If you're short on time and wondering what to see in Copenhagen in 2 days, this itinerary is designed for you. We spent one week in the city and have picked out what we think are the best experiences for your 2 days there.
Day 1 covers unique things to do around the historic centre, while Day 2 takes you to Copenhagen’s more laidback, creative neighbourhoods.
From iconic sights to tucked-away gems, this 2 day Copenhagen itinerary strikes the perfect balance between the city's highlights and its local charm.
Overview: 2 Days in Copenhagen
• Soak in the city's cafe culture at a local favourite • Explore the charming centre with centuries-old architecture and unique boutiques • Rest your feet at a luxurious bathhouse in the former Carlsberg Brewery • Discover Copenhagen's renowned plant-based culinary scene • Enjoy a nightcap in a cozy bar with vintage Scandinavian furniture • Take a scenic bike ride through creative hubs with fun stops along the way • Swim in the canal at a bohemian-chic hangout • Eat at the city's coolest food market in a former shipyard • Listen to live jazz in Copenhagen's independent hippie enclave |
2 Day Copenhagen Itinerary
Day 1
Overview: Brunch at Det Vide Hus, explore the historic centre, shop vintage and Danish brands, unwind at AIRE ancient baths, dine at Baka d'Busk, nightcap at Duck & CoverStart your day with brunch at Det Vid Hus
Det Vide Hus
Kick off your 2 Days in Copenhagen by soaking in the city's cafe culture at Det Vide Hus. This art-filled cafe is beloved by locals and was recommended to us by the Noma team.
We ordered their fresh juice of the day and the avocado toast with a fried cheese layer and za’atar fried egg. It was so fresh and delicious.
On sunny mornings, grab a table outside overlooking the park, or if it’s chilly, head upstairs to a cozy corner.
Explore the historic streets and shop Danish brands and vintage treasures
After brunch, take a stroll through the charming centre streets where you'll find centuries-old architecture and unique boutiques.
Stop by Stine Goya, a Danish designer clothing brand known for its bold, colourful prints. Just around the corner, Beau Marche offers an eclectic mix of new and vintage housewares.
Then, make your way to Nyhavn, the iconic 17th-century canal lined with colourful townhouses. Once a bustling trade hub, it's now home to a mix of restaurants, cafes, bars and residences. It’s touristy but definitely worth seeing. Grab a coffee or ice cream to-go and soak up the lively atmosphere along the boardwalk.
Continue your walk towards the lively centre of Indre By, where you'll find the iconic Danish brands, HAY and Georg Jensen. HAY is known for its colourful contemporary homeware, whereas Georg Jensen sells timeless silver and stainless steel housewares.
To cap off your shopping, make your way to these vintage clothing stores in the hip Vesterbro neighbourhood. They were our favourites in the city and are located next to each other.
Rosy Vintage/Jerome Vintage - both of these vintage shops share the same space, with Jerome Vintage offering rare, high-end pieces and Rosy Vintage bringing a mix of designer and high quality non-branded items.
VON Eco Store - for well-curated vintage and second-hand clothing. I scored vintage Stine Goya pants here.
Rest your feet at a luxurious bathhouse in the former Carlsberg Brewery
Former Carlsberg Brewery that has transformed into a new city district
After all that walking and shopping, rest your feet at AIRE Ancient Baths, a luxurious spa in the former Carlsberg Brewery. We were blown away by the beautifully restored 19th-century industrial building. Carlsberg Byen is one of the hottest new districts in Copenhagen.
The bathhouse feels like stepping into an ancient temple with its dim lighting, soft candle glow and calming Middle Eastern music.
Explore their variety of thermal baths, including a hot pool, saltwater pool, body-temperature pools and a couple of invigorating cold plunges. The bathhouse has a no-noise and no-phone policy, so you can relax in peace.
Option 2: Not a spa person? Instead check out The Cisterns, an underground water reservoir that has been transformed into a haunting contemporary art gallery - it's pitch black with no daylight inside.
Don't miss our full list of 21 unique things to do in Copenhagen.
Discover Copenhagen's renowned plant-based culinary scene
Copenhagen became the first city where we unintentionally spent entire days eating vegetarian. The city has earned its reputation as a leader in plant-based cuisine with its focus on fresh, local ingredients and creative, sustainable dining.
But you don’t need to splurge at high-end spots like Noma or Geranium to experience its remarkable culinary scene. There are 77 restaurants currently listed in the Michelin Guide in Copenhagen ranging from one to four dollar signs ($-$$$$), each earning recognition for their high-quality and innovative dishes.
For a relaxed, but impressive experience, we recommend Baka d'Busk in the hip Nørrebro district. The quirky restaurant offers creative plant-based dishes in a fun atmosphere. Our meal kicked off with a complimentary shot and then flowed into an inventive tasting menu that was both playful and elegant.
Book your table at Baka d'Busk.
Enjoy a nightcap at Duck & Cover
Wrap up your night at Duck & Cover, our favourite cocktail bar in Copenhagen. Located in Vesterbro, this cozy bar recognized by the World's Best Bars team, offers a relaxed atmosphere with vintage Scandinavian furniture.
