COPENHAGEN WITH KIDS

Make Copenhagen your family base for bikes, harbor baths, and easy day trips by train. Meet sharks at The Blue Planet in Kastrup, ride vintage coasters at Bakken in Klampenborg, and time-travel from Viking ships in Roskilde to royal halls at Frederiksborg in Hillerød and Kronborg in Helsingør. Add bold art at ARKEN in Ishøj and ice cream on Dragør’s cobbled harbor.

🧭 DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Ready-made country and city routes with daily plans, sights, transport and accommodation. Buy PDF guides for independent travel.

🧭 DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day 1 — Arrival and a “soft start”: Nyhavn + an evening at Tivoli

✈️ From CPH airport it’s easy to get to the center on the M2 metro: about 13–15 minutes to Kongens Nytorv/Nørreport — fast, no traffic, and straight into the “heart” of the city. Check in, have lunch, let the kids catch their breath.
🎡 Tivoli Gardens is the perfect first introduction: lights, mini parades, rides for little ones, and great family attractions. In the evening the park is magical, and by the end of the day the lines are usually shorter. Pick 2–3 “must-do” rides for your child and go for those — it reduces fatigue and waiting.

Day 2 — Experimentarium: hands-on science + Tuborg’s seaside promenade

🧪 Experimentarium (Hellerup) is an interactive world where touching is allowed—and encouraged: giant bubbles, a “water zone,” mechanics, sound and light. Plan for 3–4 hours of active play, then ice cream and a walk along the Tuborg Havn promenade with views of masts and yachts. Pro tip: bring a spare T-shirt—kids love the “water” experiments.

Day 3 — Copenhagen Zoo + Frederiksberg Have: animals and a picnic

🦁 Copenhagen Zoo is one of the oldest in Europe: pandas, elephants, the Polar Tower, and warm indoor pavilions in case it’s windy. Do short loops of 60–90 minutes with breaks for snacks/toilets/playground. Nearby, the gorgeous Frederiksberg Have park is perfect for free play and a picnic on the grass.

Day 4 — The Blue Planet Aquarium + Amager Strandpark beach

🐠 Den Blå Planet (Denmark’s National Aquarium): tunnels with sharks and rays, Amazon “rivers,” tropical halls, and feedings. Then 10–15 minutes by bus/metro to Amager Strandpark: a long lagoon, sand, playgrounds, and seagulls. Great for a daytime stroller nap to the sound of the sea.

Day 5 — Children’s Museum at the National Museum + the Round Tower

🏛️ The Children’s Museum inside the National Museum offers play “like people lived in the past”: costumes, a play kitchen, a little train, a post office. Everything is hands-on! Then climb the spiral ramp in Rundetårn (the Round Tower): almost all the way up without steps, convenient with kids; at the top—views of tiled roofs and spires.

Day 6 — Big playgrounds: Tårnlegepladsen (Fælledparken) + the Botanical Garden

🧒 The Tower Playground in Fælledparken is a “city of towers”: mini copies of City Hall and Rundetårn, bridges, slides, water in summer. Nearby there’s a skate area and a water playground. After lunch—the Botanical Garden with the Palm House: a short “jungle” walk and a rest by the pond.

Day 7 — Klampenborg: Dyrehaven deer park + Bakken amusement park

🚆 Logistics: from København H/Østerport take the S-train to Klampenborg ≈ 20–25 minutes, then walk 10–15 minutes to the gates of Dyrehaven and Bakken.
🌳 Morning—Dyrehaven: wide avenues, herds of deer, horse-drawn carriages. Kids are thrilled by a “real forest.” Afternoon—Bakken (the world’s oldest amusement park): free entry, rides paid by tickets/wristband; take a lunch break and don’t “rush” the schedule.

Day 8 — Architecture and harbor views: DAC (BLOX) + a waterfront walk

🏗️ The Danish Architecture Center (DAC) in the BLOX building has family installations, temporary exhibitions about the “city of the future,” and a workshop area. Outside is a waterfront with Danish “light” urbanism: ramps, benches, bridges. A great medium-intensity day.

Day 9 — Space and a hill-city slide: the Planetarium + CopenHill

🌌 Tycho Brahe Planetarium—dome films, space illusions, and interactive exhibits for school-age kids. Then—CopenHill (Amager Bakke): rooftop viewpoints on a power plant, walking trails, a grass “ski slope” on a schedule. In good weather there are excellent harbor panoramas from here.

Day 10 — Roskilde: the Viking Ship Museum and the fjord

🚆 Train to Roskilde from København H ≈ 23–30 minutes, then a 15–20 minute walk along the fjord.
⛵ Viking Ship Museum: five original vessels, an open-air shipyard, workshops, and seasonal trips on reconstructed boats. For kids: rope knots, mini raft runs, and seafaring puzzles. Back to Copenhagen by dinner.

Day 11 — Hillerød: fairytale Frederiksborg Castle + baroque park

🚆 S-train/regional train to Hillerød ≈ 35–45 minutes; from the station along Slotsgade to the castle 15–20 minutes.
🏰 Frederiksborg Castle — a palace on lake islands: galleries, ceilings, knights’ halls. With kids it’s great to do it as a “picture route”: 8–10 rooms + a pastry break by the water. The baroque garden is for running around and family photos.

Day 12 — Helsingør: Kronborg (Hamlet) + Maritime Museum

🚆 Direct regional train to Helsingør ≈ 45–55 minutes. From the station, 10–15 minutes on foot to the castle.
🛡️ Kronborg Castle — ramparts, casemates, and the spirit of “Hamlet.” Nearby is the underground M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark — interactive exhibits about the sea, containers, lighthouses; kids like “peeking” into holds and playing with navigation. It makes for a very full day—plan an early dinner.

Day 13 — Ishøj: ARKEN + beach

🚆 To Ishøj station by S-train ≈ 16–20 minutes, then on foot/by bus 5–10 minutes.
🖼️ ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art — large installations and “wow objects” that are easy for kids to enjoy. Outside there’s a sandy beach and dunes: you can alternate hall—outside—hall so the little ones don’t get tired.

Day 14 — Dragør: gingerbread houses and the sea + farewell day

🚌 It’s convenient to get to Dragør by bus 250S (via Amager): 45–60 minutes depending on the segment. Strollers are allowed, but avoid rush hour.
🏘️ An old fishing town with narrow streets, yellow houses and low roofs by the water. For kids—hunt for the “narrowest alley,” the pier with seagulls, waffles. Head back early—packing and rest before the flight.

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