus mascot.

I’ve included two alternative itineraries below. In both cases though, I’ve assumed you’ll be spending the evening in Copenhagen, the details for which are found at the end of the two options.

Option 1 – Explore More of Copenhagen

Early Morning

We’ll be heading to some different spots today mostly concentrated around Christianshavn and the surrounding area.

Begin your day at the Church of Our Saviour. This is one of those buildings which you can’t miss when you’re in Copenhagen. Seriously; you probably saw it yesterday during your exploring.

The church is one of the most famous in Denmark. It owes this to its large spire which is possible to climb right to the top of. At its tip, you have Our Saviour who is stood on the Earth. The top of the tower is 86m above the ground and is not the easiest to climb. It actually closes in adverse weather such as strong winds and heavy rain.

Entrance to the church itself is free, but there is a charge for climbing the tower. For adults, the price is 70 DKK, for senior citizens and students it is 53 DKK and children go for 20 DKK. It is however free to holders of the Copenhagen Card.

Late Morning

Your next stop is perhaps one of the most unique and mysterious in Copenhagen; Christiania Freetown.

If you don’t know, Christiania is a self-governing district in Copenhagen and has been so since 1971. Once an old barracks, the site was taken over by a group of people determined to create an alternative life in the city. It remains completely independent from the city, however over the years it has received a bit of a bad reputation. Pusher Street in particular was linked to crime, but was closed down in 2024.

Walking around here there are a variety of small shops and cafés which, to be honest, may not be to everyone’s taste. However, the real reason for visiting is for experiencing this alternative neighbourhood and lifestyle. I can safely say it is unlike anywhere else.

Lunch and Early Afternoon

For your lunch, you’ll be catching the bus up to Reffen Street Food, one of the trendiest places in the city. The bus ride on the 2A will take around 20 minutes and you can board this at Prinsessegade.

Reffen Street Food is known for its Insta-worthy, stylish food. You have everything here from Cheesy Dreams to Semo Pizza, as well as food from Thailand, Japan, Greece and Argentina to name but a few. Think the Scandi answer to Camden Market.

I would personally recommend spending a few hours here sampling the food and enjoying the coastal views. Then, when you’re ready, catch the bus back. Alternatively, you can actually catch a water taxi to our next destination…

Late Afternoon

Your final stop today is going to be the Royal Library. You might be wondering why; isn’t it just a standard library? The answer is simply no. It is one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe.

Entrance is free to this impressive building and you will be blown away by its interior. The atrium in particular is beautiful. Think Scandi-style minimalism, open-space, and large windows which look upon the water. You can spend the time exploring, picking a good book to read, or even sitting down in the café for a relaxing drink.

Option 2 – Day Trips

I won’t go into much detail on these here as I’ve already written a fair few blog posts about them. I will say though that all of this public transport will be included in the Copenhagen Card.

If I could recommend just one idea it would be for a Day Trip from Copenhagen to Helsingør. This is the home of the legendary Kronborg Castle, famously the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. As I say in my post, the castle has been done very well. It is fun, exciting and there is plenty to keep you entertained. Entrance to the castle is included in the Copenhagen Card. Check out my blog post linked above for more detail on this exciting day trip. I would also add in that Helsingør is a lovely little town to explore.

Another option for a trip is visiting Frederiksborg Castle. I feel that this is far more of a Palace than a castle, but it is one of the most important sites for the Danish Royal Family. It is a day well spent walking around the floors to see the variety of painting and art, as well as extensive gardens and a (staggeringly) beautiful chapel.

Evening for Day 2

For your second evening during your 48 hours in Copenhagen, I’d head to one of the COFOCO Restaurants in the city. Delphine and Les Tres Cochons are my two favourites, but both do excellent food at a reasonable (Danish standards) price.

Then, I’d personally head back to the Old Town to enjoy a drink in Nyhavn. It is famous for a reason and it truly sings at golden hour.

Final Thoughts | 48 Hours in Copenhagen

I think that 48 hours in Copenhagen is an ideal time to spend in this enchanting city. To this day, I am yet to find a European city with the feel of the Danish Capital. For fun, culture and food, you sometimes just can’t beat it.

I hope that you enjoyed my ultimate guide. If you have any questions about any of the above, please just ask. I always love hearing from you.