[DENMARK] Copenhagen 1 Day Itinerary Using 24 Hours Copenhagen Card

How to best explore Denmark's vibrant capital on your own? The easiest way is to buy a Copenhagen Card. The card not only offers free admission to 87 attractions and museum, it also offers free public transport in Copenhagen region, including to and from the airport!

Where to buy Copenhagen Card?
1) Buy it online, redeem it with your smartphone or pdf print-out at one of the four redemption centres (Copenhagen Airport, Copenhagen Tourist Information Center, Copenhagen Central Station and Tivoli Garden ticket office).

Slightly cheaper to buy it on Klook: eg. 24h is EUR 53.39 instead of EUR 54.

2) Buy it directly at the Information desk in Copenhagen Airport or Copenhagen Central Station.

4 versions of Copenhagen Card:
24 hours: adult - EUR 54, children - EUR 26
48 hours: adult - EUR 80, children - EUR 40
72 hours: adult - EUR 99, children - EUR 49
120 hours: adult - EUR 133, children - EUR 67
child under 9 years old is free

Official website: https://copenhagencard.com/

How to use?
You need to write the start date and time on the card when you start using the card. It will start counting down the hours from the first time you scan your card whether on public transport or one of the attractions.

How to plan your itinery:
The attractions in Copenhagen are mostly within the downtown. You can visit most attractions on foot. You can either start your tour from the Copenhagen Central Station in the south or from the Little Mermaid Statue in the north.

Tivoli Gardens opens from 11am - 9pm (Sun - Thu) & 11am - 11pm (Fri & Sat). So it's best to plan it as the last attraction you'll be visiting.

Take note that most attractions will close on Monday.

See map below for the main attractions:

My jam-packed 1 day itinery using 24h Copenhagen Card as below:
The Little Mermaid Statue -> Gefion Fountain -> * Amalienborg Palace -> Frederik's Church -> Nyhavn -> Royal Danish Theatre -> * Rosenborg Castle -> * The Round Tower -> * Christiansborg Castle -> Børsen -> Church of Our Saviour -> * Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek -> Copenhagen City Hall -> *Tivoli Gardens
(*) free with Copenhagen Card

1) The Little Mermaid Statue

The Little Mermaid Statue is a bronze statue based on fairy tale of the same name by Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. It is a popular tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1913.

It is located at Langelinie promenade. You can reach here by Osterport metro/tram station and walk for 10-15 minutes from the station.

2) Gefion Fountain

Gefion Fountain is a large fountain in Copenhagen. It is located next to Kastellet, immediately south of Langelinie. It features Norse goddess Gefjon who turned her four sons into oxen and driving them to plow out the earth. According to legend, the Swedish king, Gylfi, promised her the territory she could plow in a night.

3) * Amalienborg Palace

Four palaces surrounds Amalienborg Palace Square and the statue of King Frederik V stands in the middle of the square. Only Christian VIII's Palace which houses the museum is open to the public. The remaining palaces are official residence of the royal family and not open to the public.

The Palace opens from 10am. During summer, it opens daily.
2 Jan - 30 Apr: 10am - 3pm (close on Monday)
1 May - 30 May: 10am - 4pm
1 Jun - 31 Aug: 10am - 5pm
1 Sep - 31 Oct: 10am - 4pm
1 Nov - 22 Dec & 26-31 Dec: 10am - 3pm (close on Monday)

Admission fees: Adult DKK 95, Student 65 DKK, free with Copenhagen Card

What to see:

The private interiors of the most recent kings and queens.

The Royal Guard changes every day at 12pm.

Official website: https://www.kongeligeslotte.dk/en/palaces-and-gardens/amalienborg-palace.html


4) Frederik's Church

Frederik's Church is popularly known as the Marble Church. It is located west of Amalienborg Palace. Due to financial restriction, the original plan to build the church entirely from marble were discarded and instead the architect opted for it to be done in limestone.

It is still a beautiful church and it is open to the public every day.

Opening hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat: 10am - 5pm
Fri, Sun: 12pm - 5pm

Entrance is free.

5) Nyhavn

Nyhavn is a 17th century waterfront which is now a commercial area lined with restaurants and pubs.

The colourful houses of Nyhavn makes a beautiful backdrop for pictures. Many people also locked love locks on the bridge connecting the canal.

If you have time, you can join Canal Tours Copenhagen. The tour takes approximately an hour. It is free for Copenhagen Card (normal ticket is DKK 95 for adult), but only with departure from Gammel Strand.

6) Royal Danish Theatre

I dropped by the Royal Danish Theatre at Kongens Nytorv Square simply to see its beautiful architecture. Of course, if you would like to see a performance, you can buy the tickets either online or 2 hours before a given performance. All performances are state-subsidized, making it affordable as compared to theatre elsewhere in Europe.

