🇩🇰 This guide contains everything you need to know to make the most of your citytrip to København (English: Copenhagen) in a sustainable way.
🚇 Flight-free and car-free transportation to and within København
🏢 5 eco hotels and 4 sustainable hostels
🌿 More than 20 vegan-friendly places for food, Danish snacks and drinks
🎨 The best museums, churches, palaces and neighbourhoods for sightseeing
🌳 5 parks and 6 additional places to go for a run, bikeride or workout
🛒 Zero waste shops and thrift stores for secondhand clothes
♻️ 3 easy volunteering activities
🏰 4 daytrips from København
🇩🇰 With over 80 places listed, this guide is suitable for both short and longer trips to Denmark's capital. Whether you're staying one day or a full month, it's got enough tips for everyone to configure their ideal travel itinerary. I hope you'll enjoy København as much as I did -- it's become one of my favourite cities in Europe!
P.S. All of my guides are regularly updated. This means that closed-down places will be deleted and replaced by new finds.
🇩🇰 Last updated: January 2025
Getting to København by train is very doable when departing from Sweden, Germany or the Netherlands. There are also ferries from Lithuania, Poland and Germany to southern Sweden, from where you can reach København within a few hours. From Iceland, it's possible to reach northern Denmark and carry on by train. Between Oslo and København, there's even a direct ferry!
The current central train station in København’s dates back from 1911. It has a large entrance hall with a few small shops and places to get food. It can be a little challenging to find information about departures and arrivals, so I’d suggest using the DSB website or App on your phone. There are ticket machines in the station as well.
Once you’ve found which platform you need to go to, you can admire the impressive architecture of this station. I think it has so much more character than any hypermodern station could ever attempt to have!
Click the link below to read about how I travelled between the Netherlands and København.
Opt for sustainable transportation when combining your trip to København with travelling to Norway by taking an overnight ferry.
There is a direct route between København and Olso, which is run bij DFDS ferries. The ferry departs daily at 15:00 from København and you’ll arrive in Oslo at 10:00 the next morning. It’s a much more relaxed experience than going through airport security and all the hassle that comes with luggage allowances.
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Transportation in København
In København itself, the best way to get around is by using its fabulous, new metro system. The oldest metro stations only date back to 2011, with the newest ones being delivered in 2024. Alternatively, if you want to be more active, you can explore the city centre on foot or by bike. Read more about all of these options in the notes added to the placetags below.
Nørreport is Denmark’s busiest station. It’s a prime example of efficient and pleasant metro travel. The metro’s in København’s city centre run frequently — and without a driver. You never have to wait more than a few minutes for the next arrival, so you can make your way to the other side of the city super quickly.
A day-pass for the metro is not the cheapest, but super convenient and worth the money, as you get to experience my favourite public transport network in the world!
København is a very walkable city. Like every other tourist, you probably want to see the sculpture of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, so I'd suggest making your way there on foot.
Instead of going and back and forth for the tiny girl on her rock, the surrounding area is lovely to walk around in. If you’re lucky the trees will be blossoming, providing a cute scenery. And there are a few other statues close to the Little Mermaid worth having a look at.
What I would especially recommend is to walk through Kastellet, a 17th century fortress. There’s a small museum with free entrance and you might see some event or military ceremony going on.
After passing through the citadel, you end up at the Saint Albanus Church. Interestingly, this is the only Anglican church in Denmark. It’s exterior is quite notable, but the inside is less special.
When walking back into the city centre, it’s a good idea to download the “Hidden Copenhagen” App for enthrilling stories about the city’s past. This way, you don’t have to book a guided tour.
Here you’ll find the most sustainable place to rent bikes. Baisikeli is a B Corp certified social enterprise that fixes and ships secondhand bikes to rural areas in Africa. These bikes are used by farmers to transport their produce, and by local paramedics in the form of bike ambulances.
Baisikeli also has a location just a few minutes away from the main train station (address: Ingerslevsgade 100).
København is prized as the world’s most cycle-friendly capital, so renting a bike does really make the most of your experience (as long as you know how to ride it safely).
In case you’re wondering about the strange things Danish people wear around their necks when cycling: these are portable airbags! In case of a crash, they blow up into a pillow to protect your neck and head. Quite ingenious, but expensive, too. If you accidentally drop one, say goodbye to a few hundred euros for a replacement…
Green Bike Tours offers multiple cycling and walking tours through København focused around sustainability. You can opt for a tour focused on the city becoming “smart” or carbon neutral, get tips on how to lower your own footprint, visit urban gardens or explore cultural diversity in Nørrebro.
Aside from tours, Green Bike Tours does much more! You can attend their lecture on sustainable fashion, participate in a workshop on cooking with surplus food, or visit organisations that work on sustainable city development and renewable energy. Lots to learn!
For the bike tours, you’re free to rent bikes anywhere you like (that is to say: the bikes are not included in the tour). To maximise sustainability, I would go for Baisikeli, even though Green Bike Tours works together with a different bike rental organisation.
Have you heard of the 'Habour Bus' before? It's water taxi that brings you to nine different stops located on each side of København's harbour. The reason it's called a bus is because you can board it with a regular bus ticket. Added bonus: there's room for 8 bikes next to 4 places reserved for strollers and wheelchairs.
In 2020, the old diesel-powered Havnebussen were replaced by two new ones that run on electricity. Because there's place for up to 80 passengers, the Havnebussen are a very efficient way of transportation, especially in summer.
Will you try this unique way of travelling through part of the city?
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Accommodation
Hotels
If you're looking for a sustainable (luxury) hotel, there are numerous options. And that's no coincidence in a city that aims to be fully carbon neutral by 2025!
Hotels from the Brøchner chain are a true leader in sustainable accommodation. Local and organic food, airconditioning that reuses cold water from Københaven’s canals, self-desinfecting surfaces (so there’s no need for chemical cleaning agents), 100% Danish windpower for all energy use, room access through a mobile app, located in a repurposed building, etc. etc.
The only downside: you will feel a stay at Hotel Ottilia or one of the other Brøchner hotels in your wallet. In return, you do get a luxurious experience that includes a free wine hour and a glass of whiskey before bedtime. So if you can afford it, this is where you’ll want to sleep!
