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Indre By

Historic old town around Strøget

The medieval heart of Copenhagen packs the city's big sights into a small area – the pedestrian street Strøget, the Round Tower, the harbour Nyhavn and Christiansborg Palace.

The Storkespringvand (Stork Fountain) on busy Amagertorv, looking along the pedestrian street with the Nikolaj church tower in the background.

The historic heart of Copenhagen

Indre By ("inner city") is Copenhagen's medieval core and the best base for most first-time visitors. Between the pedestrian street Strøget, the Round Tower (Rundetårn), the harbour of Nyhavn and the palace island Slotsholmen with Christiansborg, the city's big sights sit close together – almost everything is an easy walk away.

Lanes, squares and canals

Beyond the busy main streets, it's worth losing yourself in the quiet lanes around the university and the Latin Quarter, past the cathedral and small bookshops. To the north lies the stately Frederiksstaden district with Amalienborg and the Marble Church; to the south, the canals of Slotsholmen.

An easy place to stay

For a first visit to Copenhagen, Indre By is the most convenient place to base yourself: all the main sights are within walking distance, and the nightlife districts are close by in the evening. That convenience comes at a price, though – accommodation here tends to cost more than in the outer neighbourhoods.

Around Indre By

The iconic Nyhavn waterfront with its colourful facades, traditional sailing boats and lively cafés.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn, the "New Harbour" from 1670, is Copenhagen's most famous postcard view — a row of colourful houses along the canal, once a sailors' quarter, now a promenade of boats, bars and canal tours.

The characteristic spiral-shaped brick ramp inside the Rundetaarn (Round Tower) in Copenhagen.

Round Tower

The Round Tower (Rundetårn), Copenhagen's tower from 1642, holds Europe's oldest working observatory. A 200-metre spiral ramp leads up to a view over the old town.

The entrance facade of the Museum of Illusions on the Stroget pedestrian street with passers-by.

Strøget

Strøget is Copenhagen's main pedestrian axis – around 1.1km of car-free shopping street running from City Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv, one of Europe's longest.

Imposing facade of Christiansborg Palace with its distinctive tower and an equestrian statue to the side.

Christiansborg Palace

On Slotsholmen, Christiansborg houses Denmark's parliament, government and Supreme Court, plus royal reception rooms and the free, tallest tower in Copenhagen.

The baroque courtyard of the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, with its distinctive entrance portal and the museum's sign on the pale facade.

National Museum of Denmark

Denmark's largest museum of cultural history fills the former Prince's Palace with 14,000 years of the past, from the Trundholm Sun Chariot to Vikings and world cultures.

The green equestrian statue of Frederik V on Amalienborg palace square, flanked by two of the four palace buildings.

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Slot, Denmark's royal residence since 1794, groups four rococo palaces around an octagonal square. Every day at 12:00 the bearskin-capped guards march in for the changing of the guard.

View across the pond in Copenhagen's Botanical Garden with lush ferns and visitors on the bank on a sunny summer day.

Botanical Garden

Botanisk Have, the University of Copenhagen's free garden at Nørreport, with a lake landscape, glasshouses and the historic glass-and-steel Palm House.

Neoclassical white museum building of the Hirschsprung Collection with a Parkmuseerne banner, set in greenery.

The Hirschsprung Collection

A purpose-built house for Heinrich Hirschsprung's collection of 19th-century Danish art – the Golden Age, the Skagen painters and Hammershøi, next to SMK.

The famous bronze statue of the Little Mermaid sits on a rock at Copenhagen's harbour with the city skyline in the background.

The Little Mermaid

Den lille Havfrue, Edvard Eriksen's bronze figure inspired by Andersen's fairy tale, has sat on the Langelinie quay since 1913 as Copenhagen's world-famous landmark.

Entrance of Designmuseum Danmark in red brick with an exhibition banner for the V&A collaboration Fashioned from Nature.

Designmuseum Danmark

From early craft to the chair gallery of Wegner and Jacobsen designs, the collection in this rococo building traces the story of Danish design.

The imposing brick facade of Helligaandskirken (Church of the Holy Spirit) in central Copenhagen, framed by summer trees.

Helligåndskirken

Medieval Church of the Holy Spirit right on Strøget by Amagertorv. Reopened in March 2026 after a two-year renovation, with a Greenlandic congregation.

Water-filled moat and grassy earthen rampart of the star fortress Kastellet with a small bridge in summer.

Kastellet

One of Northern Europe's best-preserved star fortresses – five-pointed ramparts, water-filled moats, red barracks and a windmill. Free public park and active barracks in one.

Rosenborg Slot erhebt sich hinter alten Baeumen im Kongens Have, umgeben von Besuchern an einem sonnigen Sommertag.

Kongens Have

Kongens Have is Copenhagen's oldest and most-visited park, laid out in 1606 by Christian IV. Rose garden, lime avenues and a puppet theatre around Rosenborg Castle.

Equestrian statue of Christian V on Kongens Nytorv, with a row of trees and a baroque church in the background.

Kongens Nytorv

Copenhagen's largest square, with an equestrian statue, the Royal Theatre, Charlottenborg and Magasin du Nord – open around the clock, with an ice rink and Christmas market in winter.

View along Frederiksgade towards the mighty dome of the Marble Church (Frederiks Kirke), framed by the palace buildings of Amalienborg.

Marble Church

Frederik's Church, crowned by Scandinavia's largest church dome, stands on the sightline from Amalienborg. Free entry inside, with dome climbs at weekends.

Front view of Rosenborg Castle with its symmetrical gateway, two green turrets and neat hedge borders in the foreground.

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Slot, Christian IV's Renaissance pleasure palace, keeps the Danish Crown Jewels in its treasury, plus the Knights' Hall, set in the Kongens Have park.

The brick tower of Sankt Petri Kirke with its green spire

Sankt Petri Kirke

Sankt Petri Kirke is the oldest surviving church in central Copenhagen and home to the city's German congregation. Don't miss the baroque burial chapels with their herb garden.

The Baroque courtyard façade of Charlottenborg Palace

Charlottenborg Palace

Charlottenborg Palace on Kongens Nytorv houses Kunsthal Charlottenborg, a major contemporary art hall in the Baroque Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

The neoclassical facade of the Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) with a Hammershøi exhibition banner above the entrance.

SMK

The Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) is Denmark's national gallery, spanning seven centuries of art – from the Golden Age to Hammershøi, Matisse and Picasso.

Market stalls between the halls of Torvehallerne

Torvehallerne

Two glass-roofed market halls on Israels Plads with over 60 stalls – smørrebrød, specialty coffee, tacos, chocolate and fresh produce – Copenhagen's foodie hub near Nørreport.

Trinitatis Kirke, built in the Dutch Renaissance style, directly adjoining the Round Tower.

Trinitatis Kirke

University church of Christian IV in the old town, physically joined to the Round Tower. Bright interior, active music programme, free admission.

City panorama from the Round Tower: in the foreground the neoclassical Vor Frue Kirke (Copenhagen Cathedral) with its green dome and square bell tower.

Copenhagen Cathedral (Vor Frue Kirke)

Vor Frue Kirke on Frue Plads is Copenhagen Cathedral: a neoclassical church by C. F. Hansen with Thorvaldsen's Christ figure and row of apostles. Free entry.