Copenhagen is expensive — that part is true. What surprises people is how much of the good stuff costs nothing. You can fill days here without paying for a single ticket, which is why free things belong on any shortlist of the best things to see and do.
The short answer: the best free things to do in Copenhagen are the free 106-metre Christiansborg tower, the National Museum, the star-shaped Kastellet fortress, the harbour swimming pools in summer, the daily changing of the guard, and hours of walking along Strøget and the canals. Below are 25 of them, plus a few bonuses, organised so you can string them into a genuinely good, genuinely cheap day.
Free Things to Do in Copenhagen at a Glance
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Royal & Historic | Kastellet, Amalienborg courtyard, Changing of the Guard, Round Tower exterior, Christiansborg’s free 106m tower |
| Museums (free or free Tuesdays) | National Museum of Denmark (always free), Glyptotek (free Tuesdays), Statens Museum (free under 26), David Collection (always free) |
| Parks & Gardens | Kongens Have, Botanical Garden, Frederiksberg Have, Søndermarken, Fælledparken, Assistens Cemetery |
| Iconic Walks | Inner Harbour walk Nyhavn → Little Mermaid, Strøget pedestrian street, Christianshavn canals |
| Outdoor Activities | Harbour baths (May–Sept), Free city swimming, Cycle the Harbour Loop, Reffen waterfront |
| Cultural & Religious | Marble Church (free entry), Trinitatis Church, Vor Frue Kirke, Free Folketinget tours |
| Shopping & Markets | Free flea markets (Frederiksberg/Nørrebro/Israels Plads), Strøget window shopping, Værnedamsvej walk |
| Beaches & Coast | Amager Strandpark beach, Bellevue Beach, Charlottenlund Fort |
25 Best Free Things to Do in Copenhagen
These are the 25 best free things to do in Copenhagen, organised by theme. Royal palaces and historic fortifications, world-class free museums, parks and gardens, iconic walks, outdoor activities, free cultural venues, and free Copenhagen flea markets. Free things to do in Copenhagen suit every interest and every season — and almost all of them are within walking distance of central Copenhagen.
1. Visit Kastellet — The Star Fortress
Kastellet is one of Northern Europe’s best-preserved star-shaped fortresses (1664) and completely free to visit. Walk the moat ramparts for the best aerial geometry view, see the 1847 windmill, the church (1704) and the small commandant’s house. Open dawn to dusk daily. Allow 30 minutes; combines naturally with the Little Mermaid (300 metres north) and the Gefion Fountain.
2. Watch the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg
The Royal Life Guard parades from Rosenborg Castle every day at 11:30, marches through Kongens Have and down Gothersgade and across Kongens Nytorv, arriving at Amalienborg Palace at exactly 12:00 for the Changing of the Guard. Free to watch every day, regardless of season. The full march takes 30 minutes; arrive at Amalienborg Slotsplads by 11:50 for the climax.
3. Climb Christiansborg Palace Tower (Free)
The 106-metre Christiansborg tower has been free to climb since 2014 — one of the best free things to do in Copenhagen and the highest publicly accessible viewpoint in the city. Free time-slotted tickets at the visitor centre or online (kongeligeslotte.dk). The 360° view spans Tivoli, Round Tower, Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid in the distance. See our Christiansborg Palace guide.
4. Walk Through Amalienborg Palace Square
The octagonal Amalienborg Slotsplads square — surrounded by four symmetrical rococo palaces — is freely accessible 24 hours a day. The Royal Family’s residence is one wing; if a flag flies above a palace, the monarch is in residence. Free guided tours of the courtyards run on summer Saturdays at 14:00.
5. Climb the Round Tower’s Exterior (and the Spiral Inside Free with Copenhagen Card)
The exterior of the Round Tower is free to admire — but the climb up the 209-metre spiral ramp inside costs 40 DKK adult (free with Copenhagen Card). Combine with Trinitatis Church next door, which is free. See our Round Tower guide.
6. Visit the National Museum of Denmark — Always Free
The National Museum of Denmark is one of the largest cultural-history museums in Scandinavia, and it is always free for everyone. Highlights include the Sun Chariot of Trundholm (1400 BC), the Egtved Girl, the Viking collection and the brilliant Children’s Museum on the second floor. See our complete National Museum guide.
