My Photography & Travel Guide to Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of the most wonderful Scandinavian destinations, thanks to its exceptional food, architecture, and history. It is just a very fun city to visit!
Sunrise on the Nyhavn
Copenhagen is not only an amazing city but has so many great photography locations. It’s a city that will please every photographer and traveler. It is definitely one of my favorite cities to visit. The people are friendly. Everyone speaks perfect English. It is a very clean and efficient city. Everything just works! Oh, and the food is outstanding!!
I have been to Copenhagen more than half a dozen times. I have also walked all over the city trying to find the best photography locations. In this Photography & Travel Guide, I have put together a list of my best photo locations and tips. I hope you enjoy it!
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Copenhagen is when the weather is warmer and the days are longer, from April to September. If you go in April, May, or September, there are smaller crowds than you find during the peak summer months.
How to Get Around
The best way to explore Copenhagen is to walk. It is not a big city, and it's very flat. Just be careful not to walk into the bike lanes because the bikers will run you over. Seriously, they will! The public transportation (metro, trains, busses) system in Copenhagen is not only super easy to understand, but it's also clean and very efficient. The same ticket can be used on metro and harbor buses. and trains. I usually just buy tickets on the DOT Mobilbilletter app or online.
Taxis: Taxis are a very reliable mode of transport in Copenhagen. If you need a cab, there are several companies like Dantaxi you can contact directly. Just keep in mind that taxis usually only accept credit cards for payment since cash is being phased out in Northern Europe.
How Long Should you Stay in Copenhagen?
If you're wondering how long to spend in Copenhagen, I think 3-4 days is the perfect amount of time. But if you are going to venture out of Copenhagen to surrounding areas such as Malmo, then you could easily stay for a week.
Where should you Stay?
It is very important to stay in an area where it is easy to walk to restaurants and the best photography locations. I would recommend staying in the Nyhavn area because you will have access to lots of sites that you can walk to on foot. There are also lots of restaurants and shopping opportunities in this area as well. And it's a direct 1 train connection from the airport, about 8 stops.
Hotel Angleterre
While I have been to Copenhagen a half dozen times, I have only stayed in 2 hotels. There are lots of good ones so I am by no means telling anyone that these are the only 2 options to consider.
Hotel d’Angleterre is a classic hotel located in one of the best locations in Copenhagen. Hotel d'Angleterre is an elegant, historic icon that's more than 265 years old. The hotel has views of the Kongens Nytorv and is right next to the shopping area. They also have a Michelin-starred restaurant. It's a large hotel with outstanding service and its’s always a good option.
Hotel Sanders is a new smaller boutique hotel. It is also located in the Nyhavn area. It was founded by Danish ballet dancer Alexander Kølpin in 2017. It only has 53 rooms so it's much cozier or hygge. They have an amazing rooftop breakfast area that is an oasis in the morning. Excellent friendly service and outstanding food. This is my favorite hotel in Copenhagen.
The good thing is that Copenhagen is a relatively small city, and it's very walkable.
Food Recommendations
With the success of Noma over the past dozen years, Copenhagen has no shortage of great restaurants. Many of the better restaurants have been created by former chefs of Noma. We have always found that the food in Denmark has one secret recipe—super fresh ingredients. Again, there are dozens and dozens of great restaurants. So, the list below is just a few of the ones we have tried. Of course, there are many more great options.
Døp—“DOP, the best hotdog in the world.” Yup, it's a hot dog stand, but not just any hot dog stand. They truly have the best hotdogs in the world. They even have a vegetarian option.
Gasoline Grill—the owner of the Gasoline Grill went to college in the US. After returning to Denmark, he decided he wanted to make great burgers. So he took over a former Gas Station and started the restaurant. Always busy and delicious.
Baest—named the 7th best pizza restaurant in the world. Enough said!! Who does not like pizza? We tried Baest in March 2020 at 2:30 in the afternoon and could only find a place at the bar. So Yes, it’s delicious.
Aamanns (Sandwiches) -Located in what used to serve as a WWII bunker, Aamanns is named after owner Adam Aamanns, otherwise known as the king of smørrebrød. These open-faced sandwiches are a classic Danish "must-eat" while you're in Copenhagen.
