Things to Do in Denmark: Attractions, Cities and Nature

Denmark is a small country but it has a lot to offer. When you visit Denmark you can see castles, learn about Viking history and walk around coastal towns. Most people start their trip to Denmark in Copenhagen, but there are other great places to visit in Denmark that are just a short drive away. We’ll walk you through the highlights of Denmark.

Best Places to Visit in Denmark

A great thing about Denmark is that everything is close together. This means you can easily visit multiple places in Denmark in just one trip. A lot of people like to start in Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark and then visit historic towns after.

Copenhagen: Denmark’s Capital and Cultural Hub

Most people start their trip to Denmark in Copenhagen. There are many famous sights to see in Copenhagen and most of them are in the city centre of Copenhagen. You can walk to Rosenborg Castle, which was built a time ago by King Christian IV. Now the castle has the crown jewels.

Not far from the castle is Amalienborg Palace, where the royal family lives. Every day at noon you can watch the guard ceremony. Near the palace you can see the mermaid statue. It is a bronze sculpture from 1913. It is one of the most photographed places in Denmark.

Going to Copenhagen? Read our 5-day Copenhagen itinerary with the best places to visit.

Aarhus and Odense

Two other cities you should visit in Denmark are Aarhus and Odense. Aarhus is Denmarks largest city and it has a great open air museum called Den Gamle. The museum is like a town with old houses, shops and workshops. You can walk through the streets. See what life was like in Denmark a long time ago.

Odense is another city you should visit in Denmark. It is where the famous writer Hans Christian Andersen grew up. You can see museums, statues and exhibits that're all about his fairy tales.

Scenic Regions and Coastal Destinations

Denmark also has beautiful places to visit outside of the cities. Ribe is an example. It is an old town with narrow streets and medieval buildings.

Another place you should visit in Denmark is Skagen. It is in Denmark, right where two seas meet. The coastline is very beautiful. It changes color throughout the day. Bornholm island is also an incredible place to visit in Denmark. It has fishing villages, rocky shores and long bike routes.

If you have time you will enjoy these places to visit in Denmark. Small towns are more fun to visit when you are not in a hurry.

What To Do in Denmark?

Denmark has famous attractions and most of them are from royal history and Viking heritage. You can see castles, monuments and museums all over the country that tell the story of Denmark.

Castles and Royal Residences

There are many royal buildings in Denmark but one of the most impressive is Christiansborg Palace. It is an important building in Denmark and it has parliament, royal reception rooms and historic halls.

Rosenborg Castle is another place to visit in Denmark. It has rooms with portraits, furniture and ceremonial weapons from a long time ago. Under the castle you can see the treasury with crowns, sceptres and other royal objects.

Viking Heritage and Rune Stones

Denmark also has a Viking history. You can see Viking monuments and archaeological sites all over the country. The rune stones at Jelling are from the 10th century and they are often called the birthplace of the Danish kingdom.

Near Roskilde you can see reconstructed ships. They show how the Vikings sailed across the Baltic and North Sea a long time ago.

Museums and Cultural Experiences

Museums are a great way to learn about Denmarks history and culture. The National Museum of Denmark has artefacts from ancient times to the present day.

There is also an art museum north of Copenhagen, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It has paintings, sculptures and modern architecture that show how Danish culture has developed over time.

You can easily visit many of these places in one day. And you can take a day trip from Copenhagen to see castles and museums.

Unique Experiences and Things To Do in Denmark

Daily life in Denmark is really interesting to see.There are a lot of things to do in Denmark that make your visit to Denmark really special.

Food Culture and Danish Dining

In Denmark you can find all sorts of food. There are markets and fancy restaurants in Denmark. Some of the restaurants in the capital city of Denmark have Michelin stars and people come from over Europe to eat at the restaurants in Denmark.

You can also go to food halls in Denmark where you can try all sorts of dishes. Some people like to go to street food markets in Denmark where you can try seafood.

