15 Fun Things to Do in Copenhagen: Hidden Gems & Family-Friendly Picks

Copenhagen has more bikes than cars. That’s not just a charming stat, it’s a clue. A city that pedals through life with ease is bound to have a few surprises tucked between its cobblestone streets, modern canals, and pastry counters.

Sure, you’ve heard about Tivoli and The Little Mermaid. Great. Do them. But if you’re someone who wants to dig a little deeper, find the places locals actually enjoy, and maybe dodge the Instagram crowds while you’re at it, you’re in the right place.

As someone who’s spent more time queueing at a coffee bar than at a tourist attraction (intentionally, I swear), I’ve learned something: the real magic of Copenhagen is in the details. In the unexpected. In the way the city invites you to slow down, breathe in, and connect, whether it’s with your kids, your partner, or your own inner introvert.

This guide blends the big-hitters with the kind of hidden gems that don’t usually make TripAdvisor’s front page. And if you’re a parent looking for more than just another playground pitstop, you’re in for a treat, I’ve included a few local tips that’ll make you the hero of your family… or at least get you a quiet coffee while your kid sips a smoothie.

Let’s get into it.

Key Takeaways

• Kayak through Copenhagen’s canals for a unique city perspective

• Enjoy a 2-for-1 smoothie date with your child every Tuesday at OHA Café

• Explore street art, vintage shops, and cultural corners in Nørrebro

• Swim in the city’s clean harbor or ski down CopenHill

• Visit kid-friendly spots like Experimentarium and Dyrehaven

• Discover alternative dining with pop-up events and Reffen street food

• Catch an intimate Candlelight Concert or unwind in the Botanical Garden

• Copenhagen’s best moments often happen off the tourist trail

Fun Things to Do in Copenhagen

Copenhagen wears its charm well. It’s clean, quirky, and weirdly obsessed with open-faced sandwiches.

But beyond the polished canals and guidebook staples lies a city bursting with low-key brilliance, especially if you’re the kind of person who appreciates the little details, a good pastry, or a surprise jazz concert under a bridge.

Here are 15 fun things to do in Copenhagen that blend local insight, family-friendly vibes, and just enough cool to impress your visiting friends, or yourself.

1. Kayak Through the Canals Like a Viking With a Gym Membership

Yes, the canals are beautiful from the bridges. But from the water? They’re magic. Rent a kayak from GreenKayak or Kajakhotellet and explore Copenhagen from a duck’s-eye view. Glide past old warehouses, hidden backstreets, and locals sipping wine on the docks.

It’s free if you use GreenKayak and pick up litter along the way, a brilliant eco-initiative. Wear layers, don’t drop your phone, and enjoy the sound of your paddle cutting through clean city water.

Best time to go? Late afternoon on a sunny weekday. Less boat traffic, golden hour light.

2. Parent-Child Date at OHA Café

Some of the best moments in Copenhagen don’t involve museums or castles. They happen over smoothies. At OHA Café, every Tuesday from 15:00 to 17:00, you can enjoy 2-for-1 smoothies when you visit with your child.

The space is cozy, designed for real connection. No ball pits, no overstimulation. Just snacks, good coffee, and calm. You get a break from the routine. Your child gets your full attention. You both win.

It’s available in Frederiksberg and Valby, two areas worth exploring anyway, full of leafy streets, parks, and local shops.

3. Hunt Street Art in Nørrebro

Nørrebro is Copenhagen’s creative soul. Walk through the side streets near Jægersborggade or Blågårds Plads and you’ll stumble across giant murals, layered tags, and spontaneous public art that changes weekly.

Want more structure? Join a guided street art tour, or map your own route with help from locals on Reddit or Alltrails. Bring a camera. Bring curiosity. This is the city’s outdoor gallery, and it’s alive.

4. Join a Pop-Up Dinner With Strangers

Copenhagen is the kind of city where strangers become dinner companions fast. Pop-up dining events hosted by locals are growing in popularity, especially through platforms like EatWith or small supper clubs promoted via Facebook or Meetup.

These aren’t tourist traps. They’re real homes, real food, and real conversation. Danish, international, vegan, or seasonal, there’s something for every taste.

Perfect if you’re traveling solo, new in town, or just tired of restaurant formality.

5. Swim in the Harbor

Copenhagen’s harbor is so clean you can swim in it. Really. Locals do it all summer, and not just for Instagram. Head to Islands Brygge, Kalvebod Bølge, or Nordhavn for designated swimming zones.

The water is refreshing, the vibe is relaxed, and the energy is pure summer. There are lifeguards, floating docks, and even saunas in the colder months.

Bring a towel and don’t be shy. Everyone else is doing it.

6. Take the Kids to Experimentarium

Located in Hellerup, Experimentarium is hands-on science at its best. Think interactive exhibits, sensory experiments, and enough wow-factor to keep kids entertained for hours. It’s loud, engaging, and sneakily educational.

There’s a rooftop playground, a cafe with strong coffee, and rotating exhibitions that keep things fresh. Perfect for rainy days or when playgrounds just aren’t cutting it.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance, especially on weekends.

