Uniquely Copenhagen with Kids
Traveling to the Danish capital with kids? Consider yourself in luck, because Copenhagen is a dream city for kids and their caregivers.
The Danes take childhood seriously by making sure that children have plenty of spaces for and ways to play. It’s a priority of the culture that kids are given ample time outside each day, no matter the weather. Playgrounds and green spaces are found with ease throughout the city and designed with an unbelievable level of creativity and thoughtfulness. Most museums grant free admission to children under the age of 12 and children are welcome at restaurants. Public transportation to child-friendly nature activities is easy to use and each paying adult can take along two children for free.
Let’s talk about some of my favorite things to do with kids in our adopted home, Copenhagen. In this list, I will give you our family’s favorites and the things I make sure to do with visitors who come to stay.
Check out a city park
Fælledparken really has it all, from open soccer fields, to skate parks, to water fountains and sunning locals (when the weather is right). Stop by for a few of my favorite playgrounds in the city.
Tårnlegeplasden/The Tower Playground features a play structure that mimics the most famous towers in the Copenhagen skyline. During open hours, a playground staff member sets out equipment for street hockey, hula hooping, cage ball and even bubble machines.
On one visit, my kids were surprised to find a whole construction theme going on at the playground – the staff member had set out slotted 2×4’s, allowing the children to construct houses with the wood. My children were obsessed with this for hours. There is always something new going on.
If the kids do want to move on, or if you have multiple days, stroll through the park to Fransk Legeplads, which has trampolines, giant swings, and multiple obstacle courses. Just across the soccer fields you’ll also find Trafiklegepladsen/The Traffic Playground. Here, the Copenhagen children come to learn the rules of the road on bikes, which prepares them for riding in and around the city. There are miniature stop lights, pedestrian crossings, street signs and bike lanes. Borrow a bike from the playground worker and let your kids cruise around in safety.
Finally, if you’re there on a hot summer day, check out the Vandlegepladsen/The Water Playground for ultimate splash pad fun.
Pro tip: Look around for coffee carts, which are plentiful in Fælledparken. Order a latte, take a break and let the kids explore the playgrounds. This is a Danish must.
Explore Nørrebroruten
A quirky and diverse area of the city, biking or walking this route will take you by multiple interesting stops, including the expansive Nørrebroparken, featuring the Bermuda Triangle playground.
Superkilen is made up of Den Røde Plads (the red square) and Den Sorte Plads (the black square), two of the most unique spots in the city, with many options for play.
Each item in the squares comes from another city in the world, from the trash bins to the street lights to the giant octopus play structure that will entertain the kids for at least an hour. There are swings and slides and giant hills, all in the middle of the urban heart of the city. A plaque next to each item denotes its country of origin, so wander around and see if you can find something from yours. If you take the time to visit, I promise, you will not leave disappointed.
Make friends with a Thomas Dambo Forgotten Giant
Scattered around the Copenhagen metro area, the famous Thomas Dambo trolls are a delight for children. This Danish artist has a long history of creating fun and interesting characters. His work is now located in countries all over the world. If you’re looking for an out-of-the-city adventure, I could not recommend this more. My children have been delighted by each troll we’ve visited. Whether rain or sun, hot or cold, it has always enchanted them.
If you don’t want to get too far out of the city, I recommend Kaptajn Nalle (located in the Nordhavn neighborhood and so charming). He’s a bit off the beaten path, but that is, of course, a big part of the adventure. His story gives a nod to the nautical history of the area that is now one of the most up and coming neighborhoods in Copenhagen.
Pro tip: While you’re in the Nordhavn area, stop by Andersen & Maillard, a lovely bakery and coffee shop close to the harbor. I’d pair a coffee and a pastry with a trip to the playground ON TOP of the parking deck nearby (called Konditaget Lüders and just cool because you’re playing on top of a very tall building) or a walk by the Nordhavn harbor baths. There are some fun features my kids love to climb on while I gaze out at the water.
For the official troll map of all of the Thomas Dambo sculptures in the Copenhagen area and around the world, click here.
Visit a museum
There are a variety of museums in the city that are interesting for children, although a quick search will lead you towards Experimentarium, a children’s science museum, that while very cool, is also expensive and often super crowded with school classes. If you don’t have this kind of museum in your city and you want to go, I recommend later afternoons, when the school classes have gone home. It can be really overwhelming otherwise.
My recommendation is The National Museum of Denmark. Children under 18 are free (already a win) and while there is a dedicated children’s space that’s worth a bit of time, it’s a special feature found throughout the rest of the museum that’s the real star for me.
The historical material found in the National Museum can be a bit dry for children, so some genius decided to install something called a Bored Button in several locations throughout the museum. The children love to hunt for these and see what happens when they push them. Some put on light shows, some tell stories and some reveal hidden secrets. Trying to find each one (locations are printed on a map) will allow you to see most of the museum, while keeping the kids entertained.
There are also interactive exhibits, including the KA-CHING exhibit – be sure to check it out. It’s super interactive and a lot of fun for the kids.
