You have one day in Copenhagen and you want to see everything—maybe even a little more?! I put together this alternative one-day Copenhagen itinerary exactly for you.
Fly in in the morning, and fly out in the evening. If this is an option from your city too, then this will be a perfect alternative one-day Copenhagen sightseeing plan.
Why “alternative”? First, because I also have another Copenhagen in One Day article. Second, because this itinerary includes a lot more (see below) than the average, “touristy” one-day Copenhagen visit. You’ll see much more of the city, you’ll get to know many more sides of the Danish capital, and maybe even get a bit of the Danish vibe too.
Alternative One-Day Copenhagen Itinerary
This alternative one-day Copenhagen itinerary starts at the airport (CPH) and ends there, too. Of course, your flight’s arrival and departure times may be different from what I list here, but I still want to give you a reference down to the hour and minute. This way you don’t just get a list of sights—you also get help planning the day, because you can see what’s worth spending how much time on.
This one-day Copenhagen itinerary is designed so you can comfortably see everything, get from place to place, and it won’t just be rushing. It also gives you the chance and the time to check out a few more special spots and experience the Danish pace and calm—at least as much as that’s possible when you’re a tourist with only one day.
A few extra tips below the itinerary:
- Which ticket should you buy for public transit?
- Interactive map with the itinerary.
- What makes this itinerary “more”?
- What to do if your flight arrives earlier?
From the Airport: Take the Train to Copenhagen Central Station
The Copenhagen airport train is a great way to get into the city. It’s only 3 stops and 12 minutes. Plan it so you arrive at Copenhagen Central Station (København H) between 9:00 and 9:30, because you can’t really enjoy the next stops before then. If you do end up coming earlier, see my tips under the itinerary.
Walk to Rådhuspladsen
Rådhuspladsen is City Hall Square, one of Copenhagen’s two most impressive squares. It’s just around the corner from the main train station, and on the way you’ll also pass the famous Tivoli. Tivoli doesn’t fit into a one-day itinerary, but definitely come back another time and give it the time it deserves.
9:30 City Hall (Rådhus)
Your very first stop is something few Copenhagen guides even mention. And yet Copenhagen City Hall (Rådhus) is not only a beautiful building—it’s also completely open to visitors, free of charge, and you can walk around on your own. To me, it’s one of the clearest examples of how differently the Danes think. If an institution exists for the people, then during office hours, people should be able to walk in freely. You can admire the stunning interior hall, and you can even stroll past the offices if you want.
10:00 Strøget, Copenhagen’s Pedestrian Street
Strøget, Copenhagen’s pedestrian street, is one of the most famous sights in the Danish capital. Cars haven’t been allowed here since the 1960s. It’s worth coming here whether you just want to look around or pop into a store or two.
Two tips for Strøget:
- Don’t buy souvenirs here. The many gift shops sell their products at much higher prices than, say, the Magasin department store I recommend in the next stop, the Fields shopping center I recommend later, or the airport’s Duty Free shop on your way home.
- Take a slightly more winding route and check out a couple of colorful-house spots in Copenhagen that only a few tourists ever see. One is Gråbrødretorv on the left as you walk this way, the other is Gammel Strand on the right. There’s also a metro stop at Gammel Strand, so if you’ve had enough walking, you can take the metro one stop to the next stop. See the interactive map below.
10:45 Kongens Nytorv, Magasin, and a Coffee Break
At the “end” of Strøget you’ll find Copenhagen’s other impressive square, Kongens Nytorv. It’s worth it for the view alone, but I also recommend stopping by the seven-story department store on the square: Magasin du Nord.
This department store is an experience in itself, as you browse exciting (and sometimes surprisingly affordable) luxury products across seven floors. But I especially recommend the COFFEE CLUB CPH café on the 5th floor. This isn’t an ad—on any Copenhagen walk, one of my favorite things is to sit down up here, rest a bit, wrap up the morning, and get ready for the afternoon. And in my opinion, they serve some of the best coffee in the city here—the pastries, though, aren’t award-winning.
Give yourself a 30-minute coffee break. It’s just as much a part of the Copenhagen vibe as the next stop. But do eat something too, because in this one-day Copenhagen itinerary, lunch is a bit later.
11:30 Nyhavn
From Kongens Nytorv you step into New Harbor, Nyhavn, the most famous part of the city. Along the canal, this is where you’ll find those iconic colorful houses you see in almost every photo of Copenhagen.
