Luxury things to do in Copenhagen
Alchemist, Geranium, Schønnemann and a palace on the side
No ceilings, no compromises: tasting menus two nights running, the city's most storied lunch, flagship shopping and the grandest bars Copenhagen has. These three days are for someone who wants to understand exactly what this city does at its absolute best.
Day 1: Middelalderbyen and the old town
Start with a proper Copenhagen coffee, sweep through the city's grandest department store and Christiansborg, and end with Kadeau's Bornholm tasting menu.
- 9:30 AM
Lille Fugl
Top-rated neighbourhood café right in Middelalderbyen, start the day with a proper Copenhagen coffee.
Map - 10:30 AM
- 12:30 PM
Admiralgade 26
Wine-led modern Danish in a 1796 townhouse; let them pour by the glass from the long cellar list.
Map - 2:30 PM
Christiansborg Slot
Christiansborg Palace, seat of Danish power and a grand cultural landmark a short stroll from lunch.
Map - 7:30 PM
Kadeau
Bornholm's produce, pickles and preserves turned into a long tasting menu in Christianshavn; take the juice pairing.
Map - 10:00 PM
Ruby
Canal-side townhouse cocktail bar on Nybrogade with leather sofas and a sharp classics list.
Map
Day 2: Frederiksstaden and the royal quarter
Denmark's design heritage on Bredgade, lunch in Marchal's grand room at the d'Angleterre, Amalienborg's square, and Alchemist's theatre to close the night.
- 9:30 AM
Atelier September
Pale, calm café known for its avocado on rye and matcha; get there early for a window seat.
Map - 10:30 AM
Designmuseum Danmark
Danish chairs from Klint to Jacobsen in the 18th-century Frederik's Hospital on Bredgade; closed Mondays.
Map - 12:30 PM
Marchal
Hotel d'Angleterre's dining room on Kongens Nytorv: classic French-Nordic plates and a serious champagne list.
Map - 3:00 PM
Amalienborg Palace
The four rococo palaces around one cobbled square; the guard change happens at noon, so come for the square itself.
Map - 7:30 PM
Alchemist
Rasmus Munk's 50-course show under a planetarium dome on Refshaleøen; budget most of the evening for it.
Map - 10:00 PM
Victory - Cocktail Bar 🍸
Fireplace, armchairs and harbour views on the 25hours Hotel roof; cocktails made with house spirits.
Map
Day 3: Nansensgade, Nørreport and the green belt
Royal crown jewels at Rosenborg, the city's best-loved smørrebrød at Schønnemann, the Botanical Garden, and Geranium's tasting menu to cap three days.
- 9:30 AM
Kong Hans Bakery
The Kong Hans Kælder team's bakery: croissants, rye bread and pastries made with fine-dining care.
Map - 10:30 AM
Rosenborg Slot
Rosenborg Slot's royal crown jewels and fairy-tale castle, the grandest cultural landmark in the neighbourhood.
Map - 12:30 PM
Schønnemann
Schønnemann is Copenhagen's most legendary smørrebrød institution, the city's most famous lunch, full stop.
Map - 2:30 PM
Botanisk Have
Stroll the beautiful Botanical Garden glasshouses and grounds, a serene afternoon reset before dinner.
Map - 7:30 PM
Geranium
Rasmus Kofoed's meat-free tasting menu on the 8th floor of the national stadium, looking over Fælledparken.
Map
Where to stay
Hotel Sanders
Hotel Sanders is the quietly grand, design-forward choice that sits in the centre of all three days and matches the tone of every dinner on this itinerary.
Hotel Skt. Annæ
Hotel Skt. Annæ puts you a short walk from Frederiksstaden and Amalienborg, and carries the kind of understated confidence that suits this level of travel.
Make Copenhagen your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Tivoli Gardens: a few days ahead
- GoBoat: a few days ahead
- Church of Our Saviour: a few days ahead
- Jazzhus Montmartre: a few days ahead
- Hey Captain: weeks ahead
- CopenHill: a few days ahead
Skip these
- The Little Mermaid as a destination: see her incidentally from a canal boat or with Kastellet, never build a morning around her.
- Eating on Nyhavn: walk it and photograph it, then eat in Christianshavn, five minutes away, for the same canals with real restaurants.
- Strøget as shopping: global chains, souvenir mark-ups and the pickpocket strip. Danish design is in the side streets and Nørrebro vintage.
- Christiania as a drug stop: that era ended in April 2024 and anyone selling to tourists there now is a legal risk.
The full Copenhagen travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around