* Note: please do not use the booking.com link attached to this pin, but instead book directly via the hotel's own website to combat the exploitation caused by booking.com having a monopoly as an accommodation platform.
It’s far from being the most centrally located hotel in København, but Go Hotel is easy to reach by public transport. There's another location closer to the city centre in between two metro stops, which is called Go Hotel City.
Its sustainability measures include facilities to seperate waste, combating food waste, a menu with vegetarian and vegan options, and the absence of single-use plastics. Admittedly, more could be done, but that’s also why this hotel is a lot cheaper than Hotel Ottilia. Compared with other budget hotels, Go Hotel still has a decent score in terms of waste management and energy usage.
Savoy Hotel is privately owned, and sustainability is its core business. It has a calendar with sustainble events and discounts linked to UN Sustainable Development Goals. The calendar includes for example a sustainable Christmas market in December, a clean-up together with the staff on World Cleanup Day, and a Pride celebration.
Savoy Hotel’s GreenKey certification means the basics of saving water and energy are also met. And as is the case at many places in København, the breakfast served is organic.
Meet what is probably the most luxurious and at the same time eco-friendly hotel in all of København. A night in this 5-star hotel costs a small fortune, but it’s an absolute treat.
Manon Les Suites is centrally located and has a pool surrounded by greenery, an organic restaurant, a gym, an indoor and outdoor spa, and a rooftop terrace. What more could you ask for?
Coming to the sustainability aspect, the Guldsmeden chain to which this hotel belongs has all the certifications. Its fairtrade and/or organic products all come from one main supplier, which has a no-flight policy. Cooperating with only one supplier results in less deliveries, translating into a lower environmental impact. What’s more, leftovers from breakfast are incorporated in the dinner a la carte menu, which caters to all diets. If there is still food leftover, this is picked up by an organisation that turns it into bio-fuel.
The Guldsmeden chain also donates a good part of its profits to a Danish charity that supports sport programmes for children. Because of the lowered income during COVID times, an auction was held to raise money for this good cause by giving away stays, dinners and spa treatments at the Manon Les Suites.
These are just some of the sustainability-related measures that the hotel is known for. Head to their website to read more, if you’re interested.
* Note: please do not use the booking.com link attached to this pin, but instead book directly via the hotel's own website to combat the exploitation caused by booking.com having a monopoly as an accommodation platform.
Sustainability is at the core of Coco Hotel and shows itself through the organic linen, solar energy, trees planted for every booking, and more.
Coco Hotel is part of the Copenhagen Food Collective that owns a large solar park in northwest Denmark. This provides more energy than is needed for the hotel and restaurants belonging to CoFoCo, and excess energy therefore contributed to the national energy supply of Denmark.
On top of all this, Coco Hotel encourages green transportation. If you can show you came by bike, you get a 10% discount on your stay! Don't worry if you don't have your own bike - you can also rent one at the hotel or arrange to get picked up in an electric car.
* Note: please do not use the booking.com link attached to this pin, but instead book directly via the hotel's own website to combat the exploitation caused by booking.com having a monopoly as an accommodation platform.
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Hostels
Cheaper options are of course also available. København's hostels are generally of high quality and much more stylish than those found at other destinations. Although expensive eco-hotels are more common than affordable eco-hostels, I've tried to select a few relatively sustainables hostels for you here.
A great budget option in København is Steel House. This hostel looks a lot better than most hostels do and has great facilities such as a swimming pool, café, and gym. The hostel also hosts events such as walking tours, game nights, and yoga classes. Even art is incorporated by allowing local artists to showcase their work in the hostel.
Regarding sustainabilty, Steel House isn’t the most forerunning accommodation, but an effort is definitely being made — both in terms of environmental as well as social sustainability. This is partly due to Denmark having a high standard in sustainability overall. The Arp-Hansen Hotel Group of which Steel House is part, is GreenKey certified.
* Note: please do not use the booking.com link attached to this pin, but instead book directly via the hostel's own website to combat the exploitation caused by booking.com having a monopoly as an accommodation platform.
Cityhub is a trendy hostel where you sleep in a tiny “hub”, which grants more privacy than a bed in an open space dorm.
The Cityhub runs fully on renewable energy and donates part of its profits to sustainability projects and local initiatives. In addition, the “hosts” are available for advising on activities and sightseeing. As most of them are locals, they might have some hidden gems to share with you.
Recycling is also facilitated fairly well at Cityhub, and there’s an effort to minimise food waste in its communal kitchen. Lastly, won’t find any single-use plastics here.
This hostel is a very funky place to stay, as it tries to mimic a camping atmosphere, but inside! This means you'll be sleeping in a tent-room, and there is a shared dining area. However, it's good to know that there are no cooking facilities for guests. The upside is that the bathrooms are a lot nicer and cleaner than those at an average campingplace. And if you really dislike camping, there are also a few normal rooms.
In terms of sustainability, this hostel is a winner. They offer rental bikes and washing facilities (including soap, so you don't have to buy that yourself). Interestingly, hair dryers also need to be rented, which I personally think is a good idea to discourage people from using them. And what's more: products are locally sourced, lights are mostly LED, there are veggie and vegan food options, the entire hostel runs on green energy, etc. What's not to love about this indoor camping hostel?
Sleepcph is a stylish self-service hostel. It’s a little difficult to find information about its sustainability, but it seems comparable to Cityhub in investing a share of its profits in the local community and sustainability. Most of the products used are locally sourced and organic, and electricity-use is based on movement sensors.
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Food & drinks
Meals
København is a great place for food, with many vegan and vegetarian options. In terms of sustainability, I'll always recommend a vegan diet, so all of the restaurants and shops listed below are suitable for that. If you're on the lookout for organic food, you're also in the right place, as approximately a quarter of all food served in København is made with organic ingredients! You will find locally-sourced, seasonal produce on the menu at many restaurants.
