A Local’s 3-Day Copenhagen Itinerary

Having lived in Copenhagen since 2020 (after visiting 7 times beforehand), it’s safe to say that I know a lot about the Danish capital. I’m still amazed by how beautiful this city is and how it can have so many fun things to do—despite not being very big.

Besides the classic spots, though, I love showing people the parts of Copenhagen that tourists might miss. This city has interesting culture, great food, and much more packed into a compact place that’s easy and joyful to explore.

Based on my experiences living in Copenhagen and having visited multiple times before that, I’ve compiled this comprehensive 3-day itinerary. You’ll discover the city’s classics (well, at least the ones I don’t think are a waste of time), along with heading off the beaten path.

Day 1: Copenhagen Highlights

Start your weekend trip to Copenhagen by exploring the city’s headline-making attractions. Nyhavn was my first port of call on my first visit in 2016, and I suggest making it yours too. The iconic canal and its colorful houses are everything you imagined Copenhagen would be. 

Visiting Nyhavn early in the morning means that you’ll avoid most of the crowds. Walking around and photographing the area is the main highlight; if you visit Copenhagen in the summer, you can always grab some beers and sit along the waterfront. 

The Round Tower (Rundetårn in Danish) is another must-do on the first day of your adventure. Dating back to the 17th century, you’ll find a cool spiraling walkway inside. Once you reach the observation deck, you’ll be greeted with a fantastic view of Copenhagen. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, you can also see over to Malmö in Sweden. Tickets cost 40 DKK; you can buy them at the tower’s ticket office. 

I also recommend exploring the rest of Copenhaghen’s inner city on your first day. Slotsholmen, for example, is where you’ll find Christiansborg Palace—home of the Danish government. You can book tickets to see the interior, and it’s also possible to visit the tower for free. 

Wandering around Slotsholmen in general is pretty nice, especially if you stand on its bridges and admire the canal views. 

Rosenborg Castle is my favorite castle in and around Copenhagen; it’s built in a beautiful Dutch baroque style. It dates back to the 17th century, and like Christiansborg Palace, you can book tickets to see the interior. Kongens Have, the park where it’s located, is also lovely. 

If you have time, consider also visiting Amalienborg Palace, home of the Danish Royal Family. I suggest spending a few hours at the Design Museum, which is close to Marmorkirken.  

Note:

If you plan to visit multiple attractions on your Copenhagen weekend trip, consider buying the Copenhagen Card to save money. Besides entry to many of the city’s most famous sights, you also get unlimited public transport rides. 

Food

Spending the day in Copenhagen’s inner city allows you to try some of the Danish capital’s world-famous food scene. Below are my top recommendations based on personal experience. 

BUKA Bakery

BUKA has some of Copenhagen’s best pastries, and you’ll find a couple of bakeries in the city center. The one on Store Kongensgade is easiest to find if you’re in the touristy areas, but queues often form outside. 

If you only get one thing at BUKA, make it the pistachio croissants. 

Addresses (Indre By): 

Store Kongensgade 18, 1264 København K

Frederiksberggade 21, 1459 København K

Another Pizza

Another Pizza is a lovely establishment near Marmorkirken and the famous orange Nyboder houses. It offers four excellent options. 

The interior is small, but you can always take your pizza with you if there’s nowhere to sit. 

Address: Borgergade 134, 1300 København K

Gasoline Grill

In my opinion, Gasoline Grill makes the best burgers in Copenhagen. You’ll find a couple of establishments throughout the city, including one close to Marmorkirken and the Design Museum. 

Keep things simple here if you’re unsure where to start; the flagship burger is excellent. Don’t forget the lemonade, too, as it’s a fantastic way to round off your meal. 

Address: Niels Hemmingsens Gade 20, 1153 København K

The Union Kitchen

My friend and our girlfriends visited us in 2024 and went to the Union Kitchen, which has become one of my favorite places for dinner. It also doubles as a bar, and the chicken balls are particularly fantastic. 

I recommend booking a table at the Union Kitchen as it gets very busy. You can do so via the website. 

Address: Store Strandstræde 21, 1255 København K

Llama Restaurant & Bar

Llama is a Latin American-themed restaurant and another great addition to the perfect Copenhagen weekend itinerary. We also visited this place in 2024, and I conveniently sprayed tomatoes on everyone’s jumpers when trying to cut my food 🥲. 

