31 Amazing Things To Do In Copenhagen With Kids

Thinking of visiting Copenhagen with kids?

We recently visited Copenhagen and it has just become our favourite city to visit with kids.  Yes, it’s quite an accolade to bestow on a city. The reason is that Copenhagen is amazing fun when you have your little friends in tow.  We had such a great time there on our long weekend, that we want to share all of the amazing things that we did.  We could have done with a couple of extra days as it was that much fun!

Why is Copenhagen so great for visiting with kids?  

Is Copenhagen wroth visiting with kids? Yes!

Firstly, it’s super easy to get around (public transport, walking or biking). It’s very flat so you can easily use a pram, and it’s perfect for little kids who have just started cycling.  Secondly, it’s got tonnes of attractions that children with love and heaps of outdoor space for them to play in. And finally, it’s got a great cultural vibe about it. Whether thats eating great street food at Refen, checking out its street art (they’ve got trolls!), or exploring one of the many historical buildings.  It’s great for the whole family!

Our friends who live in Copenhagen gave us a list of the best things to do with kids. We’re sharing their list with you because it had some many great attractions and place on it. To make it even more helpful we’ve put a ⭐T&T⭐ next to the tried and tested things that we did. We look forward to going back to tick the other things off the list!

Copenhagen With Kids – Getting Around & City Tours

1. Enjoy a walking tour ⭐T&T⭐

Copenhagen is super easy to discover by foot with most of the historic buildings only a short distance apart. This makes it a fun city to enjoy a walking tour around like we did.  In fact we did two tours we loved it that much!  What’s great is that most of the walking tour companies offer free places for kids under 5 years old. Which is perfect for families with younger kids like us.  

Our friends also told us about a cool tour company called Scandikidstours. They offer tours that are specifically designed with kids between 6-12 years old in mind!

2. Cycle around Copenhagen with kids ⭐T&T⭐

Copenhagen is an amazing city to explore on bikes. Not only is it pretty flat, but it’s also got a great cycle lane system.  You’ll notice that most people in Copenhagen cycle everywhere and you’ll spot young children sat in cargo trailers on the front of bikes.  We’ve never seen so many cyclists!  We had our bikes with us for our whole trip and used them to easily zip around the city between attractions.  It’s a lot easier and quicker to get around on bikes, and it was totally safe for Cam (3 years old) to cycle around in the cycle lanes with us. 

A bike makes it easy to get from the heart of the city out to attractions like the Little Mermaid Statue or the surrounding lakes and beaches.  If you don’t have bikes with you then it’s easy to rent one as lots of companies rent them out with cargo trailers. Plus, there are e-bikes if you need a little extra help.  Most of the rental companies also offer bike tours too

3. Cruise the canal on a boat tour or rent a boat

There are lots of companies that offer hour-long tours of the canals starting from either Nyvhavn or Stromma.  Most will include taking you past the city centres’ main tourist attractions and come with some sort of audio guide available to give information on what you’re seeing.  Seeing the attractions from the water is such a fun way to discover Copenhagen with kids.

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, then you can rent electric riverboats from companies such as GoBoat, and do you own boat trip.  We did this in Karlstad, and it was a lot of fun, once you decide who’s going to do the driving! You’ll notice that renting one of these is a popular social for locals in Copenhagen who will head out with friends for lunch or drinks. You’ll see plenty of them on the water as you wander around.

4. Hop on and hop off on a bus tour of Copenhagen with Kids

If you’re travelling with younger kids then fun way to explore the city is to buy a pass for the hop on and hop off bus.  Especially on your first day as it means that you can explore the whole city in one go and then decide what you want to visit on subsequent days.

The Copenhagen Red Sightseeing hop on hop off bus also comes with an audio guide which gives you a basic city tour and an hours a canal tour.  You can buy the pass in 24 hour blocks and during that time you have unlimited hopping on and off.  It’s a great option as you’ll be able to cover most of the main attractions such as Tivoli, the Little Mermaid, the Amalienborg Palace, Nyhavn as well as Christianshavn.  We love using these buses as our son is a bit of a transport geek so he gets the fun of the bus whilst we get to listen to the tour, like we did in Lisbon when we took one there.

5. Take to the sky for a sea plane tour of Copenhagen with kids

Ok, so we’ve thrown a bit of a curveball into the mix, because, if our son had his way, we’d have done this amazing seaplane tour of Copenhagen.  We saw take off by the Little Mermaid and he thought it was the bee knees.  When (not if) we go back to Copenhagen with our kids then this would totally be something that we’d book as it looked so fun!  We did some research and not only do you get to have a ride in the seaplane, but they also give an introductory presentation on how they work and being the pilot of one – which sounds great.