Grød is my favourite place for food in København — it’s a true porridge heaven! For breakfast or brunch, you can choose numerous toppings for your porridge. Later in the day, Grød offers several other dishes such as risotto, dahl and salads made from local ingredients for lunch and dinner. Tip: if you use the Grød App, you receive a 10% discount on your food!
If I had to describe the food at Grød in one phrase, it would be “nourishing comfort food”. Exactly the type of meal that makes me happy when travelling. Because the menu is quite small, there are just a few vegan options. Still, there’s enough choice, as the menu changes regularly, and vegetarian dishes can be made vegan upon request.
The drinks are worth trying, too! I'm usually not the biggest fan of matcha, but the homemade matcha-lemon iced tea at Grød is by far one of the best summer drinks I’ve had.
If you can’t get enough of all the food at Grød, there’s good news: some of their restaurants serve as little shops as well. They sell their own cookbook, ready-made meals, porridge mixes, granola’s, and sauces. You can even order these through their website. In total, Grød has 6 locations in København.
Update: after a short closure, Grød 2.0 is back with an upgraded menu. I do recommend double checking the opening times of the different locations.
Looking for a gastronomic experience? This restaurant serves beautiful plates of fresh food inside a greenhouse. The restaurant serves meat, seafood and vegetarian options, but there is also a vegan Green Menu on request.
Vækst is part of the Copenhagen Food Cooperative, which includes 17 restaurants and events all aimed at making the restaurant business more sustainable. They all have an elaborate vegetarian menu and can adapt to vegan diets, as well. If you stay at Coco hotel, you get a 20% discount at all CoFoCo restaurants.
Hanzō is a part of a Danish restaurant chain, and has 5 locations in København. Its food is centred around Asian fusion cuisine and shared dining. It’s a great place to go if you like trying everything that’s on the menu. You order several small dishes per table to enjoy with your friends.
Either you can select the dishes yourself, or have the chef surprise you! On request, the chef’s choice can easily be made into a vegetarian or vegan multi-course meal.
I absolutely loved the whole experience at Hanzō and would for sure come back. The dishes tasted amazing by combining rich flavours. 10/10 recommend!
Looking for a quick meal loaded with veggies? If so, I’d recommend dropping by Fitnesso. From the outside, this salad bar doesn’t look the best, but it’s worth going in for healthy juices and bowls.
Despite not being a culinary masterpiece, the salads at Finesso are definitely tasty — and filling. It’s an ideal way to load up on vitamins and very vegan-proof.
For a funky dinner experience, head over to Baka d’Busk. Aside from really good food which is vegetarian/vegan, organic, locally grown, and seasonal, you'll find unique (and named!) furniture at this bistro in Nørrebro. Be sure to ask about the name behind your chair whilst indulging on plants that are tastier than meat, and well-paired natural wines.
Need a break in between shopping and museum visits? Opt for a light meal or snack in one of 42Raw’s two small cafés in København.
Despite there being plenty of vegan options, your cheese- and meat-loving friends will find themselves at home at 42Raw, too. The menu offers burgers, pokébowls, sandwiches and cakes. I chose a vegan blueberry cake with ginger lemonade, which were both very tasty.
On busy days, it can be challenging to find seating in the tiny café, so be prepared to have your order as take-away and eat it in a park.
Just like Tivoli theme park, the food hall is not cheap. The atomsphere makes up for it, however. It’s a perfect place to meet up with friends, especially if you all have different tastes in terms of food.
Finding vegan options requires some good searching, but I was really happy with my plantbased taco’s from Zocalu. Kung Fu Street Food is another stall with nice vegan meals.
It can be a bit of a hassle to find seating, but on sunny days there’s a nice terrace looking out on the theme park.
If you love street food and foodtrucks, Reffen is where you need to be! There are numerous stalls with cuisines from all over the world, so you'll definitely find something to your liking. Some of the stall also have vegan options. If you have any allergies, I'm also sure you can find something suitable amongst the many different dishes.
For music events, wine tastings, drag shows and street art festivals, be sure to check the event calendar on the Reffen website to plan your visit.
Dine with locals at Absalon's daily community dinners. This colourful renovated church is open from as early as 07:30 until midnight on most days. You can get breakfast or lunch in this communal living room, or join the massive dinner which serves up to 180 people!
Dinner tickets are best bought in advance (before 16:00 on the day itself), as the leftover tickets sold at the door might run out. Dinner always takes places at 18:00, and the menu changes daily. There is guaranteed to be a vegetarian option, but it's wise to email about whether they can also provide a vegan version of the dish.
If you don't fancy joining one of the dinners, there are still enough reasons to visit Absalon. Approximately 100 events are hosted at the old church every week, ranging from creative workshops to quizzes and game nights. Check out the website to see what's on.
Urten is a small and slightly hidden vegan restaurant. With a set 3-course menu that changes monthly, the chefs focus on quality over quantity. The dishes centre around seasonal products and home-made drinks such as kombucha and lemonades.
There are also small dishes to go with the 3 courses, as well as an optional wine pairing. In general, the food is inspired by French and Italian cuisines.
Urten can be a bit hard to find, as it's located within another restaurant. You can find the tiny restaurant upstairs in the (also fully vegan, but more casual) Atlas Bar.
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Danish snacks
Denmark is famous for its pastries. Some say København even beats Paris in terms of high-quality bakeries. And the good news is that you don't have to miss out on any of the baked goodness when you have dietary restrictions.
You cannot visit a Scandinavian country without trying a cinnamon roll! Altough Landbageriet isn’t a fully plantbased bakery, it offers lots of vegan and gluten-free baked goods, including kanelsnegle and fastelavnsboller (a sweet bun filled with pistachio cream). Everything at Landbageriet is organic — and delicious! In other words: the perfect spot to get brunch.
The perfect vegan and glutenfree confectionery: Glead’s flødeboller! Sweet, chocolaty, and handmade in København — what more could you ask for?! Flødeboller are an absolute must-try when in Denmark.
Are these cream-filled chocolates not your thing? No problem, because Glead also sells fudge, icecream and luxurious latte’s. All of them perfect snacks to beat that mid-afternoon dip.
Denmark is also known for its outstanding rye breads. Sometimes served as open sandwiches (called Smørrebrød), rye bread is an important national food.
