Discover the many things to do in Copenhagen at night, one of Scandinavia’s most happening cities. With a long history and steeped in high culture, by day its cobbled streets throng with visitors seeing its storied sites and taking in the many museums. But Copenhagen at night has a very different feel.
As the sun begins to set, lights glisten, the waterways reflect centuries-old architecture, and the many bars and restaurants in the city take on the soft glow of “hygge”—that Danish homage to coziness.
Head to areas such as the Meatpacking District with its vibrant nightlife, sail the city’s waterways, dine out with views of the city, or catch a world-class show. There’s plenty on offer to help you get the most out of this captivating city after dark.
Ride the Ferris Wheel at Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens
The Tivoli Gardens amusement park first opened in Central Copenhagen in 1843 and is one of the things that Copenhagen is famous for. It’s so popular it’s said to have inspired Walt Disney to create Disneyland.
While you can visit during the day, night-time opening hours take on an extra sparkle of magic as thousands of fairy lights glow away and the city lights up for the night. Among the 30-plus rides, one of the highlights is the park’s vintage Ferris wheel, dating back to 1943. It allows for great panoramic views of the city and fun photo opportunities.
The park and its other 29 rides are open until 10 pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends, but the “blue hour’ just after sunset sees shorter lines. Look out for special events and holiday seasons, such as Halloween and Christmas, when the park has themed decor and seasonal music.
Walk Around Nyhavn
Nyhavn
There can be a real fairytale feel to a visit to the Danish capital. That’s nowhere more apparent than in Nyhavn, once home to the legendary author Hans Christian Andersen.
One of the city’s most iconic streets and lined with colorful houses, it stretches along the canal of the same name from Kongens Nytorv public square to the Inner Harbor. The name translates as “new harbor” but it actually dates from the 17th century.
Once a raucous area known for its hard-drinking sailors and rough bars, today Nyhavn is a totally different proposition. Bustling by day, there’s a change in the vibe at night, its cobbled walkways shimmering under the lights and the buildings reflecting back off the water. Home to many restaurants and bars, it’s a great place to stop off for a drink or dessert with a view.
See the City From the Rundetårn
View from Rundetårn
One of the best things to do in Copenhagen at night is a climb to the top of the Rundetårn, or Round Tower, home to Europe’s oldest functioning observatory.
Originally built by King Christian IV in 1642 as part of the Trinity Complex to house a church, a library, and an observatory, it now acts as a space for exhibitions, concerts, and talks.
Rundetårn
Climbing to the top of the 114-foot tall tower is via a unique spiraling walkway rather than stairs—and legend has it that Peter the Great of Russia once rode a horse to the top.
While that seems fanciful, those who make the climb are rewarded by amazing views over the capital, and planetarium-style shows created by Danish astronomer Ole Rømer, known for discovering the speed of light.
Night owls can visit the tower until 8 pm in summer and 6 pm in winter, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays closing at the later time of 9 pm for after-dark shows.
Read: One Day in Copenhagen
Take a Stroll Along Strøget
Strøget
Scandinavia tends to be ahead of the game when it comes to the environment and Copenhagen’s main shopping area is a prime example, having been pedestrianized since the early 1960s.
An amalgamation of several different streets, its cobbles stretch for more than half a mile, making it one of Europe’s longest car-free streets. Home to everything from high-end boutiques to Scandinavian design stores, as the shops begin to close it takes on a different feel. The area’s historic buildings and courtyards light up, and store displays are illuminated for window shoppers.
Keep an eye out for street performers, and make sure to check out Storkespringvandet “Stork Fountain” when it’s lit up. Locals believe it brings good luck to newlyweds who dance around it.
Catch a Movie at Vester Vov Vov
Cinephiles will love Vester Vov Vov, an independent arthouse cinema and café in the vibrant Vesterbro district. Housed in what was once the Vesterbro Roman Baths, the building was converted to this unique cine-café in 1975 by a group of film enthusiasts.
Taking its name from a historic 1927 Danish movie, the cinema showcases the best of indie cinema, including international films, and local productions with English subtitles.
Visitors get to sit in airline-style seats, complete with folding tables—and drinks, including beer and wine, can be consumed in the theater itself. For those not looking to catch a movie, the bar area has both indoor and outdoor tables and chairs.
Explore Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania
Unique in Europe and, perhaps, the world, Freetown Christiania is a city within a city. This autonomous, self-policed alternative neighborhood operates under its own rules and regulations. Set up by artists and activists back in 1971, it is a haven for creativity and counter-culture with regular exhibitions, happenings, performances, and other live events.
A converted military base, Christiania is car-free and by day it is much quieter than the rest of town, though people do visit to see the various sculptures and art installations. By night it becomes livelier, with bonfires lighting the streets, buzzing bars and, quite often, live music on the open-air stage at Nemoland.