Copenhagen With Kids – Sightseeing

6. Eat an ice cream at Nyhavn ⭐T&T⭐

Our family is a little bit ice cream obsessed so we always like to find fun places to people-watch and take in the atmosphere of an area of a city.  And Nyhavn is the perfect place in Copehagen to enjoy that with kids.

Nyhavn is the 17th-century waterfront, it stretches from the royal part of the city at Kongens Nytorv to the Inner Harbour.  It’s lined by lots of brightly coloured 17th and 18th-century townhouses that are usually featured in photos of the city, so you’re likely to have seen it already somewhere.  Many of the townhouses are now bars, cafes or restaurants.  We loved that it gets busy with both locals and visitors when the sun’s out and people fancy a cold beer.  This is why we headed there a few times when we needed a break from sightseeing as we could grab a seat on a bench and be entertained.  There’s people, boats and artists to watch, as well and the scenery of the colourful buildings.

Food-wise, if you’re looking for more than ice cream there are street food vendors from hot dogs, ice cream, crepes and more to try.  Or, you can of course enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants that line the harbour.

7. Visit the Little Mermaid statue ⭐T&T⭐

For many people, the mascot for Copenhagen is the statue called The Little Mermaid designed after the fairytale written by Hans Christian Andersen.  You’ll find her here, and she’s easy to reach by foot or bike if you head away from the Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square) up past Nyhavn along the waterfront.  

We have to say that we felt that she was perhaps a little “underwhelming”, because, as her name suggests, she is rather small.  However it’s still worth heading out to see her as there are some great grassy areas that are perfect for a picnic lunch (like we did), as well as a small play area if your kids need to burn a little energy off.

8. Explore Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen with kids ⭐T&T⭐

This is a bit of a different experience to add onto a things to do with kids list in Copenhagen.  Freetown Christiania was started in 1971 when a community squatted on a disused military base in the centre of Copenhagen.  Today is a self-style democratic community made up of 15 local areas which is home to between 750-1,000 residents. Each resident has a vote on the way that the community operates. For many years Freetown Christiania has had a bit of a rough and negative reputation, which probably put off many parents from taking their kids there.  

The reason for its negative reputation was because it was at one time home to the infamous “Pusher Street”. This is where local dealers would openly sell drugs. However, in April 2024 the residents and police ripped up the alley that Pusher Street was on, and kicked out the drug dealers.  This has made the area feel a lot safer.  Carl was there about 10 years ago and noticed a massive change in atmosphere and safety when we visited in June 2024 with our kids.  

Why Freetown Christania is fun for kids

What we loved about visiting is that there are so many cool things to see in each of the local areas within Freetown Christiania.  There’s a huge amount of street art, artwork and colour for the kids to see and explore. This helps make it such a different experience for them discover.  There’s even a fun playground that they can play in and you can grab a beer or two.  We took a walking tour before we entered (tour guides are not allowed to go in with tourists). And then headed in to discover it in our own time and pace.  We spent a good few hours enjoying it because both of our boys loved the sights and sounds as it was such a vibrant part of the city.  And don’t forget to stop by Green George the troll (who you’ll find here) before you leave!

Copenhagen With Kids –  Palaces and Castles

9. Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony ⭐T&T⭐

Every day at the Amalienborg Palace at noon you’ll have a chance to see their Changing of the Guard ceremony that has been happening in Copenhagen since 1658.

The Danish royal family still live at the palace when they are in the city.  Every day around 11.30 some guards leave the Rosenborg Castle to march to Amalienborg Palace. One they get there they’ll replace the palace guards at midday.

Our eldest loved that they were dressed in their ceremonial uniforms which included these big bearskin type hats.  What’s great, is that if the monarchs are in residence at the palace then the guards will also have their marching band accompany them.  We love that it’s free which is great if you’re looking for entertainment on a budget!

Top tip:  It can get very busy! You’ll need to arrive earlier than midday to get yourself a good spot to watch it from.

10. Explore the Royal Residence of the Amalienborg Palace

After you’ve watched their Changing of the Guard ceremony you might want to wander inside the palace. The palace and its museum are a great place to learn about the royal history of Denmark.  This is great if your kids are into history and want to see some of the beautiful rooms inside the palace.  There’s also the treasury there so you’ll get to see some pretty spectacular jewellery too. However, for the crown jewels you’ll want to head over to the Rosenborg Castle.

