Imagine yourself wandering through a city where bicycles outnumber cars, the canals dance like they’re practicing for a ballet, and the pastries are so good they might just make you weep. Welcome to **Copenhagen** in the summer! This charming city, teeming with history and innovation, transforms into a vibrant playground during the warm months. With more daylight than you’ll know what to do with, it’s the perfect time to experience all this capital of cool has to offer.

1. Explore Nyhavn: The Picture-Perfect Canals

You can’t visit Copenhagen without a trip to **Nyhavn**. This bustling waterfront neighborhood is the quintessential image of the city, with its brightly colored 17th-century townhouses lining the canal. Grab a cold beer or a traditional *Danish smørrebrød* (that’s an open-faced sandwich, if we’re getting fancy), and sink into a chair at one of the many outdoor cafés. The locals know how to relax; you should, too!

As you sip your drink, watch the flotilla of swans and pleasure boats that glide along the water. An idyllic afternoon here feels less like a tourist trap and more like a scene straight from a fairytale. Don’t forget to snap a selfie by the iconic wooden ships moored in the harbor—because if it’s not on Instagram, did you even go?

2. Tivoli Gardens: A Whimsical Escape

If you’re looking for thrills and nostalgia, look no further than **Tivoli Gardens**, the world’s second-oldest amusement park and a true gem of Copenhagen. Opened in 1843, this charming park is home to stunning gardens, delicious dining options, and thrilling rides that scream for your attention.

As you stroll through the magical landscapes, you might catch a glimpse of the park’s ornate **pavilions and lit-up rides**, a sight that’s even more enchanting as the sun sets. Trust us, the *Shooting Star* roller coaster will give you enough adrenaline to last the whole summer. The best part? The park hosts concerts and shows almost every night, so you can end your day with some live entertainment that’ll have you dancing in your seat.

3. Enjoy the Beach Life at Amager Strandpark

Yes, you read that right. You can hit the beach in Copenhagen! **Amager Strandpark** is a hidden gem that offers sandy beaches just a few kilometers from the city center. Here, you can dip your toes in the water, soak up the sun, or challenge your friends to a game of beach volleyball.

Feeling *active*? Rent a kayak or paddleboard and glide along the tranquil waters of the Øresund Strait. Or just grab a towel, lay back, and turn that summer tan up to levels previously seen only on Instagram influencers. Let’s be real; beach time is an essential part of any summer itinerary.

4. Discover the Hidden Gems of Freetown Christiania

Step into an alternative universe with a visit to **Freetown Christiania**, a bold neighborhood founded by a group of freethinkers in the 1970s. Picture a place where the art is as colorful as the people, street food is served with a side of creativity, and the atmosphere is as laid-back as a Sunday morning.

As you stroll through the vibrant streets filled with murals and funky shops, don’t be surprised if you encounter the occasional friendly local inviting you to join a drum circle. Just don’t ask about the “Green Light District”—that’s a story you’ll hear when you get there!

5. Feast at the World-Class Food Scene

Your taste buds are in for a treat in this city renowned for its **culinary scene**. Copenhagen is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants, including the world-famous **Noma**, which redefined the dining experience with its focus on local and seasonal ingredients. Don’t worry, you don’t have to dine at a star-studded restaurant to experience greatness; the street food scene is equally impressive!

Visit **CopenHot**, where you can enjoy your meal while savoring a soak in a hot tub on a boat, or check out *Torvehallerne*, a food market bursting with fresh produce, artisanal goods, and international flavors. Indulging in a traditional *Danish hot dog* on the go is practically a rite of passage. Step aside, Paris—there’s a new culinary capital in town!

6. Pedal Your Way Around the City

Copenhagen is a bike-lovers’ paradise, and summer is the best time to explore the city on two wheels. With over 390 kilometers of dedicated bike lanes, you’ll feel like a local as you navigate the charming streets, breezing past historical landmarks and cutting through serene parks.

Rent a bike and pedal over to **The Little Mermaid statue**, which is even more charming than you’d expect when you get up close. Just be prepared for the swarm of tourists snapping their obligatory snapshots. Remember, if you can’t beat them, join them!

