Easily explored on foot, by bike or boat but equally accessible via the excellent bus, train and metro system, getting around town is a breeze.

Here’s a selection of our favourite museums, sights, tours, walks, spas and beauty treatments.

Art & Design

DANISH DESIGN CENTER

HC Andersens Blvd 27 / 3369 3369 / www.ddc.dk

This isn’t the design capital of Europe for nothing, you know. Find out why in this state of the art exhibition centre.

DAVIDS SAMLING

Kronprinsessegade 30 / 3373 4949 / www.davidmus.dk

Eclectic collection featuring dazzling Islamic art, plus some 19th century French bric-a-brac. .

DEN HIRSCHSPRUNGSKE SAMLING

Stockholmsgade 20 / 3542 0336 / www.hirschsprung.dk

Paintings from the Golden Age of Danish art – unpronounceable, but a real ‘undiscovered’ jewel. 

KUNSTINDUSTRIEMUSEET

Bredgade 68 / 3318 5656 / www.kunstindustriemuseet.dk

Denmark’s answer to the V&A – chairs a speciality.

LOUISIANA MUSEUM FOR MODERNE KUNST

Gammel Strandvej 13, Humlebæk / 4919 0719 / www.louisiana.dk

Take a train 20 minutes north along the Danish Riviera to one of the world’s great Modern Art galleries, with a stunning seaside setting. .

NATIONALMUSEET

Frederiksholm Kanal 12 / 3313 4411 / www.natmus.dk

Denmark’s national museum, Vikings a speciality.

NY CARLSBERG GLYPTOTEK

Dantes Plads 7 / 3341 8141 / www.glyptoteket.dk

Uncommonly foxy statuary spanning a millennium and more, plus cream-of-the-crop French Impressionists: Gauguins galore.

STATENS MUSEUM FOR KUNST

Sølvgade 48-50 / 3374 8494 / www.smk.dk

Denmark’s national gallery, strong on Renaissance and modern art.

THORVALDSEN MUSEUM

Bertel Thorvaldsen Plads 2 / 3332 1532 / www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk

Both a museum and a shrine to Denmark’s great neo-classical sculptor.

Tours & Walks

CANAL TOURS

From Nyhavn and Gammel Strand March-October.

Water-borne rides through the canals and harbour. A stress-free way to see that crappy little love-sick fish, the Little Mermaid (don’t bother walking to see her, she ain’t worth it!).

CHRISTIANIA

Entrance on Prinsessegade, Christianshavn

This not-so-radical-anymore hippy commune has always been one of the city’s big draws. Now the drug dealers have been cleared away, you should come for the cool waterside homes, the equally cool, low-key cafés and restaurants and for a general mooch around this alternative enclave.

KONGENS HAVE

The delightful gardens surrounding Rosenborg Castle (see below). A feast of bare flesh when the sun shines.

RUNDETÅRN

Købmagergade 52A / 3373 0373 / www.rundetaarn.dk

A still-functioning Renaissance observatory tower with spiral ramp ‘staircase’. Fab views at the top.

TIVOLI GARDENS

Vesterbrogade 3 / 3315 1001 / www.tivoli.dk

Denmark’s most popular attraction is part beer garden, part fun park, part schmaltz-fest with rides, restaurants and oodles of sugar sweet charm. Magical at night when the squeals from the new rollercoaster are almost drowned by the noise of smooching couples. Major international bands and singers play for free during summer. Opens for the summer season around mid-April. 

CARLSBERG VISITOR CENTRE

Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Valby / 3327 1282

Probably the best beer-themed visitor centre in the city. With a welcome freebie at the end of your tour. Cab it.

Churches & Cathedrals

ALEXANDER NEWSKY CHURCH

Bredgade 53 / tours: 2076 1647

Atmospheric Russian Orthodox church, packed with Byzantine icons.

FREDERIKSKIRKEN

Frederiksgade 4

Better known as the Marble Church, this is Copenhagen’s great-domed church. Ought to be the cathedral, but isn’t.

VOR FRUE KIRKE

Nørregade 8

Is Copenhagen’s cathedral, but oughtn’t to be. Hosted nuptials of golden royal couple, Frederik and Mary.

VOR FRELSERS KIRKE

Sankt Annægade 29, Christianshavn

Splendid spire that narrows to a dizzying end right at the top. Leave your Jimmy Choos at the door if you fancy a climb.

AMALIENBORG PALACE

Amalienborg Plads / 3312 0808 / www.ses.dk

Home of the much-loved Queen Margrethe II, and chums, with small museum of royal nick-nacks for the plebs to gander. Changing of the guard takes place daily at noon.

CHRISTIANSBORG CASTLE

Slotsholmen

Where Copenhagen began; used to be the royal gaff, now the parliament so difficult to get into. Also home to the National Library, the palace church, Thorvaldsen Museum, Theatre Museum, Royal Stables, Jewish Museum (decidedly missable).

ROSENBORG CASTLE (SLOT)

Øster Voldgade 4A / 3315 3286 / www.rosenborgslot.dk

Fairy tale Renaissance castle in the heart of the city. Queenie keeps her crown jewels in the basement.

Pamper & Revive

ARNDAL SPA AND FITNESS CENTRE

Hotel D’Angleterre, Kongens Nytorv  / 3337 0668 / www.arndal.net

Personal trainer Lotte Arndal’s well-being oasis at the D’Angleterre is open to all and features a heated pool, spa, aroma therapy, solarium and a lounge in which to munch on organic fruit and peruse papers and magazines.

BLISS COPENHAGEN

Store Regnegade 3 / 3393 9956

The place for the whole dry-dock, body rejuvenation bit: Hair, manicures, cellulite jobs, permanent make-up treatments….

COMWELL

comwell.com / 4838 0333

The first and largest full-service spa in Denmark occupying a grand manor house 40 minutes north of the city to Snekkersten, a beautiful part of Zealand overlooking the Oresund and forested countryside. Amenties include outdoor hot tubs, classic sauna with birch twigs, steam baths with scents, gym, yoga and pilates studio plus cafe (serving health smoothies) and a restaurant.

DGI BYEN

Tietgensgade 65 / 3329 8100 / www.dgi-byen.dk

Close to the central station, this one-stop pampering heaven features swimming pools, plunge pools, saunas, a variety of massage therapies and beauty treatments. All this and a bowling alley.

GUN-BRITT COIFFURE

Skoubogade 4 / 3314 7975

Hairdresser to the stars.

SKODSBORG

Skodsborg Strandvej 129-139, Skodsborg / 4558 5800 / www.skodsborg.dk

This palace of pleasure (it’s also a hotel) lies 25 minutes north from Copenhagen along the Danish Riviera and is the day trip of choice for the weary-riche. With all manner of pampering and pummelling pleasure on tap – spa and beauty treatments, hair, massage, acupuncture, reflexology.

X-SALONEN

Sankt Peders Stræde 45 / 3332 3276

There’s an industrial flavour to the interior of this terribly cool hairdresser in the Latin Quarter. Offers extensions and make up too.