Website: https://kglteater.dk/en/visit-us/your-visit/tickets1/

7) * Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle was built by Christian IV, one of the most famous Scandanavian kings.

Opening times:
2 Jan - 3 Apr: 10am - 3pm (close on Monday)
4 Apr - 31 May: 10am - 4pm
1 Jun - 31 Aug: 9am - 5pm
1 Sep - 31 Oct: 10am - 4pm
1 Nov - 22 Dec: 10am - 3pm (close on Monday)
26 Dec - 30 Dec: 10am - 4pm
31 Dec: 10am - 3pm

Admission fees: Adult DKK 95, Student 65 DKK, free with Copenhagen Card

What to see:

The main attraction is the Knight's Hall with the coronation thrones.

You can also see Denmark's crown jewels kept in special vaults inside.

Website: http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/

8) * The Round Tower

The Round Tower with its distinctive spiral ramp is one of popular attractions in Copenhagen. The 17th century tower is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe.

The tower has 3 parts: the observatory at the top, the university library above the Trinity Church and the church itself below.

Opening hours:
Summer Apr - Sep: 10am - 8pm
Winter Oct - Mar: 10am - 6pm

Admission fees: Adult DKK 25, Children (5-15) DKK 5, free with Copenhagen Card

What to see:

You can see the tower's core by standing on a glass floor, hovering 25 meters above the ground.

Climb up to the observatory to see 360 degrees view of the city.

Website: https://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/front-page/

9) * Christiansborg Palace

The current Christiansborg Palace was completed in 1928. It contains the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of States.

Opening hours:
Apr - Oct: 10am - 5pm

Admission fees:
Combination ticket: Adult DKK 160, Student DKK 140
The Royal Reception: Adult DKK 95, Student DKK 85
Royal Kitchen: Adult DKK 60, Student DKK 50
Ruins: Adult DKK 60, Student DKK 50
Royal Stables: Adult DKK 60, Student DKK 50
Palace Chapel: free
free with Copenhagen Card

What to see:

The Great Hall is the largest and most spectacular Royal Reception Rooms.

Website: https://www.kongeligeslotte.dk/en/palaces-and-gardens/christiansborg-palace.html

10) Børsen (exterior only)

Børsen is a historic building for stock exchange. It is located next to Christiansborg Palace.

What to see: the spire shaped as the tails of four dragons twined together.

11) Church of Our Saviour

Church of Our Saviour was noted for the distinctive serpentine spire that sits on top of the golden globe. It was built in the 1680s. It took 14 years to build.

Opening hours:
Mon-Sat: 10am-4pm

Admission: free with Copenhagen Card

What to see:

Climb 400 steps to the top of the towers if you have the chance as it is voted the best place to see the city. I was too tired to climb up the tower.

Take note that the tower is closed in Jan & Feb.

12) Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

Founded by the brewer Carl Jacobsen in 1988, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek houses great collections of Egyptian, Greek, Etrusan and Roman art.

Opening hours:
Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm
Thu: 10am - 9pm
Closed on Monday.

Admission fees:
Adult DKK 115 (incl. special exhibition), Groups (>10) DKK 100, Student DKK 85, Under 18 free, free with Copenhagen Card
Free entrance on Tuesday

What to see:

The beautiful Winter Garden and the impressive collection of art.

Website: https://www.glyptoteket.com/


13) Copenhagen City Hall

Copenhagen City Hall on the City Hall Square was built between 1892-1905.

Opening hours:
Mon - Fri: 9am - 4pm
Sat: 9.30am - 1pm
Closed on Sunday

Admission is free during opening hours except for the tower where you need to join a guided tour. You can buy the tickets here: https://www.tiqets.com/en/copenhagen-c113/copenhagen-city-hall-guided-tour-in-english-p976620/

14) * Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens is actually amusement park. It's nearby the City Hall and Copenhagen Central Station.

Opening hours: opens from 11am to as late as 11pm
refer to website for exact opening hours.

Entrance fees: Adult DKK 135, Child (3-7) DKK 60, child under 3 enter for free, free with Copenhagen Card

What to see:

It has something for everyone including the exotic Chinese pagoda.

Website: https://www.tivoligardens.com/en

Let's do a simple calculation and see if it was worth it for me to buy the pass:

Amalienborg Palace - DKK 95
Rosenborg Castle - DKK 95
The Round Tower - DKK 25
Christiansborg Castle - DKK 160
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek - DKK 115
Tivoli Gardens - DKK 135
3 zones ticket (including to airport) - DKK 34

In total I would have spent DKK 659 without the pass. The pass cost around DKK 403 and I have a saving of DKK 256 with the pass! In short, I would recommend to buy Copenhagen Card.