7. Visit CopenHill: the Power Plant That Skis

Only in Copenhagen would a waste-to-energy plant double as a ski slope. At CopenHill, you can hike, ski, or just enjoy panoramic city views from the rooftop bar.

Even if you’re not up for sliding down synthetic snow, the experience is unique. There are climbing walls, a running trail, and guided tours of the green tech powering the place.

It's sustainability turned into an amusement park.

8. Browse for Vintage on Larsbjørnsstræde

This narrow street in the Latin Quarter is heaven for second-hand lovers. Vintage shops here are curated and cool, not musty charity bins. Think leather jackets, designer finds, and one-off accessories that spark joy.

Take your time. Ask questions. Copenhageners love quality and storytelling, and that applies to fashion too.

9. Explore the Free Town of Christiania

It’s not a tourist gimmick. Christiania is an autonomous neighborhood built on counterculture and creativity. Think homemade houses, lush gardens, cafes, music venues, and strong opinions.

Visit respectfully. Photography is restricted in parts, but the vibes are open. Grab a vegan snack, listen to a street performer, or just sit and people-watch.

It’s a different pace entirely.

10. Say Yes to Street Food at Reffen

Reffen is the kind of place you “accidentally” stay at for 4 hours. Located on Refshaleøen, it’s Copenhagen’s largest street food market. You’ll find everything from duck confit burgers to plant-based tacos, often with a side of live music.

It’s casual, creative, and packed with both locals and travelers. Go hungry. Bring layers, it’s right on the water.

11. Catch a Candlelight Concert

Music, yes. But also the atmosphere. Candlelight Concerts hosted by Fever take place in churches, concert halls, and cultural spaces all over Copenhagen. They cover everything from Vivaldi to Queen.

The soft glow, the acoustics, the intimacy, it’s unlike any live music experience you’ve had. Book early; they sell out fast.

12. Take the Train to the Deer Park (Dyrehaven)

20 minutes north of the city lies Dyrehaven, a royal hunting ground turned public forest. It’s vast, peaceful, and home to over 2,000 free-roaming deer. Bring snacks, rent bikes, or stroll the forest paths.

There’s a historic amusement park (Bakken), horse-drawn carriages, and enough green space to forget you’re near a capital city.

13. Tour the Botanical Garden

Located behind the Natural History Museum, the Botanical Garden offers calm in the middle of the city.

Wander among rare plants, visit the butterfly house (seasonal), and enjoy some of the best picnic spots in town.

The Palm House alone is worth the visit. Moist air, giant ferns, spiral stairs, you’ll feel like you’re in a sci-fi film.

14. Eat Pastries That Will Emotionally Ruin You

Copenhagen’s bakeries are elite. Try Juno the Bakery in Østerbro, Andersen & Maillard in Nørrebro, or Hart Bageriin Frederiksberg. Expect queues. Accept them. The cardamom buns, croissants, and sourdough will reset your standards forever.

Buy more than one. You’ll regret it if you don’t.

15. Discover the Library Hidden in a Castle (Seriously)

The Royal Library Garden is one of Copenhagen’s best-kept secrets. Nestled behind Christiansborg Palace, it’s quiet, green, and surprisingly uncrowded.

Nearby, the Black Diamond which is the ultra-modern extension of the Royal Library, offers exhibitions, coffee, and killer harbor views. Bring a book, a journal, or someone to impress.

Conclusion

So, you’ve got your list. The must-sees, the should-sees, and the never-knew-this-existed spots. But let me leave you with this: Copenhagen isn’t a checklist, it’s a conversation. One that unfolds best when you step off the path just a little.

Make eye contact with a barista. Take a detour through a side street in Nørrebro. Say yes to a spontaneous lunch on a floating café. These are the things that stick.

And if you’re traveling (or living!) with kids, remember: connection doesn’t always come from big events or expensive tickets. Sometimes, it’s a Tuesday afternoon, two smoothies, and a good old-fashioned chat across the table. At OHA, we’ve built just the spot for that: a cozy, calm place in Frederiksberg or Valby where parents and kids can reconnect over great snacks and even better moments.

If you’re ready to swap screen time for face time, come visit us. We’ll save you a seat, and a second smoothie.

Join Us at Cafe OHA

Danish below

One-on-one date with your child every Tuesday now at OHA!

Indulge into a lovely afternoon fun with your offspring enjoying each other and simple conversations with a glass of lemonade and snacks, or coffee and cake. 

Every Tuesday 15:00-17:00 we offer 2 smoothies for the price of 1 when you come here with your child!

Boost your relationship to a next level, talk about what happened during your day and simply connect in a different environment than your home. 

We got you covered :) Come visit us in OHA Frederiksberg or OHA Valby.

***

OHA giver dig nu mulighed for at invitere dit barn ud hver tirsdag! Hengiv jer til en dejlig eftermiddag, hvor i sammen kan have det sjovt og snakke sammen over et glas limonade og en snack eller kaffe og kage.

Hver tirsdag fra 15-17 får du en ekstra smoothie gratis, når du køber en sammen med dit barn.

Boost jeres forhold til næste niveau og tal om hvad der er sket i løbet af dagen i et andet miljø end derhjemme.

Vi er her for at gøre det behageligt! Besøg os hos OHA Frederiksberg eller OHA Valby.