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Colourful townhouses and boats along Nyhavn, Copenhagen

No. 38 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Copenhagen

Denmark

Harbour swimming, canal-side cafés, Danish design and a world-famous food scene.

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Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Copenhagen is No. 38 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Denmark's capital lies on the Øresund strait, linked to Malmö in Sweden by the Øresund Bridge.

It is one of the world's great cycling cities, with clean harbour water to swim in, a strong design tradition and a celebrated restaurant scene.

Gardens in Tivoli, Copenhagen
Gardens in Tivoli, Copenhagen. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

May to September brings long days, outdoor dining and harbour swimming.

Winter is dark and cold, but Tivoli and the Christmas markets make November and December cosy.

Top sights

  • 1

    Nyhavn

    The 17th-century canal lined with colourful townhouses, cafés and old boats; Hans Christian Andersen once lived here.

  • 2

    Tivoli Gardens

    One of the world's oldest amusement parks, opened in 1843, with gardens, rides and concerts. It opens in seasons, so check the dates.

  • 3

    The Little Mermaid

    The small bronze statue of 1913 on the Langelinie promenade, inspired by Andersen's fairy tale.

  • 4

    Rosenborg Castle

    A Renaissance castle in the King's Garden, home to the Danish crown jewels.

  • 5

    Amalienborg

    Four Rococo palaces around an octagonal square; the changing of the guard takes place at noon.

  • 6

    Strøget

    One of Europe's longest pedestrian shopping streets, running through the old town.

  • 7

    Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

    A modern-art museum by the sea at Humlebæk, about 35 km north of the city by train.

Getting there

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) at Kastrup is about 8 km from the centre. Metro line M2 and trains reach the centre in about 15 minutes.

Trains arrive at Copenhagen Central Station from Sweden over the Øresund Bridge and from Germany.

Getting around

The driverless metro runs 24 hours a day. Buses, S-trains and harbour buses complete the network; buy tickets in the DOT app or use a Rejsekort.

Cycling is the local way to get around, and bikes are easy to rent.

Practical tips

Currency
Danish krone (DKK); the euro is not used. Denmark is almost cashless, and cards are accepted everywhere.
Language
Danish. English is very widely spoken.
Safety
Copenhagen is very safe. Watch out for bikes when crossing cycle lanes. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Denmark is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
Power
230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C, E, F and K.

Official information: Visit Copenhagen (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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