This article includes links to our travel partners at Tripadvisor, where you can read traveller reviews, book tours and plan your visit to Copenhagen.
Known for its hygge vibe, adorable picturesque houses on the water, and laid-back citizens, a layover trip to Copenhagen will help you relax and get ready for your next flight! But what is the ‘hygge vibe’? How long should you budget to have a comfortable trip without rushing? How can you reach the city centre? Keep reading to find an answer to all your questions.
Airport Overview
Located about 10 km south of the city centre, Copenhagen Airport is extremely well connected to the city’s main attractions, making visits to Denmark’s capital easy and comfortable. However, if you only have a few hours, it may be better to stay at the airport to avoid missing your next flight. If this is your case, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal in one of the many restaurants in the terminal. Alternatively, you can spend some time shopping, or, if you are extremely busy and need to work between flights, you can use the working areas, lounges, and free WIFI. But what if you do have enough time to venture outside? Let’s explore a few popular destinations together! For more information on the airport itself, check out our Copenhagen Airport Guide.
Copenhagen Sightseeing Attractions
Below are a few of the top things to do in Copenhagen:
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
If you only have enough time for a short trip to Copenhagen but not enough to see all its main attractions in depth, try a hop-on hop-off tour. These tours allow you to see the city’s main landmarks and tourist attractions, such as Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Little Mermaid, giving you the chance to hop off at the attractions you want to explore in depth. This is a great option for people who don’t have much time as you won’t have to figure out transportation from one site to the other and may be able to see places directly from the bus, hopping off only whenever you deem a site truly worth seeing.
- Plan your sightseeing: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about bus tours, read traveller reviews or book a tour.
- How to get there: Hop on a train or metro and head to the centre. This will take you about 20 minutes. Most tours depart from here, so once you arrive, you can check exactly where to go based on the tour you chose. Google Maps is very reliable in Copenhagen, so you can use this app to figure out which bus, tram, metro, or train to take to reach your first stop.
- Time Required: Most tours last from one to two hours. However, if you want to visit some sites, you will have to add some extra time.
Vesterbro
In recent years, Vesterbro has slowly developed a reputation for being one of the most lively and vibrant neighbourhoods in Copenhagen. This is where you can properly soak in the so-called hygge vibe. This Danish word describes a mood of coziness and happiness that can be caused by several things and activities, from fluffy socks to candlelight on a cold winter day, or an afternoon spent reminiscing with friends. Every café at Vesterbro will give you this unique feeling thanks to their board games available for clients, cozy carpets on the floor, and lovely designs.
- Plan your sightseeing: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about Vesterbro, read traveller reviews or book a tour.
- How to get there: The trip from the airport to Vesterbro will take you from 30 to 40 minutes. You can arrive here by train, tram, or metro. Check this Google link for more info.
- Time Required: This depends on how much you need to recharge before your next flight! Give yourself at least a few hours to properly soak in the hygge vibe.
Rosenborg Castle
Located in the city centre, Rosenborg Castle seems to come out of a Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale. Surrounded by magnificent gardens, this royal building dates back to 1606. With opulent rooms, ancient furniture, and innumerable works of art, Rosenborg Castle is a must-visit for all history lovers.
- Plan your sightseeing: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about Rosenborg Castle, read traveller reviews or book a tour.
- How to get there: You can easily reach Rosenborg Castle by train. Check this Google link for all the info. The trip is quite short and will take you less than 30 minutes.
- Time Required: Tours last about two hours.
Christiania
Christiania is the modern Mecca of all hippies. This micronation was first established at the beginning of 1971 as a squatted military base. Unlike the rest of the country, here the trade of cannabis is allowed, making this commune unique in its genre. In Christiania, you will find unique works of art, colourful graffiti, and tons of nature.
- Plan your sightseeing: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about Christiania, read traveller reviews or book a tour.
- How to get there: Hop on metro line 2 and you will arrive at Christiania in about 20 minutes. Your stop is called Christianshavn.
- Time Required: You can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours here.
Extra Places Worth Visiting
- Malmö: If you still have extra time, you can opt for a quick trip to Sweden! The little city of Malmö can be easily reached from Copenhagen Airport by public transport within 30 minutes.
- The Little Mermaid: The Little Mermaid is surely the most iconic landmark in Copenhagen. However, there is not much to see here apart from this small statue. We suggest you visit this site only if you have extra time.
- Nyhavn: Found in all Copenhagen postcards, this Nyhavn is known for its adorable colourful houses reflected in the water.
Airport Transportation
Copenhagen Airport is located 10 km south of the heart of the city. This is why it is so easy to reach Denmark’s capital from here. Keep reading to see your options:
- Rail: Trains are surely one of the fastest ways to reach Copenhagen, as well as other cities in the country (and Malmö!). The ticket office is located in Terminal 3 and a ride will only take 20 minutes.
- Metro: Another great option is the metro. Also located on Terminal 3, metros run every four to six minutes. These are also extremely quick and, similarly to trains, will take you to the city centre in about 20 minutes.
- Taxis: Last but not least, you can go for a taxi. However, these will cost you way more and may also be slower due to traffic. Keep in mind that Uber does not operate in Denmark.
Before You Go: Layover Tips
Now that you are excited about your mini layover vacation, just make sure to check a few final logistical concerns off your list before you fully commit.
- Do you need to organize a visa to leave the airport? Requirements change frequently and for each nationality, so be sure to seek out current details on the availability, cost and procedures of obtaining a transit visa.
- When is your next flight’s check-in time? Make sure you double-check with your airline exactly when you need to be at the airport – and plan your layover accordingly.
- What are security wait times like at the airport? Some airports are notorious for long security wait times, so be sure to do a bit of research in advance and factor that into your overall time budget.
- What’s happening with your luggage? When you check in to your first flight, be sure to confirm whether your luggage will be checked through or needs to be picked up between your connecting flights. Check out our Copenhagen Airport Guide for information on luggage storage.
Other Useful Resources
Finally, here are a few handy resources to help you plan your layover even more thoroughly:
- Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Copenhagen Airport
- Tripadvisor – Visit Things to Do in Copenhagen to plan a tour or the Copenhagen Travel Forum to check out past threads to see what other travellers have shared about sightseeing during long layovers at Copenhagen Airport and post your questions.
