The Curious Girls’ Guide to: Copenhagen
The Curious Girls’ Guide: For the curious traveler who wants more than a list of things to see. The Curious Girls’ Guide is about finding the design, food, culture, shops, hidden gems, and the heart of a place. Save if your goal is experiencing a place with a little more curiosity and a lot more intention.
Smiling Copenhagen family seen from canal tour.
The Curious Girls’ Guide to: Copenhagen
If you’ve been following my adventures over on Instagram, you probably saw that I took a trip to one of the most aesthetically pleasing, design-forward cities in the world: Copenhagen.
Denmark's capital completely stole my heart. From the stunning modernist architecture to the effortless street style and world-class cafe and restaurant scene, it's a dream destination for anyone who loves good design.
Whether you’re planning your first Scandinavian getaway or looking for fresh inspiration, I’m rounding up everything you need to know: from where to stay and what to eat, to the best sights and free things to do in the city!
Copehagen city view from canal tour.
1. The Ultimate Travel Hack: Get the Copenhagen City Card
If you want to make exploring easy and budget-friendly, do yourself a favor and grab a Copenhagen City Card.
Is it worth it? Absolutely, 100%.
What you get: It covers your admission to major attractions plus all public transportation across the city.
Pro tip: Activate it right when you land so you can hop on the transit system and start checking things off your itinerary immediately.
Nyhavn, a famous 17th-century waterfront, canal, and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2. Our Top Favorite Things We Did
Copenhagen is packed with incredible experiences, but a few stood out as absolute highlights of the trip:
Stromma Canal Tours Copenhagen: There is truly no better way to get your bearings than from the water. Gliding past the colorful historic waterfronts and bridges gives you a totally different perspective of the city. Learning the history directly from a local is always the best way to experience a city. My favorite fact I learned from the tour: their waste-to-energy power plant is topped with an artificial ski slope and hiking trail right on its roof. That absolutely blew my mind.
Designmuseum Danmark: As a huge fan of design-focused travel, this was a dream come true. It’s an absolute paradise showcasing iconic Danish craftsmanship, sleek furniture, and modern aesthetics. Not to be missed. The Danish Architecture Center is also a great visit, but if you’re deciding between the two, I’d pick Designmuseum.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art: Located just north of the city, this stunning museum pairs world-class modern art with breathtaking views of the Øresund coast.
Designmuseum Danmark.
Designmuseum Danmark.
The Danish Architecture Center.
The Danish Architecture Center.
Designmuseum Danmark.
3. Iconic Sights & Must-Visit Neighborhoods
Nyhavn: The iconic 17th-century waterfront lined with brightly colored townhouses and historic wooden ships. It's iconic for a reason, no bad views.
Freetown Christiania: A unique, self-governing anarchist district known for its creative community, murals, and alternative way of life.
Strøget: One of Europe's longest pedestrian streets, perfect for shopping, people-watching, and taking in the city buzz.
Vesterbro & Nørrebro: Neighborhoods packed with trendy shops, vibrant street life, and some of the best vintage shopping in town (check out Magnilas, Kilostore Cph, and Prag Indre By for incredible secondhand finds).
Jægersborggade & Ravnsborggade: Charming, hyper-local streets filled with independent galleries, artisan shops, and cozy cafes.
Christianborg Palace is a great pick for history fans. Planning a visit just to see one of the most Beauty and the Beast-esque libraries I’ve ever seen would be completely reasonable. It is like walking straight into a fairytale. I also enjoyed seeing the royal thrones, and don’t miss the basement for ancient ruins that the castle was built on top of.
Christianborg Palace.
Christianborg Palace.
Christianborg Palace.
Christianborg Palace.
Copenhagen Opera House (known in Danish as Operaen), located on the island of Holmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was designed by architect Henning Larsen and opened in January 2005. Can be seen from boat on canal tour.
4. A Can't-Miss Classic: Tivoli Gardens
You simply can't go to Copenhagen without visiting Tivoli Gardens. Opened in 1843, it is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world, and stepping inside feels like walking right into a storybook.
The Vibe: It's charming, vibrant, and magical day or night.
