For many Australians, Copenhagen was really put on the map when Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson married the future king of Denmark in Copenhagen Cathedral in 2004.<\/p>\n
But this chic Scandinavian city, the capital of Denmark, also has natural beauty, historic architecture, a thriving design and creative scene, great food and hospitality, and a relaxed vibe going for it. It topped the EIU\u2019s Global Liveability Index 2025 because of its \u201cstability, education and infrastructure\u201d, scoring a hefty 98 out of 100 points.<\/p>\n
Day 1Morning<\/p>\n
Start your discovery by fuelling up at one of the city\u2019s most popular bakeries, Juno<\/a>, in the fashionable \u00d8sterbro neighbourhood. Located on \u00c5rhusgade in a quaint converted house, you\u2019ll smell this Danish institution before you see it.<\/p>\n Expect to queue at any time and in all weather, but staff are quick and once you\u2019ve made your choice take your pastry and coffee and find a seat in the front courtyard. The flaky vanilla bun or almond croissant topped with a generous serve of crunchy nuts are bestsellers, or try the light-as-air traditional Danish cookies.<\/p>\n Then wander the surrounding streets. A family-friendly and quiet neighbourhood, you\u2019ll find small, independently owned shops selling one-of-a-kind fashion, kids\u2019 clothes, jewellery, books, art and homewares.<\/p>\n This is also the opportunity to cross one of Copenhagen\u2019s most well-known and treasured landmarks off your list. The Little Mermaid sculpture sits on the waterfront at Langelinie Promenade and is a 20-minute walk from Juno. The 1.25m tall bronze statue commemorates the fairy tales of Denmark\u2019s most famous storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen.\u00a0<\/p>\n Afternoon<\/p>\n Head to picturesque Nyhavn for a relaxed lunch and to people watch. The name means \u201cNew Harbour\u201d although the area dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. This is the image of Copenhagen that you see on Instagram, with brightly painted, gabled wooden townhouses, and cobbled streets alongside the busy canals.<\/p>\n Preserved wooden boats line the quay and take visitors for short cruises along the waterways. Find a cafe and order a traditional Danish lunch of sm\u00f8rrebr\u00f8d (open sandwich) on dark rye bread topped with cold meats, p\u00e2t\u00e9 or herring.<\/p>\n After lunch, hire a bicycle or continue on foot and discover more history. Amalienborg Palace is a short 800m walk from Nyhavn and is the official home of the Danish royals. It\u2019s actually made up of four palaces centred around a courtyard. At noon each day, there is a ceremonial Changing of the Guard and locals say it\u2019s pretty common to spot Frederik and Mary casually returning home after performing royal duties.<\/p>\n Then be impressed by Copenhagen\u2019s stately Marble Church \u2013 although it\u2019s actually made of limestone and is officially Frederik\u2019s Church. The green copper dome offers up the best panoramic views of the city and you can make your way to the top at 1pm every day during summer and at weekends during the rest of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Evening<\/p>\n Head to K\u00f8dbyen, which is Copenhagen\u2019s fashionable Meatpacking District in the Vesterbro neighbourhood. Once an industrial part of town, this area has become a place for locals and tourists to mingle. There\u2019s an extensive range of eateries and some of Copenhagen\u2019s best bars and clubs.<\/p>\n For fresh fish and seafood, try Fiskebar<\/a> which was one of the first venues to open in K\u00f8dbyn, or for something spicier, try the Mexican-inspired Hija de Sanchez<\/a> for its freshly made tacos. Then wander across to Mesteren & L\u00e6rlingen<\/a> to round off 24 hours in Copenhagen with a cool draft beer.<\/p>\n We stayed at the Hotel Kong Arthur in the pretty and convenient suburb of Nansensgade in the heart of the city. Finish off your evening with a walk around one of the many lakes that stretch across the city \u2013 they are on the hotel\u2019s doorstep.\u00a0<\/p>\n Day 2Morning<\/p>\n Start your second day with a morning walk around N\u00f8rrebro \u2013 the city\u2019s multicultural melting pot and a magnet for up-and-coming creatives. Walk across the wide Dronning Louises Bro (Queen Louise\u2019s Bridge) and wander the antique stores on Ravnsborggade.<\/p>\n From there, browse the fashion stores and cafes on Elmegade before walking through the peaceful Assistens Kierkeg\u00e5rd (Assistens Cemetery) where you\u2019ll find the graves of Hans Christian Andersen and other renowned Danes. The park is a popular green space where Danes cycle, walk and picnic.<\/p>\n Exit the cemetery near the top of J\u00e6gersborggade \u2013 a centre for small art galleries, vintage shops and ceramic and jewellery designers. For one-off ceramics, drop into Keramiker Inge Vincents Studio Shop, and for handmade jewellery visit Ladyfingers. For up-market Scandinavian vintage fashion, T\u00fa a T\u00fa is the place to shop.<\/p>\n Afternoon<\/p>\n Copenhagen\u2019s main shopping strip, Str\u00f8get, is one of Europe\u2019s longest pedestrian streets \u2013 and quite possibly one of the prettiest. You\u2019ll find international names from Max Mara to Mulberry and more budget-priced options in a boulevard hemmed by historic buildings. Visit the flagship Lego store to take photos of the impressive Lego sculptures.<\/p>\n This street is also where you\u2019ll find the Guinness World Records Museum \u2013 look out for the life-size statue of the world\u2019s tallest man at the entrance, Robert Wadlow, an American, who stood a towering 2.72m. For quality department store shopping, visit Illum and the five-storey Magasin du Nord.<\/p>\n Evening<\/p>\n Round off your trip with a stroll around S\u00f8erne (The Lakes). A network of paths fringes the lakes making a 6km circuit. On a spring or summer evening the area is popular with families, cyclists and joggers and there are often buskers and kiosks where you can get a drink and watch the world pass by from the water\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n Discover<\/p>\n Copenhagen is one of Europe\u2019s coolest cities due to its historic sights, natural beauty, a focus on sustainability and the environment, a flourishing creative scene and its fashion and food culture.<\/p>\n Plan<\/p>\n Consider a Copenhagen Card<\/a> which covers travel to and from Copenhagen Airport and entry to more than 80 attractions. Choose your season when planning a trip. During summer, the city gets around 17 hours of daylight and is a mild 21C. During winter, there is about seven hours of daylight and temperatures hover around 4C at most. From late 2026, Australians need to complete an online European Travel Information and Authorization System<\/a> to enter Denmark.\u00a0<\/p>\n Book<\/p>\n