Copenhagen is a city of storybook charm, with magnificent castles, cobblestoned streets, and colorful harborside houses. It’s also a destination for modern art, architecture and design. (It was named the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture in 2023.)¹

The city’s most famous attraction is the Little Mermaid statue on the waterfront, but you may want to skip the selfie-taking crowds and instead explore Copenhagen’s historic neighborhoods. A Copenhagen Card can save you a ton with free access to public transportation and free admission to more than 80 attractions.

Spring is an ideal time to visit Copenhagen. Cherry trees bloom, attractions reopen after a winter hiatus, and it feels like everyone in the city is out riding bikes and enjoying the warmth. Ready to go? Check out our quick travel guide to Copenhagen, including what to see, where to eat and why you need travel insurance.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Denmark

1. Trip cancellation benefits protect the money you spend on your vacation. Copenhagen isn’t a cheap destination. Safeguard your travel investment with trip cancellation/trip interruption benefits, which can reimburse you for nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs If you must cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason. The Cancel Anytime upgrade, available on select plans, can reimburse 80% of your lost non-refundable trip costs if you cancel your trip for almost any unforeseeable reason your plan does not already cover.
2. Emergency medical and transportation benefits are critical. Unlike many other countries, Denmark offers free medical treatment to tourists in case of a medical emergency. However! If the emergency occurs as a result of a pre-existing condition, you must pay for all services you received.² That’s why you need emergency medical benefits, which can reimburse the cost of your care, and emergency transportation benefits, which can pay for a necessary medical evacuation. Pre-existing conditions can be covered if you meet the requirements.
3. Travel insurance can take the stress out of delays. Travel delay benefits can reimburse you for your extra lodging, food and transportation expenses during a covered delay. And if your plan includes SmartBenefits®, you can opt to receive a fixed inconvenience payment of $100 per insured person, per day for a covered delay. You don’t need to provide any receipts — just proof of the delay.

What’s the best travel insurance plan for Denmark? OneTrip Prime is a popular choice for international travel—and it covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). Frequent travelers can save money with an annual travel insurance plan like AllTrips Prime, which covers all the trips you take in 365 days.

3 of the best things to do in Copenhagen

1. Explore the city by boat. Getting out on the water is an absolute must-do when you’re in Copenhagen. Take a traditional guided tour or rent a boat and pilot it yourself. You can even borrow a kayak for free from Green Kayak in exchange for collecting floating trash while you paddle.
2. Frolic in Tivoli Gardens. This Copenhagen attraction, which opened its gates in 1843, is much than an amusement park. It offers shopping, live performances, an aquarium, restaurants, beer gardens, and beautiful landscaping.
3. Spend a day at Frederiksborg Castle. A short train ride from Copenhagen, this Renaissance-era castle offers an amazing array of things to see: a magnificent chapel, formal gardens, and a museum with paintings and artifacts from 500 years of Danish history.

3 of the best hotels in Copenhagen

The Nimb Hotel is like nowhere else you’ve ever stayed: a Moorish-architecture fairytale castle with an ultramodern wing. Each of its 38 rooms is unique, but all feature Italian-designed bath fixtures, antique furniture, Bang & Olufsen audio systems, and other delights. Be sure to visit the hammam and steam area as well as the rooftop pool and bar.

Looking for relaxed luxury? Check into Skt. Petri, a boutique hotel in the heart of Copenhagen. The rooms are modern and moody, with city views and comfortable beds. Enjoy a substantial breakfast in the mornings and a live DJ in the restaurant on Friday nights.

The Hotel D’Angleterre is widely considered to be the best hotel in Copenhagen—not just for its lavish design, but for the service. Need a limousine, a personal shopper, or a hard-to-get dinner reservation? Just ask the concierge. The D’Angleterre is home to Marchal, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the Balthazar Champagne bar with more than 160 Champagne varieties and cocktails.

3 of the best restaurants in Copenhagen

The city takes food seriously: for years, Noma claimed the title of the world’s best restaurant with its exquisitely crafted plates of foraged ingredients and wild game. Noma is closing at the end of 2024, but there’s no shortage of delightful restaurants to try.

A Danish staple is smørrebrød: open-faced sandwiches on butter-smeared sourdough rye. Traditional toppings include pickled herring, roast beef, gravlax, dill and red onion. Some of the best smørrebrød in Copenhagen can be found at Restaurant Schønnemann, which is one of the city’s oldest restaurants. Order a traditional lunch plate with herring, fish, chicken or meat, and a dessert.

Restaurant Sankt Annæ, founded in 1894, is the place to stop for a hearty, traditional Danish lunch in the middle of a day of sightseeing. If you have a big appetite, try the buffet: You’ll find at least four kinds of herring, smoked eel with scrambled eggs, lamb meatballs, cheese, fruit and more.

For fine dining, try Kadeau, where the complex tasting menus derive ingredients and inspiration from the Baltic island of Bornholm. Expect surprising combinations of foods that are fermented, smoked, preserved and pickled. While exclusive, Kadeau isn’t known for stiff formality: both the staff and the surroundings are warm and hospitable.

Planning your spring vacation? To maximize your travel insurance protection, purchase a plan within 14 days of paying your first trip deposit. See travel insurance options from Allianz Travel Insurance.

What Do I Need to Travel to Copenhagen?

Related Articles

• Destination Guide: Amsterdam
• Destination Guide: Cologne
• Do I Need Travel Insurance for Europe?