Shorter Day Trips from Copenhagen
You do not need to travel across Denmark to get out of Copenhagen for a day. Royal castles, Viking ships, modern art and the beach are all within reach by public transport.
Here are seven suggestions you can arrange yourself. Choose one for a relaxed outing, or combine the Viking Ship Museum and Roskilde Cathedral. Trying to visit all four major historic sights independently in one day is a different matter. That is exactly why we run our Grand Day Trip around Copenhagen.
Practical information checked in October 2026. Prices are for one adult in Danish kroner unless stated otherwise. Driving distances and journey times are approximate, one way from central Copenhagen; public transport starts at Copenhagen Central Station (København H). Advance fares are limited and vary by departure. Check your travel date for seasonal timetables and opening hours.
1. Kronborg Castle — Hamlet, history and the sea
Kronborg is the castle Shakespeare chose as the setting for Hamlet. He did not need to visit it to know its reputation. Standing beside the narrow stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, it was a very visible reminder of the Danish king’s power.
Inside are royal rooms, a large ballroom and the dark casemates, where Holger Danske waits until Denmark needs him. Outside, walk around the ramparts and look across to Helsingborg. Leave some time for Helsingør itself; the old streets are worth more than a hurried walk back to the station.
Visit Kronborg Castle with us on the Grand Day Trip. Our tour visits Kronborg Castle, Frederiksborg Palace, the Viking Ship Museum and Roskilde Cathedral in one day, with a local guide and transport between the sights. It is a much simpler way to combine all four than arranging separate train and bus journeys.
2. Frederiksborg Palace — Denmark’s most splendid royal setting
Frederiksborg fills three small islands in a lake in Hillerød. It is a good place to go if you like grand rooms, royal portraits and the occasional reminder that kings did not live quite like the rest of us.
The palace houses the Museum of National History. You can follow Danish history through its paintings and rooms, but the chapel and the building itself are equally good reasons to visit. Afterwards, walk into the baroque garden on the other side of the lake. The view back towards the palace is one of the best parts of the day.
Visit Frederiksborg Palace with us on the Grand Day Trip. Our tour visits Kronborg Castle, Frederiksborg Palace, the Viking Ship Museum and Roskilde Cathedral in one day, with a local guide and transport between the sights. It is a much simpler way to combine all four than arranging separate train and bus journeys.
3. The Viking Ship Museum — the real ships
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde is built around five original Viking ships recovered from the fjord. They were deliberately sunk to block a sailing route about a thousand years ago. Today they tell us a great deal about trade, warfare and the skill of the people who built them.
The museum is not only about looking at old timber behind a barrier. In the harbour area you can see boatbuilding and reconstructed vessels, with activities changing through the year. Seasonal sailing trips cost extra and depend on conditions. Combine the museum with Roskilde Cathedral if you are making your own day of it.
Visit the Viking Ship Museum with us on the Grand Day Trip. Our tour visits Kronborg Castle, Frederiksborg Palace, the Viking Ship Museum and Roskilde Cathedral in one day, with a local guide and transport between the sights. It is a much simpler way to combine all four than arranging separate train and bus journeys.
4. Roskilde Cathedral — a thousand years of royal history
Roskilde Cathedral is where generations of Danish monarchs are buried. If that sounds a little dry, wait until you see how differently they arranged to be remembered. The chapels and monuments range from fairly restrained to very much not restrained.
The cathedral is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important building in the history of brick architecture. Give yourself time to walk through the chapels rather than just looking down the central aisle. It is still a working church, so sightseeing has to fit around services and ceremonies.
Visit Roskilde Cathedral with us on the Grand Day Trip. Our tour visits Kronborg Castle, Frederiksborg Palace, the Viking Ship Museum and Roskilde Cathedral in one day, with a local guide and transport between the sights. It is a much simpler way to combine all four than arranging separate train and bus journeys.
5. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art — art with a sea view
Louisiana is a good example of a museum where the setting matters almost as much as what hangs on the walls. Low buildings connect galleries and gardens, and the sculpture park looks out across the Øresund. You can spend time with an exhibition, walk outside and then come back for more.
The exhibitions change, so the experience is different from one visit to the next. Even people who are not usually enthusiastic about modern art often enjoy the architecture and the garden. The late weekday opening makes it possible to have a slow afternoon and stay into the evening.
6. Amager Strand Park — you do not have to leave Copenhagen
A day trip does not have to involve a castle or a museum. Amager Strand is close enough to the centre that you can decide to go after breakfast and be by the water before you have made a detailed plan.
There is a long beach, a lagoon and paths for walking and cycling. Bring a picnic, swim when conditions are suitable, or simply walk along the shore. On a clear day you can see the bridge towards Sweden. It is a good break from sightseeing and an easy choice with children, particularly when the weather is kind.
7. Dragør — yellow houses and a small harbour
Dragør is only a short distance from Copenhagen, but the old town feels quite different. Narrow lanes run between low yellow houses, and the harbour still gives the place its character. This is somewhere to wander rather than rush from one attraction to another.
Walk through the old streets, look at the boats and find somewhere for lunch or coffee. The small pitch house in the harbour is a reminder of the work that kept wooden ships seaworthy. Dragør makes a particularly pleasant half-day trip. You do not need to fill an entire day to make the journey worthwhile.
Ready to travel further? Read our Longer Day Trips from Copenhagen, including Odense, Egeskov, Malmö and Møns Klint.
Photo credits
Photo: Yo Hibino / Wikimedia Commons · by 2.0 .
Photo: Alexander Mottlau / Wikimedia Commons · by-sa 3.0 .
Photo: Kjersti Lie (NAPkjersti) / Wikimedia Commons · by-sa 3.0 .
Well… Yes and no. The monarch actually has a lot of power according to our constitution. He decides who is a member of the government. He decides when to hold elections and laws are only valid if he has signed them. In practice, he always does what the Parliament wants. But if one day he refused to sign a law, we would not really know what to do as there would be no constitutional way to force him to do so. It would cause a major headache for the Danish political system.
This may be the best-preserved Renaissance Castle anywhere in the world and certainly in Scandinavia. It is the home of the magnificent Crown Jewels of Denmark and has so many artifacts that you will not believe it. Among other things, Rosenborg has what we believe is the world’s oldest wine. (Please correct us if you know of any older). Bought in the 1580s, this German red wine is still served every year at the Queen’s New Year’s reception. 
Nyhavn may be the most picturesque place in Copenhagen with its colorful old houses, old ships and lots of restaurants. The famous fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen lived in Nyhavn for a combined total of more than 20 years at numbers 20, 67 and 18. On a hot summer day Nyhavn is very crowded with both locals and tourists. 
The Danish monarchy is the oldest continuing line in the world. The Royal family lives at Amalienborg Palace and unlike royal palaces in other countries, it is not hidden behind walls or fences. You can walk freely around the square with the four big houses that make up the palace complex. In our opinion it is the most beautiful place in Copenhagen. (
Christiansborg Palace is unique because it is the only building in the world that has all branches of power in it. It houses the parliament, the supreme court, the prime minister’s office, a church and the Queen’s reception rooms. It is a majestic building from both the outside and inside and has been the center of power in Denmark for centuries. (
This iconic statue has become the symbol of Copenhagen and most tourists want to see it. It is very small but beautiful. You will see it if you go on a canal tour but get much closer if you see it from the land side.
