Welcome to Denmark

Chart-topping contentment and quality of life, blockbuster dining and design, and a cheerful emphasis on hygge (cosiness) – explore (and envy) what makes Denmark tick.

Read More

Happiness & Hygge

It’s heart-warming to know there’s still a country where the term ‘fairy tale’ can be used freely – from its most enduring literary legacy to its textbook castles. In a nutshell, Denmark gets it right: old-fashioned charm embraces the most avowedly forward-looking design and social developments. The country wins a regular place on lists of both the most liveable and the happiest nations on earth. You won’t have to search hard to find much-prized hygge, a uniquely Danish trait that has a profound influence on the locals’ inestimable happiness. Hygge is social nirvana in Denmark: a sense of cosiness, camaraderie and contentment.

Quality of Life

While many countries are noticeable for the ever-increasing gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, Denmark seems to be populated by the ‘have enoughs’, and the obviously rich and obviously poor are few and far between. This egalitarian spirit allows the best of the arts, architecture, eating and entertainment to be within easy reach of everyone. Indeed, the best catchword for Denmark might be ‘inclusive’ – everyone is welcome and everyone is catered to, be they young, old, gay, straight, and whether they travel with kids, pets or bikes in tow. Cities are compact and user-friendly, infrastructure is modern, and travel is a breeze.

The Danish Aesthetic

It’s true, Denmark doesn’t have the stop-you-in-your-tracks natural grandeur of its neighbours, but its landscapes are understated – pure and simple, often infused with an ethereal Nordic light. Such landscapes are reflected in the Danish design philosophy towards fashion, food, architecture, furniture and art. Simplicity of form and function come first but not at the expense of beauty. And so you’ll find moments of quintessential Danish loveliness on a long sandy beach, beside a lake, admiring a Renaissance castle, on the bike lanes of Bornholm or in a candlelit cafe that has perfected the art of hygge.

History & Impact

The world first took notice of Denmark more than a millennium ago, when Danish Vikings took to the seas and ravaged vast tracts of Europe. How things have changed. These days Denmark captures global imagination as the epitome of a civilised society, and it punches above its weight on many fronts: progressive politics, urban planning, sustainability, work-life balance, design and architecture. Recent global crushes, freshly exported from Copenhagen, include a city cycling culture, the New Nordic culinary movement, and brilliantly addictive TV drama series.

Read Less

Top experiences in Denmark

Recent articles

Travel guides

Starting at $32.49

Image for Image for

Denmark activities

$64.46 Sightseeing Tickets & Passes

Copenhagen Card

Choose between a 24-, 48-, 72- or 120-hour Copenhagen Card when you book, and then collect your card and free Copenhagen map at Copenhagen Airport or a central redemption point in the city.Valid for the set number of hours from the time you first use it, your card helps you get the best from your time in Denmark’s lovely capital, with included public transport and free admission to 73 top Copenhagen attractions. Additional, valuable discounts on exciting activities, tours and other transport, plus money-off deals at museums, shops and restaurants are also included.You can use your card to travel quickly and easily between the sights, enjoying free, unlimited transport on the Copenhagen region's Metro, buses and trains, including journeys to and from Copenhagen Airport. Plus, show your card to get free entry to the Tivoli Gardens, the city’s legendary amusement park, with its white-knuckle rides, wooden coaster, carousels, parades and beautiful gardens.In addition, perhaps use your card to enjoy complimentary admission to Den Blå Planet, Copenhagen’s spectacular aquarium; take a hop-on, hop-off bus sightseeing tour; and admire the city from the water on a relaxing canal cruise. What's more, your card entitles you to free entry to historical highlights such as the fascinating Amalienborgmuseet (Amalienborg Museum) with its recreated royal palace interiors, and the grand Rosenborg Slot (Rosenborg Palace), built by King Christian IV in the 17th century.See the Itinerary below for a full list of attractions and discounts included on the card.
$119.33 Day Trips & Excursions

Castles Tour from Copenhagen: North Zealand and Hamlet Castle

Leave Copenhagen behind as you head north through magnificent Danish countryside and coastline towards Elsinore and Kronborg Castle. Chosen as the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet, this magnificent renaissance castle is on the UNESCO world heritage list.After lunch (own expense), your tour continues towards Fredensborg, where the Queen's summer residence of Fredensborg Palace is attractively located in the middle of a lovely park, bordering the idyllic Esrum Lake.The next highlight on your tour is Frederiksborg Castle, built by King Christian IV in 1601 - 1625. This pearl of history, built in magnificent Renaissance style with a touch of baroque, is now a national historical museum, containing treasures of painting, tapestry, porcelain, silver and furniture.
$160.76 Day Trips & Excursions

Grand Day Trip around Copenhagen

The tour includes a full visit to these four sites: PLEASE NOTE exception for Roskilde Cathedral in the winter months.Kronborg CastleThe impressive fortification that has guarded the entrance to the Baltic Sea for six centuries and is the setting for Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’. UNESCO World Heritage Site.Frederiksborg PalaceThe largest and most beautiful Renaissance castle in Scandinavia.Roskilde CathedralNo other place in the world has as many kings and queens buried in the same place. UNESCO World Heritage Site PLEASE NOTE that between November and March the tour does not include a visit the Cathedral's interior but rather a walk around the impressive structure and an introduction to the Cathedral's place in history.The Viking Ship MuseumModern rebuilt models and excavated original ships from the time when the Vikings conquered much of Western Europe and ruled the North Atlantic. Driving betweens the sites, you get to see the Danish country side and landscapes. We drive through farming land and forests. Hotel pickup and dropoff is available for hotels in the inner city of Copenhagen. Pick up will be before the tour starting time in the morning. You must contact us to arrange it. If we do not hear from you, we expect you to show up at the starting point of the tour on H.C. Andersens Boulevard.
$137.33 Food, Wine & Nightlife