Nimb Brasserie- French favorites served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a breathtaking view of Tivoli. The Nimb Hotel is also a very good hotel, but we have not tried it yet.
Mirabelle Bakery & Cafe is a bakery and cafe. A delicious spot right next to Baest is a perfect place to stop for a coffee, cake, or sandwich. They also have Pasta, and who does not like a good plate of pasta? It's just simple - yet delicious!!
Geranium—if you get the chance to go to Geranium, do it. It’s expensive but so incredibly outstanding that words do not do it justice. We have eaten in a lot of fantastic restaurants, but this is the best restaurant we ever tried. Just incredible!!
Il Buco—-Hotel Sanders buys their Croissant from Il Buco. We did not try the restaurant/bakery, but their croissants may be the best ones I have ever tasted.
Restaurant Barr is an outstanding fish restaurant just over the walking bridge from the Nyhavn. In the summer, you will see people swimming in the water just outside the restaurant.
Llama — (Mexican) We did not know what to expect at Illama. We were very pleasantly surprised. They have great service and delicious food.
Hija de Sanchez was founded by another Noma disciple, Rosio Sanchéz. You will not find better Mexican food.
Torvehallern—one of the best food halls in Europe. This is a MUST stop in Copenhagen. They have dozens and dozens of food stalls, from Sushi to Pizza. It’s a covered marketplace featuring stalls with local produce, gourmet foods, beverages & desserts. The one restaurant we love is GRØD. Grød has the best oatmeal we have ever tasted. So it’s a great place for breakfast.
Photography Gear Recommendations
For Copenhagen, I would bring my Standard Photography Travel Kit, which I detail below.
My Canon R5 camera. Any good DSLR or Mirrorless Camera will do Sony A7r4, Nikon Z7, Fuji etc.
A wide-angle lens 15-35mm to be able to photograph the City Streets
A medium telephoto, such as 70-200mm. This will come in handy when you need to zoom in on the subject.
You also could use a 24-105mm or 24-240mm or something similar if you want to travel with just 1 lens.
A good sturdy tripod so you can take photos at sunrise and sunset. It is also great for long exposures.
Neutral-density filters (3, 6 and 10). You will be shooting near water a lot. So I like shooting longer exposures, so having an ND filter is a good idea.
Photography Tips
Take a tripod for long exposure shots of the waterways - One of the main features of Copenhagen is its canals. Long-exposure shots of canals and waterways create some beautiful shots.
Take photos at night - Copenhagen looks completely different at night. Photos of the canals are fantastic early in the morning before the crowds. But they are even better when the lights come on.
Be careful of bicycles and pedestrians - Copenhagen is full of bicycles –
What to Photograph in Copenhagen
There is plenty of photography options in Copenhagen. I will provide some classic locations that should not be missed, but I will try to concentrate on certain subjects such as Design Museums, Waterways & Canals, Bicycles, Street Photography, and Parks. Here are a few suggestions:
Nyhavn—
There are many many photo opportunities in the Nyhavn. This my favorite area to photograph. So walk around and find your angles. My best advice is to go very early in the morning before the crowds.
There are a lot of different compositions here
Amalienborg—
Is the official residence of the Danish royal family, and I love to take photos of the changing of the guard every day.
The Royal guard protecting the entrance to the residences.
At noon you can watch the change of the guard
71 Nyhavn Hotel—
The front of the hotel has excellent symmetry of the windows which makes for a great location.
Frederik's Church—
Frederik's Church, popularly known as The Marble Church for its rococo architecture, is an Evangelical Lutheran church located right next to Amalienborg
You can also take the photo from the Royal Palace
Designmuseum Denmark—
The Designmuseum Denmark is a museum dedicated for Danish and international design and crafts. It features works of famous Danish designers like Arne Jacobsen, Jacob Jensen and Kaare Klint. It is definitely worth a visit.
Amalie Garden—
It is a small park located between Amalienborg Palace and the waterfront in the Frederiksstaden neighborhood.