Bonus Tip: Check out their free concert series! We lucked out and caught an amazing live show by Aphaca band while we were exploring the gardens. It was a great opportunity for free local music, and excellent local people watching.
Tivoli gardens.
Tivoli gardens.
Tivoli gardens.
Tivoli gardens.
Tivoli gardens.
5. The Best FREE (and Green) Things to Do
Traveling doesn't have to break the bank, and Copenhagen's green spaces and public architecture are unmatched:
Explore The Royal Library (Det Kgl. Bibliotek / The Black Diamond): Step inside this striking, modernist black structure that seamlessly connects the new library with the old. Check out the free exhibits inside, including a Gutenberg Bible and original works by Hans Christian Andersen.
Discover the City's Stunning Gardens: Unwind at The King's Gardens (Kongens Have) surrounding Rosenborg Castle, explore the lush Botanical Garden, or take a peaceful stroll through Frederiksberg Gardens. A hidden gem is the Royal Library Garden, located behind the Black Diamond library.
Architecture Highlights: Make time to admire landmarks like the striking Copenhagen Opera House and the dramatic, expressionist architecture of Grundtvig’s Church.
Day Trip to Kronborg Slot: Head out to Elsinore to explore the UNESCO World Heritage castle famously known as Shakespeare’s Elsinore in Hamlet.
Royal Library Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Royal Library Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Royal Library Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Royal Library Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Royal Library.
The Black Diamond.
Copenhagen Botanical Garden.
Copenhagen Botanical Garden
Copenhagen Botanical Garden
Rosenborg Castle gardens.
Rosenborg Castle gardens.
Rosenborg Castle gardens.
Rosenborg Castle.
6. Coffee, Pastries, and Culinary Hotspots (Come Hungry!)
Let's talk about the food scene, because it is otherwordly. If you want to eat like a local, make sure your foodie checklist includes:
The Bakery Scene: Grab the legendary cardamom bun at Juno the bakery, or fuel up at multi-location favorites like Coffee Collective (Bernikow, Jægersborggade, Sankt Hans Torv, and Torvehallerne) and Democratic Coffee. We had a 3-a-day cardamom bun habit, because this is one of our top favorite baked goods that we can only find in Scandinavia. It was fun to compare buns, via our DIY flights of three.
Food Markets: Wander through TorvehallerneKBH for fresh local produce and gourmet bites, or head down to Reffen - Copenhagen Street Food for incredible global eats right by the water.
Danish Dining: Indulge in incredible seasonal tasting menus at Høst and Kadeau, or experience classic Danish elegance at Restaurant Schønnemann. For casual daytime bites, try traditional open-faced rye sandwiches (Smørrebrød) at spots like Admiralgade 26.
If you keep seeing a chocolate-covered marshmallow treat in every cafe, it’s called a flødebolle. Alida Marstrand’s award-winning version has orange-and-passionfruit foam on an orange marzipan base, covered in chocolate - this was our favorite we found.
Alida Marstrand.
TorvehallerneKBH, a popular glass-enclosed food market.
Smørrebrød.
Cardamom buns.
Street hot dogs.
Candy in grocery store.
7. Where to Stay: Peak Design & Comfort
We stayed at Zoku Copenhagen, a sleek hybrid hotel that completely breaks the cookie-cutter mold. With its clever loft-style rooms and a vibrant top-floor social hub featuring a greenhouse, co-working spaces, and a rooftop terrace, it felt less like a traditional hotel and more like a stylish, community-driven home base. I liked that it was on the quiet outskirts of town, meaning it was a more affordavle option in peak summer time travel. But it was still very easy to take transit into downtown, its a short 2 blocks to the metro stop. A grocery store is right underneath, which was a great way to stock up on local beer and local treats as an after dinner indulgence.
Zoku Copenhagen.
Zoku Copenhagen.
Zoku Copenhagen.
Zoku Copenhagen.
Zoku Copenhagen.
Babette Guldsmeden offers a gorgeous, sustainable boutique hotel experience right in the heart of town. On our list for our next visit.
Have you ever been to Copenhagen, or is it sitting high up on your travel wishlist? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments below, and stay tuned for more sustainable style and design-focused travel guides coming soon!
xoxo Lauren
Scenes of Copenhagen from canal tour.
