The Best Tours to Take in Copenhagen

There’s so much to see and do in Copenhagen that it can be difficult to choose: should I see the little mermaid or explore a trendy neighborhood? That’s why guided tours are a great way to see the city, and with so many great tours to pick from, you’re sure to see all the highlights.

These Copenhagen tours take you down canals, pass by the best Danish architecture by bike, fill you up with New Nordic meals, and let you experience the city like a local.

These are the best Copenhagen tours and activities:

Walking Tours	Bike Tours	Danish Architecture Tours	Food Tours & Cooking Classes

Canal Tours	Ghost Tours

Walking Tours

Free Tour of Copenhagen

From the company that started the free walking tour revolution, this three-hour jaunt takes you through Copenhagen’s prettiest streets. It’s got history, architecture, and the city’s top tourist attractions. Don’t forget to bring cash to tip the hard-working guides!

The Royal Jester Tour

Copenhagen Comedy Walks diverges from the traditional sightseeing script to talk “unemployed” royals, “Biking Vikings,” and antidepressants. The tour covers the must-sees like Nyhavn, Amalienborg, and the Danish Opera House. As their guides say, “life is too short for bland facts.”

Urban Cool Tour

Explore one of Copenhagen’s trendiest neighborhoods in this intimate, three-hour group walking excursion. The Urban Cool Tour focuses solely on Vesterbro, a former red-light district turned Scandi hotspot, where you will peruse cozy cafés, indie boutiques, and popular streets. This tour is also great for scoping out some of Copenhagen’s best bars.

Bike Tours

Essential Copenhagen Bike Tour

See Copenhagen the Danish way; on a two-wheeled (or three…) bike. beCopenhagen’s Essential Bike Tour is an active tour that focuses more on architecture and lifestyle than history and literature.

The Copenhagen Family Tour

Wondering how to get around with the little ones? Not to worry, Copenhagen Family Tours has you covered! Founded by a Canadian Expat with two small children, these family-friend trips take you around town in cargo bikes. Highlights include historical sights, parks, and playgrounds. These tours are designed to make family travel fun.

The Sustainable Copenhagen of the Future

Green Bike Tours is a not-for-profit that reinvests its profits into local community projects and showcases the initiatives behind Copenhagen’s carbon-neutral goals. The “Copenhagen of the Future” tour runs every Saturday morning.

Danish Architecture Tours

A Walk Through Time: Copenhagen’s Architecture

Learn about how architecture has shaped Danish life, from Denmark’s own national center for architecture and urban development. Starting in the 1700s, the “Walk Through Time” is the perfect introduction to Danish architectural history. You’ll discover iconic buildings and those hidden in plain sight. The Danish Architecture Center also runs a separate tour on Copenhagen’s newest architecture.

Architecture Highlights in Ørestad

Ørestad is an up and coming area of Copenhagen that’s been meticulously designed by world-renowned architects. See the buildings that earned Bjarke Ingels international fame and Kalvebod Fælled, a reclaimed seabed nature reserve. Tours are guided by Experience Ørestad’s founder Mira M. Cordsen. She also organizes bus tour and packages for group bookings.

Food Tours and Cooking Classes

Culinary Walking Tour

Foods of Copenhagen tours are about telling the story of how Danish cuisine became a culinary force. The female-owned company offers walking and biking tours, in addition to seasonal specials and a three-day gastronomic adventure to the Faroe Islands. Sure, the price tag may be on the higher end, but these are the types of experiences that even locals would try.

Copenhagen Food Tour

This food tour is ideal for the traveler who hasn’t built their itinerary around restaurant reservations. Tastings include Danish smørrebrød (open-face sandwiches), craft beers, and hotdogs – which, before you scoff, is something quite unique to Scandinavia.

Danish Baking: Breads & Pastries

Before this gorgeous space opened in 2018, it was difficult to find a Danish cooking class in English. CPH Cooking Class filled the gap with delightful classes taught by professional chefs in downtown Copenhagen. Try your hand at making wienerbrød, the famous Danish “Danish”, Scandinavian rye bread, or creamy Nordic butter. Oh, and did I mention that you get to eat everything you made in a dining room that just oozes Scandinavian charm?

Canal Tours

Grand Tour of Copenhagen

Strömma’s 60-minute Grand Tour of Copenhagen is arguably the most popular canal tour in Denmark. It stops at all the major seaside sights like Nyhvan, Christiansborg Palace, and, of course, the Little Mermaid. The boats depart daily all-year-round and have a cover during the winter months. All tours are conducted in English and Danish, with a choice of Spanish, French, or German on selected tours.

Hidden Gems Canal Tour

You’ll want to pack your sailing best for this tour; Hey Captain’s sleek dinghies are for the see and be seen. The Hidden Gems excursion takes you to all the local places packed with sun worshippers and swimmers on hot days. Sip a glass of wine while you pass through Copenhagen’s idyllic canals. Hey Captain will tailor tours for groups who want a private experience.

Kayak City Tour

Get a little exercise while taking in Copenhagen’s canals on this two-hour kayak tour. It’s a charming experience that even locals love. No prior experience is required!

Pro Tip: For the price of a metro ticket, you can sail up and down Copenhagen’s main canal. The 991 and 992 Havnebussen (Harbor Bus) goes from Sydhavn (South Harbor) to Copenhagen Street Food at Reffen. This is not a guided tour but a public form of transport. Who knew that getting around could look that good!

Ghost Tours

The Shadow’s Notebook: A Puzzle Walk in Assistens Cemetery

Unearth some of Copenhagen’s best-kept secrets in this urban puzzle hunt. The quest takes you through Assistens Kirkegård (Cemetery), the final resting place of famous Danes. Follow the clues left behind by Hans Christian Andersen and help the celebrated author find his lost shadow. This tour is self-guided, you just need the puzzle walk package. You can order it in English online.

The Ghost Tour

Sure, Copenhagen may look like a fairytale but that doesn’t mean that the city doesn’t have a dark side. Hear tales about Greenlandic spirits and insatiable ghosts. This tour is only conducted at night.

Plus a few more tours to check out:

Pub Crawl Copenhagen

The Pub Crawl is a great way for young and solo travelers to have a late night out on the town. Meet and party with people from around the world. The crowd tends to be in their early 20s.

Copenhagen Bucket List Tour

Enjoy Copenhagen’s historic center on this 10km route. Just like running with a friend!

Copenhagen LGBT Historical Walking Tours

Led by journalist and human rights author Bjarne Lundis, this tour takes an in-depth look into Denmark’s LGBTQ+ history over the last 150 years.

Jewish Walking Tour

The first Jewish migrants arrived in Copenhagen in 1622 at the invitation of King Christian IV. The Jewish Walking Tour explores four centuries of Jewish history and what it’s like to be Jewish in Denmark.

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