Copenhagen Food-Tasting Walking Tour

After meeting your guide near Frederiksborggade in central Copenhagen, stroll around the city to learn about Danish cuisine and its gastronomic heritage. Throughout the past few decades, Denmark gained quite a conservative reputation when it came to food. However, its cuisine is experiencing a food revolution and many Copenhagen restaurants are replacing the heavy dishes of bygone decades with meals cooked from seasonal, local ingredients that sing with clean and pared-down flavors.The best place to sample the new Nordic cuisine is, of course, in Copenhagen, so let your guide introduce you to the locals’ favorite eateries. The city’s burgeoning food scene is constantly evolving, so restaurants and delicatessens may be swapped on the day of your tour. Places mentioned are just intended to give you an idea of where you may visit.Start with a stroll to Torvehallerne covered market halls to see Arla Unika, Copenhagen’s flagship cheese shop. Sample artisan cheese, developed in collaboration with the city’s Michelin-starred chefs, and admire the pungent wares on offer before strolling to Bornholm Shop to try liquorice, caramels and preserves. Wander through Copenhagen Botanical Gardens and stop for a sample of of Danish apple wine while relaxing in the beautiful green surroundings. Then, take a break in Aamanns café – a hotspot for locals enjoying hearty open sandwiches called smørrebrød made from sourdough rye bread and predominantly organic and free range produce. Continue to a nearby restaurant called Nørrebro Bryghus to sample three different types of home-brewed beer, and then soak up the alcohol with an organic hotdog sample from Copenhagen’s Ecological Hotdog Stand.Finish your tour at Summerbird Chocolate. Producing Copenhagen’s most luxurious chocolate and candy, the shop is also popular for its (highly addictive) flødeboller – chocolate-coated marshmallows.Having eaten your way around Copenhagen, return to the start point where your tour finishes.
$40.39 Tours & Sightseeing

Copenhagen Hop-On Hop-Off Tour by Bus and Boat

With world-class museums, restaurants and attractions, the city of Copenhagen is awash with sights and things to do. Get around town the easy way, by hop-on hop-off bus or boat, and see as much as you want — from the edgy canal district of Christianshavn to the bustling shops of Strøget. Use your ticket on four different lines to explore and see the sights over a 48-hour period. Three lines are operated by open-top double-decker bus, and one line operated by boat. Hop on and off wherever and whenever you like, or maybe stay on board for a full loop to get your bearings in the city. Entrance fees to all attractions are at your own pace. Take the Mermaid Tour to see standout sights such as the Little Mermaid statue, based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, or Amalienborg Palace. If you want to see the Black Diamond, ride through town on the Christiana Tour. Or perhaps take the Carlsberg Tour to visit the top Copenhagen attractions such as Visit Carlsberg or Frederiksberg Garden. The Boat Tour allows you to see a mix of the top sights from the water. Many of the stops are near each other, making it easy to swap between lines.  BUS ToursMermaid Tour - duration approx. 1 hr 30 minVed Stranden / StrøgetNyhavnAmalienborg PalaceGerfion FountainThe Little MermaidLangelinie (only operates May 5 - September 31)Rosenborg Castle / SMKGammel TorvCity Hall Square / National Museum of DenmarkTivoli /Radisson Royal HotelFisketorvet – Copenhagen Mall / Tivoli HotelKalvebod Waves / Marriott HotelThe Black DiamondChristiania Tour - duration approx. 55 min.Ved Stranden / StrøgetChristianshavnChristiania FreetownThe OperaStreet Food / ReffenIslands Brygge / Casino CopenhagenTivoli / Radisson Royal HotelCarlsberg Tour - duration approx. 30 minTivoli / Radisson Royal HotelPlanetarium Frederiksberg GardenCopenhagen ZooVisit CarlsbergVesterbro SquareTivoli / Radisson Royal HotelBoat Tour  Ved Stranden /StrøgetNyhavnStreet Food / ReffenThe Little MermaidOfelia Plads / Amalienborg PalaceChristianshavnDAC/BLOX / The Black Diamond
$13.73 Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours

Copenhagen 1-Hour Sightseeing Canal Cruise

Hop aboard your sightseeing cruise boat in Nyhavn or Ved Strand in central Copenhagen. Take a seat in the boat’s lower saloon or stroll around the deck, admiring the city sights as you cruise. Canals zigzag through Copenhagen, and the city’s top waterfront sights appear around every twist and turn. Watch out for attractions like the Little Mermaid, an iconic Edvard Eriksen statue, carved to look like a character from a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. Learn the history of Copenhagen as your onboard guide points out key sights. Hear about Amalienborg Castle – seat of the Danish royal family since the 18th century – while admiring the site’s elegant façade, and gaze at Copenhagen Opera House, a futuristic-looking building that juts out onto the waterfront. Glide through Christianshavn canal quarter and hear trivia about King Christian IV, who established the neighborhood in the early 17th century. The area is home to several of the city’s quirky sights such as the Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke) with its elaborate spire. Pass the Old Stock Exchange near the island of Slotsholmen, and then return back to the start point – hopping off your boat at either Nyhavn or Ved Strand.
See More Activities
Denmark photo credits