11. See the crown jewels at the Rosenborg Castle

If you’re into royal history. Or, perhaps fancy a glimpse of Denmarks crown jewels then you’ll want to go and check out Rosenborg Castle.  The castle is over 400 years old and today you can see many of the royal family’s past possessions in the displays. As well as displays you’ll find the The Great Hall which is where the Danish coronation thrones live. And you’ll also have a chance to explore the families private chambers, such as their Winter Room.

If your kids need to burn off some energy the Rosenborg Garden outside the castle is perfect for exploring.  

Top tip: You don’t have to pay for a castle ticket to get entrance into the gardens.

12. Discover the royal receptions rooms at the Christiansborg Palace

Originally the Christiansborg Palace was a home for the Danish royal family. However, it has since become the home of the Danish Parliament as well as several other important offices such as their Supreme Court.  The monarch might no longer live there. However, you can still today get a good look at what royal life in Denmark would have been like.  You can explore The Royal Reception Rooms which include the Tower Room, Oval Throne Room as well as the Great Hall.

13. Climb the Kastellet Fortress (the Citadel)

If royal palaces aren’t your thing then you can also take in some history at the Kastellet (or city Citadel). The Kastellet was once part of the defence system that protected Copenhagen from attacks. Nowadays its no longer used to defend the city even though there is still a military presence.  Instead it’s home to a fantastic public park as well as some historic buildings.  If you’re visiting the Little Mermaid or Rosenburg Castle then it’s easy to add on a stop at the Kastellet Fortress.

Top tip: If you’re visiting Copenhagen in the summer then keep an eye out because there are sometimes concerts you can enjoy at  the Kastellet Fortress.

Copenhagen With Kids – Amusements Parks and Animals

14. Bakken Amusements and deer park ⭐T&T⭐

Bakken is home to the world’s oldest amusement park which was founded in 1583 (though we’re pleased to say that the rides inside are definitely a lot newer!).  It’s just a short 20 minute train ride from Copenhagen city centre.  Bakken is set within a deer park with around 400 deer in it and is just 800m from a lively beach called Bellevue Beach.  This means that you can easily like we did, spend the whole day out there.   

What’s also great is that you don’t pay an entry fee to the park itself (unlike at Tivoli Gardens). So you can have a wander around before deciding which ride package to buy.  If you’ve been to Tivoli, then we should give you a heads up, because Bakken is not as manicured and doesn’t have such an extensive entertainment programme.  However, it more than makes up for it by having more roller coasters.  Plus, if you’re visiting Copenhagen with a toddler or younger kids, there are more gentle rides there for them such as a traditional carousel and little train, plus other amusements.  

Bakken was a great day out from Copenhagen! It was fun way to combine some amusements with some deer spotting and a (cold) swim in the sea!

15. Tivoli Gardens and Amusements Park

Copenhagen has a huge city centre amusement park called Tivoli Gardens. It’s 180 years old and the second oldest amusement park in the world (behind Bakken). The design of the park is based around a pretty garden. Tivoli is famous for the entertainment it puts on all year round and is included in the entry ticket.  For example, they have live concerts on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer. And from June onwards there are fireworks every Saturday night.  They also have great themed displays throughout the year such as pumpkins at Halloween, as well as being famous for its magical Christmas fair.  

Many visitors go for the theme park rides, which you pay for on top of the entrance fee.  You can buy individual rides, or an unlimited ride ticket.  Our friend from Copenhagen said it’s more suited to older children as it has some pretty epic adrenaline rides. Definitely one for when our boys are older!

16. National Aquarium Denmark, “Den Blå Planet”

The National Aquarium Denmark is northern Europe’s largest aquarium.  You can experience thousands of fish and sea creatures up close in their 48 aquariums. The aquariums contain an amazing 7 million litres of water.  They have their own “big five” made up of hammerhead sharks, sea otters, stingrays, giant pacific octopus and the arapaima. We had to look online, apparently a arapaima is a cool fish that once lived with the dinosaurs!  They also have have shows and fantastic storytelling on throughout the day.  The aquarium would be a great place to head with kids on a rainy day in Copenhagen!

17. Copenhagen Zoo

Copenhagen Zoo has more than 3,000 animals made up of 264 species from around the world.  The stars of the zoo are the two giant pandas. However, there’s plenty more to discover for animal lovers if you’re visiting Copenhagen with kids.  Founded in 1859, this is one of the oldest zoos in Europe.  It’s got a special area focussed specifically on Nordic wildlife, a tropical section (perfect for cooler rainy days) and a children’s zoo where young kids can meet pygmy goats and snakes.