Try some at Det Rene Brød! The vegan breads at Det Rene Brød are tasty, organic, as well as filling.
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Drinks
Whether you want to sip a drink at a sunny spot with a good view, or you're looking for a laidback place to wind down, it's all there! As with food, much of the (alcoholic) beverages in København are locally brewn and contain organic ingredients. Especially with alcohol, you might want to watch your budget, though!
Throughout København, you can find free drinking water. Online, there are maps available showing all of the locations, but you can also keep an eye out to spot them yourself. At least I’ll give this one away: the water fountain at the City Hall Square (though Rådhuspladsen sounds a lot nicer in my opinion).
Good to note: what is meant with “water fountain” is not an actual fountain as the one in the photo. The water from these ornamental fountains is not safe to drink. Instead, look for poles that indicate they disperse tap water.
Pompette was founded on the premise that people were paying too much for their natural wines in København. Unlike in many other wine bars in København, there’s a chance you won’t be too scared to ask for the check here.
Pompette has a large assortment of wines to choose from, ranging from orange wines (yes, that’s a thing!) to bubbles. Although the owners aim to keep the prices low and transparent, they still cater to different price ranges, so be sure to indicate your budget when picking out a nice bottle.
If you’re a little afraid to show your limited knowledge of wines, Vivant is another affordable wine bar that perhaps suits you better.
One of the most lowkey places in København in the middle of the city centre is Pisserenden 8. Slump down in one of the comfy chairs, have a beer or coffee, and relax! This cafe has a relaxed vibe and cozy interior that is somewhat student-y, but will surely make you feel at home.
Pisserenden 8 also serves some simple (but nice) organic food such as vegan tomato soup with optional glutenfree bread and sandwiches. For drinks, you can choose between fresh juices, (alcohol free) beers, warm drinks and Danish soda.
Beer lovers must head over to one of the Amager Bryghus taprooms (the second location can be found just opposite Nørreport Station). København’s locally brewn beers can be tasted here. There’s even a special tasting tray with 5 of the beers that are currently on tap. Due to its popularity, it’s not available in the Nørreport taproom at busy times such as Friday evening.
The taprooms do not serve meals, but quite uniquely they do let you bring your own. For dragging along people who are less enthousiastic about beer, there is wine available, too. And dogs are also welcome!
A trendy place for a good beer: that’s what Baghavn is. Mikkeller is a famous brewer brand that owns this waterside hotspot.
At Baghavn, you will find 12 large oak barrels containing slowly fermenting sour beers. On the tap are 15 different Mikkeller beers of all sorts and tastes. If it’s too difficult to choose, opt for a tasting and enjoy your craft beer out in the sun.
Although Mikkeller’s main business is beer, they’ve also founded a successful running and cycling community with chapters all over the world. Pretty cool, right?
When looking for a simple drink and something to keep you entertained, there’s a nice board game café called Social Corner. It has a cozy interior and cheap snacks, so don’t expect anything culinary to be going on here. The café has a living room vibe and serves basic beers such as Carlsberger.
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Tea
It's maybe a bit niche, but tea-lovers will have a great time in København. And even if you're not into sipping good quality tea (or coffee) yourself, you can get a nice souvenir for others in one of these exquisite tea shops.
You don’t find many tea shops as lovely and old as A.C. Perch’s. Although it also has a webshop, paying a live visit to the cute shop where tea is handpicked and measured for you is much nicer. The staff give good advice on what type of tea you may like and offer you to smell it in case of doubt. I opted for a blend named after the Danish phenomenon of “Hygge”, a great quality black tea in a golden bag that’s typical for A.C. Perch’s.
If you drink tea for the aesthetics, this is your place! Østerlandsk has the prettiest tins with flavourful teablends. I bought myself some small packages of “Hans Christan Andersen-the” and “Viking-the”. In addition, I got my mum an organic ginger tea. Because of the adorable packaging, this teashop is a reach tourist attraction.
Located in Torvehallerne you can find Tante T. Torvehallerne is another food hall in Københaven, which is a bit more laid back than Tivoli Food Hall and also has outside seating. In the back, you can find Tante T with a wide variety of teas. There are also lots of organic teas to choose from.
Tante T is less famous and therefore also less swarmed by tourists than A.C. Perch’s and Østerlandsk. That doesn’t mean its teas are of lesser quality — quite the opposite, actually: the matcha at Tante T is rated as being the best in the city.
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Sightseeing
Neighbourhoods
To get a real feel of the diversity and history within København, I suggest visiting the various neighbourhoods listed below. It's a real shame when people only spend their time around the main shopping area, instead of seeing how locals really live (or lived in the past), because København has so much to offer!
Of the places not to miss when in København is Christiania. After reading the reviews on Google, I wasn’t sure whether it would be safe to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere on a sunny day is actually rather cheerful.
Christiana is a small self-governed enclave within København. It started in the 1970’s as anarchist groups squatted in its buildings. Nowadays, it’s reknown for the weed trade, which happens openly on the streets (whilst being illegal in the rest of Denmark). In terms of sustainability, buying drugs is never a good idea, and the same counts for dealing in Christiana.
Because the inhabitants of the area do depend on tourists for their livelihood, you can support them by buying locally crafted beer or eat at one of the food stalls.
I didn’t feel unsafe walking around through Christiana on my own, due to the large number of tourists, and as said, it being a bright and sunny day. I can imagine the place looking a bit more grim on a rainy day, but in general I wouldn’t worry too much about safety when walking around the main streets.
To see how people lived in the 17th and 18th century, stroll through Nyboder, a street with colourful houses. This residential area was built to accommodate the personnel of the rapidly growing Royal Navy.
Today, the Nyboder houses are still inhabited by members of the Danish Navy, Army and Air Force. Make sure to take a look at the red brick Nyboder’s Church, too, when passing through the area.
There have been multiple occassions where it's been proposed to sell the houses, but thankfully this hasn't happened. In 2014, some of the houses have actually been refurbished. I think it's good to retain sites of cultural heritage such as Nyboder.