Start your walk on the side opposite the colorful houses—photos turn out better from there. Then you can cross back to the houses on the bridge with the black railing; that bridge is also the best spot for a selfie or a photo.
11:55 Amalienborg, Changing of the Guard
From Nyhavn’s colorful houses, it’s a 10-minute walk—or one metro stop (Kongens Nytorv → Marmorkirken)—to the royal palace, Amalienborg. Aim to get here by 11:55 so you can watch the famous changing of the guard too.
Because the changing of the guard happens at a set time, it’s one of the fixed points in this alternative one-day Copenhagen itinerary that the rest of the tour needs to be built around.
12:15 Marmorkirken
Just around the corner from the royal palace, by the metro station of the same name, you’ll find Marmorkirken (The Marble Church—officially Frederiks Kirke). In our opinion, it’s one of the most impressive buildings in Copenhagen, and it’s worth building a 10-minute pause into any city tour to sit under the dome and rest in the church’s grand circular space.
12:40 Kastellet
From Marmorkirken it’s about a 10-minute walk to Kastellet. We include it for several reasons on tours where we want to show visitors both Copenhagen and the Danish vibe in a single day.
First, this still-operational military complex makes for a great walk right in the city, along the ramparts of a star-shaped fortress. Second, you get a real sense of the Danish mindset when you can freely walk on active military grounds alongside armed soldiers.
13:10 The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid statue is one of Copenhagen’s most popular sights, so it’s a must on any one-day visit—and on longer trips, too.
13:25 Hop on Harbor Bus 991 (The Boat)
I think one of the highlights of a good Copenhagen trip is riding the so-called harbor bus (havnebus). This boat travels along the canal from north to south, and it’s included in the price of your day pass (see below). Board near the Little Mermaid (the Nordre Toldbod stop), and enjoy a 35-minute boat ride from a comfortable seat as you glide through the Danish capital’s central areas.
This is another point where timing matters, because even at best, route 991 runs only every 30 minutes. You can check the current schedule at the link. Definitely check it: the schedule differs on weekends, and it can change at any time.
14:00 Get Off Harbor Bus 991 and Head to Kødbyen
South of the city center, get off the boat at the Bryggebroen stop. This way you’ll have half an hour to rest your legs after all the walking so far and take in the city—and you’ll also get to see a side of Copenhagen that very few tourists ever do.
From the boat stop, walk about 50 meters south and cross the canal on the pedestrian bridge. Here you can check out one of the city’s most modern and trendiest residential districts, built well after the turn of the millennium. And I think crossing this bridge is an experience in itself. Pedestrians on one side, cyclists on the other—no cars allowed. On both sides, you can see the city’s towers far in the distance, while the pacifiers left on the railing offer a funny glimpse into the lives of Copenhagen’s youngest generation.
14:30 Lunch in Kødbyen
After crossing the bridge, continue past the Fisketorvet shopping center (Copenhagen’s biggest mall) and then IKEA. Keep going straight across the railroad tracks. This is a good spot to look at the bridge where cyclists get a wider lane than cars—another “only in Copenhagen” moment. After crossing the main road, turn right at the first side street.
Kødbyen (literally “Meat City,” in English: Meatpacking District) is one of Copenhagen’s trendiest neighborhoods for food these days. The old warehouse buildings—where meat trading used to happen—are still there, but now they’re filled with restaurants, shops, and ice cream spots.
In practice, you can eat anywhere here, wherever you feel like. At this hour, you likely won’t even need a reservation—you’ll find an open table. And even though the restaurants here represent cuisines from all over the world, you can be sure you’re having lunch in one of Copenhageners’ favorite areas.
15:30 Leaving Kødbyen
Time to move on—the day goes by fast in Copenhagen. If you walk back a bit toward the railroad tracks, you can hop on the S-train (S-Tog), which is the local commuter network around Copenhagen (similar to a suburban rail line). Hop on from the platform closer to IKEA, heading toward København H and Østerport—any train will do. From here it’s three quick stops.
15:50 Torvehallerne KBH
Get off the S-train at the third stop, Nørreport. From here it’s a one-minute walk to Torvehallerne KBH—the “market.”
This former traditional market is now more of a tourist attraction, but it still does a great job of capturing Copenhagen’s buzzing vibe. Whether you just browse the counters piled high or treat yourself to a sandwich, pastry, or coffee, this will be one of the defining experiences of your one-day trip.