Copenhagen With Kids – Museums

We’re still in the outdoor explorers age because our kids are only 1 year and 3 years old. So we’re not yet in the museum phase of visiting places.  However, we asked our friends in Copenhagen to help us out with some recommendations in case we needed somewhere to go on a rainy day.

18. The Children’s Museum at the National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum of Denmark, has a fantastic children’s museum attached to it that is aimed for kids between 4-10-year-olds.  You’ll find a great variety of interactive exhibitions as well as history displays to bring it all together.  It’s definitely a hands on sort of museum where they encourage kids to touch everything which is great if you’ve got young kids.

There’s lots to see and do, such as exploring the Viking house, visiting a 1920’s house, or, learning to cook in a Middle Ages-style by helping to make a snack.

19. Natural History Museum of Denmark

This museum is conveniently located in the Botanical Gardens which makes it great to combine a visit to both.

Inside the museum you’ll find a meteorite in their mineral house and a fantastic butterfly house open in the summer months. As well as be able to discover lots about the natural world as part of their seasonal exhibitions.

The current seasonal exhibition is the Wild Wonderful World. It covers the smallest creatures up to the larges blue whales, as well as stardust and gemstones plus lots more. As well as visit the museum, you can also go behind the museum scenes to see how their collections help researchers and scientists to improve our world for other people as well as nature.

20. Experience the Experimentarium Science Museum

Everyone we spoke to has been unanimous in saying that the Experimentarium was the number one best museums for kids in Copenhagen. This great science museum is just a little bit outside of the city. However, it doesn’t take long to get there and is apparently very much worth heading to!  You can get there by metro, train or bus, or alternatively you can cycle along the waterfront.

Experimentarium is an award-winning museum which has been designed to give “creative experiences that allow children and adults to laugh, get curious and to experiment”.

21. Explore the Planetarium

The Planetarium is just 500m from Tivoli Gardens in the heart of Copenhagen. This means it’s easy to get to with kids.  It is home Northern Europes largest enclosing dome canvas with an 8K laser projectors. We read on their website that you’ll feel the sky envelop you! Alongside the exhibitions and films, there are also experience shows and stories about the universe. There’s plenty to do, see and watch!  If you and your children are into stars, planets and outer space then this is a great place to head!

22. Danish War Museum

The Danish War Museum walks you through Danish war history starting in the 1500’s through to the present day.  It’ll take you from samurai swords through to WWII and onto the war in Afghanistan.  You’ll also specifically get to learn more about the details of Danish war history such as knights in shining armour, the wars with the Swedish and also the English. Or relax in the hammocks as you hear stories from the seven seas.

The museum is located in Christian IV’s historical arsenal building from 1604.  Carl and I both really love history and would love to have visited. However, the theme of war would probably be a little heavy for our very young kids.

23. Open Air Museum (Frilandsmuseet)

The Open Air Museum was founded in 1897 and is one of the largest and oldest open air museums in the world. The oldest one is Skansen in Stockholm.  You’ll get transported back in time to the historic countryside of Denmark.  As an immersive experience there’s lot to see and do when you visit. We always enjoy open air museums because they’re more engaging for younger kids than taking them to a museum with just walls of display cabinets.

24. Guinness World Records Museum

The Guinness World Records Museum in Copenhagen is a fun place to head for an alternative few hours.  You can explore eleven galleries over its two floors. There you’ll get a chance to see authentic memorabilia, trivia, videos. As well as interactive sections inspired by world records from the famous books that you know and love. You can also to compete with friends and family in interactive games. All whilst youdiscover amazing records from around the world!

Copenhagen With Kids – Parks and Beaches

25. Hit the beaches ⭐T&T⭐

Copenhagen has some beautiful beaches just a short train ride from the city centre. We made the most of visiting Bellevue Beach when we went to Bakken. It had everything you needed from a beach such as toilets, cafes and a grassy picnic area. However, there are also a couple of other beaches near Copenhagen to try that were recommended to us.  

• Amager Beach Park (or Amager Strandpark, as the locals call it) is only a 5km from the City Hall.
• Svanemølle Beach provides a welcome escape for the residents of Østerbro and is just a 20-minute bike ride from the city centre.