Cruise the Canals by Night
Canal cruise
Copenhagen’s inner harbor is said to be twice the size of New York’s Central Park and the mixture of basins and canals has been thoroughly transformed since the turn of the century.
Formerly an industrial zone, it’s now been cleaned up both in the water and on the surrounding streets—and one of the best things to do at night in Copenhagen is to explore on a canal cruise.
Canal cruise
From here, the city can be viewed from a different angle, with a further dash of magic added in the evenings as the lights begin to come on. Cruises take in some of the city’s iconic sights: Nyhavn, the Opera House, Amalienborg Palace, and the Stock Exchange as boats glide across the water.
Cruises tend to be guided, although some offer a “silent” option with the tour soundtrack coming over headphones for those just looking to enjoy the sights. Visitors can also choose from open-air and covered boats depending on their preference.
Sample Craft Beers
Carlsberg Brewery
You’re probably familiar with big Danish beer brands such as Carlsberg and Tuborg, but you may not know there are more than 100 microbreweries dotted around the country, many in the capital city.
Copenhagen’s booming craft beer scene includes microbreweries and brew pubs offering a range of drinks from Danish lagers to bolder, more experimental tipples. Taking on a pub crawl around them is one of the best things to do at night in Copenhagen.
Carlsberg Brewery
Leading the charge is Mikkeller, known for its “gypsy brewer” ethos of having no brewery of its own but using “cuckoo” breweries elsewhere. The company operates several pubs in the capital, including the fabulously hip Mikkeller Warpigs in the Meatpacking District of Kødbyen.
Alternatively, Taphouse at Lavendelstræde 15 has more than 60 brews on tap, while BRUS in Nørrebro is another good spot offering on-site brewing, comfort-food dining, and outdoor seating.
Catch a Show at Copenhagen Opera House
Copenhagen Opera House
There are two iconic opera houses overlooking two of the world’s great harbors. One of them is in Sydney, the other is the Copenhagen Opera House, or Operaen as it’s known.
Set on Holmen, a group of small islands that were a former naval base, its ultra-modern façade is a stark contrast to nearby Freetown Christiania. Built at a cost of almost US$400 million and designed by Henning Larsen, its iconic triangular roof and glass-and-metal front dominate the landscape.
Inside is just as plush, decorated with Danish oak and Sicilian marble and hosting works of art by local artists such as Per Kirkeby and Olafur Eliasson. On stage, visitors can expect world-class performances. Book well in advance of a trip to not miss out, as popular shows sell out fast.
There’s also a great pre-show dining experience at the opera restaurant, offering fine food in Copenhagen accompanied by panoramic views of the city.
Go Out in Kødbyn
Restaurant in Kødbyn
Much like in New York City, Copenhagen’s Meatpacking District, Kødbyn has become a diverse and vibrant nighttime spot in a unique industrial setting. Established in the 1880s, it began to fall into disrepair to the point where it was cordoned off to the public up until 2005 when the first restaurants began to appear here.
Now it’s probably the city’s hippest neighborhood to hang out, packed with chic galleries, quite brilliant restaurants, hip bars, and the city’s best clubbing scene. Don’t think that means banging house music and flashing lights, though.
The area is home to a wide range of venues catering to different tastes, including live jazz at Mesteren & Lærlingen, and a more low-key eclectic vibe at Jolene, one of Kødbyn’s earliest venues.
Get Spooked on a Guided Ghost Tour
Church of the Holy Ghost
Founded in the 12th century and approaching its 800th anniversary, there’s little wonder that the Danish capital is home to many a spooky tale. The city’s cobblestone streets and historic buildings take on a haunting ambiance after dark, offering a perfect setting for ghost tours.
One of the best things to do in Copenhagen at night, private tours in English take visitors through the city’s shadowy past with tales of hauntings, tragedies, and folklore providing a unique take on Danish history.
Tours usually last around 90 minutes and take in chilling locations including the Church of the Holy Ghost, the old city gates, and one of the city’s forgotten cemeteries.
For a truly unique experience, book a “dinner with ghosts” experience—the chance to dine in a haunted restaurant followed by a walking tour.
Dine at Illum Rooftop
Illum Photo by Leif Jørgensen on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Illum bills itself as “Scandinavia’s Most Spectacular Luxury Department Store”—and you can see why. Set on Strøget, the sprawling five-story store started life as a shop selling sewing supplies in 1891 and started offering other goods in 1899. That change kickstarted its rise to the top of the Copenhagen shopping scene.
While by day it’s packed with shoppers looking to buy the latest gear from high-end designer brands, Illum also has the spectacular Rooftop, home to five different restaurants.
These come alive at night and include Palæo, dedicated to the popular eating trend, Poke and Sons, which is Asian, and the Italian Rossopomodoro. All come with outdoor dining, as well as great views over the city.
Read: Best Things to Do in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Choose your next nighttime adventure in Scandinavia on one of Celebrity’s cruises to Copenhagen.
