Visiting Copenhagen on a cruise: DIY itineraries, tips, and tours

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is a city full of discoveries! Rich in attractions and activities, it is perfect for visiting even with small children. With a green spirit, this city is often included in Northern Europe cruise itineraries, you can't miss the opportunity to visit it!
Here are all our tips for visiting Copenhagen on a cruise!
See also: What to see in Copenhagen

To optimize your time, especially if you haven't had a chance to plan your itinerary in advance, we recommend opting for a walking tour in English of the old city. Additionally, Copenhagen is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe, so consider a guided bike tour.

Itinerary for DIY cruisers: 10 things to see

Copenhagen is rich in wonderful attractions! Unfortunately, with little time available, it's impossible to visit them all, so you'll need to make a selection based on your interests. Here are the 10 must-see things to choose from (distances are calculated using the Oceankaj pier as the reference point):

Little Mermaid Statue: the symbol of Copenhagen, the statue representing Andersen's Little Mermaid
Distance from the port: 5.4 km, 11 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: free
Rosenborg Castle: one of the most beautiful historical palaces in the city, home to the Crown Jewels
Distance from the port: 6.6 km, 15 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: 120.00 DKK (€16.10)
Christiansborg Palace: the royal palace of Copenhagen, now the seat of parliament
Distance from the port: 7.6 km, 30 min by bus 164 and metro M4 - Get directions. Cost: 160.00 DKK (€21.50)
Amalienborg Palace: the winter residence of the queen, made up of 4 buildings
Distance from the port: 6.5 km, 30 min by bus 164 and metro M4 - Get directions. Cost: 95.00 DKK (€12.80)
Tivoli Gardens: the oldest amusement park in the world, in the heart of Copenhagen
Distance from the port: 8.5 km, 20 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: 135.00 DKK (€18.10), recommended for fast entry with optional attractions
Nyhavn: the old harbor of Copenhagen, now one of the liveliest and busiest canals
Distance from the port: 7.1 km, 17 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: free, canal cruise from €20.00
Christiania: the partially self-governed neighborhood of Copenhagen, founded in 1970
Distance from the port: 8.2 km, 20 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: free
Strøget: the famous city street and the longest pedestrian street in Europe, full of shops and cafes
Distance from the port: 8.2 km, 20 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: free
National Museum of Denmark: a museum that traces the history of Denmark
Distance from the port: 7.8 km, 20 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: 55.00 DKK (€7.40)
Carlsberg Brewery: the brewery in Copenhagen that produces the most famous Danish beer in the world
Distance from the port: 10 km, 25 min by taxi - Get directions. Cost: experiences start from 100.00 DKK (€13.45)

Recommended itinerary: what to see in half a day

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First Stop: Little Mermaid Statue, Kastellet, The King's Garden

The day must start with the Little Mermaid statue, a true symbol of Copenhagen. Using the Oceankaj port as a reference point, the best solution is to take a taxi and you'll arrive in just over 10 minutes. If you arrive by cruise ship at Langelinie, you can comfortably walk (850 m, 10 min).

Once you take a photo with the Little Mermaid, head to the nearby park surrounding the Kastellet, with its unique star shape. This is an old fortress from the 1600s with bastions. The available time is not enough to visit it inside, so just enjoy a walk in the park.

Head towards the center and reach the beautiful King's Garden, the gardens of Rosenborg, one of the most beautiful palaces in the city, which houses the Crown Jewels. Again, enjoy a stroll in the gardens, as visiting the palace would take almost 2 hours.

Second Stop: Strøget

From King's Garden walk to Strøget, the longest pedestrian street in Europe. Here you'll find cafes and shops, ideal if you want to buy a souvenir.
The best solution here to optimize your time and visit is a walking tour in English of the old city, for an initial approach to the city with a guide, so you don't miss the must-sees. Alternatively, opt for the guided bike tour.

Finally, reach the Nyhavn canal, one of the most famous and charming attractions in Copenhagen, home to the city's old harbor, which remained in operation until 1950. Today, it's a lively gathering place at all hours of the day, frequented by both locals and tourists. Here don't miss the chance for a canal cruise departing from here.

From here, you can walk across the Inderhavnsbroen bridge to reach Broens Gadekøkken, a wonderful area filled with tiny restaurants and street food, ideal for tasting Danish specialties and choosing between a quick lunch or a leisurely sit-down meal. From here, you can also enjoy a splendid view of the Copenhagen Opera House, the theater overlooking the canal.

Third Stop: Christiania Neighborhood

Finally, after lunch, you will be just a stone's throw from the Christiania district, the partially self-governed neighborhood that was established in 1970. Here you can stroll through its streets, among murals, outdoor cafes, workshops, and unique shops, a truly unique experience!

Finally, from Christiania, the quickest way to return to the Oceankaj port is by taxi, traffic permitting it will take about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can use public transport: walk to the Nyhavn canal and then take metro line M4 to Nordhavn, where a 4-minute walk away is the Kalkbrænderihavnsgade stop, where you will take bus 164 to the dock. Average time about 40 minutes.

In summary:

Distance traveled 18.6 km / 3 h 50 min on foot
Places visited Little Mermaid Statue (free), Kastellet (free), The King's Garden (free), Strøget (free), Nyhavn (free), Christiania Neighborhood (free)
Where to eat for a quick meal/snack The Organic Boho. Average cost €15.00 - Get directions / for a full meal Boathouse. Average cost €45.00 - Get directions

Tours and excursions for cruisers:

Copenhagen tourist bus: Cost, itinerary, and stops

The tourist bus is a great solution for visiting a city when you have little time! It allows you to enjoy a wonderful panoramic tour and its stops are located in strategic points, close to the main attractions!

The service in Copenhagen includes three different routes. The main one is the Classic Copenhagen Tour, that is the Red Line, available all year round and traverses the city center. In summer, two additional routes are added: the Colourful Copenhagen, the Purple Line, which includes a visit to Freetown and the Opera; and the Urban Green Copenhagen, the Green Line, which heads towards the Zoo and the Frederiksberg Garden. On board the buses, you will find an audio guide in 11 different languages and free WiFi.

Stops available three routes: Classic Copenhagen Tour (red line), Colourful Copenhagen (purple line), Urban Green Copenhagen (green line).
Cost full price €28.00, reduced price 6-15 years €14.00

Useful tips

Plan your itinerary in advance and identify the attractions you think are unmissable
Move on foot in the historic center, preferably with a guided tour in English. Wear comfortable shoes to move around easily
In case of visits to the main and most famous attractions, we recommend purchasing skip-the-line tickets to avoid wasting precious time in lines at ticket offices
Consider the Copenhagen Card, which offers discounted entries and free use of public transport (see details)
Explore the city with the Hop-on Hop-off bus as it allows you to enjoy a general overview of the attraction and all its stops are located near major attractions, or consider a guided bike tour
Avoid museums as they require too much time for a visit. Alternatively, choose just one and allocate at least 2 hours of time for it
Prefer quick foods and street food to optimize your time. Broens Gadekøkken is one of the best areas to stop for lunch, where you can find various stands with street food at competitive prices and excellent quality

Where cruise ships dock in Copenhagen

In Copenhagen, there are three different cruise docks, all located quite close together, in the northern part of the historic center. Specifically:

Oceankaj is the largest and most used dock, where Costa Cruises and MSC also dock. It is the northernmost, about 7 km from the center, the best solution from here is to take a taxi. In most cases, you will arrive here
Langelinie dock is 3 km north of the historic center, not far from the famous Little Mermaid Statue. Mainly cruise ships bound for Scandinavia depart from here
Nordre Toldbod located in front of the Kastellet fortress. Easily reachable on foot from Langelinie (about 15 min)

How to get from Oceankaj port in Copenhagen to the center

Distance from the center 7 km
How to get there on foot 1 h 28 min - Directions
How to get there by bus + metro first bus line 164 from Oceankaj to Kalkbrænderihavnsgade, then metro line 4 from Nordhavn to Gammel Strand. Total time 30 min - Directions (link)
How to get there by taxi on average 15 min depending on traffic, average cost €20.00 - Directions (link)

How to get around

Copenhagen is an ideal city to visit on foot! The main attractions are all close to each other, and for an initial approach to the city, we recommend taking a guided tour in English. A great alternative is also cycling, which allows you to move around faster! The city has numerous bike lanes, and many guided bike tours are organized.

If your cruise docks at Oceankaj, you will necessarily need to use public transport. In this case, we recommend opting for the tourist bus, with a stop located right at the entrance of the dock, or purchasing a daily ticket (cost 134.00 DKK/€18.00) for using public transport.
See also: How to get around Copenhagen