7. Free Tuesdays at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Copenhagen’s premier fine-art museum) is free for everyone every Tuesday — and the Winter Garden conservatory is always free even without a ticket. The Rodin collection (largest outside Paris), the Gauguin, the French Impressionists. See our Glyptotek guide.
8. Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) — Free Wednesdays for Under-27s
Denmark’s national gallery — Statens Museum for Kunst — is free for everyone under 27 every day, and free for all visitors on Wednesdays. The collection includes Cranach the Elder, Titian, Picasso, Matisse and the best Danish Golden Age painting collection. 5-minute walk north of Rosenborg Castle.
9. The David Collection (Davids Samling) — Always Free
A small but world-class private museum housed in a 19th-century townhouse. The Islamic Art collection is one of the best in Europe; the European 18th-century furniture and the Danish silver are also exquisite. Always free, every day. 7-minute walk from Kongens Nytorv.
10. Kongens Have (King’s Garden)
Copenhagen’s oldest public garden (1606), surrounding Rosenborg Castle. 12 hectares of clipped formal hedges, French Baroque parterres, the Hercules Pavilion and a free summer puppet theatre. Free dawn to dusk. Picnics allowed; the south-facing lawns are the city’s favourite summer sunbathing spot. See our Rosenborg guide.
11. Frederiksberg Have & Søndermarken
Two adjoining parks west of the city centre — Frederiksberg Have (formal English landscape with the Frederiksberg Palace on the hill) and Søndermarken (woodland, the Cisternerne underground art space, free lawns). Open dawn to dusk; free. Look for the wild herons in summer.
12. Botanical Garden (Botanisk Have)
The University of Copenhagen’s Botanical Garden — 27 glasshouses, the iconic Palm House (1874), 13,000 plant species. Outdoor garden free; Palm House 80 DKK adult, free for under-18s. 5 minutes from Nørreport metro.
13. Assistens Cemetery
A 19th-century cemetery in Nørrebro that doubles as one of the city’s loveliest parks. Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard and Niels Bohr are all buried here; their graves are signposted. Open dawn to dusk, free. A great picnic spot in summer.
14. Walk From Nyhavn to the Little Mermaid
The 2-kilometre walk from Nyhavn — past Amalienborg, the Royal Yacht, St Alban’s Church, the Gefion Fountain and Kastellet to the Little Mermaid statue — is one of Europe’s best free city walks. Allow 90 minutes round trip. See our Nyhavn guide and Little Mermaid guide.
15. Stroll Strøget — Europe’s Longest Pedestrian Street
Strøget runs 1.1 kilometres from City Hall Square to Kongens Nytorv. Free to walk, browse, people-watch. Window-shop the boutiques, watch street performers, listen to buskers, or simply wander. The free attractions on Strøget include 17 churches, plazas with public sculpture, and the Copenhagen Tourist Information centre. See our shopping guide.
16. Wander the Christianshavn Canals
Cross the Inderhavnsbroen from Nyhavn into Christianshavn — a 17th-century canal-lined neighbourhood that looks like Amsterdam’s quieter cousin. Free to wander; Christiania (the autonomous district) is also free to enter on foot — though no photography in Pusher Street.
17. Cycle the Harbour Loop
A 13-kilometre cycle loop around Copenhagen’s Inner Harbour, accessible from Nyhavn — Cirkelbroen, Refshaleøen, the Opera House, the new Inderhavnsbroen and back. Free to cycle; bike rentals from Donkey Republic at 50 DKK/2 hours. See our Copenhagen transportation guide.
18. Free Harbour Bath Swimming (May–September)
Copenhagen’s harbour water has been clean enough to swim in since 2002 — and the city has built five free public harbour baths. Islands Brygge (the most central, with diving boards), Kalvebod Bølge (Vesterbro), Sluseholmen (Sydhavn), Sandkaj (Nordhavn) and Fisketorvet. Open mid-May to mid-September, lifeguards on duty.
19. Walk Reffen Street Food (Free Entry)
Reffen is Copenhagen’s biggest street-food market on Refshaleøen. Free to enter and walk through; the food costs but the atmosphere is free. Open weekends April–October; the harbour-bus journey there is also worth the 40 DKK ticket alone for the views.