BaneGaarden is a green getaway within the city. It consists of several places to eat (although they’re sadly not very suited for vegans), a farmer’s market, sustainable student housing, and event spaces.
You can follow all kinds workshops at BaneGaarden, or simply catch your breath after being in København’s bustling city centre. An overview of events can be found on BaneGaarden’s Facebook page.
A nice fact is that nearly everything you see here is secondhand or upcycled. The barns used to be owned by the DSB (Danish rail company) for storing wood that would later be manufactured into trains. The windows used to belong to the old building of the Natural History museums and the stage is made from recycled plastics. Truly a great example of sustainability!
Sometimes referred to as the 'Amsterdam of Copenhagen', this neighbourhood is known for its canals. It's a more quiet area to walk around whilst admiring modern architecture (look at all of the balconies!).
Sluseholmen is also quite pretty around sunset, so if shops and museums have closed and you're left wondering what to do: go for a relaxing evening stroll through this residential area to discover another side of København.
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Museums
København is home to many museums, so if wandering through galleries full of artefacts and their stories is your thing, you could fill an entire week with just that! To avoid an enormous list, I will share a select number here, consisting of my absolute favourites. If you plan to visit multiple museums and other attractions, it's worth considering getting the Copenhagen Card for discounts and access to public transport.
The Glyptothek is an amazing museum for lovers of (ancient) statues. I had not expected such a museum in København, but really enjoyed it.
Of course, it’s not as good as museum in Rome or Athens, but there were a few impressive statues for sure! I like reading up on the myths linked to the scenes and people captured in stone, to get a better idea of their significance.
The entrence hall of the Glyptothek is already really beautiful in and of itself. You can sit down in the museum’s café to admire the plants and a few sculptures.
Upstairs, there are more artworks linked to the history of Denmark, including small statues of Odin, and paintings of Danish landscapes. It’s worth checking out!
Going into this underground water storage is a one of a kind experience. And don’t be afraid, the Cisternerne is no longer in use, so there’s no need to bring swimming gear.
The entrance fee for this old storage is quite expensive, so I would recommend going when there’s an art exhibition on show. At the time when I visited, there was an exhibtion of modern art that used of rotating red and white cloth, in my opinion emphasising the eeriness of the space.
So, despite the costs, this one is on my list of most special places to visit in København. And when realising that the entrance costs enables the preservation of this part of København’s history, it’s perhaps not so bad.
Close to the Glyptothek you can find the National Museum. This is a fascinating museum where you could easily spend a full day. I’d therefore highly recommend having a look at which topics interest you, and picking 2 or 3.
The ground floor covers the prehistoric history of Denmark, with lots of explanation and original artifacts. The top floor contains modern history and culture.
Although you won’t want to miss out on any (temporary) exhibitions on the Viking era, the extensive area dedicated to the Middle Ages is probably worth skipping or going through briefly. There’s a lot too see, but it’s also somewhat repetitive and the information about Danish society during this period is not the best. Considering there is too much in the museum too cover in one visit, you’ll want to be selective in what you spend your time on.
If you’re interested in the history of the city of København, make sure you don’t miss out on this one! Like in the National Museum, you can spend a good few hours here before you’ve seen everything. I’d advise against trying to visit both of these museums on the same day, because you’ll be overloaded with information.
The ticket for this museum also covers the entrance fee for two additional museums: Thorvaldsens Museum and the Nikolaj Kunsthal. If you enjoyed the Glypothek and are up for some more sculptures, then Thorvaldsens Museum may be right up your alley.
Looking for something different (and at times a little gruesome), then the Medical Museion may be the museum for you. Although it’s a fairly small museum, it has famous collections with medical artefacts collected over more than 200 years.
The permanent collections span from microscopes to traditional medical uniforms and from protheses to moulages (wax imprints of skin diseases). In addition, there are several temporary topics zooming in on certain parts of the body, a specific disease, or ethical dilemma’s.
This tiny artwork is free for everyone to enter (but it does close at 5 p.m.). It's a fun experience to step into the kaleidoscope and admire the myriad colours and shapes. A visit will likely only take 5 to 10 minutes, so don't expect this activity to fill your afternoon.
ENIGMA is a museum about all things related to communication, and fittingly located in an old post office. The museum is interactive and thought-provoking on current topics around how we communicate with one another.
The museum is also great for kids, as it has one exhibition especially tailored to engaging children. Aside from a permanent exhibition, most of the content of ENIGMA changes every so often.
Open on all days except Monday, ENIGMA is a good place to visit if you want to deep dive into a specific topic and reflect on the use of internet/social media.
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Parks
For a large, urbanised area, København possesses a good number of green spaces such as large parks. This is a good thing, since the streets of København are quite devoid of trees and bushes. So I'd recommend to take some time to soak up fresh air in a park.
Kongens Have (King’s Garden) is a park right in the middle of the city. Altough it is a picturesque spot, it doesn’t provide much cover from either sun or rain, as it’s mostly an open field with some tree-lined paths. With the right weather, you’ll definitely capture some great photos of Rosenborg Slot here.
Catch some shade under the large trees in Frederiksberg Have. The park has a playground for kids, a pretty Chinese house, multiple brigdes and most of all: quiet space.
In winter, it can look a little depressing, but in summer the park is beaufitul. Like almost everywhere else in København, Frederiksberg Have is also very clean and well-maintained.
From the park, you can walk around the palace at the top of the hill. Don’t expect much from the palace — most of the time you cannot enter, and its exterior is not very detailed. As the palace is currently in use as a military academy, you can only book a guided tour on the last Saturday of each month (excluding December).
To conclude: the park is nice in summer, but the palace is not worth going out of your way for, except on those specific Saturdays.
In this park (or rather: botanical garden), you can chill out next to the water and admire a few sculptures showing ancient mythological figures.
The Palmehuset, which is part of the Botanisk Have, is worth going into. The greenhouses are a perfect background for some candid shots. The entrance fee aids research on the conservation of many different plant species.
With your ticket, you gain access to the Palmehuset as well as the National History Museum for a full year. If you’re a fan of natural history, you can use the same ticket to get a 50% discount on the 7 other natural history museums spread throughout Denmark. If not, simply sit by the water enjoying some Danish snacks while overlooking all kinds of plants.