The restaurant is a bit more upscale, but the atmosphere is nice, and the food is well worth the price. Our waiter told us to get 3-4 dishes per person as they were quite small, and I felt this was a good amount of food for everyone.

The grilled padron peppers were, in particular, *drool emoji*. Book a table on the website as this place also gets very busy. 

Llama has meat-based and vegetarian options. 

Address:

Lille Kongensgade 14, 1074 København K 

Day 2: Heading Off the Beaten Path

Although Copenhagen’s inner city has lots to offer, no weekend trip is complete without visiting some of its other districts. Vesterbro is the best place to check out as a visitor; it’s home to many excellent restaurants and cafés. 

Tivoli is technically in Vesterbro as per its postcode, and a visit is worthwhile. However, you’ll need to check that the amusement park is open when you’re in town. It closes intermittently throughout the year to prepare for the next season. 

Be sure to visit Glyptoteket, too. Its interior is beautiful, and the exhibitions are interesting. Enghave Plads is a great place to people-watch, meanwhile. 

In addition to Vesterbro, I recommend visiting The Lakes. Here, you’ll find Copenhageners of all ages walking their dogs, going for a run, and having first dates. You can branch off from here into Frederiksberg, Østerbro, and Nørrebro alongside Vesterbro. 

Leafy Frederiksberg is worth checking out if you have time, too. Its main park, Frederiksberg Have, is my favorite in Copenhagen. You can go ice skating outside if you visit in the winter. 

If you fancy a night out in Copenhagen, I recommend going to Kødbyen (the Meatpacking District). Other parts of Vesterbro also have nice bars.

Food 

Many of Copenhagen’s best restaurants are in Vesterbro; I’ve listed my top highlights below. 

Warpigs

When my brother visited Copenhagen in January 2025, I made Warpigs a priority. I do the same whenever other friends or relatives are in town. Warpigs’ brisket is superb, and you can’t go wrong with some mac ‘n’ cheese and coleslaw on the side.

Warpigs also has dozens of Mikkeller beers on tap, and its beer menu changes frequently. I love a good stout and am always happy, but you can also find IPAs, sours, and more if you prefer something else. 

You don’t need to book a table at Warpigs if you’re in a small group, but it does get busy on the weekend (especially in the summer). Indoor and outdoor seating is available. 

If you’re in a group of 8+ people, booking a table in advance might be a good idea. You can do so via the Warpigs website. The restaurant and bar is in Kødbyen.

Address: Flæsketorvet 25-37, 1711 København V

Folkehuset Absalon

Absalon is a community center that hosts communal dinners every night. I recommend booking at least a few weeks in advance as this place is very popular.

You’ll sit at a table with strangers, making it a great place to connect with new people. The menu changes daily, and prices are very affordable. My friend and I paid 60 DKK when we visited in January 2025.

Besides the food, you can also buy drinks at the bar. Prices are pretty reasonable for Copenhagen. 

Address: Sønder Boulevard 73, 1720 København V

La Neta 

La Neta is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Copenhagen. Choose whether you want tacos or quesadillas, with vegan and vegetarian options also available. 

Pick from a comprehensive list of craft beers on tap at La Neta, in addition to multiple bottled options. You can also choose from cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. The drinks menu changes intermittently. 

Address: Istedgade 88, 1650 København V

HART Bageri

I joke that every street now has a HART Bakery in Copenhagen, but it has exploded in popularity over the past few years. This, however, is justified; the sandwiches and pastries are top-notch. 

You’ll find a relatively small HART establishment on Istedgade and one in Kødbyen. The smoked salmon sandwich is particularly good. 

Addresses:

Istedgade 61, 1716 København V (Istedgade) 

Høkerboderne 17, 1712 København V (Kødbyen)

BRØD

BRØD is a great place for authentic local vibes, and I love pretty much all of its pastries. The coffee here is also fantastic.

The bakery is on Enghave Plads, which—in my opinion—is Copenhagen’s nicest square. Queues often form outside, and for good reason. Note that there isn’t really any seating space inside. 

