What to do in Copenhagen in 48 hours

Copenhagen is one of the happiest cities in the world, and I can see why! This city struck me as relaxed, easy going and has such a great attitude to living - a real essence of “hygge”. Here’s my guide for a short stay in Copenhagen, including what to prioritise, hints and tips.

Where we stayed: Hotel Danmark by Brochner. We booked this hotel through Booking.com - it was both excellent value and very central to most things in Copenhagen with an added plus of a rooftop bar!

The hotel has a wine hour (free wine!) every day between 5-6 along with a night cap hour (free spirits!) between 10-11. We definitely took advantage of trying out some local and imported wines!

Now on to our action-packed itinerary as we had just 48 little hours to explore this amazing city! Here’s what I would recommend:

Visit Tivoli - Tivoli is a combination of a theme park and gardens, with lots of different themes throughout. It’s home to the Dragon Boats, rollercoasters, and lots of restaurants! You could easily spend a few hours here so plan it in wisely and make sure if you’re going through the day to get a stamp on your way out to visit again at night when it’s all lit up (if you have time!).

Spend some time people watching in Nyhavn -

Lined with colourful 17th century townhouses and boats, Nyhavn is a perfect spot for lunch and a wine - it’s easy to see why this is a local favourite. Our favourite thing to do here was finding a spot at a bar on the waterfront and people watching for the afternoon! This is especially great on sunnier days where you can soak up the sun and watch the world go by.

Alternative activities in Nyhavn include boat tours, but personally we feel like we’ve done enough of these in our time so we skipped it on this occasion!

Explore Freetown Christiana

Freetown offers a completely different side of Copenhagen which is so interesting to explore. It’s an old military base which is now a community of free-spirited Danish people.

It’s well worth a read up on this place’s vast history and culture that was first declared in 1971.

When visiting Freetown, be sure to check out the art murals, grab a bite to eat, and be careful of where you take photos as in some areas it is prohibited (with clear signage) by the locals.

Take a walk to Kastellet

I posted about Kastellet over on Instagram and so many of you were in awe of how beautiful the grounds are here! I saw this when scoping out our itinerary and knew we had to go and take a look.

Kastellet is one of Europe’s best preserved defences and is still used by military with only a small part being accessible to the public.

One of the most amazing features is the star shaped moat (swipe to the end to see it on maps!) where you can walk around each point of the star.

You enter the site through the King’s Gate and can see military patrolling shortly after. As you walk up you can see the greenery and beautiful lakes surrounding the site.

Tip: Make sure you go up to the top of the moat to see the windmill! This supplied flour and rolled groats back in the 1700s but now serves as a little piece of history in the middle of the scenic gardens.

Hit up some local bars and restaurants

Fair warning that alcohol in Copenhagen can be quite expensive in comparison to UK prices. This is due to high sales tax and import tax in alcohol. Nonetheless, we always like to try out the local beer and wine, so we did just that!

A personal favourite of mine was the Brew Pub located a short walk from Tivoli. This pub is located in a little beer garden style space and is also a microbrewery! The local beer here was unreal and I wish we could source it here at home.

Food-wise the main event for us was Chapung Restaurant. I actually found this place because I saw an amazing TIKTOK of the Balinese style pools, rooftop bar and restaurant and HAD to get it booked. It was my husband’s birthday and he generally is quite fussy and this restaurant was perfect for both of us. I was able to have my favourite pan-Asian style food and he had a huge 300g steak. The food was incredible and the restaurant had a great atmosphere. The only downside is that it’s not very central with it being located in a hotel on the outskirts - it was about a 30 minute walk though from our hotel so not too bad at all.

Enjoy the Danish “hygge”

When it comes to embracing feeling cozy, content, and an overall sense of well-being, the Danish concept of "hygge" is second to none. It's a term that encapsulates the art of savoring life's simple bits of happiness and cultivating an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness. What better place to experience the essence of hygge than in Copenhagen?

Ultimately, hygge is about forming genuine connections with the people around you. Strike up conversations with locals, make friends in a cozy bar, or join a community event. The warmth and hospitality of the Danish people are a core part of the hygge experience and it’s something you should definitely try out!

Transportation around the city

Whilst the absence of Uber might surprise some, it's a testament to the city's dedication to reducing carbon emissions and promoting alternative, eco-friendly options. Copenhagen boasts an extensive network of bike lanes, making cycling the preferred mode of transportation for many residents. The city's bike-sharing programs and rental options make it incredibly convenient for tourists to join in the cycling culture (fun fact - 80% of people in Copenhagen own a bike!)

In addition to bicycles, Copenhagen's public transportation system, including buses, trams, and the renowned S-train, provides an eco-conscious way to navigate the city.

When heading home, you can grab the train to the airport which is much cheaper than a taxi. It takes around 15 minutes and you can buy tickets at the station or online.

I would definitely recommend Copenhagen for a city break, it has a great mixture of sight-seeing, great restaurants and lots of places to walk around.