A Local’s Photography Guide to Nyhavn, Copenhagen 

Nyhavn needs no introduction to anyone who’s done an ounce of research about Copenhagen; it’s one of the city’s best photography spots. This picturesque harbor area is the first place that many tourists head to when they visit the Danish capital, and it’s also a popular hangout spot for the locals—especially during the summer. 

To be honest, you could easily spend your entire Copenhagen visit solely photographing Nyhavn. Having lived here for three years and visited seven times before moving, the quarter is probably my most photographed spot in the city. But while I’m happy with many of the pictures I’ve taken here, I have also made my fair share of mistakes in the past. 

In this photography guide to Nyhavn, I’ll aim to equip you with the information you need to capture more interesting shots of the canal and its surrounding areas. We’ll cover lighting, the best and worst times to photograph, and much more. 

Lighting

When photographing at Nyhavn, it’s important to note that the lighting will vary dramatically depending on the time of year. Summer days are long and often sunny, whereas visiting in the winter will likely coincide with grey skies. As a result, your pictures can look very different—even if you photographed the exact same scene. 

The longest day of the year is usually around 21st June. Sunrise is 04:25, whereas sunset is 21:57. The sun is also higher in the sky, and the light can feel more intense. 

Meanwhile, the year’s shortest day is normally around 21st December. The sunrise is 08:37, while the sunset is around 15:38. Considering that the sun doesn’t rise very high above the horizon, the lighting is much softer—and the window for taking better photos is broader. 

Besides knowing the sunrise and sunset times, you should also keep in mind the direction in which the sun rises and sets in Copenhagen. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Nyhavn is close to the middle. When the sun rises, you’ll see much of the light when looking towards the main part of Copenhagen’s inner harbor. Meanwhile, the other side that’s close to Kongens Nytorv can look like blue hour for longer. 

If you’re planning to photograph Nyhavn around sunrise, consider taking pictures of the south bank from the opposite side of the water; the light will bounce more off the buildings over there. Do the opposite if you’re at Nyhavn around sunset. 

Camera Settings for Photography in Nyhavn

I’ve done a lot of experimentation with different apertures and focal lengths for photographing Nyhavn, along with numerous other aspects. While these tips are by no means gospel, they do—in my opinion—provide a helpful starting point. 

Aperture

If you’re aiming to photograph general landscape shots of Nyhavn, I’d recommend keeping your aperture between f/9 and f/11. This will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer (I used a Fujifilm camera until I bought my Nikon z6 ii), but any variations won’t be too dramatic. The textures on the buildings in Nyhavn can be quite hard to capture sometimes, so I’d recommend having an aperture of at least f/7.1 for shots of that kind. 

For close-up photos of people, widen your aperture to anywhere from f/3.5 to f/5. You’ll need to play around with these settings, though, as every camera is different.

Camera Modes 

The camera mode you choose will largely depend on what in Nyhavn you’re trying to photograph. For street-style shots, Shutter Priority Mode is a good option. While Copenhagen is a pretty laid-back city, the pace of everything in Nyhavn can be quite fast—especially if you’re capturing bikes.

For rain and snow, I recommend using Manual Mode so that you can control both the aperture and shutter speed. You’ll also have a bit more time to frame your shot compared to the types of photos mentioned in the previous paragraph, so you don’t need to worry as much about missing the photo you’re aiming for. 

I often use Aperture Priority Mode for photography in Nyhacn, which allows me to capture a broad variety of scenes without needing to worry about much manual work. It also lets me control the lighting exposure meter more effectively. Pretty much every modern DSLR, mirrorless, or full-frame camera has this setting.

Focal Length

A zoom lens works quite well when photographing Nyhavn, especially if your aim is to get a wide variety of shots. I personally use a 16-80mm lens, and I would recommend using something similar if you want to get both street and architecture-style photos. 

In the past, I have also used 35mm and 50mm lenses. Both are good for general use, but my only criticism would be that they don’t allow you to fit as much into your scene as a wide-angle lens. With that in mind, they’re better for portrait-style Nyhavn photos. 

If you want to use a prime lens, I’d say that the 27mm lens (or manufacturer equivalent if you don’t have a Fujifilm camera) is an excellent choice for photography in Nyhavn. Besides being sharp, it also allows you to be discreet and capture a broad enough range of interesting pictures. 

What You Can Photograph at Nyhavn?

Besides taking wide-angle photos of the houses that line Nyhavn’s waterfront, don’t forget to look out for the intimate details that many tourists don’t notice. For example, many of the buildings feature the year they were built. Nyhavn 17, which today is a brasserie, also has an interesting exterior worth checking out. 

Nyhavn in the summer can often feel like Copenhagen in a nutshell. Cyclists dart along one side of the waterfront, while friends sit along the shore while drinking warm cans of Carlsberg and eating pizza. Meanwhile, the restaurants and bars are often packed year-round. And on the water, tourist boats transport visitors along the many waterways of the Danish capital. 