7. Experience a Local Festival

Copenhagen comes alive with festivities in the summer, and there’s no shortage of local events you can partake in. From the *Copenhagen Jazz Festival* to the legendary *Copenhagen Carnival*, the city pulses with life, culture, and creativity during these months.

Don’t miss opportunities to mingle with locals, eat heavenly street food, and dance like nobody’s watching at open-air concerts. The sense of community during these festivals is infectious, and you may find yourself belting out Danish pop songs alongside your newfound friends.

Wrap-Up Your Danish Adventure

As your summer escapade in Copenhagen comes to an end, you’ll leave with a heart full of memories and a suitcase possibly a bit too heavy (thanks to those delectable pastries). From the canals of Nyhavn to the quirky streets of Christiania, Copenhagen offers an enchanting mix of charm, laughter, and adventure. So, pack your bags, grab your sunglasses, and get ready to create some unforgettable stories in this Scandinavian wonderland. See you in the land of *hygge*!

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There’s no doubt life is better in flip-flops. If the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions the beach is a solitary bungalow on a remote island, here’s a challenge for you: find and enjoy some of the best city beaches in the world. Even amid the urban hustle and bustle, you can immerse yourself in the laid-back, cocktail-soaked, sea-breeze-infused atmosphere of these sandy dream lands.

Bruxelles Les Bains (Brussel Bad), Belgium

Beach time in Brussels | Stephane Mignon/Flickr

The capital of Belgium has its very own beach at Beco Quay (Quai de Beco) – every year for a month a real beach appears, featuring huge stretches of sand, palm-trees, exotic plants… Visitors play beach volleyball and beach soccer, or cool off by splashing about in fountains and pools.

Brygge Islands, Copenhagen, Denmark 

Brygge Islands | © Christian Alsing/ Visit Copenhagen

You may think you’re too far north to afford the luxury of going for a swim in the open, but that’s because you haven’t been to Brygge Islands – a wonderful free pool by the harbor in central Copenhagen. The water is clear and refreshing, but you probably won’t want to jump off the quay and into the water unless you visit in July or August.

Paris Plages (Paris Beaches), France

Beach along the Seine, Paris | Eric Huybrechts/Flickr

The closest coast is 200 km (124 mi) from Paris, but that doesn’t stop the French. For four weeks from late July, several tons of sand are pumped onto the Seine’s banks in the French capital. More than 2 km (1,5 mi) of sandy beaches invite all those citizens and guests who are exhausted from the heat to enjoy a Seine-side holiday. The beaches bustle with free classes, rollerbladers, cyclists, a mobile library and plenty of people enjoying other fun activities.

Repulse Bay Beach Hong Kong, China 

Repulse Beach, Hong Kong | Mark Lehmkuhler/Flickr

Escape from the madness of Hong Kong and discover the sun and golden sands that grace the southern part of the island. This oasis of calm is set against a background of modern buildings and mountain slopes. 

Venice Beach, Los Angeles, USA

Venice Beach, LA | DenisDenis/Flickr

This iconic beach is perfect not only for sunbathing, but also for renting roller skates or a bike. You can roll down a seven-mile bike alley to Will Rogers State Beach.

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Award-winning Copenhagen regularly features in the top 10 Best Places to Live in the World, but also ranks highly in The Most Expensive Cities in the World and Cities You Can Never Afford to Live In categories. We know that, as a visitor to this picturesque but pricey paradise, you’ll be craving some suggestions for free things to do. That’s why we’ve made some inquiries, called some friends in Copenhagen and compiled this list of free activities in the Danish capital.

Admire the Little Mermaid statue (before it gets defaced again)

This is both the biggest and the smallest attraction in Copenhagen. If you come expecting a giant, imposing sculpture you’ll be disappointed, but what the statue lacks in size, it makes up for with its frankly bizarre history. The poor Little Mermaid has been decapitated three times, had her right arm amputated once, has twice been covered in a burqa and was pushed off her rock in 2003. She has even been photographed, embarrassingly, with a dildo in her hand.

The Little Mermaid | © Rasmus Flindt Pedersen/ Visit Copenhagen

Enjoy a bird’s-eye view over Copenhagen

Since 2004, the Tower (Tårnet) of Christiansborg – the palace of the Parliament – has opened its doors to visitors free of charge. If you can handle the long lines and crowds of tourists, you’ll be rewarded with splendid views over Copenhagen. You can also dine at the restaurant inside the tower, although it’ll cost you a cartload of krone.

The Tower of Christiansborg is open Tuesday–Sunday: 11 am – 9 pm. More useful information here.

The view from the Tower of Christiansborg, Copenhagen | © Visit Copenhagen

Watch the changing of the royal guards

Amalienborg Palace is the official home of the Danish royal family, which is why it requires protection by scores of guards in ornate uniforms. Some of the guards change every two hours, but the most impressive scene occurs at noon, when all the guards change their posts to the sound of majestic music.

Changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace | © Klaus Bentzen/ Visit Copenhagen

Picnic in the King’s Garden

Bring a picnic blanket, a feast and a bottle of bubbly with you to the King’s Garden (Kongens Have in Danish) at Rosenborg Palace, and you too will feel like royalty as you laze on the picnic-perfect grass. Visit the garden in summer to enjoy an array of free events, including concerts, puppet shows and exhibitions. It’s open 7 am – 18 pm.

Picnic in the King’s Garden | © Morten Jerichau/ Visit Copenhagen

Ride a bike through the city streets

Practically everyone cycles through Copenhagen’s extremely bike-friendly streets, and the best way to blend in is to do the same. You can take advantage of Copenhagen’s bike rental system, which has been free of charge since 1995. All you need is a 2 euro coin for a deposit, which you’ll get back when you return the bike.

Exploring Copenhagen by bicycle | © Jon Ram Bruun Pedersen/ Visit Copenhagen

Swim outdoors (in summer)

You may think you’re too far north to swim outdoors, but if you visit Copenhagen in the summer months you’ll see hordes of Danes splashing about in the water. Head to Brygge Islands, a wonderful free pool near the port and just a stone’s throw from the city center, to take the plunge. The water is clean and refreshing, although definitely on the chilly side.

Brygge Islands | © Christian Alsing/ Visit Copenhagen

Walk around the free town of Christiania

The world-famous bohemian neighborhood of Christiania was founded in 1971 as a haven for hippies and non-conformists, and soon gained a reputation as the place to buy hash and pot (but no hard drugs). Today, many of the original settlers still live in the collectively controlled village within the city, helping the area retain its laid-back ’70s feel. A lot of those Christianians built their homes themselves, which explains the quirky architecture on display.

Christiania | © Visit Copenhagen

Enrich your mind at Copenhagen’s free museums

Admission is free at the National Museum and the National Gallery, making some of Denmark’s most important cultural treasures accessible to everyone.

The National Museum in Copenhagen | © Visit Copenhagen

Join the festivities at Copenhagen Pride 

Every year in mid-August the city’s LGBT community celebrates Copenhagen Pride with a range of out-there activities and flamboyant festivities. Dates and more information here.

Copenhagen Pride | © Visit Copenhagen

Catch a movie at Copenhagen’s open-air summer cinema

Every summer, Danish TV channel 2 Zulu hosts the Zulu Summer Open-Air Cinema, which pops up in city parks throughout Denmark. Admission is free, so all you have to do is bring a blanket, some food and drinks (which you can also buy on site), and insect repellent. Exact dates and locations change every year, so ask a local to help plan your cinema session. Read our guide of Copenhagen as a movie location inspiration.

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If there is something better than the feeling of being in a foreign place, it could only be the feeling of being in many foreign places at the same time. But how is it possible to get such a feeling, one might wonder. Well, Superkilen Park in Copenhagen, Denmark manages to fulfill that task quite thoroughly.

How so?

Superkilen is not your typical park. It is more like an exhibition filled with objects from all over the world: benches from Brazil, palm trees from China, neon signs from Russia, a boxing ring from Thailand and a fountain from Morocco, just to name a few.

Some of these objects are exact replicas of the original ones, while others were bought and transported from the country they originally belonged to. Next to each of them is a sign displaying where the object comes from, written in both Danish and in the language of the object’s country of origin.

The red sector of Superkilen Park/ Wikipedia

The importance of the locals

The park is part of the Municipality of Copenhagen’s plan to improve urban spaces in the neighborhood of Nørrebro. It was designed by the Danish artists’ collective Superkilen, in collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group – a team of architects and designers based in Copenhagen and New York – and Topotek 1, a German architecture firm.

This neighborhood is actually one of the most ethnically diverse areas of Copenhagen and is home to people of dozens of different nationalities from all over the world – more than 60, to be exact. Here comes the best part of the project: those people actually took part in choosing the objects to represent their countries.

The green sector, with tables from Armenia – Fred Romero/ Flickr

The colors

The park has three different sectors, coded according to color: black, red and green.

The black sector is where you go to sit on a Turkish bench and play chess from Bulgaria, while enjoying the view of a beautiful Moroccan fountain. Fire up the barbecue and there you have it: the perfect place for chilling in the city.

The green sector is where you keep fit with the help of bike paths, a basketball court and gym facilities from all over the world. It is also the most suitable sector for families and kids, thanks to its many playgrounds.

The opportunity for physical activities continues in the red sector, too. Here you can find a Thai boxing ring, a basketball court and more cycle tracks lined with colorful German bike stands. It’s worth mentioning that this sector also contains a slide from Chernobyl and a Jamaican sound system.

How to get there:

The exact address of the park is: Heimdalsgade, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark.

It is easily accessible by subway – the closest station is Nørrebro St.

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>>> Check here for more free and fun things to do in Copengahen.

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Copenhagen is known for its rich cultural heritage, cycling and capricious weather. It is enriched by the dynamic lifestyle of the people and the artists that live and create here. And yet, what is the most entertaining way to discover a city without actually visiting it? It’s watching a movie shot there.

Statue of the Little Mermaid

Copenhagen, the way it is now

Canadian writer and director Mark Raso thought exactly that when he made the movie „Copenhagen” in 2014. In this romantic drama, the main character, William, goes to Denmark in search of his grandfather. While in Copenhagen, he meets a young girl who helps him trace his relative. You are actually taken on the adventurous trip that William challenges himself to do. The movie focuses on Denmark, exactly as it is in present time – rich day-life with cafes, museums, restaurants and parks, and feverish nightclubs after dark. A few rather famous tourist places are slipped into the movie for extra authenticity. One of the locations that has been used is the Thorvaldsens museum that has been active for over 150 years. It features the works of Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsens (1770 – 1884). The museum is mostly filled with sculptures but some of the sketches used for them have been used as separate art. An interesting fact is that the venue can be hired to provide a fairytale wedding ceremony for you and your soulmate.

The quayside of Nyhavn

Copenhagen, the way it was before

And yet probably no other movie can show the beauty of Copenhagen, even if it is set in the past, like “The Danish Girl” (2015). Tom Hooper, director of the award-winning movie, succeeded in recreating the city as it was in its post-World War I period. It received both praise and criticism due to its controversial story, but who are we to judge. The scenes show a lot of iconic places in Copenhagen, such as Børsen, The Royal Theatre and the Fiolstræde Læsesal library, which is a part of the Copenhagen University. The scene shot in this library was actually portraying a library in France, but the crew decided to show that Copenhagen is beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. The Nyhavn canal district is also used a lot in the movie since it is the residence of the main characters (Einar and Lili). This district, in the past, was a big commercial port that had lots of tradesmen, fishermen and pubs. It is also famous for the houses that were built in that area since some of them date back to the late 17th century. One of the most cult Danish writers, Hans Christian Andersen, lived on Nyhavn in the house at number 20. Nowadays, those houses and most of the building have been renovated. A number of different cafes and food joints reside on the street, while tourists have the chance to experience the relaxing atmosphere of the quayside.

Some Danish cuisine

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