2 Days in Copenhagen: a quick itinerary and guide

Copenhagen had been on my list for a while. I haven’t spent much time in that part of Europe. After visiting a Danish town in California, I was determined to check it out. Copenhagen in 3 words? Trendy, resourceful, and eclectic. 

We started our trip in Prague and took a quick 2ish hour flight to Copenhagen. Our next destination was London, which requires a negative COVID test, so we went straight to the airport testing center. If you are traveling and need to get tested for COVID-19, it’s effortless in Denmark. The center was directly across the street from arrivals and took about 10 minutes for a PCR test. There are signs all over the airport with arrows directing you to the center… and it’s free. No need to pre-book, and we got our results within 24 hours.

We taxied over to our hotel, the Nobis Hotel Copenhagen. It’s part of the Marriott chain, which gives you the perks of a chain but the charm of a boutique hotel. It’s located right across from Tivoli Gardens (apparently a must-do, although we never made it). The hotel is intimate, and the staff is friendly. They offer bikes for a fair price for getting around the city, which is really the best way to do it. And don’t be afraid if you are a novice on a bike. The bike lanes are all well marked and have their own stop lights. And everyone rides them. Everyone. There are more bikes than cars. The hotel is in a great location for a first-timer, close to the city center and waterfront. Hotel D’Angletterre and Scandic Palace Hotel were also on our list. All similar styles and good locations. 

After checking in, we showered and dressed for dinner, then walked to the city center, where we took a little stroll through the streets. We stopped at a café in the square called Europa and had a local Danish beer, enjoyed a singer performing by the fountain, and people watched. Afterward, we took a quick cab ride to Babylon, an intimate restaurant on the water, for dinner and live Jazz.

Day 1

After a quick workout at the hotel gym (they also have a sauna and spa you can use), we had breakfast and rode our bikes to Nyhavn (pronounced new-houn, yeah the Danish language is very different), the old colorful houses you see whenever you google Copenhagen. Filled with people and quaint cafes, this area is a must-see when visiting. We took some time to walk around then had a coffee along the water. 

Rosenburg Castle is a quick bike from Nyhavn, so that was next. We paid the entrance fee and spent some time exploring the castle and the large, beautiful grounds. Afterward, we biked to Juno, a local Danish bakery. Get the cardamom buns - no question. Everything was so excellent. At this point, our phones were dying, and we had a canal cruise booked at 4, so we biked back to the hotel for about an hour to rest and recharge. This would have also been a good time for a quick visit to Tivoli Gardens. 

We did our canal cruise with Hey Captain, and I would definitely recommend it. We booked for a group no bigger than 12, but it turned out to be a personal tour because everyone else canceled due to the rain. It was a great way to get a feel for the city and see some unexpected parts. The coolest part was seeing all the old buildings they have reconstructed into apartments instead of destroying and rebuilding. 

Our captain told us about a lovely natural wine bar not far from where we landed, so we went directly from the boat to Den Vandrette. We got lucky with no reservation since it was still fairly early for a Friday night. I would suggest making one if you want to go later in the evening or for dinner. We went with orange wine, soft cheese and sourdough, and olives. Unreal. 

We capped our night with a short walk to Nyhavn for a waffle, hot chocolate, and pretty view.

Day 2

We started day 2 with Barry’s Bootcamp. If you’ve never done Barry’s, it’s a HIIT-style workout involving the treadmill and weights. They have locations all over the world. We were worried they would be speaking Danish, and we would have no idea what to do, but English is frequently used. In fact, everywhere we went we were addressed in English. I guess you could tell we’re American. Is it that obvious?

After Barry’s, we biked over to Torvehallerne Market and went to Grød, a place dedicated to oatmeal, topped with almost anything your heart desires. The market was amazing and filled with different coffee shops, restaurants, stores, and a farmers market outside. There was also a flea market going on next door. 

A quick shower and bike ride later, we were at Christiansborg Palace. The view from the top was incredible. Then we headed to the Royal Palace, Amalienborg, where you can walk around the courtyard. The Queen and Crowned Prince live here and have a close connection with the public. 

Afterward, we went back to Nyhavn for a quick bite to eat. You have to try Smørrebørd when you are in Denmark. We heard the best is at Aamanns in the city center but since we weren’t far from Nyhavn we just stopped at a café that had it on the menu. 

Thrift shopping is extensive in Copenhagen, and there are so many. These were the ones we found:

Episode

Wasteland

McKorman/McVintage

København K

Dinner was at VeVe, a vegetarian tasting menu with a fantastic ambiance. The food was 10/10 and overall, a lovely experience. Dress was anything from dress casual to evening. Make a reservation in advance. We had to wake up bright and early for a flight to London, so we went straight to bed after dinner. Copenhagen was more than what we expected – an effortlessly cool, progressive city with an old feel. 

To-Do

Rosenborg Castle

CopenHill

Tivoli Gardens – oldest theme park

Islands Brygge – area by water, excellent for a picnic

Canal cruise

Christiansborg Palace

Thrift shopping

Rent a sauna or hot tub

Try smørrebrød

Torvehallerne

Amalienborg

To Eat

Juno (bakery, get the cardamom buns)

Barr (more casual, harbor views)

Harry’s Place (traditional Borge)

The Sixteen Twelve (brunch)

Den Vandrette (all natural wine bar)

Aamanns (smørrebørd)

NOMA  (“worlds best restaurant” but must book VERY early)

N. 10 (cozy wine bar)

Mikkeller (open food market on water)

42 raw (vegan casual breakfast/ lunch)

Andersen & Maillard (cafe)

The Coffee Collective (cafe)

Nicecream (vegan ice cream)

Banana (soft serve & baked goods made from wasted bananas)

Taobao (Asian small plates and great drinks)

The Pescatarian (new Nordic tasting menu)

Iluka (seafood)

Veve (vegetarian tasting menu)

Babylon (lovely location for lunch/dinner)

Torvehallerne (food market)

Grød (anything and everything oats)

Shop my Copenhagen looks