All of the above make for an abundance of photography opportunities. During the winter, you can capture the essence of hygge—especially with the December Christmas markets. 

The Worst Times for Photography in Nyhavn

1. Weekends (Except Early Mornings)

To be truthful, I rarely visit Nyhavn on the weekends. Why? Because it’s simply far too crowded. The only exception is before around 09:30, when most visitors and locals are still asleep. 

If you visit in the early afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday, expect to wait a long time to get the photos you want. You’re much better off spending your time elsewhere in Copenhagen and then coming back at another time. There are plenty of fun things to do here, so don’t worry about not being entertained. And if you can, I’d recommend booking your trip to the Danish capital during the week instead.  

2. Midday in the Summer

As mentioned earlier, the lighting in Copenhagen can be quite harsh around midday from May to September. This can make it much harder to take good photos of Nyhavn, and I’d therefore recommend going in the morning or evening instead during those months. 

The Best Times for Photography at Nyhavn

1. Early Morning 

Regardless of when you visit, early morning is the best time for photography in Nyhavn. Crowds are few and far between, and the lighting is often beneficial for stunning pictures. This is even more true in the winter, when the sun doesn’t rise until after 08:00—meaning that you don’t need to get up as early. 

The only thing to keep in mind is that trucks delivering goods to the bars and restaurants can sometimes stand in the way of what would otherwise have been an ideal composition. 

2. Pretty Much Anytime During the Winter

Winter in Copenhagen isn’t as bad as you might think—and thanks to fewer crowds, tourist sites like Nyhavn aren’t as busy from November to March. Because of this, you’ll have much more room to breathe. 

Another benefit of photographing Nyhavn in the winter is that the light is much softer when the sun is out (though admittedly, the sun isn’t out that often). If you’re really lucky, you might also see the canal frozen over—though this doesn’t happen very often, so you should take it as a bonus if you get to experience that on your visit. 

On an overcast day, be prepared to bump up your camera’s ISO settings. 

3. Early May & September Sunsets

September is a special time of year in Copenhagen. Despite autumn being on the horizon, you often get better weather than in July or August—with a late bout of sunny weather before the temperatures begin to drop. 

The sun sets between 19:00 and 20:00, making it an ideal time to capture beautiful golden hour shots without needing to stay up late. The locals are often out soaking up every last ray of sunshine before the long winter arrives, which gives Nyhavn a special atmosphere compared to other times of the year. 

May evenings, when summer is on its way, are also great for photography in Nyhavn.

4. St. Lucia Day and Sankt Hans Aften

While we only have around seven hours of daylight in December, the run-up to Christmas in Copenhagen is a fun time to be in the city. St. Lucia Day is on 13th December, and you’ll see illuminated kayaks throughout Copenhagen’s inner harbor—including at Nyhavn. 

Meanwhile, Sankt Hans Aften is widely celebrated around midsummer in Denmark. It coincides with the longest day of the year, and bonfires are lit throughout Copenhagen and the rest of the country. Nyhavn is one place to witness the festivities for yourself while also capturing unique photos that many visitors miss out on. 

One bit of advice is that the promenade can get very busy for both of these events, so make sure you come in advance to get a good spot. 

Smartphone Photography at Nyhavn

Much of this Nyhavn photography guide is geared (pun intended) towards people with a DSLR, full-frame, or mirrorless camera. However, you don’t need one of these to take amazing pictures. For smartphone photographers, I recommend focusing on composition and making sure that you adjust the lighting on your phone camera accordingly. 

If you have an iPhone, you can also consider using Portrait Mode for better shots of people. Once you’ve finished taking your pictures, you can use VSCO, Lightroom, or Photoshop Express to make any adjustments that you feel are necessary. It’s also worth experimenting with the different camera profiles and filters that you already have on your phone.

Safety When Taking Photos at Nyhavn

Most tourists have nothing to worry about when it comes to safety in Copenhagen. Both petty and violent crime rates are low—but since Nyhavn is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city, you should still have your wits about you. 

Anything that wouldn’t be a smart idea in any urban area would also not be very clever here. Keep your valuables in a place that’s hard for would-be pickpockets to access, and be aware of your surroundings. If you’ve rented a bike and you’re standing away from it, make sure that you lock it. Other than that, you probably won’t have any real issues. 

Related Reading 📚: 

• Cycling in Copenhagen: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide 🚲

Several cyclists pass through Nyhavn daily, and you should try to avoid standing in the streets where possible. If you need to overtake others on the sidewalk, look to make sure that no bikes are coming. And if you hear a bell, move out of the way. 

Final Thoughts

Nyhavn is one of the most popular architectural photography spots in Copenhagen, and it deserves to receive the level of attention that it gets. Besides the architecture, camera enthusiasts will have a great time snapping the colorful buildings and vibrant street life in this part of the city, and it often feels like everything changes each time you go there. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should hopefully have a better understanding of how to plan your Nyhavn photography session better. 

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