If the weather is letting you down, head over to this super cool (partly indoor) park instead! The park opened at the end of 2023 as a solution to the city becoming increasingly densely populated. Operaparken is therefore a place to relax and soak up some plant-filtered air.
The park consists of 6 different biomes with plants from all over the world. Rainwater is captured and stored underground for irrigation of the greenhouse, which also houses a café. Pathways are designed with permeable material to avoid drainage issues and allow water to be soaked up into the underlying soil. Of course, there are also solar panels on top of the greenhouse. It's a truly green gem!
Last but definitely not least: Fælladparken! This park has everything you can ask for: lush trees, a small lake, an enormous skate park, and a top notch playground.
The playground contains a traffic simulation, miniature versions of characteristic buildings and statues that can be found throughout the city, and of course the usual stuff to entertain children. On a warm day, you can take your kids to the other end of the lake to enjoy themselves in the waterpark.
Fælladparken is also great for watching amateur sports, as there are fields for various ball sports.
The only downside is that the park is split up by two car roads. Some more upsides include the presence of a metro station at both ends of the park, and the availability of public toilets.
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Churches, palaces and towers
Denmark's capital is full of magnificent buildings. There are really too many to list them all here, so I've picked a variety of options for you to choose from. Because, if you want to, you can probably put together a trip filled with visiting all the palaces, churches and nearby castles.
The Round Tower is where you should go if you like viewpoints. Aside from being a beautiful old building stemming from 1642, you get an amazing view of the city from the highest level of the Rundetaarn.
With your ticket for the tower, you can also visit the observatory that’s located at the top. Did you know the Rundetaarn houses the oldest observatory in Europe? And it’s still in use!
It’s also good to note that the Rundetaarn is not just a tower. It’s connected to a church and a library hall, the latter of which always has a museum-worthy exhibition on display. There are also plenty of activities for kids hosted in and around the tower. Clearly it’s a must to visit!
Christiansborg is probably the most famous palace in København. You can get seperate tickets for its Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Stables, Royal Kitchen, and Ruins, but the best way to go is got get yourself a combination ticket. With the all-in ticket, you can spend a good portion of your morning or afternoon in this impressive neo-baroque palace. The ticket also grants access to another great viewpoint: the palace tower.
Before you start wondering: no, you will not be visiting the living quarters of the Danish royals when wandering through Christiansborg (they live in Amalienborg Palace). Although Christiansborg was built in 1928 by King Christian X, it was never actually inhabited by the royal family. Instead, the palace houses the Danish Parliament, the Ministery of State, and the Supreme Court. Yet Christiansborg remains available to the monarch, and some rooms are used by the royals for receptions and ceremonies.
If you do not want to fund an already insanely wealthy family that has their own private jet at their disposal (this is still a sustainability guide, so we don't want to support private jets!) you can choose to simply admire Christiansborg from the outside. You might even want to pop into the chapel nextdoor. This chapel is also used by the royals on occasion, but at least it's free to enter. The garden of the Royal Libary is openly accessible, too.
You won’t want to miss this monumental church when in København. All around the outside, it is decorated with sculptures of Danish theologians and clergy. Inside the church are paintings of the apostles and many other beautiful details.
Did you know that Denmark is one of the few countries (in Europe) that still has a Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs (i.e. Religion)? This means that state and church aren’t entirely seperated in Denmark.
Like most churches, Frederik’s Church, nicknamed the Marble Church, is free to enter.
Rosenborg Palace is a remarkable palace-turned-museum showing art and furniture owned and used by previous kings of Denmark. There’s a room for every king that inhabited the palace to show how each of them lived.
Good to know: the crown jewels of the Danish monarchy are stored in Rosenberg and can be viewed by tourists.
Another church that is majestic both inside and out, is the København Cathedral, also named Church of Our Lady.
As is common for churches in Denmark, the cathedral belongs to the protestant Church of Denmark. Before the reformation in the 16th centrury, the Church of Our Lady was a Roman Catholic church, hence the neoclassical style and ornaments.
I stumbled upon this church by accident when walking through the city, and was eager to enter after seeing the exterior. Being there at the right time of day, the afternoon light created rainbows on the white marble — a beautiful sight!
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Activities
Zero waste shopping
There's a good few sustainable shops to be found in København, but you'll have to leave the main shopping streets around the Helligaandskirken. Especially if you're looking for waste-free alternatives, head over to the more upcoming neighbourhoods of the city.
København has it’s own 100% organic zero waste grocery store. Due to its success, there are now two locations. Next to this one in Østerbro, there’s another shop in the Vesterbro neighbourhood.
The idea of zero waste shopping is that you bring your own containers and fill them in the store with whatever you want to stock up on. If you didn’t bring jars or reusable bags with you, LØS Market is still a great place to get fruit and veggies that are not wrapped in plastic.
GåGrøn (Go Green) is the perfect place in København to get all the essentials for starting your zero waste lifestyle. They also have a large assortment of plastic-free reusable items on their website.
At GåGrøn, you can get pretty much any functional item you have in your kitchen or bathroom, but sustainable. All of the things they sell are selected as being of high quality and therefore durable.
Definitely save this shop on your list in case you forgot to pack anything — you can buy an environmental friendly replacement here! It’s also a good spot for getting useful souvenirs (because who wants a magnet these days?).
If you’re looking for a unique gift (either for yourself or someone else), you might want to have a look inside the ceramics shop called WAUW.
The collections at WAUW are made with as little waste as possible. This means puzzling how to fit the most items into a ceramics stove, thus making sure that no energy is wasted on heating up empty space. It also affects the way remnants of clay and glazes are handled, as these are reused by another small business.
But there is more! WAUW plays its part in social sustainability by training interns in working with ceramics.
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Thrift shopping
Lovers of second-hand shopping will not be bored in København. I made a selection of shops that suit different budgets and styles, but I'm sure you'll spot many more vintage shops when walking through the city. It was quite hard to choose which ones to include in this guide and which ones to leave out, so do have a look online for more options if you cannot find your style amongst the stores included below.
