Is Copenhagen Really Kid-Friendly? 5 Spots Not to Miss

Short answer: Yes, Copenhagen is incredibly kid-friendly. We took our daughter when she was about to turn 3 and it was one of our favorite places we’ve taken her abroad.

Why? Abundant playgrounds. A very chill and welcoming vibe. Peace and quiet (fewer cars means less noise). Tons of freshly baked pastries and healthy-but-delicious snacks. Spaces we could enjoy together in “traditionally adult” places like museums.

We loved our time in Copenhagen and can’t wait to go back. We packed in a LOT during our short trip, but there were some clear highlights. Here are some must-see spots and must-do experiences for your time in Copenhagen.

• Tivoli Gardens

  You MUST visit Tivoli Gardens with your littles. Ours loved riding the carousel endless times and if you choose the unlimited ride pass, your babes can enjoy any attraction as many times as they like. The lines were never more than 15 minutes or so, and the staff is wonderful. We loved the free aquarium (and eel feeding show!), as well as the boat ride, and the little train that tours around the gorgeous grounds, which inspired Walt Disney when he was designing Disneyland.

  We went in June, and it was a little bit chilly but not uncomfortable. The pirate ship playground is incredible — I think she could have played there all day! There is also a great arcade area with smaller rides and games to play for tickets you can trade for treats. The whole park is stunning. Visit in summer and catch the concert series with international musical groups. Adults will love the beer gardens and restaurants, which are excellent and highly regarded in Denmark.

  There are some more adults-friendly thrill rides, so let your partner take the kiddos for some ice cream or cotton candy get in line! Don’t miss your chance to engage some endorphins. It’ll make your day so much happier.

• Canal Boat Tour

  Copenhagen is a historical port city, and much of the town is built on picturesque canals. This is the best way to see the major landmarks without having to walk (and with snacks!), including the Little Mermaid Statue — notoriously the most-underwhelming landmark, but something to check off the list anyway. In June, the sun was shining and the Danes lined the canals having picnics and soaking up the first rays of the summer sun.

  The boat tour is also very inexpensive by Danish standards (and the Stromma tour company’s itinerary is included in your Copenhagen City Card, if you buy one!), and a relaxing way to spend an hour and a half. The boat tour we took left from Nyhavn, the most iconic spot in Copenhagen, so when we returned we were right in the middle of the city and could easily continue exploring. There’s a snack bar right before you get on the boat, so I grabbed a Somersby Elderflower and Lime Cider, which was a refreshing change from all the fabulous coffee I’d been guzzling on the trip.

• The Round Tower

  Want to wear out your kiddos? This is the spot. During the monarchy, the Round Tower’s ascent was built in a sloping spiral so that King Christian IV could ride his horse easily to the top to look out over the kingdom. No stairs = perfect for littles. The walk up is leisurely and the slope is gentle, so it’s a fun walk to the outdoor lookout. There are also niches along the way, and our girl was just big enough to fit perfectly in them, which she loved.

  The observation point is breathtaking, and a great place to pinpoint locations you haven’t seen yet and to add to your list. It’s likely your kids will want to run around and around the deck more than a few times, which is exhausting, but at least you know they can’t go anywhere other than in a circle.

  Another point of interest here is the observatory, which is just a few steps up from the observation deck. This is the oldest functioning observatory in the world, and for centuries, it was the center of Danish astronomy and the point of departure for meteorological observations and surveying. The world-famous astronomer, Tycho Brahe, never stepped foot in the Round Tower, but there is a direct descendant line exhibition from Brahe’s statue to the observatory.

  On the way down, stop at the gallery to see whatever exhibition is on display, and there’s a lovely little gift shop with journals, tote bags, pens, and books.

• Experimentarium

  Full disclosure: We did not make it to the Experimentarium, so I’m not going to elaborate on it too much, but we heard so many good things about it for littles, that I didn’t want to leave it off.

  The STEM-based museum is geared toward hands-on learning for kids, and is also included in the Copenhagen City Card, making it a great deal. It’s right near the most revered and trendiest bakery in Copenhagen — Juno The Bakery — so that’s a great starting point for your day, or a good place to go for an afternoon snack after exploring the museum.

  We needed a rest day, so we skipped the Experimentarium, but next time we visit Copenhagen, it’ll be at the top of the list.

• Designmuseum Danmark & Danish Architecture Center

  Danish design is iconic — so iconic you probably don’t even realize what Danish design has infiltrated your home or visual space, but I guarantee you’d recognize it when you see it. The Designmuseum Danmark had an incredible array of furniture, crafts, and history behind the Danish way of thinking about form and function.

  Does this sound like it’s kid-friendly? Maybe not at first glance, but the adjoining Danish Architecture Museum has an amazing kids space where they can build with LEGO (of course), play construction worker and draw like an architect, and explore their own Danish design dreams. My civil engineer husband loved watching our daughter build and helped her design a house of her own.

  There’s also an option to take a long, twisting slide down to the ground floor from the top of the third floor, which is the end of the exhibition space. We don’t judge you for taking the slide down yourself, it was so fun!

  Bonus: Spots for a Date Night in Copenhagen

  Copenhagen is also a dream for adults (especially if you’re like me and enjoy a little elegance that ends early in the evening). We connected with a few babysitters and enjoyed two nights out as lovebirds, which we really appreciated, and our babe had a ball with them! Here’s where we went, but we also loved just exploring the city together and remembering what it was like to have a whole new place at our fingertips.

• Restaurant Cofoco — Elegant and cozy without being stuffy. We sat at the communal table in the middle and enjoyed the 5-course tasting menu with wine pairings.

• Det Lille Apotek (The Little Chemist)— One of the oldest restaurants in the world, opening in 1720. A haunt for famous writers and poets like Hans Christian Andersen, Ludvig Holberg, and Peter Faber. Traditional Danish fare in a cozy, historic setting with no-nonsense waiters who’ve been there since 1720. Just kidding. Kind of.

• Library Bar— Inside the Copenhagen Plaza hotel is one of the Top 5 Bars in Copenhagen, Library Bar. Sophisticated and romantic, the bar is one of the best for literature-themed cocktails, including the “To Be or Not To Be,” inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Make a reservation!

• Cafe Wilder — A gorgeous spot for a nightcap in the shadow of the spiral tower in Christianshavn, the terrace is charming and reminded me of France with a distinctly Danish understated elegance. Go simple here — a gin and tonic will do nicely.