Things to do in Denmark

25 things to do in Denmark

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Watch the colourful sunset from the waterfront at Nyhavn

  Stroll along the 17th-century canal lined with vibrant townhouses, bars and restaurants as the golden light reflects on the water. A quintessential Copenhagen experience that captures the city's maritime charm.

  Copenhagen

• Marvel at Tivoli Gardens illuminated at night

  Wander through the magical amusement park after dark when thousands of fairy lights transform the gardens, fountains and rides into a romantic wonderland.

  Copenhagen

• Step into a Viking longship at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde

  See five original 11th-century Skuldelev ships salvaged from the fjord and watch craftsmen build seaworthy replicas using Viking techniques. A visceral dive into Denmark’s seafaring past.

  Roskilde

• Hike atop the dazzling white chalk cliffs of Møns Klint

  Follow trails along the 128-metre-high cliffs that shimmer above a turquoise Baltic Sea, then descend 497 steps to a fossil-strewn beach. One of Denmark’s most dramatic natural wonders.

  Møn

• Savour the classic Danish open sandwich smørrebrød at Aamanns 1921

  Indulge in artistically plated, seasonal smørrebrød in a stylish Copenhagen dining room. Each delicate bite reinvents the traditional rye bread topped with pickled, cured and fresh ingredients.

  Copenhagen

• Cycle the Harbour Circle route for a scenic, urban two-wheel adventure

  Pedal a 13-kilometre loop across bridges, through bike-friendly neighbourhoods and along Copenhagen’s sparkling inner harbour. Locks, houseboats and waterfront cafés reveal the city’s intimate relationship with the water.

  Copenhagen

• Admire world-class modern art and sea views at Louisiana Museum

  Stroll through sculpture-filled gardens overlooking the Øresund strait and explore galleries housing works by Picasso, Giacometti and contemporary Nordic artists. The journey north from Copenhagen becomes part of the experience.

  Humlebæk

• Travel back in time at Den Gamle By open-air museum in Aarhus

  Walk cobbled streets through 75 historic houses transported from across Denmark, with costumed blacksmiths, bakeries and merchant shops. The 1970s street even lets you peer into the recent past.

  Aarhus

• Feel the North and Baltic seas collide at Grenen, Skagen

  Stand on the shifting sand spit where two seas meet in a visible line of clashing waves. Taking the tractor-pulled Sandormen to the tip and getting your feet wet in both seas is an unforgettable ritual.

  Skagen

• Unleash your creativity at Lego House in Billund

  Fill the brick-built ‘Home of the Brick’ with your own designs across experience zones and see the giant Tree of Creativity. The public rooftop playgrounds offer city views and imaginative spaces for all ages.

  Billund

• Explore the royal reception rooms at Christiansborg Palace

  Walk the throne room, great hall with modern tapestries and the Queen’s library inside the seat of Danish parliament. The palace unites monarchy, democracy and history under one towering roof.

  Copenhagen

• Paddle through Copenhagen’s clean canals from Islands Brygge

  Rent a kayak and glide past modern architecture, old warehouses and the playful Harbour Ring sculpture. You’ll see the city from water level, with regular spots to pause for a swim.

  Copenhagen

• Walk the rainbow panorama atop ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum

  Circle the glowing, 150-metre circular glass walkway that crowns the city’s leading art museum. Every colour-tinted panel frames a different view of Aarhus and the bay.

  Aarhus

• See the city from the water on a canal tour departing Nyhavn

  Board a low-slung tour boat and glide under low bridges, past the opera house, royal palaces and the canals of Christianshavn. The captain’s live storytelling brings the layers of Copenhagen history alive.

  Copenhagen

• Stroll the cobbled lanes of Ribe, Denmark’s oldest town

  Get lost in the medieval centre with its half-timbered houses, cathedrals and night watchman’s rounds. The Viking Centre on the edge of town re-creates life as it was 1,300 years ago.

  Ribe

• Climb Himmelbjerget and enjoy the Lake District views

  Hike to the 147-metre summit, once believed to be Denmark’s highest point, for sweeping vistas over Julsø and forested hills. A classic family outing with steamboat trips on the lake.

  Silkeborg

• Watch the Royal Guard march from Rosenborg Castle to Amalienborg

  Follow the daily changing of the guard ceremony as the Life Guards in bearskin hats parade through the city streets. The pageantry ends in the vast octagonal courtyard of the royal residence.

  Copenhagen

• Explore the alternative community of Freetown Christiania

  Wander through the car-free, self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood with its colourful homemade houses, murals and organic eateries. The guided tour reveals its countercultural history and future dreams.

  Copenhagen

• Taste cutting-edge craft beer at Mikkeller Bar in Vesterbro

  Sip from 20 rotating taps of microbrewed ales, sours and stouts in a minimalist basement bar. The beer menu is a liquid atlas, often featuring one-off collaborations with global brewers.

  Copenhagen

• Breathe in the scents of the Botanical Garden’s Palm House

  Step inside the elegant Victorian glasshouse filled with giant tropical palms, ferns and a butterfly house. The surrounding gardens offer a green refuge with rare rhododendrons and a rock garden.

  Copenhagen

• Stand before the Jelling rune stones, Denmark’s birth certificate

  Gaze at the 10th-century stones inscribed with Christ, beasts and the first mention of ‘Denmark’ as a nation. The adjacent museum vividly explains how Harald Bluetooth united the kingdom.

  Jelling

• Enter the magnificent Roskilde Cathedral, a red-brick Gothic UNESCO site

  Walk through 800 years of Danish royal history among the lavish tombs of kings and queens, from Margrethe I to present day. The soaring nave and intricate brickwork make it Scandinavia’s first Gothic cathedral.

  Roskilde

• Sink your toes into the powdery white sands of Dueodde Beach, Bornholm

  Swim in calm, shallow waters off one of the finest beaches in the Baltic, backed by dunes and pine forests. The iconic Dueodde lighthouse offers panoramic views from a height of 48 metres.

  Bornholm

• Spot deer and the royal hunting lodge in the ancient Dyrehaven forest

  Walk or cycle through 1,000 hectares of old oak woods and meadows home to 2,000 free-roaming fallow and red deer. The view of the Baroque Hermitage Palace from the hill is pure Danish pastoral poetry.

  Klampenborg

• Descend into the Cold War bunkers of Stevnsfort underground fortress

  Tour the eerie subterranean labyrinth carved into limestone cliffs, complete with missile launchers and command centres that guarded the Øresund until 2000. A thrilling hidden-gem for history buffs.

  Stevns