St Alban's Church
St. Alban's Church, locally often referred to simply as the English Church, is an Anglican church. It was built from 1885 to 1887 for the benefit of the growing English congregation in the city. It is right next to the Military Barracks and on the way to the Little Mermaid.
Gefion Fountain—
Right next to the St. Alban’s Church- is a large fountain on the harbor front. It features a large-scale group of oxen
Kastellet—
The windmill near St. Alban’s Church is a citadel. It is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Northern Europe.
Military Barracks—
Beautiful red colors of these former barracks. This is a fun area to take photos of the red-brick buildings.
There are a number of beautiful buildings in this area
The Little Mermaid—
One of the most iconic shots in Copenhagen. It is a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen, depicting a mermaid becoming human. The sculpture is displayed on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade. It will be packed with people climbing all over it.
It is 1.25 meters (4.1 ft) tall and weighs 175 kilograms (385 lb). It is much smaller than you would think.
Sculpture Man Thinking—
I love this Sculpture by the waterfront--you will pass it on the way to the Little Mermaid. There is a nice cafe right next to it.
Copenhagen Opera House -
The Copenhagen Opera House is the national opera house of Denmark, and among the most modern opera houses in the world.
Inderhavnsbroen—
the bridge from Nyhavn to Christiania wonderful early morning and at sunset. You will see so many bicyclist coming across the bridge.
Freetown Christiania—
The first time I went into Christinia I did not realize you are not allowed to take photos—Oops!!! Also known as Christiania, it is an intentional community, commune, and micronation in the Christianshavn neighborhood of Copenhagen, Denmark's capital city. It began in 1971 as a squatted military base.
Church of Our Saviour—
The best photo is from the tippy top where only 1 person can stand at a time—you can see Sweden from up there. It is a baroque church. It is famous for the external spiral winding staircase that can be climbed to the top, offering extensive views over central Copenhagen.
Black Diamond Library—
This is an incredible Library that I highly recommend visiting. Royal Danish Libra's buildings on Slotsholmen, better known as The Black Diamond, are more than just a library.
Magstræde—
A colorful, picturesque street with lots of Instagrammers. Snaregade and Magstræde are two of the oldest streets in the Old Town of Copenhagen, Denmark, linking Gammel Strand at their eastern end with Rådhusstræde to the west.
There are different angles you can find
The Round Tower—
The best photo options are of the round tower are photos inside the tower. This 17th-century tower and observatory is one of Copenhagen's most iconic buildings. There is nothing to photograph at the top, so the interiors are fun to photograph.
Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store -
Since 1911, Royal Copenhagen Flagship Store has been centrally located in Copenhagen at Amagertorv 6 in one of the city's most historic renaissance buildings. It is located on the main shopping street of Copenhagen.
Street Photography
There is a lot to photograph in Copenhagen…
The Bicycles of Copenhagen
DAY TRIPS FROM COPENHAGEN
There are many locations you can reach for the day from Copenhagen. The one that we have done many times is a day trip to Malmo, Sweden. Malmo only take about 30 minutes or so to reach from downtown Copenhagen. Usually we take the Metro (from Kongens Nytorv) directly to the airport from our hotel. At the airport you will need to switch trains and take the one that goes to Sweden. You will need to bring your passport. It’s a fun ride over the Bridge and you get great views. Malmo is a city that you can walk around for 3 hours or so—grab a coffee—and then head back in time for lunch in Copenhagen. Here is a list of things to do from Culture Trip of things to do in Malmo
The second great day trip especially on a nice day is to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. It will take you about 35 minutes by Metro from Copenhagen’s Central Train Station, Nørreport. to reach the museum. You want to get off at the Humlebæk Station. From Humlebæk Station, it is a 10-minute walk to the museum. There are lots of signs so you cannot miss it. The Museum has a lot of interesting exhibits that are both inside and outside. Its located right on the sea and you can see Sweden from the Museum Restaurant which is quite good.
I hope you have found this Photography Guide on Copenhagen useful. You can find my other Photography & Travel Guides by Clicking on this Link