Frilandsmuseet/The Open Air Museum is a fun day exploring homes from throughout Denmark’s history. Farm animals abound, kids are welcome to pet bunnies, pump old wells, explore homes from bygone eras, and pretend to be shopkeepers in the charming Frosnapper Byen, a miniature version of a small Danish town from days gone by. There are several engaging and original playgrounds within the museum, as well as an old circus tent, where the kids can put on quite a performance with unicycles and the likes.
There is almost always a special event going on at Frilandsmuseet, but I highly recommend visiting around Halloween, Christmas or Easter holidays. The special performances and events are really fun and the seasonal decorations add an extra layer of charm.
Pro tip: Danish museums are famous for wonderful house restaurants and cafes – don’t sleep on grabbing a bite at one, they really do live up to the hype and are an ultimate expression of the famous Danish hygge everyone wants a piece of.
Get out in Danish nature
Copenhagen public transport is top level and a quick study of the S-tog (the big red trains) lines, will bring you to multiple forests and nature parks within a 30 minute radius of city center.
Valbyparken is worth half a day – visit Naturlegepladsen/The Nature Playground for another interesting playground experience. Explore the multiple themed gardens, all ringed with hedges, especially beautiful in the late summer when roses and dahlias are in bloom. My kids are always happy to “collect” and explore the different gardens, noting how each one matches its theme.
Dyrehaven/The Deer Park is home to the Hermitage (a small hunting lodge castle) and a herd of hundreds of deer. The park is large, with biking and walking trails, fields and trees to get lost in. Take a picnic and set up for the afternoon. The park is also home to Bakken, the world’s oldest amusement park, which has free entry. You can stroll through and choose out a few rides or buy a ride pass and spend a full afternoon checking out all the attractions.
Hareskov is a beautiful Danish forest full of walking paths, mountain biking and horseback riding trails. Head out for a stroll, letting the kids add on to the numerous dwellings constructed out of tree branches they will spot throughout the forest. Look out for the rope swings that have been tied into branches and are favorites of my kids anytime we go.
Pro tip: Hareskov is home to Skovlyst Bryggeri/Brewery. Stop by their beer garden and grab a drink while the kids play in the yard (of course, there’s also a playground). I recommend the Bæveren, a brown ale that we love.
Head to the harbor
Copenhagen is famous for its canals and harbor views, which you’ll certainly want to experience for yourself. While you’re checking out these areas, try some of these options with the kids.
Islands Brygge Harbor Baths provide unique Copenhagen summer fun. Because the water here is so clean, the harbor is a wonderful respite, with diving platforms for all adventure levels, as well as shallow netted areas for younger swimmers. Danes love to winter bathe, so if you’re brave, you can also visit the baths during the colder weather months.
Pro-tip: If you’re looking for a quick meal, try Pizza Bro’s food truck for some delicious pizza. My favorite Islands Brygge coffee is ROAST Coffee. Andersen Bakery is a great stop for a pastry.
Rent a GoBoat or a Friendship for a unique view of the city. Your kids will love being out on the water, cruising around the canals and under bridges. A bit on the pricier side, but a fun splurge, especially on a beautiful day. Take food and special drinks on board and make it a memorable experience. Make sure you book in advance on spring and summer days.
Reffen is a world unto itself that sits across the water from the inner city of Copenhagen. Take the harbor bus 991 for easy access and a low cost tour of the harbor from the water. Nice weather weekend days can be crowded, so take advantage of slower weekdays if possible.
A wonderfully weird collection of beer gardens and international food stalls, the kids will love running around the skatepark on site in the warm months or the outdoor ice rink in the winter. Watch boats go by and bungee jumping from the crane just down the water.
Check out a castle
Two noteworthy castles are a short distance away from Copenhagen and involve fun train rides for the kids (really, pleasing kids is kind of simple).
Our family favorite is located in the idyllic town of Helsingør, a 30 minute train ride from the city. Worth an entire half a day, I’d stop for cake and coffee at Kagefryd off the lovely walking street then stroll on to Kronborg. Better known as Hamlet’s Castle, this beauty sits right on the water and makes for a really nice walk, just exploring the exterior walls and passageways.
You can purchase tickets to tour the inside of the castle or, if you’re more like my family, just enjoy the outside views and set up shop close to the water for a bit of time and let the kids explore the rocky coastline. If you do buy a ticket, make sure to check out the casements, which are a highlight of the tour and feature the famous protective giant of Denmark, Holger Dansk.
If you’re looking to make it an even bigger adventure, you can also catch a short ferry across the water to the town of Helsingborg, Sweden. The kids will love the ride and get to visit a whole new country.
Pro-tip: Backhaus Bageri & Café on the waterfront in Helsingborg has one of the best pain au chocolat I’ve ever tasted.
I hope this list of our favorites has been helpful. I genuinely prioritize most of the things here whenever we have visitors coming, as each option is going to give you a uniquely Copenhagen connection to this city while still being a lot of fun for your children. Enjoy this lovely city with your kids!
Looking for other European adventures with kids? Check out some of our other family favorites on the blog…