Address:

Enghave Plads 7, 1760 København V

Day 3: Exploring Copenhagen’s Bohemian Side 

If you had preconceptions about Scandinavia being conformist, Copenhagen will challenge those. The Danish capital has always had a rebellious side, which is even more evident in neighborhoods like Nørrebro and Christianshavn. 

Nørrebro

Multicultural Nørrebro is Copenhagen’s most hip neighborhood. It has the city’s strongest community spirit and a large number of independent stores. The neighborhood is also home to many great public spaces, such as Nørrberoparken and Superkilen.

Nørrebro also has some of Copenhagen’s coolest streets. Stefansgade is one of my favorites, and it has an excellent pizza spot. Nearby Jægersborggade is also worth checking out. 

The district is also home to Assistens Kirkegård, one of Denmark’s most important cemeteries. Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard, and many other famous Danes are buried here. 

Christianshavn 

Maritime Christianshavn is another great place to spend time. It has a very similar vibe to Amsterdam. Before checking out the district, I recommend taking a boat tour; the main ones pass through Christianshavn. 

Christianshavn was inspired by the Canals of Amsterdam, and its cobbled streets are a joy to explore. The Church of Our Savior also offers a superb view over Copenhagen. Check it out if you can, but note that it’s closed during wet and windy weather. 

I also recommend checking out Freetown Christiania, Copenhagen’s most rebellious quarter. Originally a squatted military base, it’s grown into a vibrant community. The area has pleasant nature and several interesting homes. 

Note that Christiania can be a sensitive place for photography. I recommend asking before you take any pictures here. 

Important Note:

Christiania has been known for being a place to buy hard drugs over the years, but contrary to popular belief, these are illegal (as is the case across all of Denmark). Pusher Street was shut down in 2024 to combat gang-related violence, and until early January 2025, the police implemented a double penalty zone. 

Despite the double penalty zone no longer existing at the time of writing, you should still avoid buying drugs. 

Food

I hope you’re not too full from days 1 and 2 because I’ve got some more excellent food places to consider adding to your Copenhagen 3-day itinerary. 

BRUS

BRUS is an excellent bar in Nørrebro with an ever-changing menu from To Øl. The atmosphere here is great, and I like how it’s family-friendly. 

Be sure to try the burgers here; I also like the pulled pork sandwiches and Padron peppers. You can also order fries, bread, and other snacks for the table. 

This place gets busy, and I recommend booking a table in advance (especially for food).

Address: Guldbergsgade 29, 2200 København N

BÆST

BÆST is located next to BRUS and uses 60-90% organic ingredients. My girlfriend and I went here for her birthday in 2024 and loved the pizzas. Like BRUS, it also has a pleasant atmosphere. 

You can sometimes get a table if you show up, but I recommend reserving one from the website. In addition to dinner, you can have brunch at BÆST. 

Address: Guldbergsgade 29, 2200 København N 

Andersen & Maillard

Andersen & Maillard is another example of how Copenhagen works its magic with sugar, dough, and butter. The croissants here are very *chef’s kiss*, and its bakeries’ interiors are ideal for enjoying some of Copenhagen’s famed hygge. 

You’ll find one of its coffee shops on the main street in Nørrebro. It’s very close to Assistens Kirkegaard, making it a perfect part of your day in this part of the city. Andersen & Maillard also has bakeries in Nordhavn and Indre By. 

Address (Nørrebro): Nørrebrogade 62, 2200 København N

Darcy’s Kaffe

Darcy’s is an artisan café in Nørrebro and close to The Lakes. Its bread rolls are some of the softest I’ve ever tried, and I also think the café serves some of the best coffee in Copenhagen. 

Finding a seat here is very difficult because it’s small and busy. However, you can always take your stuff to eat elsewhere. Alternatively, you can book a table. 

Besides Nørrebro, Darcy’s also has a café in Vesterbro. 

Address: Rantzausgade 2, 2200 København N

Everything You Need for a Weekend Trip to Copenhagen 

Although I recommend staying longer, 3 days in Copenhagen is ideal for getting to know this beautiful city. From beautiful architecture to delicious pastries and interesting history, the Danish capital is a perfect year-round destination. 

Having read this guide, you should now have a solid idea of how to prepare for your adventure in Scandinavia’s coolest city. You can always mix up each day to fit your needs and preferences, but this itinerary is at least a starting point.

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