Tú a Tú sells secondhand clothing from selected women’s brands. You can hand in clothes you want them to sell for you from Monday to Friday, but do keep in mind that Tú a Tú is quite selective: to have your clothing accepted for display in their shop, it still needs to have its labels/tags, be in good condition, fit the season, and not be more than 3 years old.
If your items get selected, they will be shown at Tú a Tú for 5 to 6 weeks. When sold, you get 50% of the sale price. Items that are not sold can be picked up after the display period. Don’t feel like picking them up? In that case your clothes will be donated to charity.
To summarise, shopping at Tú a Tú means you’ll get something sustainable and of high quality. Many of their items can also be viewed and bought via Instagram, in case you don’t want to drop by the physical store.
Similar to Tú a Tú is O-S-V (short for “and so on” in Danish), which accepts a mix of luxury items and day-to-day wear, and also includes men’s clothing. Both Tú a Tú and O-S-V focus on selling Scandinavian brands.
BauBau is fairly similar to Tú a Tú but this secondhand shop exclusively sells men’s clothes.
You’ll find a range of branded/designer items at BauBau. Like Tú a Tú, it has an Instagram page showing a selection of the clothing for sale. But visiting the physical shop is a great experience, too, as the staff are happy to help you find the perfect wardrobe.
Out of money? No worries, you can still shop at Veras! Its unique circularity concept is a based clothing exchange: hand in whatever items you no longer wear and pick up something new. Of course you can also still buy items with money, but the exchange system is what makes Veras unlike other thrift shops.
Due to the steady influx of new clothes, you’ll find lots of different styles at Veras. There are many great vintage items, but also more contemporary brands (as well as secondhand fast fashion).
On Saturdays, Veras hosts a market where people come together to exchange clothes and enjoy music. The perfect place for skilled vintage hunters.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for at Veras, do look around in the other secondhand shops on Studiestræde, such as Wasteland (focused on US and Canadian brands), Decades, Quirky Lane, København K or Knigge Vintage (known for selling very colourful pieces).
Episode is a small Dutch chain of secondhand shops throughout Northern Europe. Try not to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of clothes sold at Episode -- it's almost guaranteed you'll find something to your liking, as there's so much vintage stuff to choose from.
Episode has its own atelier to not only mend and repair secondhand items that come in, but also create a few of their own pieces. To keep prices fair, you're not allowed to buy more than two of the same item, as to avoid re-selling.
And make sure to think twice before you buy something at Episode, because they don't do refunds!
A more high-end secondhand shop is Time’s Up Vintage. Here you’ll find unique accessories from well-known brands. Even if you’re not intent on buying anything, it’s a great place for fashion inspiration.
If you like the funky pieces sold at Time’s Up Vintage, you’ll also enjoy shopping at København’s oldest vintage shop called Carmen Copenhagen. If it’s the designer brands that appeal to you, head over to Klaeder 2. Hand, another shop with a luxurious assortment that amongst other things features children’s clothes.
PRAG is perhaps København's most famous secondhand shop. It has three locations: one in Nørrebro and two in Indre By (the main shopping area in the city centre). PRAG is known for its huge selection of colourful 80's vintage, as well as an impressive range of secondhand accessoires.
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Going for a run/walk/workout
Stay active by going for a run or walk through one of the more peaceful areas in and around København. It's a good way to get some scenic views of nature whilst escaping the busiest tourist areas.
Amanger Strandpark is a great place for a morning walk or run. Located at the east of the city, the sunrise views can be stunning here! In general, it’s a quiet place to relax and breath in some salty air. In the distance you can see the bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden.
I personally wouldn’t pick the little strip of sand here as an actual beach spot. Instead of stripping down to a bikini, I’d have a picknick and/or read a book on one of the benches.
Each Saturday morning at 09:00 you can participate in a free, organised 5K run at Amanger Strandpark. There is no need to sign up, although do you need to make a Parkrun account if you want to receive an email with your finish time.
Konditaget Lüders is a large, outdoor playground on a rooftop. Aside being ideal for kids, it also serves as an outdoor gym for adults. It even has a 60 meter sprint course and a pitch for panna-football.
The playground is located on top of a car park and can be accessed between 07:00 and 22:00 every day. Would you go for a workout at this unique location?
From this tiny park, you can head all the way west to the tip of the harbour for some unobstructed views of nothern København from a completely different angle. If you like boats, there’s some nice sailboat-watching to be done here, too.
All in all, this part of town is not the most exciting, but it’s peaceful during the day and amazing at sunset!
CopenHill is a unique place to grab a drink or do sports. You can do downhill skiing or snowboarding on the artificial grass slope, or climb up the highest climbing wall in the world!
The rooftop and café are open free of charge. Do keep in mind that the café is outside (although there is some cover against rain). At 78 metres, there's a phenomenal view -- not a bad place to have a drink. At the bottom of the hill, there's another café that's open users of the ski slope only.
In terms of skiing and snowboarding, there's a range of options to choose from. You can go by yourself, book a lesson, or even practice slalom. In any case, you'll need to make a reservation beforehand.
The reason this activity is placed under the "go for a walk" section is because you can indeed walk up CopenHill. There are inclines between 5 and a very challenging 35%. Definitely not made for couch patatoes!
Climbing up CopenHill is only possible when you're a certified, experienced climber. If you are, you can enjoy one of four routes all the way up to the top.
So why does CopenHill (also called Amager Bakke or Amager Slope) exist? Well, it's actually an energy plant that turns waste into heat. CopenHill is even claimed to be the cleanest incinerator in the world, as it emits water vapour instead of smoke, amongst other things. In any case, it's a one-of-a-kind building and a multifunctional landmark not too far from the city centre.
What activity on CopenHill would you pick?
An ideal place for running within København is Amager Fællad. As a park, it’s not super idyllic like some of the other parks in the city, but it does have lots of different paths. You can easily configure a 10km route crisscrossing over all of the small trails.
Despite being a larger green space outside of the city centre, the park is too small to really escape the busy everyday life around it. The upside of this is that one of the park entrances is directly opposite a metro station.
