The 8 Best Local Things to do in Copenhagen
Are you looking for The 8 Best Local Things to do in Copenhagen? Then you have come to the right place! These are just as much of a must-visit as Nyhavn and The Little Mermaid. If you truly want to experience Copenhagen and feel like you are a part of the Copenhagen culture, then make sure you take notes becuase here are The Best 8 Local Things to do in Copenhagen.
A few fun facts for you before starting
Where is Copenhagen?
Copenhagen is the capital of a Denmark which is located in Scandinavia in Europe.
When is the best time to visit Copenhagen…
Arguably, the best time to visit according to the locals will be summer (May-August). Mainly because in summer time there is more to do and the days are extremely long. The sun does not set until basically midnight! Where as in winter it is the opposite (November-February). The sun sets around 3pm.
However having that said, every season in Copenhagen has its own beauty. If you are looking to visit during autumn expect beautiful colours, coziness, “hygge” and tivoli being dressed up for Halloween!
If you are visiting in winter expect shorter, darker days, less crowds and less events going on yet more “hygge” and warmth in cafes and restaurants – and of course, Tivoli being dressed up for Christmas!
When visiting in spring expect more life in the city than winter. Expect beautiful spring colours and fresh air. Still less crowds yet with longer days and more sunlight.
If you are visiting in summer you can expect crowds and vibrations of the city to be high. Expect flea markets, events and concerts. This is definitely the time of year where the city is the most alive.
Where to stay in Copenhagen
The best places to stay for a first time visitor in Copenhagen would definitely have to be anywhere near the Central Station or Nørreport Station since a lot of the places you will be visiting will be near by (and even in walking distance of).
If you are not a first time visitor and/or you would like a more local experience of the city, the best areas to stay will be within these areas:
– Østerbro
– Christianshavn
– Nørrebro
– Frederiksberg
Other Copenhagen Blog Posts you might find useful
✵ The 10 Best Autumn Activities in Copenhagen
✵ 5 Days Trips from Copenhagen
The 8 Best Local Things to do in Copenhagen
1. Go for a sunday walk around The Lakes (Søerne)
The Lakes is not exactly a “hidden gem” for a local Copenhagener. However for most of you reading, you may have never have noticed just how popular this spot is for locals of Copenhagen if no one told you about it. The Lakes is the local hangout spot and where you will find most Copenhageners on the weekends; either in a café by the lakes or going for a walk around the lakes.
What to do: I recommend going for a full walk around the lakes to truly experience the vibe of this place, and afterwards I recommend you sit down in one of the following cafés by The Lakes:
– La Pausa (Ewaldsgade 7, 2200 København)
– Café 22 (Sortedam Dossering 21, 2200 København)
– The French Café (Sortedam Dossering 101, 2200 København)
How to get there: The Lakes is located a short walk from Nørreport St. You can reach Nørreport by S-train or Metro from Copenhagen Central St.
2. Experience art and culture at Glyptoteket
Glyptoteket is a unique museum filled with marble statues, art masterpieces, mummies and much much more. This is a place everyone will enjoy visiting. Especially art lovers and photographers… the light in this place screams for a photo!
Admission fee: the admission fee is 115dkk per adult and 85dkk for those under 27 years old. However – on tuesdays it is completely free of any fees. So if you are in Copenhagen on a Tuesday, definitely make sure to pay this one a visit – completely for free!
How to get there: One of the best things about the museum is that it is located right in the centre of the city. It is right around the corner from Copenhagen Central Station. It is very easily reached by foot. When coming from Nørreport, you can reach the museum by metro or S-train.
3. Enjoy the food and relaxation at Torvehallerne
Torvehallerne is the food chamber of Copenhagen. It has a fruit and veggie market, a deli, cafes and more. It a lovely breakfast place, it’s on the weekends especially, that you will be sure to meet some locals on your way.
Torvehallerne also has a few seasonal events going on every months or so. On this website you can check out which ones are on at the moment.
How to get there: To get to Torvehallerne you basically just need to get any train to Nørreport St. and walk 5 minutes from the station. It is literally in the backyard of Nørreport St!
4. Experience the neighbourhood ‘Nørrebro’
Nørrebro is the area of Copenhagen that you are most likely to meet the locals. It is the place with the coolest cafés and bars in the whole of Copenhagen, and that is probably the reason most locals will spend a lot of time here. Here are some of the locals and my favourite spots to go in Nørrebro:
– Have vegan cheese cake at Kaf
– Have a stroll along the trendy street Jægersborggade
– Drink craft beer at Brus or Mikkeller.
– Visit the cultural area Superkilen
– Have a pizza for lunch at Stefanos Pizzabar
How to get there: To get to Nørrebro you will need to either: have a lovely from the lakes and up-to Nørrebro which takes around 15-20 minutes or you can take the metro from central station to Nørrebro station. If you are in Nørreport and do not want to walk you can take the 6A bus straight to Nørrebro.
5. Admire the Gardens in Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg is another area of Copenhagen that is popular with the locals. The gardens is a very popular lunch spot for the locals during summer and during winter and autumn it is a popular walking route with a coffee or tea in the hand. Here are some things to do in and near Frederiksberg Gardens:
– Go to Olivers Oase
– Have a stroll through Frederiksberg Gardens (and its neighbour Haveselvskabets Have)
– Visit the Cisterns
– Have a walk through the beautiful garden Landbohøjskolens Have
How to get there: You can get to Frederiksberg Gardens by taking the M1 line from Nørreport St. directly to Frederiksberg St. and from there you can walk straight to the gardens within 10 minutes.
6. Climb the Church of our Saviour
You definitely will not miss this place when visiting Copenhagen. The Church of our Saviour has a very distinct look with its spiral top. However, what you might not know is that you can climb that spiral! It has the best view of Copenhagen and while it might not be the most hidden spot on this list, it is well worth your time. Make sure you do not miss this one!
How to get there: The church is located in Christianshavn and to get to Christianshavn from Copenhagen Central the easiest way is to take the 2A bus going to Hovedbanegården, Tivoli.
7. Go for a magical walk through the Kings Gardens
Kings Gardens is another spot that is popular all year around with the locals. While you will especially see people wandering about and having lunch in the gardens during summer time, you will also see the locals going for a cozy walk through the gardens during autumn and winter. You cannot go wrong with this place, no matter the time a year or the weather of the day. This place is beautiful in sun, rain, snow and cloudy weather.
How to get there: To get to the Kings Gardens all you need to do is get the train from Central Station to Nørreport St. and walk for less than 5 minutes. Look for the castle (Rosenborg Castle), you will not miss it!
8. Take a dip with the locals
In Copenhagen we love to go for a dip – any time of the year. Wether it’s 25 degrees or -10 degrees outside, you will probably see someone going for a dip. If you really want to feel like a local in Copenhagen I would recommend going for a dip in any of these places (bonus points if you do it in the winter time!):
– The Kastrup Sea Baths
– Islands Brygge Habour Bath
– Amager Helgoland
– Sandkaj Bathing Zone
These were the Best 8 Local Things to do in Copenhagen. I hope you found something interesting for your next trip to Copenhagen! If you need more advice, tips or guides for Copenhagen make sure you check out my Denmark tag for loads more posts like these. I also recommend checking out my latest post: 10 Autumn Activities in Copenhagen