We had a blast sampling akvavit with the friendly bartender. It felt like we were invited to a cool local hangout.
See our full list of fun things to do in the city at night.
Day 2
Scenic bike ride through Christianshavn and Refshaleøen with stops at Hart Bakery, Operaparken, La Banchina, Copenhagen Contemporary and Reffen Street Food Market, wrap up the evening at Christiania Jazz ClubBike ride through Copenhagen's scenic, creative neighbourhoods
Biking along the canals in Christianshavn and Refshaleøen
Today, explore Copenhagen’s alternative and creative neighbourhoods, Christianshavn and Refshaleøen. Christianshavn is a charming canal-side neighbourhood popular with locals, while Refshaleøen is an industrial area turned creative hub.
These laidback areas are perfect for biking, offering scenic canal views and plenty of unique stops. The route is a 30-minute bike ride round trip, but if you prefer to walk, it will take around 1 hour 40 minutes.
Stop at Hart Bakery and Operaparken
Rent a bike through an app like Donkey Republic - there are lots of bikes available at the Christianshavn Metro Station - and head to Hart Bakery for fresh sourdough and pastries.
Founded by a former Noma baker, Hart is a local favourite. With 10 locations across the city, we particularly loved the Holmen location with its peaceful canal-side seating in the back.
Operaparken
After brunch, don't get back on your bike just yet. Walk across to Operaparken, a sleek, minimalist park with a striking modern pavilion that opened in 2023. It's work taking a peek inside.
Swim in the canal at La Banchina
Afterward, bike to La Banchina, a beach shack-inspired cafe along a swimmable canal. It has become one of the hottest spots in the city, drawing both fashionable locals and travellers.
It's the kind of place where you want to linger for hours, whether you're sipping natural wine, nibbling on farm-to-table bites, people-watching, soaking up the sun or taking a refreshing dip.
If the weather is chilly, consider renting out La Banchina's private sauna.
Check out our ranked list of the 10 coolest places in Copenhagen.
See immersive art at Copenhagen Contemporary
Continue biking through the industrial Refshaleøen neighbourhood to Copenhagen Contemporary for an immersive art experience.
Set in a former industrial warehouse, it features cutting-edge installations that play with your senses. The highlight is James Turrell's exhibition, Aftershock.
Eat your choice of global cuisine at the Reffen Street Food Market
Just across from Copenhagen Contemporary is Reffen, an open-air street food market that feels like something out of Berlin.
Repurposed shipping containers, sandy areas and 50 food stalls serving global flavours fill the space. Ari went for the carne asada sandwich, while I couldn’t resist the raclette cheese over potatoes.
Reffen is more than just food - it’s also a hub for events and concerts. We just missed a free show by Brazilian legend Marcos Valle, so be sure to check out what’s happening when you’re there.
Wrap up your bike ride with canal-side drinks
After indulging in some tasty street food, hop back on your bike and head back to Christianshavn. Take the scenic route past Noma and through Freetown Christiania, an independent hippie community.
You’ll catch a glimpse of Noma’s famous gardens along the way. If you're unfamiliar with Noma, it's a world-renowned, three-Michelin-star restaurant that pioneered New Nordic cuisine - it even inspired the thriller, The Menu.
Drop off your bike and celebrate the end of your fun ride with a drink at Christianshavn Boat Rental & Cafe along the canal. We loved watching the boats drift by as we relaxed.
Listen to live music at Christiania Jazz Club
To cap off your evening, walk over to Freetown Christiania for a live show at the Christiania Jazz Club. Freetown Christiania, one of Copenhagen's most intriguing neighbourhoods, was founded in 1971 when squatters took over old military barracks.
Born out of rebellion and creativity, this bohemian neighbourhood is full of character, with colourful murals and eclectic buildings. Despite its past struggles with crime, Freetown Christiania remains a symbol of resilience and individuality.
Christiania Jazz Club, run by volunteers since 1999, offers some of the best live jazz in the city, with shows on Wednesdays and Fridays - check out their events.
If you could only pick one:
- 🥐 Bakery: Hart (Holmen location)
- 👨🍳 Restaurant: Baka d'Busk
- 🍔 Food Market: Reffen Street Food Market
- 🍸 Bar: Duck & Cover
- 🛏️ Place to stay: Kanalhuset in Christianshavn
- 👙 Canal-side hangout: La Banchina
- 🎷 Live music venue: Christiania Jazz Club
- 🎨 Art Gallery: Cisterns Gallery
- 🚲 Bike ride loop: Christianshavn - Holmen - Refshaleøen - Freetown Christiania - Christianshavn.
- 👢 Vintage clothing store: Rosy Vintage/Jerome Vintage
- 🕰 Antique store: Veirhanen
- 📸 Touristy thing to do: walking the Nyhavn canal
- 🧖♀️ Relaxing thing to do: AIRE Ancient baths in the former Carlsberg Brewery
Enjoy your 2 days in Copenhagen!
If you can stay longer in the city, don't miss our 4 day itinerary.
Get started on booking your trip to Copenhagen
- 🛌 Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚤 Book your tours/entrance tickets: browse GetYourGuide
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Save and pin this 2 Day Copenhagen itinerary for later:
