Copenhagen is one of the first places I remember wanting to visit as a child. For years I watched the Danny Kaye movie, Hans Christian Andersen, hoping I would one day get to visit the writer’s home city. When I moved to Scotland, it was one of the first places I visited and I was not disappointed. What I love about Copenhagen is that there is a beautiful mix of history and modernity. It’s also a super friendly city (as soon as I got off the train and looked at my directions people were offering to help me). It’s a place I highly recommend visiting and if you do, below I’ve listed 10 historical things to do in Copenhagen.
Travelling History’s 10 Historical Things to do in Copenhagen, Denmark:
1. Take a stroll along Nyhavn.
One of the most recognizable sites in Copenhagen is Nyhavn, the 17th century canal lined with colourful buildings. The canal was constructed by King Christian V in the 1670s and originally operated as a commercial port. Ships would have passed through from all over and, like many ports, Nyhavn became an entertainment area for sailors.
Nyhavn also has a connection to one of Denmark’s most famous residents, Hans Christian Andersen. He lived in three addresses here, no. 18, no. 20 and no. 67. In no. 20 he wrote some of his most famous fairy-tales, including The Princess and the Pea and The Tinderbox.
Today, Nyhavn is a bustling area of the city with many great restaurants and bars to visit. You can also take a boat cruise from here to explore the beautiful canals of the city.
2. Visit the 400-year old Rosenborg Castle.
Rosenborg Castle was built in the early 17th century by Christian IV of Denmark. It was originally used as a summer pleasure palace, but it quickly became his favourite residence. So much so, that he requested to be transported there on his deathbed in 1648. Rosenborg Castle was expanded over a period of about 30 years during Christian IV’s lifetime and was used as a royal residence up until 1710. After this it was only used as a residence on a couple of occasions. It opened to the public in 1838 and remains a popular tourist attraction. Today, it is also home to the Danish Crown Jewels, which visitors can view.
3. Eat Danish food at Café Petersborg, a restaurant that dates back to 1746.
Copenhagen has a lot of great restaurants that serve traditional Danish food and one of my favourites was Café Petersborg. The restaurant dates back to 1746, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the city. In the 1700s, the Russian consulate was located in the building and sailors would often visit for food and drink while they were on shore leave. Today, Café Petersborg offers a cozy, historical atmosphere and a number of traditional Danish dishes to choose from. I highly recommend trying one of the classic Danish open-faced sandwiches.
4. Visit one of Hans Christian Andersen’s favourite places, Tivoli Gardens.
Tivoli Gardens was opened in 1843 by Georg Carstensen after being granted permission by the King. Georg had been inspired by the gardens he had visited while travelling and wanted to open something similar in Copenhagen. Tivoli consisted of a number of things to entertain guests, including a roller coaster, theatre and the Tivoli honorary guard (the Tivoli Boys Guard) which still holds a significant place in Copenhagen culture. Today, Tivoli still contains the Peacock Theatre, which was built in 1874 and is the oldest remaining building in the gardens. There is also the Roller Coaster that was built in 1914 and is one of the world’s oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation.
My favourite story about Tivoli is its connection to Hans Christian Andersen, the world-renowned fairytale author. Hans had a great sense of wonder and quickly fell in love with the magic of Tivoli. He visited many times and is said to have given him inspiration for his own stories. Today, his statue sits outside of Tivoli, looking up at one of his favourite places.
5. See The Little Mermaid statue.
One of the most recognizable attractions in Copenhagen is The Little Mermaid statue. The statue was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, which was first published in 1837. However, it was in the early 20th century that a Danish brewer named Carl Jacobson was inspired by the character after watching a ballet performance of The Little Mermaid. He commissioned sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create the work and it was Edvard’s own wife who posed for the statue. It was unveiled in 1913 and today still sits in the water at Langelinie Pier. It’s a beautiful tribute to one of the city’s most beloved stories.
6. Explore Freetown Christiania.
One of the more unique places to visit in Copenhagen is the neighbourhood of Freetown Christiania. The site was once a military base that was eventually left abandoned. In 1971, it was taken over by a group of squatters and established a community over the years. Many of the houses were built by those living there, giving the neighbourhood a unique and artistic feel. Since its inception, Christiania has been well-known for its “Green Light District” where hash and cannabis could be purchased.
Today, there is around 1,000 people that live in Christiania and there are also a number of music venues, galleries, restaurants and other things to explore. Visit Copenhagen does however remind visitors to exercise caution when visiting the area as its sometimes considered a bit “rough”. If you don’t want to visit on your own, you can also join a tour of the area which run throughout the year.
7. Explore the Official Residence of the Danish Royal Family at Amalienborg.
Amalienborg is not just one palace, but actually contains four palaces within the residence. The rococo palaces were built in the 1750s and were originally intended to be used as houses for nobility. However, after a fire at another royal residence in 1794 (Christianborg Palace), the homes were taken over by the Royal Family. Today, visitors can explore royal history at Amalienborg and visit a number of rooms associated with historical Danish monarchs. Also, if you visit at 12:00pm, you’ll be able to watch the changing of the guards, where the Danish Royal Guard march from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg.
8. Have a drink in a historic bar.
After a day of sightseeing, a great way to end the day is by having a drink in one of Copenhagen’s historical bars. Hviids Vinstue is said to be one of the oldest bars in Copenhagen and has a history that dates back 300 years. Wessels Kro is another pub that dates back over 150 years and is a great place to experience some local nightlife. I also enjoyed having a drink at Nyhavn 17, which has operated since 1936. Many of these pubs also offer traditional Danish food that give visitors a taste of the past.
9. See the home of the Danish Parliament at Christianborg Palace.
Visitors to Christianborg Palace can explore the site’s vast history that dates back over 800 years and includes quite a few buildings that existed on site. The palace is located on an islet in the city, where a fortress named Absalon’s Castle was first built in the 12 century. A few different castles and palaces have been built on site here over the years and the current building is actually the third Christianborg Palace, which was built between 1907 and 1928. Today, visitors can explore the inside of the palace, including Copenhagen’s highest tower. The palace is also the home of the Danish Parliament and acts as a centre of democracy for the country.
10. Take an afternoon trip out to Frederiksborg Castle.
Frederiksborg Castle can be reached in about 45 minutes by train from central Copenhagen and, in my opinion, the views are certainly worth the trip. Frederiksborg Castle was built in the early 17th century by Christian IV and it is the largest Renaissance castle in Scandinavia. The Museum of National History is also located inside the castle, which contains a collection of artworks and furniture that represent over 500 years of Danish history. Frederiksborg Castle was also visited a number of times by Hans Christian Andersen and it is said to have given him inspiration for his fairytales.
Bonus: Visit the Hans Christian Andersen Experience.
This one is definitely for the more enthusiastic Hans Christian Andersen fans (and more suited for children). However, given the relatively low cost of entry, it’s a fun experience I thought I’d mention. This immersive museum, which is part of Ripley’s Believe it or Not, allows visitors to learn more about the life of the Danish writer. The museum takes visitors through the life and travels that inspired some of the world’s most well-known fairytales.
This Travelling History article’s information was last updated in May, 2023. Always check attraction websites for the most up to date opening information before visiting.