Copenhagen 3 Day Itinerary

If you Google best destination for solo female travelers, no doubt Copenhagen is on the list! It is an incredibly safe, and stunning city to visit. Any time of year is a good time of year to visit Copenhagen. With endless activities to do, you might be asking, what is the best Copenhagen 3 day itinerary?

Having traveled solo to over 50 European cities, I have become the master at making a 3 day itinerary. I’ve learned, that if you plan it out thoughtfully, you can see most of a city in 3 days.

I won’t just stop at Copenhagen, as this city is close to some amazing spots you might not think to check out. At the end of this guide, I will share three top day trips from Copenhagen! Perfect for a solo female traveling.

Best Copenhagen 3 Day Itinerary

One of the main reasons for which I deem Copenhagen as a wonderful three-day trip is its size. When a city is compact and easy to get around, covering a lot of ground in a short time is easy.

It is also a friendly city. As English is commonly spoken throughout Denmark, communication is smooth which adds up to feeling more in your comfort zone. I assume that every woman traveling alone would like to get this feeling of freedom and being welcome.

Making the Most of Your 3 days in Copenhagen

The key to any successful short trip is being organized. If you aren’t prepared you can waste precious time that could have been avoid if you planned ahead.

I have visited Copenhagen 4 times, it is my most favorite European city. Having visited so many times I have really learned to maximize my time each visit and created a three-day itinerary that highlights the best Copenhagen has to offer.

Be sure to get my Map of Copenhagen downloaded into your phone before arriving. It will be extra helpful to give you an overview of everything in this post.

Day 1 Copenhagen Itinerary Idea

Morning at Tivoli Gardens

Copenhagen is home to Tivoli Gardens, the 2nd oldest functioning amusement park in the world. Walt Disney has said that he got his inspiration for Disney World from Tivoli. The amusement park was open for the first time ever this winter! Because it is not usually open year-round, check out the opening times. This is a wonderful addition to your 3-day itinerary in Copenhagen and is a one of a kind top destination in Denmark!

You can plan to explore this park all morning! Even if you don’t enjoy going on the rides, it’s a wonderful experience.

Tivoli has several great cafes and restaurants for breakfast.

Mid-day visit to Torvehallerne

After your morning at Tivoli, lunch, or an afternoon snack at Torvehallerne. Torvehallerne is less than a 20-minute walk from Tivoli. It’s an upscale food market experience you must check out.

Here you will find boutique food shops, craft beer, fine wines, and gourmet coffee. Torvehallerne has several tapas-style bars, with a variety of food choices, perfect for lunch or early evening snack.

Torvehallerne is located just minutes away from the Norreport Street train station.

For an alternative afternoon idea, head over to Reffen, to experience a wide range of Copenhagen cuisine. This place is packed with street food vendors, it replaces Paper Island after its recent closing. Reffen is not normally open during winter but is fully-functioning in spring, summer, and autumn.

From Tivoli Gardens, Reffen is 1 hour walk or a 20 minute ride on public transportation.

End day 1 at the Meatpacking District

If you are looking for the really fun and trendy area of Copenhagen, look no further, it is called Vesterbro. Home to the old meatpacking district now converted into shops and restaurants.

My favorite places that I hope you will not miss out on are War Pigs (vast selection of beers and BBQ style food), Mother (finger-licking pizza and wine), NOHO (home of upscale meals combined with fantastic cocktails).

Day 2 Itinerary Starts With A View

Climb to the top of Church of Our Saviour

A Copenhagen 3 day itinerary wouldn’t be complete without seeing an overview of the city! Obviously the weather needs to corporate to achieve the best views. I was lucky enough to have no rain, but it was very cloudy.

The Church of Our Saviour is located in the Christianshavn neighborhood, right next to the Freetown Christiania. It’s here I found the best view of Copenhagen. The Church of Our Saviour, a red brick church with what looks like a corkscrew on top.

Day 2 afternoon & evening exploring Copenhagen

After climbing to see Copenhagen from above, it’s time to go to the ground and experience it by boat! This boat tour of Copenhagen will take you by some of the most famous sites such as The Little Mermaid. The other stops include:

• Ved Stranden / Strøget
• Nyhavn
• Street Food / Reffen
• Ofelia Plads / Amalienborg Palace
• Christianshavn
•  DAC / BLOX / Black Diamond

If the weather isn’t cooperating or you just aren’t interested in being in a boat, I will suggest this bus tour.

Remaining popular activities to add to your three-day itinerary to Copenhagen are:

• Round Tower
• Strøget
• Copenhagen Zoo
• Kronborg Castle
• The architecture in Copenhagen is beautiful as if you are walking through a fairy tale written by the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. Spending an afternoon just marveling at the quaint streets and highly detailed buildings is a great way to spend some time.

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Day 3 Itinerary | Day Trips From Copenhagen

If you rent a car in Copenhagen you will have the option of visiting multiple castles! Now, if you want to just use public transportation, you can easily reach these castle below, but I would personally just choose 1.

