Why should you visit Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is one of the most exciting cities in the world.
Okay, we might be a bit biased as we were both born and raised here.
But if you’re wondering whether Copenhagen is worth visiting, the answer is a resounding yes!
Whether you’re just visiting for a weekend or considering moving here for a job or as an exchange student, there are countless reasons to fall in love with Denmark’s beautiful capital.
Copenhagen is quite small compared to other European capitals like Paris or London.
The compact size makes it easy to explore the vibrant Nørrebro on the same day as taking a stroll through a romantic landscaped garden in Frederiksberg and ending up in Vesterbro’s meatpacking district for a drink.
There’s so much to do and see!
Still wondering why you should go to Copenhagen? Here are 18 of the best reasons to visit Copenhagen and discover why it’s so special.
Table of contents
- 1. You can walk everywhere
- 2. It’s clean and safe
- 3. Long nights in the summer
- 4. Almost everyone speaks English
- 5. Public spaces are super chill
- 6. There is plenty of greenery
- 7. Go for a swim in the harbour
- 8. There’s always a party somewhere
- 9. People are tolerant and open-minded
- 10. You can bring your children
- 11. Eat delicious food
- 12. The canals are charming
- 13. Stroll through historical streets
- 14. Coloured houses in abundance
- 15. Marvel at the old churches
- 16. There’s world-class architecture
- 17. Shop Danish design
- 18. Get cultural at the great museums
1. You can walk everywhere
It is easy to get from A to B by foot in Copenhagen.
The districts you’ll want to visit are closely situated to each other and there are sidewalks everywhere.
And even if you don’t like walking, you can use public transportation which is punctual and covers the whole city – or you can take a bike like the locals.
2. It’s clean and safe
Copenhagen is a city that strives to be green and clean.
You’ll find trash cans on almost every street so you don’t have to hold on to your rubbish for long.
People care about recycling, and you get between 1 and 3 Danish kroner back when returning beer bottles and soda cans to the supermarkets (known as “pant”).
Copenhagen is also considered very safe. People trust each other and treat each other with respect.
The crime and violence rate is very low and you can safely walk around at all times. Solo female travellers included.
However, do take the usual precautions you would in any large city.
Be a responsible traveller when visiting Denmark’s green capital
Read more3. Long nights in the summer
Some nights in June, the sun will set at around 22:00.
The sky never turns completely dark and the mild weather makes for very pleasant (albeit perhaps too long) nights out.
4. Almost everyone speaks English
Yep, that’s true.
No need to learn our weird language, we speak English!
Many Danes will tell you they dislike their own accents, though.
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Read more5. Public spaces are super chill
Squares, parks, harbour fronts and the like are meant to be lived in, not just looked at.
Copenhageners embrace this fully – grabbing a takeaway coffee to enjoy on a bench by the lakes or heading out for a picnic in the park in almost any weather, but especially when the sun makes an appearance.
When it does, the whole city comes alive, buzzing with sun-seeking locals soaking up every moment outdoors.
6. There is plenty of greenery
Speaking of parks, Copenhagen actually has quite a few!
The city’s green spaces are one of the best reasons to visit Copenhagen, if you ask us.
Kongens Have (The King’s Garden), Ørstedsparken, Botanisk Have (Botanical Gardens), Søndermarken (The Southern Field) and Frederiksberg Have (Frederiksberg Gardens) are just some of the central parks and gardens that are worth visiting.
For even more nature-like settings, visit Amager Fælled and Kalvebod Fælled on Amager or take the train 20-25 minutes to Jægersborg Dyrehave (a big, lovely park home to hundreds of deer).
7. Go for a swim in the harbour
The waters surrounding Copenhagen are actually so clean that you can go for a swim in the harbour.
On hot summer days, people flock to the harbour baths of Islands Brygge, Fisketorvet and Sluseholmen.
If you like sand between your toes, opt for Amager Beach Park, Svanemølle Beach, Hellerup Beach or Bellevue Beach – all are free and close to the city.
When temperatures drop, some brave souls still take the plunge. Walk directly into a sauna afterwards at Refshaleøen’s La Banchina.
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in the harbour-front neighbourhood
Read more8. There’s always a party somewhere
Danes like to party and drink alcohol (perhaps too much!), and the nightlife scene in Copenhagen is bustling.
You can find both trendy bars, fashionable nightclubs and unpretentious pubs.
There’s always something happening at Vestergade and Gothersgade (at the end, close to Kongens Nytorv).
The Meat Packing District is one of the coolest places to go out – especially if you don’t mind paying a bit more for fancy cocktails.
Mondays and Tuesdays are a bit slow, but you can still find a lot of bars serving beers or go for something stronger at a bodega (kind of like a pub) where you’ll typically meet old regulars and students.
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in the lively neighbourhood
Read more9. People are tolerant and open-minded
At least the majority are!
Copenhagen is known as a LGBTQ+ friendly city.
In fact, Denmark was the first country in the world to recognise registered partnerships for same-sex couples.
Copenhagen has a vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife, and the city is home to Centralhjørnet, which is widely recognised as the world’s oldest openly gay bar (it’s more than 100 years old).
Though Danes are not the most flamboyant people in the world, Copenhageners are, in general, very tolerant and open-minded towards different ethnicities and sexualities.
