Builder kings, copper dragons and fairy tales by the water.
Copenhagen began as a small fishing harbour that Bishop Absalon fortified in the 12th century and Christian IV later filled with towers and spires. Today it is a capital of canals, bicycles and colourful façades where every square has a story: fires, royal prisons, utopias and fairy tales. Three free walking tours to explore it on foot, at your own pace.
Choose your free tour
All routes are free and can be combined. If it’s your first visit, start with the mixed route.
Eight centuries of Copenhagen, from City Hall to the oldest square, the cathedral, the Round Tower and the island of power.
A pillar to spit on, an imprisoned princess, dragons that kept fire at bay and a cursed staircase.
The city’s must-see sights in one walk: Tivoli, Strøget, Nyhavn, Amalienborg, the Marble Church and the Little Mermaid.
The map
The routes cross in the old town. Tap a point to see which story awaits you there.
Filled points already have a published article; the rest are in the works.
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Itineraries
We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.
All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.
See the itinerary 2A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.
See the itinerary 3The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.
See the itineraryWhat to eat
The dishes you can’t leave without trying, and the classic spots that have been serving them for years.
The Danish open sandwich: a slice of buttered rye bread topped with pickled herring, roast beef, egg and prawns or fried fish, assembled with almost a jeweller’s care. It is the classic lunch; the traditional houses only serve it at midday, with a beer and, if you dare, a shot of snaps.
Where to try it
Slices of pork belly fried until crisp, served with boiled potatoes and a generous white parsley sauce. In 2014 Danes voted it their national dish, and it is the ultimate comforting dinner.
Where to try it
Flattened meatballs of minced pork fried in butter, served with potatoes, brown gravy and sweet-and-sour red cabbage or pickles. Proper home cooking, also eaten on rye bread at lunchtime.
Where to try it
Roast pork with its rind turned into crunchy crackling, served with red cabbage, pickles and potatoes, sometimes caramelised. It is the dish of the Danish Christmas Eve dinner, but traditional restaurants serve it all year round.
Where to try it
What the rest of the world calls a ‘Danish’: buttery pastries with custard or jam. The star is the kanelsnegl, a cinnamon swirl; at the city’s oldest bakery, Wednesdays are celebrated with the ‘onsdagssnegl’. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat.
Where to try it
Copenhagen is Carlsberg’s city, and a cold beer goes with any meal. With herring or at the end of dinner comes snaps (aquavit), a spirit flavoured with caraway or dill, downed in one after a ‘skål’.
Where to try it