Visit Kronborg Castle

Although very representative of Denmark, Copenhagen is far from being exhaustive when it comes to exploring. I have found some locations of interests that I would like to share with you. There are so many day trips from Copenhagen perfect for solo women, and one is Kronborg Castle. It is located in the town of Helsingør, is approx. 1 hour north of Copenhagen by train. The train between Copenhagen Central and Helsingør runs every 20 mins.

An exclusive tip, if you have trouble using the ticket machine at Helsingør station, tickets can be purchased on-site in the 7-Eleven. This tip will save you time roaming around aimlessly looking for help. I had trouble with this machine when the credit card I was using didn’t have a pin code. The machine would not let me use it.

Opening Times For Kronborg Castle

The castle and grounds are open to the public, Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. This castle is extra special for having been immortalized Elsinore, in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. If you dare, you can explore the spooky underground caves beneath the castle grounds. Look out for bats…though I didn’t see any…

Visit Frederiksborg Castle

Number two on my list for day trips from Copenhagen is Frederiksborg Castle! You can reach this castle 1 hour north of Copenhagen by train, and 40 mins by car. The castle is located in a town called Hillrød and is open Monday through Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. The grounds of the castle are decorated with beautiful baroque gardens. The renaissance castle, built in the 17th century by King Christian IV, has housed the Museum of National History since 1878.

Alternative Copenhagen 3 Day Itinerary

Copenhagen to Sweden a Must-Do Day Trip!

You can mix up your Copenhagen 3 day itinerary by adding another country to your bucket list. Traveling to Sweden is an incredibly easy day trip from Copenhagen. An aggressive, but doable day trip idea is to visit both Malmö and Helsingborg by train or ferry! The best route is to start from Copenhagen’s central station and take the train to Helsingør, Denmark. Here you could enjoy a pastry and walk up to Kronborg Castle and tour the grounds and castle.

After getting your fix of the castle, the ferry to Helsingborg awaits! It takes only 20 mins to cross the sea into Sweden. Just like Denmark, Sweden is also a top destination for women! Helsingborg is fairly small, and a peaceful place to enjoy lunch. You will want to climb the stairs to Kärnan tower because it has an amazing viewpoint!

If you have time to check out Stockholm, check out this weekend guide to Sweden!

Pictures of Helsingborg, Sweden

Day Trip from Copenhagen – Pictures of Malmö, Sweden

Transit Information

Great transportation is another factor when deciding on the best destinations if traveling on your own. Because Copenhagen has an efficient and easy to use the transit system, it is one of the best destinations for solo female travelers. Here is what you need to know:

The transit information for Copenhagen can be found here.

If you get a 24hr day pass is approx. $12 and a 48-hour pass is approx. $22. It is worth getting a pass if you are going to be doing a lot of sightseeing in cold weather. It is a very walkable city, so if it is warm, you may use the train less.

I would recommend is getting the Copenhagen Card. Because if you plan on visiting a bunch of Copenhagen’s Museums, many entrance fees would be waived. Transit in the local Copenhagen area would also be included in the card. A 48-hour card costs 77 euros for adults. If you plan taking day trips from Copenhagen, this card may also be useful.

There is a handy Transit App called DSB, but to use this app you must have a phone number from the following countries: Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden or the UK. If you don’t have a phone number from those countries, it will not work for you.

To Copenhagen center from the airport

To get to downtown Copenhagen via train, obtain your ticket from the ticket machines that are on the right-hand side at the airport exit. You will have the option of using the Metro Train or the main train. The metro is more frequent, and you have more stop options.

Pay attention when leaving the airport. The Metro will be up to the escalator and straight, while the main train will be on your right-hand side and require you to go down the escalator. If you are going up, you are going Metro, if you are going down, then you are going to the main train, direct Central Station.

A Single Woman Traveling Tip:

Some of the best advice I have for you in this 3 day itinerary for Copenhagen is to save money is to avoid taxis. They are very expensive, and not necessary. The public transit is fantastic and goes straight from the airport to the town’s center. All the day trips from Copenhagen will all be easily accessible by public transit!

Airbnb is a great option for affordable accommodations, I have also included a list of affordable hotels.

Where to Eat in Copenhagen

If you are a girl who likes spoiling her palate, Copenhagen could surpass your expectations. In other words, the cuisine here offers various options to suit every solo female traveler’s taste. Save time and energy and check out my top picks! Below are some of Denmark’s top restaurant destinations for women:

Best Breakfast in Copenhagen

• Cafe Atelier September has the best avocado toast I’ve ever had. Pair that with a damn fine cup of coffee, nom nom!! You will find this located centrally close to the famous Nyhavn.

• Mad & Kaffe is located in Vesterbro, close to the meatpacking district. Mad & Kaffe is a good place if you are a female freelancer traveling on your own. They have a concept of ordering dishes in threes or fives. The cinnamon bun is a must-order item.