26. Swim in a harbour bath ⭐T&T⭐

If the beach isn’t your thing, then the harbour baths in Copenhagen city centre might be right up your street.  These are enclosed bathing areas on the edge of the harbour. They give you free access so that you can go swimming in the canals, they’re one of the best free things to do in Copenhagen.  The water is regularly tested at them and most have lifeguards on duty.  

Just be warned, the water in the harbour can be icy cold! We discovered when we went to Islands Brygge Havnebad, one of the most popular ones.  What we loved was that it specifically had a kids rock pool styled paddling area. Both of our kids spent their time there whilst we each went for a dip in the main pool.  This is such a fun place to hang out for an hour. There’s a high diving platform that you can enjoy watching people jump from into the cold water. Or, belly flop in some cases! 

27. The nature playground in Valby Park ⭐T&T⭐

Just a little bit outside of Copenhagen’s centre, you’ll find Valbyparken which has the country’s largest natural playground.  It has paths running through the small hills, an earthwork with a lookout point, climbing ropes, and 17 themed gardens to wander around.  Plus there’s also a footbridge to connect different sections as kids explore. This was a great place for us to take the boys to burn off some energy!

28. Try out the skatepark at Fælledparken ⭐T&T⭐

If you’ve read any of our posts then you’ll know that the first thing we like to do in any city is to hunt out the best skateparks.  We’d heard from some local friends that Copenhagen had some great skateparks. We managed to try a few, and in our opinion, Fælledparken is the best.  It scored highly with us because it’s massive and has an amazing selection of different areas to try. We went there early on a Sunday morning and the other kids were really friendly with Cam, and he joined in with them.  What we also noticed was how well-kept it was – it was super clean and well-maintained.

If you’re not into the skatepark, the gardens have a great playground and cafe you can enjoy. 

Copenhagen With Kids – Other Fun Things To Do

29. Hunt for trolls ⭐T&T⭐

If you’re looking for a day trip around Copenhagen with kids, then hunting for trolls is brilliant fun.  A local artist called Thomas Dambo has created hundreds of massive (over 5 metres high) trolls around the world that are made of wooden pallets.  And in his home city of Copenhagen he’s put together a fun troll treasure hunt called The Six Forgotten Giants.  

You can go on the hunt for his giant trolls his unique Troll Map which you can download here.  We had a lot of fun out on our bikes looking some of the trolls with our boys.  They both loved looking out for the trolls and then, inevitably, climbing on them like all kids do!  Each troll has a name and a character, so you really do get into spotting them.

If you don’t want to head out for a day trip hunting for them, then there are a couple in the city centre itself.  The easiest to reach and popular one can be found here in Freetown Christiania and he’s called Green George.

30. Check out the Lego Store ⭐T&T⭐

If your kids are into Lego, like our son is, then you really need to stop into the flagship Lego store in Copenhagen with them.  You’ll find it in Strøget which is Copenhagen’s central shopping area.  Cam has really taken to Lego in the last 6 months, and so we took him there to treat him to a couple of kits because we couldn’t come to Denmark without doing something to do with Lego.

Of course, if you’re looking for the real deal, then you’ll want to head to Legoland in Billund which is about 2.5 hours by train from Copenhagen.  However, we didn’t have time in our plans to head there, so instead we made a detour to the store.  It’s, surprisingly, not as bit as you’d expect, and in fact the worlds biggest one is in Leicester Square in London.

Top tip: Keep an eye out on their website before you visit because they often have events where they give away free themed Lego kits.

31. Eat at Reffen Street Food Market ⭐T&T⭐

We love to eat street food style wherever we go.  Two reasons – one because we’re on a budget and it tends to be a lot cheaper. And two, because our son won’t sit still for long and street food is quick!  Refen is the number one place in Copenhagen to head to if you’re looking for street food mixed with a little street culture.  

You’ll find this lively area out in an old industrial area near to the waterfront. It has more than 50 vendors offering an eclectic mix of cuisine from around the world.  What works really well is that there’s a small beach with deckchairs and tables. Plus a very cool skatepark that kids can enjoy. Cam loved the skate park!

It’s easy to eat there with kids. Even though it’s got lots of fun international cuisine, it’s also got kids’ basics like hot dogs and ice cream!

FAQ’s Visiting Copenhagen With Kids

Final Thoughts on Visiting Copenhagen With Kids

Copenhagen is a beautiful city that is vibrant, fun and full of amazing things to do with kids!  We really can’t recommend it enough, and there are still so many cool things that we’d love to see and do there next time we visit.