7 Free Things to Do in Copenhagen

A picturesque city on the coast, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is one of the most touristed cities in the Nordic region. Known to be one of the greenest capitals in the world, it is the center of commerce and entertainment for the Danish people, who are consistently rated as some of the happiest on the planet. If you are headed to Denmark and would like to avoid burning a hole in your pocketbook, consider the top seven free things to do in Copenhagen:

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Top things to do in Copenhagen

Where to stay in Copenhagen

Top 7 FRREE Things To Do In Copenhagen

Bakken

While going on rides will cost you, admission to the Bakken amusement park is free, and quite the experience. The park opened all the way back in 1583, and is the world’s oldest operating amusement park.

Boasting up to 2.7 million visitors annually, Bakken is the second-most visited attraction in all of Denmark. The park hosts six full-on roller coaster rides, and is home to dozens of other smaller rides for fun lovers of all ages.

Fredericksberg Garden (Frederiksberg Have)

One of the largest greenspaces in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Garden is a wonderful place to relax and hang-out on a mild Copenhagen afternoon. The garden is classified as a romantic landscape garden, complete with a lake, rolling lawns set against grove trees, the Apis Temple, and a Chinese summerhouse and bridge. For an extra slice of tranquility, you can check out the Artificial Waterfall, nestled into the central wooded area of the park.

The David Collection (David’s Samling)

The David Collection is one of the few free museums in Copenhagen. It’s home to a collection of fine and applied art, and was built around the private collection of businessman and art collector C. L. David.

For those interested in ancient art pieces, the museum is renowned for its collection of Islamic art, dating back to the 8th century. It also houses the work of a number of well-known Danish painters, and underwent a major refurbishment project in 2006. If you want a free piece of cultural enrichment, this is definitely the place to find it.

The Little Mermaid (Den Little Havfrue)

Take a stroll to see the iconic Little Mermaid statue perched on Copenhagen’s shores at the Langelinie promenade. Based on the fairytale, The Little Mermaid, by Hans Cristian Anderson.

The statue has come to symbolize the country of Denmark, much like the Statue of Liberty symbolizes the United States. Built back in 1913, the statue is a must-see if you’re in the city.

Botanical Garden

Located in central Copenhagen, the Botanical Garden is a must-visit for any nature lover. The Garden boasts 27 glasshouses that date back to 1874, while featuring the Palm House, which is 16 meters tall with a narrow spiral staircase that leads to a passageway at its peak.

The Botanical Garden contains over 13,000 different species of plants, and has a variety of themes in each glasshouse, even including an Arctic glasshouse with special air temperature control to recreate the plants’ natural environment.

Christiania Freetown

One of the most intriguing locales in Copenhagen, Christiania Freetown (Christiania for short) is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood of just under 1,000 residents. Run by a self-governing anarchist community, the town certainly constitutes an alternative way of living, and is an interesting departure from the normalized first world way of living.

Christiania has been famous for its open cannabis trade since its inception in 1971. It is a popular tourist destination for the myriad of oddities that can be found here, a locale entirely unique to Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Free Walking Tours

What better way to experience the city than on a free walking tour? Get your fix of Copenhagen sites, smells and history by joining the city tour, which runs year-round regardless of weather. The tour kicks off at Copenhagen City Hall every day of the year at 11 am, as long as there are at least five people present for the tour. It’s highly recommended to start your Danish adventure with this tour, to get yourself grounded and accustomed to your surroundings. You will get a chance to check out all of the most famous landmarks in Copenhagen on this tour, which is given fully in English. Of course, the best part about it is that it’s free, but tips for your tour guide’s efforts are encouraged.

And if this has not convinced you to add Copenhagen to your bucket list, read these 10 Steps to Fall in Love with Copenhagen.

Written for EuropeUpClose.com by guest contributor Andrew Larson, travel enthusiast and semi-retired globetrotter who now runs Wanderlust 15. For more information, visit Wanderlust 15.