• The Union Kitchen– Presents a variant for everyone and every taste. Located very close to the famous Nyhavn.

Best Bistro Lunch in Copenhagen

• Aamanns is the home of the open-faced sandwich. You won’t find this place to be too trendy, but it is a great value for money. It shouldn’t be missed. You will find it located near the Museum of Natural History

• Vækst is a lovely choice for lunch or dinner. It is a higher-end style restaurant with a pre-set menu and al la carte options. I highly recommend tasting the cauliflower here!

Best Bistro Dinner in Copenhagen

• Høst was a slice of heaven! The service was very attentive and friendly, and the food, p-e-r-f-e-c-t! They had a prefix of either 3 or 5 courses, with wine pairing choices. I was delighted with all the extra free dishes they served in between courses. Centrally located, and shouldn’t be missed!

• Gemyse – I had a wonderful dinner at Gemyse, and would definitely go back! I do need to point out this restaurant is located within Tivoli, so you must also buy the entrance to the park. This should be factored in if you are planning on visiting the park so you can do it on the same day. I had a lovely few courses, lots of al-a-carte choices, and some tasty drinks.

• Gro Spiseri Rooftop restaurant with a farm to table concept! Reservations are required and can be made online. The restaurant is located in the Østerbro neighborhood, a little north of the city center. Lots of options for women who are vegetarians.

• Restaurant Radio had an impressive fish entree, it had me wanting to come back again and again! Creative dishes paired with crisp and clean wines. Because it’s centrally located and close to Metro Station Forum, you should put it on your list.

• Bæst Swanky environment and the best pizza in Copenhagen! Make reservations, bookable online.

• Tapperiet Brus I visited this place every day of my trip! It has a wide selection of beer, great music, and tasty food! The vibe is casual, hip, and comfortable. They open at noon and start serving food at 3 pm on weekdays, and brunch on weekends at 11 am! They serve an upscale bar food menu that I highly recommend!

Best of Where to Drink for Solo Female Traveler

Best Bars in Copenhagen

• Noho located in the meatpacking district offers inventive cocktails in a trendy environment. You can also come hungry, as this place does serve food.

• Mikkeller & Friends is where all the good beer comes from in Copenhagen! Because they have multiple locations to choose from, you should be able to find one no matter where you are. I have had the pleasure of drinking in a bar located in Vesterbro. This venue is cozy and very relaxed, located in the basement level of a residential building: great lighting, music, and the best beer in the city.

• Vinhanen is for female solo travelers that are also wine lovers and should be on your list! Because quality wine doesn’t have to come with the crazy price. The cozy and sleek venue, located just across the bridge in Nørrebro!

Where to Stay in Copenhagen for 3 Days?

If you only have a few days, you want to make sure to pick the most conveniently located accommodations. This city has some of the swankiest hotels in the world! For Copenhagen, you could spend hours of in-depth research. Luckily, if you have ended here, a fellow single woman traveling shares a list of top choices below:

Best 3 Boutique Hotels in Copenhagen

• Hotel SP34 Located centrally in Copenhagen, not far from Tivoli. I have toured this hotel inside-out, and can highly recommend it for its quality and amenities provided.
• Hotel Skt Petri This hotel is mid-size, centrally located minutes from Norreport St. metro station, and stylish. The bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom spacious and luxurious. The onsite restaurant was fantastic, as well as the room service.

Bertrams Guldmedens

Located in the heart of Vesterbro neighbourhood, this boutique hotel is stylish, comfortable and peaceful. I was very impressed with the hotel staff, it was very accommodating and had lovely suggestions on where to go.

Top 3 Luxury Hotels in Copenhagen

• 71 Nyhavn– The style and vibe of this hotel can’t be beaten! This hotel has been created from two old warehouses converted! The location is idyllic for the perfect stay in Copenhagen!
• Nimb Hotel The Nimb hotel is special like no other as it is in Tivoli Gardens Park. High class all the way up to the rooftop pool! A modern and chic hotel is a stunner.
• Nobis Hotel It is fair to say that its royal-like and pristine interiors could make you feel like being in a castle. Marble stones and crystal chandeliers make just a tiny portion of the overall majestic atmosphere. Service is world-class, along with the dining options.

3 Stylish & Affordable Hostels

• Urban House Copenhagen located 2 mins from the central station, this place is a winner. Hip and trendy, as well as clean. This Urban House runs a good show. Check out the bar downstairs, free WIFI, great beer, and friendly staff!
• Wakeup Copenhagen Modern Minimalist hotel with all the amenities. Located very close to Central Station and Tivoli.
• Hotel SCT Thomas Standard fair budget hotel, highly maintained, and free breakfast. Stay here for the Vesterbro neighborhood.

If you have more time in Europe and are looking for another city to visit, check out Amsterdam!

Do you still have questions about traveling solo as a female? Here are the Best Questions About Solo Travel

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