Like Amanger Strandpark, Amanger Fællad is a Parkrun location where you can participate in a 5K every Saturday at 09:00.
If you’re happy to get a bit further away from the inner city, this nature reservation south of København is a good option for a walk, run or bike ride.
The Kalvebod Fællad consists of wetlands that are home to many bird species. You might even spot some grazing deer. In short: a great place for nature lovers. Make sure not to distrub the animals, though!
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Volunteering
Exploring the city and giving something back to the community at the same time: that’s what makes volunteering during your travels a perfect match. Don't think of volunteering as a huge commitment -- it can be as simple as picking up trash (from a kayak).
Do something good and join GreenKayak in cleaning up the waters in and around København. It’s fun, sporty, and good for the environment. Experience with kayakking is not required — you really won’t fall into the water. You can rent kayaks (and cleaning gear) with GreenKayaks in various places throughout København, so be sure to download their App and have a look at the available options.
ØsterGRO is Denmark’s first rooftop farm that provides fresh vegetables, honey and eggs. It also has its own restaurant: Gro Spiseri. The restaurant offers a fixed multiple-course dinner which can be catered to your needs/wishes: be it vegan, glutenfree, nutfree, etc. Make sure to put this in your reservation beforehand, though!
You might see it coming, since this place is tagged under volunteering: you can help out on the farm. From April to mid-December, ØsterGRO welcomes anyone to join them in tending to the 600 m2 farm. No experience with gardening or growing food is required.
All you need to do is turn up on a Tuesday between 10am and 6pm (no need to let them know you’re coming, either). Every Tuesday, the volunteers have a vegetarian lunch together. I think this sounds like a lot of fun! It for sure is a unique way of experiencing local life in København.
An easy way to meet (local) people is by teaching them a bit of your language. Nørrebro Library hosts language cafés on every weekday, covering a range of popular languages. There’s no need to register or book a spot, you can simply turn up and start talking!
Althought the information is in Danish, the København Biblioteker website provides the dates, times and locations for the language cafés. An added benefit of attending is that you support the Nørrebro Library, which is extremely important in this digital age!
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Daytrips outside København
If you're staying in København for a longer period of time, or you simply want a change of scenery, here are some recommendations for (half)daytrips. All of these are accessible by bike and/or public transport.
Head over to Kongelundsfortet to learn more about the history of the fortifications that were built in 1914-1916. You’re allowed to climb the tower and walk through the old casemates. Do keep in mind that most information around the site is in Danish.
The Kongelundsfortet also provides a good view over the surrounding salt marshes. Moreover, there are all kinds of free facilities for having a picknick or BBQ.
A trip to the fortress can be easily combined with walks to nature. To the east, there’s a forest that hides a giant wooden sculpture called “Bjarke Cirkelsten”. Somewhat to the northwest of Kongelundsfortet lies Kalvebod Fællad. Closerby you can find Sydvestpynten beach, in case you want to dip into the sea.
From the city centre of Københaven, it’s a 15km bikeride to the fortress. Alternatively, you can get there from Ørestad Station by taking busline 33. The bus departs once per hour and takes a little over 20 minutes.
Malmö is the perfect size and distance away for a daytrip from København. You can see most of its compact city centre within a day.
When visiting Malmö, make sure to see its castle and the accompanying museum, which hosts an aquarium, art exhibitions, a dome cinema and much more. It’s guaranteerd you’ll learn something new here! My favourite parts were the old castle rooms and all of the information on the territorial disputes between Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Super interesting! Plus, don’t forget to stroll through the gardens surrounding the castle.
Malmö is also a great place to shop for (interior) design items. Although there are only a few shopping streets, there are multiple cool places selling crockery, vintage clothing, or plants.
The library in Malmö is quite impressive to see from the inside, so if you have a few minutes to spare, you might want to pop in there shortly.
From København’s central train station, it only takes 40 minutes to get to Malmö by train. For the most part of the route, you’ll be crossing the bridge connecting the two countries. A spectacular sight you’ll have to see when you’re staying so closeby.
Another great place for a walk or run is around the park in Charlottenlund. There is fortress to see (it’s been transformed into a camping place), and there is a pretty waterside that only vaguely resembles a beach. You might be amazed by the blueness and transparancy of the water here, though — at least I was!
If you want to take a dive, head over to the sea pool, where there are showers and changing rooms. Not up for swimming? You could instead go around the nearby palace. Unfortunately, it’s rarely open to the public, so you’ll have to make do with the gardens and small forest area.
Despite the lovely clear water and the remnants of a fortress, you’re unlikely to find a full day’s worth of activities other than walking or swimming in this area. You may want to head to nearby Ordrupgaard as well, a splendid architecture and design museum.
Charlottenlund has its own small station with trains departing to the city centre of København every 20 minutes, as well as plenty of bike parking.
If you’re a castle geek, you’ve got to take a 50 minute train ride up north to Helsingor. Only 15 minutes from the train station by foot stands the majestic Kronborg Castle.
You can enter the castle, as well as the casemates hidden underneath it. There’s a short introductory tour that is available in English. Expect to be wandering through this historical site for about two hours.
After seeing the castle, Helsingor is a cute little town with various churches and multiple small museums. It’s possible to get a ticket that grants access to several of the museums, so you can make the most of your day in Helsingor without spending loads of money.
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Thank you!
I hope you've found this guide to be helpful -- and more importantly: I hope that you enjoyed your trip to København.
Please let me know what you think of this guide by leaving a review, and share it with your friends & family! If you have any questions or want more tips on sustainable travelling, do get in touch via my Instagram page @the.sustainable.travel.guide or website.
Hi! Welcome to The Sustainable Travel Guide. My name is Lotte and I want to help you travel more sustainably.
On Thatch, I provide city guides focused on sustainability, and custom travel planning. I can help you decide where to travel to and how to make sure your journey benefits the planet through a 1-on-1 consultation call. I also provide custom recommendation packages for places to stay, eat, and more. Or, if you're into cycling trips like me, let me plan your bikepacking route as a custom itinerary.
In short, you're in the right place if anything like a vegan food tour, scenic train rides, eco-hotels or cycling trips get you excited!
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