10. You can bring your children
Copenhagen is a very family-friendly city!
As previously mentioned, it’s safe and walkable, and there are actually lots of activities for families.
Spend the day at the adventurous amusement park Tivoli, test your knowledge at the science centre Experimentarium or visit one of the many museums that have exhibitions and workshops for children.
You can also chill out in the parks, go for a swim or play at some of the many public playgrounds.
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in the family-friendly neighbourhood
Read more11. Eat delicious food
Copenhagen is a mecca for foodies!
Whether you want to try the famous New Nordic food, Asian fusion, hipster tacos or Neapolitan pizzas, the city has it all.
Go for fine dining (Copenhagen has plenty of Michelin restaurants) or sample tasty street food at one of the many food markets.
We’re not saying it’s going to be cheap, but you can definitely get lots of quality bites during your stay.
If you have the budget, eating well is definitely one of the best reasons to visit Copenhagen.
12. The canals are charming
Copenhagen is surrounded by water, and several picturesque canals wind their way through the city.
But it’s not just about how they look – though the colourful houses along the waterfront and the reflections on calm water certainly help.
What makes the canals special is how alive they feel.
Locals don’t just walk past them – they swim in them, kayak through them, commute alongside them and gather by the edges with a drink in hand when the weather allows.
Cities like Amsterdam and Stockholm are also famous for their canals, but Copenhagen stands out for just how accessible and clean its harbour is.
The water is safe to swim in, right in the middle of the city, which gives the whole place a uniquely relaxed and lived-in feel.
Areas like Nyhavn and Christianshavn offer postcard views, while quieter stretches reveal a more local, everyday side of life by the water.
It’s this blend of beauty, accessibility and real daily use that makes the canals so memorable, and a big part of why Copenhagen is worth visiting.
13. Stroll through historical streets
Founded in the 10th century, Copenhagen is an old city.
Although it looks a bit different today, you can find a lot of buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries – for example, Rosenborg Castle and Rundetårn (The Round Tower).
Several streets in the Inner City are paved with cobblestones and lined with charming houses.
To name a few, you should check out Nyboder, the district of Christianshavn as well as Magstræde and the surrounding streets.
14. Coloured houses in abundance
Along the historical streets and many other places in Copenhagen, you’ll see the most beautiful coloured houses.
Check out this guide with the best colourful streets in Copenhagen if you would like to know where to find these romantic gems.
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Read more15. Marvel at the old churches
There are numerous old churches in the Inner City and the neighbouring districts.
Some of our favourites include Church of Our Saviour, Church of Our Lady and Frederik’s Church (The Marble Church).
16. There’s world-class architecture
Apart from the old churches and historical monuments, Copenhagen has several modern architectural masterpieces.
That makes for a great mix of old and new buildings.
If you have an eye for design, you would want to check out The Royal Danish Opera House, The Circle Bridge, The 8 House, Axel Towers and the library called The Black Diamond.
17. Shop Danish design
Denmark is famous for simple and functional designs whether it’s architecture, furniture or clothing.
Copenhageners sure value great design and you’ll notice this everywhere.
From buildings around the city by the architect Bjarke Ingels to a whole hotel designed by Arne Jacobsen.
You’ll also see stores selling electronics from Bang & Olufsen, porcelain from Royal Copenhagen, jewellery from Pandora and modern home accessories from HAY.
If you’re into fashion, look for some of these Danish clothing brands when in Copenhagen: Ganni, Wood Wood, Norse Projects, Soulland, Baum und Pferdgarten, Henrik Vibskov, Mads Nørgaard, Stine Goya, Samsøe Samsøe, RAINS, Won Hundred and Han Kjøbenhavn.
Our local recommendations for the best eco-friendly places to stay in the Danish capital
Read more18. Get cultural at the great museums
There are so many wonderful museums in Copenhagen!
Whether you like modern art, findings from ancient times, marble sculptures, Egyptian mummies or international contemporary art, you’ll find it here.
Our personal favourite is Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (where Alex’s mother is a museum curator).
We also enjoy Thorvaldsens Museum, Statens Museum for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark), Nationalmuseet (National Museum of Denmark) and the occasional visit to Louisiana Museum of Modern Art which is 35 kilometres north of Copenhagen.
We also think the open air museum Frilandsmuseet is worth a visit. Travel back in time to experience the old Denmark just 30 minutes from Copenhagen.
Want to visit Copenhagen?
So… Is Copenhagen worth visiting?
Absolutely!
It’s safe, walkable, beautiful and packed with world-class food, design and culture.
We hope this list of reasons to visit Copenhagen has convinced you to book that trip.
Make sure to check out all of our Copenhagen guides for when you visit!
If you’ve already been, it would be awesome to hear what you like the most about the city.
And if you haven’t been yet, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments. We’re glad to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for hotels and apartments.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- AirHelp for flight delay compensation.
- GetYourGuide for great tours everywhere.
- Airalo for reliable eSIM.
- Discover Cars for transparent car hire.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like True Traveller. Compared here.
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How lovely. Copenhagen sure is a wonderful city …… clean, tolerant, fun, friendly, safe, walkable, historic, charmful, beautiful, colourful, modern, green, cultural and family-friendly. When I attempt to think of negative adjectives, none come up.
You have a lovely website.
Thank you so much Karin! We’re happy to hear you love our capital!