Don’t forget to try Danish pastries, they have delicious cinnamon bread. You can check out this route with the 10 best bakeries in Copenhagen.

Cycling Culture and City Walks

In Denmark a lot of people ride bicycles. There are bike lanes on the streets and it is easy to get around in Denmark.

If you ride a bike in Denmark you can see neighbourhoods in Denmark that you might not see otherwise. You can ride through parks and harbours and old streets in Denmark.

In Copenhagen, you can easily rent a bike from Donkey Republic.

Family Attractions and Theme Parks

There are a lot of parks in Denmark that're fun for families. One of the parks in Denmark is Tivoli Gardens in Denmark. It has been open since 1843! It is one of the oldest parks in the world. In the park you can find rides and stages where they have concerts. There are also restaurants in Tivoli Gardens.

Beautiful Nature and Outdoor Places to See in Denmark

Denmark has a lot of places to visit. You can see cliffs and national parks in Denmark that're really beautiful.

Cliffs, Coastlines and National Parks

On the coast in Denmark there is a place called Møns Klint. It is a cliff in Denmark that rises above the sea. It is covered in plants that grow in the mineral rich soil.

If you go west in Denmark you can visit Thy National Park in Denmark. It has sand dunes and coastal heathlands and wide beaches. It is one of the best protected nature areas in Denmark.

Coastal Walks and Cycling Routes

Along the Danish coast there are many paths where you can walk or cycle for hours. Many routes pass beaches, cliffs, fishing villages and small harbour towns.

One well known route is the North Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo 12). This route runs along the west coast of Denmark and follows the North Sea for hundreds of kilometres. You can pass dunes, lighthouses and small seaside towns.

Another popular coastal area is Møns Klint. The paths above the white chalk cliffs give nice views over the Baltic Sea. A long staircase with almost five hundred steps leads down to the beach below the cliffs.

Along the northern tip of the country you can explore paths around Skagen. This area is famous because the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet there. Many people walk or cycle to the sand spit called Grenen.

Further south the Wadden Sea National Park offers another coastal landscape. Tidal flats, sandbanks and wetlands stretch along the coast and the area is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cycling routes also run along the coast of Bornholm island. The island has more than 200 kilometres of cycling paths that pass fishing villages, rocky coastlines and sandy beaches.

Small harbour towns appear regularly along these routes. Bakeries, cafés and marinas provide good stops for rest during longer coastal walks or bike rides.

Quiet Countryside and Natural Landscapes

In Denmark there is a sand dune called Råbjerg Mile. The wind moves it every year in the Råbjerg Mile. It is slowly moving inland.

You can also visit Rubjerg Knude in Denmark, there is a lighthouse that stands above sand cliffs. The shoreline in Denmark has moved so much that the lighthouse in Rubjerg Knude had to be moved to stop it from falling into the sea.

Planning Trips to Copenhagen, Denmark and Beyond

Denmark is an easy place to visit because it's a small country. You can easily see places in Denmark without traveling too far. If you spend a day or two in Copenhagen the capital city of Denmark and then visit one or two places you can see many of the famous Denmark attractions.

How Long to Spend in Copenhagen

Most people spend three or four days in Copenhagen before going. In that time you can walk around the harbor, visit the National Museum of Denmark and still have time to sit by the water or visit cafes in the neighborhood.

Going to Denmark from England? We wrote a detailed guide about all the options for travelling from the UK to Denmark, including flights, trains and driving routes, so you can see which option fits your trip best.

Travelling Around Denmark

It's easy to travel around Denmark because the country's so small. You can drive from Copenhagen to the north of Denmark in five hours. This means you can visit places in just a few days.

In our Denmark destination guide you can find multiple itineraries for a trip to Denmark, depending on how long you can stay.

If you visit two or three places you can see a lot of Denmark. A good idea is to make a trip that includes Copenhagen, a small town and a place by the sea. This way you can see different parts of Denmark.

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