72 hours in Copenhagen: Design, food and local neighbourhoods

Your first day combines Danish design with architecture, public spaces and food by the harbour. The route begins in the historic centre and continues through the city and along the waterfront before ending with dinner on the other side of the harbour.

Begin with coffee and breakfast at Lille Petra Café, located in a courtyard as part of the design shop &Tradition. The café’s setting makes it a fitting introduction to a day centred on Danish design, and its location makes it easy to continue to Frederiksstaden.

From here, head to Designmuseum Danmark. Its exhibitions explore Danish and international design across furniture, fashion, crafts and graphic design, bringing established names such as Arne Jacobsen and Finn Juhl together with newer designers and contemporary perspectives. Allow enough time to explore the collections before continuing towards the waterfront.

From Designmuseum Danmark, continue towards Kastellet, one of Europe’s best-preserved star-shaped fortresses. The former military grounds are now open to the public, with paths along the ramparts that offer views of the harbour and surrounding city. From here, you can follow the waterfront towards the centre.

Cross the harbour towards Broens Street Food for lunch. Located between Nyhavn and Christianshavn, the seasonal food market brings together a changing selection of kitchens and bars in a former trading area by the water. It is an informal place to pause before continuing into Christianshavn or back towards the central harbour.

Begin the evening at Ofelia Plads and the Royal Danish Playhouse, two waterfront landmarks with views across the harbour towards Copenhagen Opera House. Take some time to walk around the square and along the wooden promenade surrounding the Playhouse, where you can see the theatre’s modern architecture from different angles.

From here, cross the Inner Harbour Bridge and continue towards the Opera House for a closer look at one of Copenhagen’s most recognisable modern cultural buildings. Afterwards, follow the waterfront and streets of Christianshavn until it is time for dinner.

End the day at Restaurant Barr, located in Noma’s former premises by Christianshavns Kanal. Barr draws inspiration from food and drink traditions around the North Sea, including Scandinavia, the Benelux countries and the British Isles. Book a table in advance, particularly if you are visiting at the weekend.

Day two stays mainly in Nørrebro, giving you time to explore the neighbourhood through its small businesses, streets and places to eat. The area has one of Copenhagen’s most varied food scenes, ranging from bakeries and informal neighbourhood restaurants to wine bars and more ambitious dining experiences.

Begin on Jægersborggade, a compact street lined with coffee bars, independent shops and places to eat. It is a good starting point for exploring Nørrebro on foot.

From here, walk to Assistens Cemetery, where several notable Danes are buried, including author Hans Christian Andersen and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. Copenhageners also use the grounds as a green space, but it remains an active cemetery, so explore the paths quietly and with consideration for other visitors.

Exit towards Nørrebrogade and stop for brunch at Gaarden & Gaden. The restaurant uses seasonal ingredients and later in the evening becomes a wine bar, making it a natural introduction to Nørrebro’s informal, ingredient-focused food scene.

After brunch, continue through the streets around Nørrebrogade. Nørrebro’s food scene reflects the neighbourhood’s cultural diversity, with everything from bakeries and informal cafés to restaurants serving food from all over the world. Independent shops, second-hand stores and small creative businesses are scattered throughout the surrounding side streets of Nørrebro.

Make your way towards Dronning Louises Bro, which connects Nørrebro with the city centre across the Lakes. The bridge is one of Copenhagen’s busiest cycling routes and also a well-used meeting place, particularly when the weather brings people outside. From here, you can continue along the Lakes or explore the streets around Ravnsborggade before the evening begins.

If you want to plan more of the afternoon around food, explore our guide to where to eat in Nørrebro.

Stay in Nørrebro for a pre-dinner glass of wine at Pompette, a small neighbourhood bar on Møllegade with a simple selection of natural wines and a few cold dishes. Its informal setting makes it an easy final stop in the area before continuing to dinner.

For the evening meal, decide how much of the night you want to build around the restaurant. Geranium on Østerbro is the more natural continuation from Nørrebro, while Alchemist requires a journey across the city to Refshaleøen. Both offer extensive tasting-menu experiences that require advance booking and are likely to take up most of the evening.

For greater flexibility, stay in Nørrebro or choose one of Copenhagen’s Bib Gourmand restaurants, which are recognised by the Michelin Guide for combining quality cooking with more moderate prices.

If restaurants and food experiences are the main focus of your visit, continue with our Copenhagen foodie weekend for a more specialised itinerary

The final day brings together two former industrial areas that have developed in different directions. Begin on Refshaleøen, where large shipyard buildings now accommodate art, food and recreational activities, before ending the itinerary among the restaurants and nightlife of Vesterbro and Kødbyen.

Start at CopenHill, where a recreational hill, walking route and ski slope sit atop a waste-to-energy facility. Walk to the top for views across the harbour or simply explore the building and surrounding area from below.

From here, continue further into Refshaleøen. The area was once home to the B&W shipyard, and its former workshops, warehouses and open waterfront spaces still shape its appearance. Today, these industrial surroundings provide space for cultural institutions, independent businesses, restaurants and changing events.

Continue to Copenhagen Contemporary, an international art centre housed in one of the former B&W shipyard’s large welding halls. The industrial setting provides space for installations, performance art and video works on a scale that would be difficult to accommodate in a traditional museum. Exhibitions change throughout the year, so check the current programme before visiting.

This is also a natural point in the itinerary to explore CopenPay. The initiative rewards visitors for positive actions such as cycling, using public transport or taking part in activities that contribute to the city. The available activities and rewards change, so check the current options and choose one that fits naturally into your time on Refshaleøen rather than planning the afternoon around a specific reward.

See current CopenPay activities.

Before continuing to Vesterbro, stop for lunch or a drink at Reffen. Opening hours are seasonal, so check whether it’s open before you visit.

End the itinerary in Vesterbro and Kødbyen, Copenhagen’s former meatpacking district. Parts of the food industry still operate here, while the surrounding industrial buildings are now also home to restaurants, bars, nightclubs and a small number of galleries and exhibition spaces.

For dinner, book a table at Kødbyens Fiskebar, where the menu centres on fish and seafood served in an informal former industrial setting. You can stay in Kødbyen afterwards for a drink or continue into the surrounding streets of Vesterbro to explore more of the neighbourhood’s evening scene.