16:30 Fields Shopping Center
To end the day, here’s a stop that might feel unusual—but it’s something many people specifically ask us for. When someone comes to see us in Copenhagen—even if it’s just for one day—they want to shop. And by that, people usually don’t mean luxury items (like in Magasin) or overpriced tourist trinkets (like in the Strøget boutiques). Much more often, they want the kind of shopping experience locals have: bringing home something the Danes buy for themselves—whether it’s local food, a small souvenir, or a piece of clothing.
Fields shopping center is perfect for this. From the previous stop (the market), you can get here without transferring. Take Metro line 1 toward Vestamager and get off at Ørestad station. On the way, there’s another local specialty: the metro gliding above ground gives you a little peek into everyday Copenhagen life, and you can see with your own eyes that Danes, for the most part, really don’t use curtains.
At Fields you’ll find tons of clothing stores, as well as several home stores and Bilka’s massive hypermarket where you can find almost everything, including groceries. We’ve never had a visitor who couldn’t find something truly local to take home from here.
17:47 Ørestad Station: Train to the Airport
You’re slowly reaching the end of your one-day Copenhagen tour. Right next to Fields, under the metro station, you’ll find the train station where you can take a direct train to the airport. I wrote down a 5:47 PM departure, but adjust the time to your flight—if you’re traveling within the EU, aim to be at the airport about 1.5–2 hours before departure.
You can find train schedules on dsb.dk, and in the CPH Airport app you can always see exactly how long the wait is at security.
Important: board the train on the track farther from Fields, heading east toward Sweden. The display usually shows Copenhagen Airport, but it’s not the final stop. From here you need to go two stops.
18:00 Arrive at the Airport
You’ve reached the end of your one-day Copenhagen trip. From the train, airport security is just a short walk, already inside the building.
I hope you had a great time, and that you’re heading home with tons of special experiences.
Which Ticket Should You Buy for Public Transit?
For this one-day Copenhagen itinerary, the best option is to buy the Copenhagen day pass. At the moment it’s available in the Rejsebillet app, and it costs 100 DKK for 24 hours for one adult. It includes unlimited travel within the city and can be used for all the transportation options described here.
Interactive Map
Meatpacking District, Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Langelinie, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
Bernstorffsgade, 1651 København, Denmark
What Makes This Itinerary “More”?
This one-day Copenhagen itinerary includes a lot of elements you don’t get on a “traditional” one-day city tour. I put it together so you get a much better sense of the real (not just tourist) Copenhagen, and so you can take at least a little bit of the local vibe home with you.
- You’ll try every form of local transportation except the bus.
- Shopping options not only in tourist areas, but where locals shop.
- Lunch in one of the locals’ favorite neighborhoods.
- A canal boat ride at no extra cost.
- Seeing a few places where you can feel real everyday Copenhagen life, and that aren’t included in most tourist itineraries.
- A shopping center where you can truly shop like locals—and take home gifts at normal prices.
- A minute-by-minute itinerary, so you can be sure everything fits.
What to Do If Your Flight Arrives Earlier
In the first part of the day, City Hall opens at 9:00 on weekdays and at 9:30 on Saturdays, and the pedestrian street only really comes alive around 10:00. It’s not worth starting earlier, because it will be a disappointment.
If your flight does arrive earlier anyway, here are two tips—choose based on how adventurous you feel.
- If you’re less adventurous, I recommend taking the train to Copenhagen Central Station the same way. Across from the station (on the corner of Vesterbrogade and Bernstorffsgade), or next to Rådhuspladsen (on the corner of Vesterbrogade and H. C. Andersens Blvd.), you’ll find an Espresso House café—both are open early in the morning. It’s worth sitting down for a coffee or a pastry and simply enjoying the atmosphere.
- If you’re a bit more adventurous and want a truly local experience, you can fit in one of Copenhagen’s most famous (and tastiest) bakeries: Andersen. Get off the airport train at the second stop (Ørestad), then take the metro one stop toward Vanløse, to Bella Center. From there, walk back, and at the second corner you’ll find this amazing bakery on the left. You’ll recognize it immediately by the pretzel symbol that’s common in Denmark. They’re open from 7:00, and sitting down for a coffee plus any pastry here is pure heaven—this is where you can really experience what Danish pastries are like.
Video
Check out this fun Copenhagen day on my video:
