7 Things To Do in Copenhagen

Copenhagen during the summertime is something that needs to be talked about more often.

Lucky for you, I’ve curated a list of the best things to do in Copenhagen. Southern European countries have long reigned supreme in the summer tourism department. Now, it’s time to show Northern Europe some love. The past few summers I’ve traveled to Norway, Iceland and Denmark and not only has the weather been phenomenal, but the crowds are a sliver of what they are in the Southern countries.

Don’t get me wrong, the Amalfi Coast, Southern France, Spain and the Greek Islands are definitely fabulous. It’s important to remember that there are countless other places with amazing sights and bites to visit during these peak tourism months. 

After just returning from Copenhagen this is my curated travel guide. I have crafted a list of things that I think are the best things to eat, see and do in Copenhagen. Luckily, most of the items on this list aren’t season or weather dependent, so if you find yourself in Copenhagen during a different time of year you’re still in luck!

This post is all about things to do in Copenhagen!

1. Danish pastry making class

Who doesn’t love a good pastry? In Copenhagen the number of bakeries and treats is astounding. The flakey and buttery dough combined with warm flavors like cardamom, cinnamon and marzipan are sure to please. 

As you may have noticed from some of my other articles – chocolate making in Costa Rica, cooking class in Italy, Thai cooking class and grilling class in Argentina – I love to cook. Eating my way through a country and learning about their cuisine is one of my favorite ways to immerse myself in the culture. 

CPH Cooking Class offers a 3 hour pastry course that is sure to please. Grey, the baker will instruct you in a step-by-step way how to laminate dough with butter, make puff pastry dough which is the most important dough in Danish pastry making and how to make a marzipan and a cinnamon filling for your pastries. You’ll even learn how to make your own vanilla custard topping.

I love to cook, but baking is a different story. Baking can be overwhelming due to the specificity and exactness that is required. This class, however, was practically foolproof. We watched our instructor, then went to our workstation and recreated what we had just seen. At the end you’ll walk out with a mountain of warm pastries to take home with you. You’ll also leave with a printed out recipe sheet so you can continue making these treats at home! Overall, a 10/10 must-do activity in Copenhagen. 

2. Canal tour around copenhagen

This is the perfect first day in Copenhagen activity! Taking a small, electric, speedboat tour of the canals helps you get your bearings, learn about the city you’re about to spend time in and ask the local for some suggestions. The company that I used did a fantastic job. There are large canal tours that fit roughly 167 people on board, whereas this boat only had 9 people. Using the smaller boat also allowed us to go into some areas that would otherwise have been skipped if we had been on the larger boat. The tour itself is only 60 minutes, so it’s not too daunting if you’re fighting jet lag! 

3. Street food – hot dogs

Street food is one of the best ways to get to know a city. You don’t need to find the Michelin starred restaurants and splurge on big fancy dinners to get to know the heart of the city. When walking around Copenhagen you’re bound to stumble upon many different hot dog stands. Yes, you heard me right, hotdogs. I was told to visit DØP specifically for their hotdogs. While in line, I realized that I was among two separate groups of people on food tours of Copenhagen – what a good sign!

I opted for the spicy beef hotdog with all of their traditional toppings – ketchup, mustard, remoulade, raw onions, crispy onions and pickles. Honestly, it was one of the best hot dogs that I’ve ever had. I can also say that it makes its way into my top 10 European street food items of all time.

4. Enjoy the art scene

Yes, Copenhagen’s full of delicious foods, but you’ll also experience the artsy fartsy scene. There are Danish furniture stores, museums, glass blowing studios, ceramics galleries and so much more. Some of my favorite stores that I window shopped my way through are the Ganni Danish luxury designer’s stores, Hay House, Studio Arhoj and more.

Something that I admire about my sister is that she’s great at picking out special pieces of art. While traveling she makes it a priority to buy a unique piece of art to add to her own personal gallery. These pieces then serve as a special item to memorialize a family trip or unique adventure. I have a hard time pulling the trigger on art purchases, but I think it’s great to support local artists. I ended up buying a piece of hand-blown glass that I can’t wait to put on display when I get back!

5. Have your cake and eat it too

The bakery Conditori La Glacé was founded in 1870 and remains an institution in Copenhagen. The menu in itself is a work of art. Each cake has multiple different flavors, textures and layers that all tell a unique story. There are cakes named after famous Danish people like the famous storybook author Hans Christian Andersen.

The whimsical pastry shop is always busy with people, but not difficult to get a table. I absolutely love rhubarb and would highly recommend the “Danmarkskage” cake with a tart rhubarb jam, mascarpone cream and an almond sponge cake base. Pair any of their cakes with a delicious mug of hot chocolate and freshly whipped cream.

6. Broen’s Street food market

The Broen’s Street Food Market is truly the quintessential way to enjoy Copenhagen on a warm summer day. The small area designated to the food market is jam packed with delicious dining options and beverage counters. You can sit among nomads, families and locals as well as sitting at a bench along the canals and see people enjoying the sunshine and taking the occasional dip in the canal.

The best thing at the market is the Gasoline Grill Cheeseburger. I’m not usually drawn to a place that says “World Famous” on their permanent sign, but I had heard many recommendations from a variety of sources saying how exceptional the burgers were. I’ll be honest, my expectations were a bit low. I assumed that the burger would be good, but how could it live up to all of the hype? Well, it did. These burgers were truly phenomenal and the quality of the meat was far and away better than any burger I’d ever had. Without a doubt I’d say eating this burger is one of the best things to do in Copenhagen.

7. Walk the city

There are so many things to do in Copenhagen, but just walking around and enjoying the scenery and the vibrant colors of the city is incredible. The flowers are blooming, the sun is reflecting off the canals and illuminating the colorful buildings and the music of the city is the enchanting dinging of bicycle bells. Grab a Hugo Spritz and sit among the crowds of people and soak in all that Copenhagen has to offer.

If you have only a short amount of time to get around the city, a guided walking tour may be for you. There are many different types of walking tours, including the food tour I referenced above. Getting familiarized with the city your’e in, is so important when traveling. Travel guides can take you to different corners of the city that you otherwise may have missed. They also tend to have great recommendations for places to see, things to do and where to eat during your travels.