20. Spend a Day at Amager Strandpark Beach
Copenhagen’s 4.6-km artificial beach, just 15 minutes from the city centre by Metro (M2 to Amager Strand). White sand, shallow water, sunbathing lawns, BBQ allowed in designated zones, completely free. Best beach day in the city in summer. From mid-June to mid-August, lifeguards on duty.
21. Visit the Marble Church (Frederiks Kirke)
The Marble Church is Copenhagen’s most beautiful baroque dome — free entry to the cathedral interior, with extraordinary acoustics. Climb to the dome for 35 DKK adult (free for under 13). 5 minutes from Amalienborg.
22. Free Folketinget Parliament Tours
Folketinget — the Danish Parliament — runs free guided tours every Sunday at 13:00 (English) and 14:00 (Danish). Inside Christiansborg Palace; book one week ahead at ft.dk/besoeg. Bring photo ID. 90-minute tour includes the chamber, the Wandelhallen and the Constitutional Court. See our Christiansborg guide.
23. Vor Frue Kirke (Cathedral of Our Lady)
Copenhagen’s cathedral. Free to enter, with Bertel Thorvaldsen’s 12 apostles and Christ statues lining the nave. Sunday morning service in Danish at 10:00. Less famous than the Marble Church but more cultural-historically significant.
24. Free Outdoor Concerts at Plænen (Tivoli, Easter–September)
Tivoli’s Friday Rock concerts at Plænen are not free (you need entry, 165–195 DKK). However, several free outdoor summer concerts are held at the city plazas — the Roskilde Festival warm-up at Frederiksberg Have, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival’s 100+ free outdoor performances in early July, and free harbour-stage concerts in August. See our events guide.
25. Browse the Free Flea Markets
Copenhagen’s weekly flea markets are free to browse and full of vintage Danish design. Frederiksberg Have Sunday market (April–October, 8:00–14:00) is the biggest. Israels Plads Saturday market (8:00–14:00, May–Sept) is more central. Ravnsborggade Saturdays (May–Oct) is the trendy Nørrebro version.
Bonus: 5 More Free Ideas
- Free walking tours: CopenhagenFreeWalkingTours runs 3-hour daily tours; tip-based, technically free.
- Free Wi-Fi citywide: Most Copenhagen public spaces (Tivoli, parks, libraries, City Hall) have free public Wi-Fi.
- Free toilets: National Museum, Christiansborg Visitor Centre and most public libraries have free public toilets.
- Free water: Tap water in Copenhagen is among the cleanest in Europe; free to drink everywhere. Refill bottles in any restaurant.
- Black Diamond Royal Library reading rooms: Free to enter, beautiful 1999 black-granite waterfront building, free reading rooms with harbour views.
Best Free Things by Season
Free things to do in Copenhagen vary by season — summer is best for harbour swimming and outdoor concerts, winter is best for museum days and Christmas illuminations, spring is best for gardens, autumn for golden-light photography and flea markets.
Different seasons have different free Copenhagen highlights:
| Season | Best free activities |
|---|---|
| Spring (April–May) | Tulips at Kongens Have, free Botanical Garden walks, Easter Tivoli opening parade (free) |
| Summer (June–August) | Free harbour bath swimming, Amager Strandpark beach, free outdoor jazz, Christianshavn canal walk |
| Autumn (September–October) | Free flea markets, autumn colours in Søndermarken, the rooftop view at Christiansborg in golden light |
| Winter (November–February) | Free Christmas decorations across the city, free Tivoli illuminations to admire from outside, ice skating at Frederiksberg Runddel (free if you bring skates) |
Practical Tips for a Free Day
- Get a Copenhagen public transport day pass (80 DKK) — it includes the harbour buses 991/992/993, which give you a free guided tour by water.
- Bring a picnic from a supermarket — Netto, Føtex or Irma — picnics are allowed in all parks. Saves 200 DKK per meal vs eating out.
- Walk where possible — central Copenhagen is genuinely walkable (Nyhavn to Kongens Have is 12 minutes).
- Use free public toilets at museums and the Christiansborg visitor centre.
- Free drinking water from tap in any cafe, restaurant or public building. No need to buy bottles.
