[DENMARK] Copenhagen 1 Day Itinerary Using 24 Hours Copenhagen Card (2026 Updates)

20:04 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

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.

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

* 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.


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

* 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

* 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

* 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:
* 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.

* 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:

Price 2026 vs 2019
Amalienborg Palace - DKK 125, was DKK95
Rosenborg Castle - DKK135, was  DKK 95

Back in 2019, in total I would have spent DKK 659 without the pass. The pass cost around DKK 403 and I had a saving of DKK 256 with the pass! 

Overall, I will still recommend to buy Copenhagen Card.