Thanks to this article you’ll be able to visit Copenhagen without spending money. Follow our tips and find 10 free things to do in Copenhagen. For starters we suggest that you walk in one of the many public parks in the city, discover the streets of Christiania and finally a have refreshing swim to unwind before going to listen to some live music!
Get invited to a barbecue in the park
Photo: @cs-jay
Do you want to enjoy the sun and the green spaces of the city like a real Dane? What are you waiting for? Make friends with some locals and go to a barbecue with them. You can go to Ørstedsparken or in the Deer Park, a large and wild park where, if you are lucky, you can see some deers up close. Frederiksberg is another lovely green space with English styled gardens and a lot of lawns perfect for a picnic. If you go to Frederiksberg keep in mind that you can walk along the Copenhagen Zoo, and if you’re lucky, you can see the elephants!
Free food, pick it up around the city
Photo: @beartrax
Someone said that the food market of Torvehallerne is expensive but some stands give free tastings to people hoping to sell something. This is an exceptional place to eat traditional Danish dishes like smelly cheese and salty liquorice. If you are vegetarian or simply prefer fruit and vegetable, check ByHost. It literally means “collected in the city” and it is a non-profit organization that encourages urban residents to keep an eye on the food they see growing on public land within the city and to report findings on map. Nuts, berries, herbs, fruit trees, free food all around the city! If you want to find it, just check the map, and begin the treasure hunt!
Listen to live music at Bolsjefabrikken
Photo: @marckjerland
Bolsjefabrikken is an abandoned warehouse. A cultural alternative nonprofit association manages the space to promote the work of young artists, musicians and performers. It regularly hosts free music concerts and events. Drinks are not free, but also not mandatory.
A visit to really famous characters
Copenhagen is home to very famous people such as Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard and Niels Bohr: you can find them all in the cemetery of Assistens. Contrary to what you may think, this is not a reverent and gloomy place. The cemetery of Assistens, in the lively neighborhood of Nørrebro, is a little corner of paradise: go there to relax with a book, or bring a couple of beers and drink there with your friends.
Go to the botanical garden
The botanical garden of Copenhagen is a wonderful place to seek relief in the winter and to enjoy the sunshine in the summer with its 10 hectares of paths, pergolas and ponds. You can find tropical plants, cacti and endangered orchids. The botanical garden is open all year round, only the beautiful greenhouses have some restrictions.
A tour in Christiania
Photo: @visitoslo
Christiania is one of the most interesting places in the city: born in 1971 from an abandoned military base and self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood of Copenhagen, it is home to nearly 1,000 people. You can take part in free evenings where you can drink and listen to science talk. Head to Pusher Street and walk through the narrow streets, admire the original architecture and then sit down by the lake. You can meet curious people and exchange a few words along the way.
Free museums
Many of the best museums and galleries offer free entry one day a week. Nikolaj Kunsthal, located in a former church, shows fascinating exhibitions of contemporary art, photography and video installations and is free on Wednesdays. Kunsthal Charlottenborg is free on Wednesdays from 5pm on and is another museum not to be missed, with its program of exhibitions of modern avantgarde. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, free on Sundays, is home to the largest collection of ancient art in Europe in the Mediterranean, an impressive collection of French Impressionist paintings with a lovely sub-tropical garden.
Make a refreshing swim at Islands Brygge
Photo: @thomasrousing
Did you know that you can swim in the center of Copenhagen? Islands Brygge is the seafront of Havneparken, a quiet residential district, and is among the most popular places in Copenhagen for a swim in the evening or at lunchtime. It’s the perfect way to rejuvenate, according to the Danes.
Change of the guard at Amalienborg
Every day at noon you can witness the changing of the guard at the Amalienborg Palace. The change comes on foot from Rosenborg Castle and if the Queen or other members of the Royal family are present, the whole event is accompanied by music.
Visit the oldest amusement park in the world
It’s called Dyrehavsbakken or simply Bakken and it is the oldest amusement park in the world (431 years old!). It is surrounded by a beautiful green area, Jægersborg Dyrehave, where do live nearly 2,000 deer free. We suggest that you bring some food and have a picnic before going to Bakken. The entry is free, you only pay if you want to go on the rides.
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