- Borrow library books — Copenhagen central libraries are free to use even for tourists, with English-language sections.
- Free Wi-Fi across all public squares, parks and libraries.
- Free Sundays: Several museums (Statens Museum) have reduced or free admission on Sundays for under-26s.
- Plan a museum-hopping Tuesday: Glyptotek free, National Museum always free, Statens Museum reduced — best free museum day.
Free Copenhagen FAQs
Are there really 25 free things to do in Copenhagen?
Yes — easily 50+ if you count parks, churches, walks, libraries and free museum days. This list focuses on the 25 most-recommended free Copenhagen activities for tourists, including the National Museum (always free), Glyptotek free Tuesdays, Christiansborg tower (free), Kastellet, parks, harbour baths and walking routes.
Is the National Museum of Denmark really free?
Yes — completely free, every day, all collections. The Children’s Museum is also free. Special temporary exhibitions cost 60–110 DKK but are not required for the main collections. See our National Museum guide.
When is the Glyptotek free?
Every Tuesday, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is free for everyone. Other days: 125 DKK adult (free with Copenhagen Card). The Winter Garden conservatory is always free, even without a ticket. See our Glyptotek guide.
Can I really climb Christiansborg Tower for free?
Yes — the 106-metre Christiansborg Palace tower has been free to climb since 2014. Free time-slotted tickets at the visitor centre or online (kongeligeslotte.dk). The view is the best in central Copenhagen.
Is the harbour swimming really free?
Yes — Copenhagen has five public free harbour baths, all open mid-May to mid-September. Islands Brygge is the most central; Kalvebod Bølge in Vesterbro is more designed; Sluseholmen, Sandkaj and Fisketorvet round out the network. Lifeguards on duty in summer. The water has been swimmable since 2002.
Is the Little Mermaid free to visit?
Yes — completely free. Open 24 hours a day on Langelinie quay; no ticket, no fence, no opening hours. See our Little Mermaid guide.
Are Tivoli Gardens free?
No — Tivoli requires entry (165–195 DKK adult; included with Copenhagen Card). The Tivoli Christmas illumination is free to admire from outside, but for the gardens, rides and Friday Rock concerts, you need to pay entry. See our Tivoli Gardens guide.
How much can I save with the Copenhagen Card?
A 48-hour Copenhagen Card costs 559 DKK and includes most paid attractions (Tivoli, Glyptotek, Rosenborg, Christiansborg, the Round Tower) plus all public transport including harbour buses. If you plan to do 4+ paid attractions, it pays for itself — we run the numbers in our Copenhagen Card review.
Related Reading
- Things to do in Copenhagen — full attraction list with paid options.
- Sample itineraries for Copenhagen — day-by-day plans including budget days.
- Family travel in Copenhagen — family-friendly free attractions.
- The practical basics of visiting — including Copenhagen Card vs free alternatives.
- How the seasons compare in Copenhagen — seasonal free highlights.
- Copenhagen transportation — free harbour bus rides and walking.
- Copenhagen shopping — flea markets and Strøget walks.
- Copenhagen events and festivals — including free Jazz Festival concerts.
Plenty of these carry over after dark, too — the illuminated harbour, the canal reflections and a free evening stroll all feature in our guide to Copenhagen at night.
Final Thoughts: A City You Can Enjoy for Free
Copenhagen genuinely is one of the easiest expensive cities to enjoy on a budget — the National Museum is always free, the Glyptotek is free Tuesdays, Christiansborg’s tower is free, the harbour baths are free, the parks are free, and the most beautiful 2-kilometre walk in any Scandinavian capital (Nyhavn to the Little Mermaid) is completely free. Pair these with a free public-toilet network, free Wi-Fi, free drinking tap water, and free Sunday parliament tours, and you have one of the most genuinely budget-friendly capital-city experiences in Northern Europe. With a 7-day-zone transport pass (240 DKK) plus picnic lunches from Netto supermarkets, you can have a complete five-day Copenhagen visit for under 1,500 DKK total — including the Little Mermaid, Tivoli (one paid attraction), and most of the city’s top sights.
Last updated: July 2026. Free-entry days and seasonal openings change — double-check official sites before you plan around them.
