Copenhagen in 48 Hours
The Overlooked City Break That Surprised Me
When we began planning a quick trip to Copenhagen to help our daughter Sophie settle in for her year studying abroad, I will admit the city had never been at the very top of my European city-break list. After spending two nights there, however, I genuinely wondered why Copenhagen is so often overlooked. With direct flights from Dublin, an efficient metro linking the airport with the city, beautiful architecture, colourful waterfronts and plenty to experience in a short space of time, Copenhagen is an excellent choice for a two or three-night break.
Our Copenhagen city
break
We stayed at the Scandic Falkoner in Frederiksberg, a stylish neighbourhood just outside the main city centre. It proved to be a great base, with cafés, shops and restaurants nearby and a metro station only a short walk from the hotel.
Copenhagen’s public transport system is wonderfully easy to use. The metro is clean, efficient and runs regularly, making it simple to travel between the airport, hotel and city centre. The city itself is also very walkable, so we explored much of it on foot.
Day One - Canals, colourful houses and Nyhavn
After arriving and dropping off our luggage, we headed straight into the city to make the most of our first afternoon.
A canal boat tour was the perfect introduction to Copenhagen. It gave us a completely different perspective on the city as we passed colourful buildings, historic landmarks, houseboats and some of Copenhagen’s striking modern architecture.
We then spent time around Nyhavn, the picture-perfect waterfront lined with brightly coloured townhouses, traditional boats, cafés and restaurants. It is one of Copenhagen’s most recognisable sights and, although popular, it is somewhere you really should experience on a first visit.
We stopped for lunch beside the water before continuing towards Kongens Nytorv, or King’s New Square, and exploring some of the surrounding streets.
Copenhagen has a lovely atmosphere in the evening. It feels relaxed and sophisticated, with plenty of inviting restaurants, wine bars and places to enjoy a cocktail after a day of sightseeing.
Day Two - The Round Tower, gardens and Danish pastries
Our second day was spent exploring more of the city centre.
One of the highlights was the Round Tower, a 17th-century observatory in the heart of Copenhagen. Instead of stairs, much of the journey to the top follows a wide spiral ramp. Once there, you are rewarded with wonderful views across the city’s rooftops.
We also wandered through the nearby Latin Quarter, an atmospheric area filled with historic streets, independent shops, cafés and colourful buildings. This is a lovely part of Copenhagen to explore without a strict plan, stopping whenever somewhere catches your eye.
No visit to Copenhagen would be complete without a bakery stop. The Danish pastries really are every bit as good as you might expect, although choosing just one is not easy!
From there, we walked through the beautiful King’s Garden beside Rosenborg Castle. It is a peaceful green space in the centre of the city and a lovely contrast to the busy shopping streets.
We also managed a little retail therapy, visiting Strøget, one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets, and Magasin du Nord, Copenhagen’s famous department store.
The weather was not always on our side, but Copenhagen still looked beautiful in the rain. It is the sort of city where you can easily move between sightseeing, cafés, shops and museums, making it a good option at almost any time of year.
Is two nights long enough in Copenhagen?
Two nights gave us a wonderful introduction to the city and worked perfectly for a short break. Copenhagen is compact and easy to navigate, so you can experience a surprising amount without feeling as though you are constantly rushing.
With an additional night, you could also include Tivoli Gardens, explore the neighbourhoods of Christianshavn and Nørrebro, visit one of the city’s excellent museums or simply enjoy Copenhagen at a slower pace.
Why choose Copenhagen for your next city break?
Copenhagen manages to feel both cosmopolitan and relaxed. It offers beautiful architecture, fascinating history, excellent food, stylish shops and a wonderful waterfront setting, all within a city that is exceptionally easy to explore.
It would work equally well for:
- A romantic weekend away
- A mother-and-daughter trip
- A birthday or anniversary celebration
- A pre-Christmas shopping break
- A longer Scandinavian holiday
- Anyone looking for somewhere a little different from the usual European city-break choices
With direct flights from Dublin and easy connections into the heart of the city, Copenhagen is much more accessible than many people realise.
Our trip may have been planned around taking Sophie to begin her new adventure, but it gave us the chance to discover a city we would happily return to. Copenhagen surprised me, and I would absolutely recommend considering it for your next city break.
If Copenhagen is somewhere you would love to explore, I can arrange the flights, accommodation and experiences to create a city break planned entirely around you.
