Experience the magic of autumn in Copenhagen from September through November. The summer crowd has left, and the city is less busy but still buzzing with life, and there are still plenty of things to do.
Get inspired by our guide of things to do in Copenhagen in autumn and enjoy your visit.
Hygge
/ˈh(j)uːɡə/, /ˈhʊɡə/
noun
Definition: Hygge is creating a warm, cozy atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people!
Hygge has almost always been a big part of the way Danes live their lives, but we do tend to crank up the hygge during autumn. As it gets colder, the daylight hours shrink, and it’s time to put on cozier clothes and enjoy the best things of the season, like pumpkin spice lattes, late brunches, and time with people we love.
As food and hygge go hand in hand, we recommend you enjoy a great brunch while in town. It’s easy to find a place with delicious brunch in Copenhagen, but if you love great coffee and Instagrammable food, we highly suggest you pay a visit to either Ø12 or The Union Kitchen. You won't be disappointed!
Find Ø12 at H.C. Andersens Boulevard 8.
Visit The Union Kitchen at Store Strandstræde 21.
Denmark has ranked in the top 3 on the 'Happiest Countries' list every year since the first report was released in 2012. In fact, Denmark secured the top spot in the years 2012, 2013, and 2016!
So why are the Danes so happy compared to other countries? We believe that hygge plays a big part in our happiness, but if you want to dive even deeper into this question, then you should pay a visit to the Happiness Museum. In the Happiness Lab, you’ll gain more insight into what happens in the brain when we’re feeling joy and how happiness might change as we grow older. Laughter and smiling are the visible image of happiness, but can you detect a fake smile, and do you know why laughter is contagious? Visit Anatomy of a Smile to learn more about this.
With plenty of interactive exhibitions, don’t forget to bring your smartphone.
Discover the key to happiness at Admiralgade 19. Hop off at stop 1 – Ved Stranden. See routes and buy tickets for Stromma’s Hop On-Hop Off buses.
As Copenhagen has a lot of parks and green areas, there are plenty of places to take a stroll and take in the amazing colors of the season.
Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Botanical Garden, where you can see a collection of rare plants from all over the world. Stroll along the paths lined with trees, bushes, and flowers, and enjoy being surrounded by color. Take a break by the lake and watch the ducks. If you go closer to the water, you can also see plenty of fish.
While you’re there, you shouldn’t miss out on a visit to the Palm House. Here, you can explore tropical plants, and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled to the rain forest. Encounter different carnivorous plants, giant bamboos, and colorful flowers. You can also go into the Cactus and Succulent House as well as the Butterfly House, which are part of the Palm House complex.
Please note that while it’s free to visit the Botanical Garden, there is a fee to visit the Palm House.
Explore nature at Gothersgade 128. Hop off at stop 9 – Rosenborg Castle/SMK. See routes and buy tickets for Stromma’s Hop On-Hop Off buses.
When in Copenhagen, you must take a canal tour! The city’s inner harbor and narrow canals are full of life year-round, and it’s easy to see why once you’ve taken a canal tour. From the water, you get the perfect view of the city covered in the autumn colors, and you also sail by many iconic attractions like the Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace, and the Black Diamond.
Hop on board Stromma’s Classic Canal Tour and enjoy a 1-hour boat tour. In September, you can choose between sailing in an open boat or a covered boat. In October and November, all our boats are covered and even heated when necessary. Choose between live-guided and audio-guided tours.
Step on board the boat at Nyhavn 3 or Ved Stranden 26.
At the Experimentarium, you can let your inner child – or actual child – loose and learn through playing. Everything is designed to be touched, and the main goal for all their exhibitions is to inspire guests, for them to ask questions, and to awaken their curiosity.
‘Under Your Skin’ is an exhibition that takes you into the human body. Here, you can learn about the blood circulation, muscles, bones, and the brain. Listen to the sounds of the body through a guessing game, measure your strength, and kill a virus by using an interactive version of the immune system.
In the exhibition ‘Circus Physicus’ you’ll learn about gearing, air pressure, and power transmission through play. Lay down in a bed of nails or test your balance by laying down on a special seesaw where the tiniest of movements will tilt you up and down.
Get smarter at Tuborg Havnevej 7, 2900 Hellerup.
How to get there:
From the central station, take the S-train Line A towards Hillerød St. and hop off at Svanemøllen St.
From Svanemøllen St., you have two options:
Step into the fascinating exhibition ‘A Distant War’ that tells the story of a young Danish soldier, from his safe childhood bedroom to a military camp in Afghanistan. 600 m2 is used to recreate a Danish military camp and the surroundings as realistic as possible, and everything on display has been used by real soldiers, and some is even covered with personal graffiti.
Walk through Christian IV’s 156-meter-long Arsenal Hall that has been used for cannons since 1604. Here, you can see everything from Christian IV’s cannon weight from 1614 to modern weapons such as drones, howitzers, and DEHAWK missiles. You can also dive into stories about warfare such as The Great Defeat and The Battle of Heligoland Bight.
Uncover history at Tøjhusgade 3. Hop off at stop 1 – Ved Stranden. See routes and buy tickets for Stromma’s Hop On-Hop Off buses.
Take a break from exploring the city and travel back in time at La Glace. Denmark’s oldest patisserie was founded in 1870, and for 6 generations, they have been serving cakes, cookies, ice cream, and chocolates. Most of their delicious desserts are even made following the original recipes!
A visit to La Glace is a very unique experience. Much of the furniture dates back to the 1890s, and the interior is from 1924, making it a piece of history.
Spoil yourself at Skoubogade 3.
September is the warmest month of autumn, with temperatures ranging from 14-17°C. As we move into October, the temperature drops slightly to 10-12°C. By November, it gets colder, with temperatures around 6-8°C. We recommend you dress in layers, as the temperatures may vary, and this way, you can easily adjust to both warmer and colder conditions. Additionally, being in the Nordics, it’s a good idea to pack your rain clothes.
Hopefully we’ve inspired you on what to see and do while you’re visiting the Danish capital. Check the map below to find the location of our recommended activities.
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