Canal Tour
The Canal Tours are probably the best and most beautiful way to see a lot of Copenhagen in an hour.
Part of the tour goes through the area of Christianshavn where many people live on boats in the canals. Christianshavn is named after King Christian IV, who expanded Copenhagen with this beautiful area in the early 1600s. It is one of the most beautiful, popular and expensive neighbourhoods in the city.
In the open harbour area you will pass the last Danish submarine that was retired in 2005. You will also see the modern opera house and get a beautiful view of the royal palace, Amalienborg, from the sea.
Finally, you will see the world-famous little mermaid statue from the boat. The statue was made in 1913 by the artist Edvard Eriksen to commemorate the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It is very small. The Danes do not think that much of it. But internationally it has become a symbol of Copenhagen. There are always tourists taking pictures of it.
The statue has often been vandalised by people with political messages. She has been beheaded several times. She has been dressed in a burka as a protest against islamisation of Denmark and she has been vandalised with red paint as a protest against whale hunting.
Opening hours and tickets
Standard adult tickets: Netto-Bådene: DKK 80. Stromma’s one-hour Classic Canal Tour: from DKK 179, depending on the departure and date.
Departure times: Both operators publish date-specific timetables. Netto-Bådene generally starts at 10:00; its ticket booth opens at 09:45. Stromma generally starts at 10:00 outside summer and 09:30 in its summer timetable. Last departures vary by season and departure point.
Check your chosen departure before travelling; weather, water levels and canal closures may affect service. These are independent boat operators, not Hamlet Tours.
Checked 29 October 2026. Prices are standard adult rates without discounts. Hours and prices may change.
How to get on a canal tour in Copenhagen
Hamlet Tours does not operate canal tours in Copenhagen and is not associated with their operators. You can combine a canal tour with our Copenhagen two-hour walk for beginners. The canal tour is booked separately and is not included in the walking tour. Here is our advice for planning your canal tour.
There are two main operators of the canal tours: Netto-Bådene and Stromma. Both publish current prices and departure times on their websites; see the practical information below.
The ticket booth for Stromma is right at the end of the harbour in Nyhavn. (At the end nearest to the city.) It is very easy to find. The ticket booth for Nettobådene is on the right-hand side of the harbour (as you look towards the water) two hundred meters from the bottom of the harbour.
Unless you are a large group, our recommendation is to simply show up and buy a ticket in Nyhavn. The boats depart every 20 minutes in the summer and the operators always make sure there are enough boats for all the visitors. Even in high season on a sunny day, you can almost always get on the next boat.
In the off-season, it is a good idea to check the departure times on the website of one of the operators. And if you have a very large group, we recommend making a reservation in advance.
What if it is raining?
The canal tours still operate if the weather is bad. But you should ask if there is a roof over the boat. It is not always the case. The operators usually hand out ponchos if you are in an open boat and it starts raining. But it is really not that much fun 🙂
Photos from the Canal Tour
