Places to Visit in Copenhagen for Free
Copenhagen has a well-earned reputation as one of Europe's most expensive cities. But some of its best experiences cost nothing, and knowing which free attractions to combine and in what order makes the difference between a great day and an expensive one.
The best way to find free places in Copenhagen is to use a digital tool that lists all the attractions. The StoryHunt app is a great example, as you simply open the interactive map, set your starting point, and it shows you all the top free attractions nearby so you can build a route that covers the most ground without unnecessary backtracking.
The best free places to visit in Copenhagen
Copenhagen rewards visitors who explore on foot, and most of the city's most memorable spots don't require a ticket. These are the highlights worth building a free day around.
- Nyhavn and the harbour front. The vibrant colours and historic tall ships of Nyhavn make it Copenhagen's most famous destination, and strolling the canal costs nothing. Skip the overpriced harborside restaurants and do what locals do: pick up food nearby and eat it on the waterfront. From Nyhavn, the harbour walk extends south through Islands Brygge and connects much of the city's waterfront for free.
- Christiansborg Palace Tower. Christiansborg Palace is home to the Danish Parliament, and while most of the palace requires a ticket, entrance to its tower is completely free and rewards you with some of the best panoramic views in the city. Book a time slot online to avoid queuing.
- Kastellet. Kastellet is a 17th-century star-shaped citadel on the edge of the inner city, free to walk around, and one of the best-preserved fortresses of its kind in Europe. The walk around the ramparts takes about an hour and sits right next to the Little Mermaid statue, making it a natural double stop.
- Freetown Christiania. Christiania is one of Copenhagen's most popular free tourist attractions, characterised by its vibrant street art, colourful buildings, and winding alleyways that reflect over 50 years of the community's independent existence. It's unlike anywhere else in the city and costs nothing to explore.
Practical tips for visiting Copenhagen for free
- Time your visit to Amalienborg at noon. The changing of the guard is free to watch daily, with the parade leaving Rosenborg Castle at 11:27 and arriving at Amalienborg Palace at noon. It's a genuine spectacle and fits naturally into a harbour walk.
- Walk rather than cycle. Copenhagen's free attractions cluster tightly in the inner city, and the distances between them are short enough that a good pair of shoes outperforms a rental bike for a one-day free itinerary.
- Book the Christiansborg Tower in advance. Entry is free but timed, and popular slots fill up quickly on weekends.
- Use the StoryHunt map to connect the dots. Free attractions in Copenhagen are spread across the harbour and inner city, and the interactive map shows you what's walkable from where you are so nothing goes to waste.
Let StoryHunt show you what's free
Rather than searching for free things to do and cross-referencing them on a separate map, the StoryHunt app combines both.
The interactive map shows you free attractions near your current location, lets you plan a walking route based on how much time you have, and adds context about each place as you arrive.
It works the same way across Copenhagen's neighbourhoods and in cities worldwide, so once you've used it here, you have a tool for every trip.
