Last March Finn & I travelled with my family to Copenhagen for 4 days as I was competing in a Hyrox event with my sister. Usually I am not a fan of city breaks as I find the constant busyness overwhelming, especially when travelling with children, and I usually can’t wait to escape back to the countryside.

Copenhagen, however, completely changed my mind and definitely reminded me not to put all cities into the same box.

It is worth noting that we stayed with a friend of mine so I can’t comment on accommodation options this time. Personally, we prefer to stay in Air Bnb’s as I find this works better for us with the children, however there are an abundance of hotels to choose from in the city.

It’s a city I would happily return to and one I felt genuinely comfortable exploring with kids. Calm, clean, easy to navigate and incredibly family-friendly, it struck the perfect balance between culture, green space and fun.

The iconic colourful houses of Nyhavn. Best visited during quieter times of the day to avoid the crowds.

Hi, I’m Jess. As a family we are always on the lookout for new places to explore, whether that’s close to home, or further afield visiting new countries.

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Getting There & Around

We flew from Edinburgh, using a mix of Ryanair and easyJet flights as the timings worked best for us. On arrival in Copenhagen, getting into the city is straightforward thanks to the Metro. There are just three lines, so it’s easy to follow — even after a flight with children in tow.

One important thing to note: you must buy your ticket before boarding the Metro. Tickets can’t be purchased on the train, and fines for travelling without one are hefty. We didn’t find the Metro overly busy at any point, even during peak times, which was another big plus.

The trains are driverless, and sitting right at the front turned out to be a highlight for Finn. If you’re planning to use public transport frequently, the City Pass is well worth considering. It works on consecutive days, so we bought a single ticket from the airport on arrival day, then used a multi-day pass for the rest of the trip, which suited our plans perfectly.

Is the Copenhagen Card Worth It?

If you’re planning on visiting several museums or paid attractions, the Copenhagen Card can offer excellent value. It includes transport and entry to many attractions, and while we didn’t use it this time, it’s definitely something I’d consider on a return visit.

What We Got Up To

There is so much to see and do in Copenhagen, and we managed to pack in plenty without feeling rushed. Here are some of the places we visited:

Museum of Illusions was great fun, though I’d say it’s better suited to older children who can really enjoy the visual tricks and displays.

The Museum of Illusions is a good option for a rainy day!

One of our favourite visits was the Natural History Museum and Botanical Gardens. It’s fantastic value for money and a lovely place to slow down. The Butterfly House is a must, and the gardens themselves would make a perfect picnic spot. You can also easily combine this with a visit to the King’s Garden, which is directly across the road.

For a more budget friendly option, head to the Natural History Museum and Butterfly House. We spent ages exploring here.

For incredible views over the city, we climbed The Round Tower on a sunny day — definitely worth the effort.

A boat trip from Nyhavn was another highlight. There’s no need to pre-book; you can simply turn up and there are a couple of companies who host tours. The 60-minute tour is great value and a relaxing way to see the city from the water. Nyhavn itself is beautiful, with its famous colourful houses, though it was probably the busiest place we visited. If crowds aren’t your thing, it’s worth checking quieter times. While you’re there, grab an ice cream from Vaffelbageren on the corner — the Mr Whippy-style soft serves are hugely popular. They were a big hit with children and grown ups alike.

By pure luck, we also stumbled upon the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg Palace, which takes place daily at noon. Watching the Royal Life Guard march through the city was a lovely surprise and added a bit of unexpected magic to the day.

Food & Family-Friendly Spots

Copenhagen has several excellent indoor food markets, which are ideal when travelling with kids. We visited Torvehallene and Seaside, both of which have outdoor seating areas. Being able to eat outside while the kids had space to move around was a game-changer. We also enjoyed a meal at Halifax Burgers, and found it very child friendly. If you have your eye on somewhere then I would recommend booking as places seem to get busy, even for earlier sittings.

Finn’s favourite treat came from Buka Bakery, where he loved the cream- and fruit-filled croissants — especially the branch near the Museum of Illusions. There are plenty of places scattered about the city, as well as food stands selling things like hot dogs,

What We’d Do Next Time

There’s still so much left on our Copenhagen wish list. On our next visit, we’d love to explore:

Experimentarium – slightly out of the city but easily reached by public transport.
Copenhagen Zoo - Meet more than 4,000 fascinating animals at Copenhagen ZOO and travel between continents in just one day.
Tivoli Gardens – sadly closed when we visited, but high on the list for next time. I have heard Halloween and Christmas is a particularly magical time.

Copenhagen is full of green spaces and parks, and even wandering without a strict plan felt easy and enjoyable. It really is a city designed with families in mind.

Extending the Trip: Legoland Billund

If you’re travelling with children, Copenhagen also pairs well with a visit to Legoland in Billund. While there are no direct trains, you can travel to Vejle (around 2.5 hours) and then take a bus, or drive if you’ve hired a car. It’s a trip we’re hoping to do soon — Finn is desperate to go.

Final Thoughts

Copenhagen surprised me in all the best ways. It’s calm without being boring, packed with culture without feeling overwhelming, and genuinely welcoming for families. Yes accommodation and food is pricier than some other European countries, and this is something you may want to consider but if you’ve ever hesitated about taking kids on a city break, this might just be the place that changes your mind.