Copenhagen
Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, is Denmark’s largest city, with around 650,000 people in the city and around 1.4 million in the greater Copenhagen area. Copenhagen is located on Denmark’s eastern coast and on the largest island, Zealand. Zealand holds around 2.3 million, or close to 40% of Denmark’s total population of around 6 million.
Copenhagen is linked to Sweden’s third largest city, Malmö, by the Øresund Bridge, a 16 km long combined road and rail bridge and tunnel that stretches across the Øresund Strait. Opened to traffic in July 2000, the bridge and tunnel allow a 35-minute train ride between Copenhagen and Malmö. Malmö is much closer to Copenhagen than Sweden’s capital, Stockholm.
Copenhagen has strong climate change ambitions and aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2025, although the city has not fully reached carbon neutrality in 2025 yet; Copenhagen’s climate change actions are well known and respected around the world. Copenhagen has a very strong cycling culture. The cycling lanes in the city are almost as wide as car lanes. It is said that there are more bicycles than cars in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen is a beautiful city that spans islands and waterfronts, with canals, harbours, lakes, parks, gardens, and green spaces woven into its urban fabric. A visitor in Copenhagen is never far from the water.
Tivoli Gardens, opened in 1843, is Copenhagen’s historic amusement park, cultural landmark and top iconic tourist attraction. Its design mixes fairy‑tale charm with contemporary creativity, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and vibrant. Walt Disney visited Tivoli Gardens in 1951 and was so deeply inspired that he wanted his park to capture the same charm and warmth he felt in Tivoli Gardens. The Little Mermaid is Copenhagen’s another iconic tourist attraction, named after Danish Hans Christian Andersen’s world-famous fairytale of the same name.
Copenhagen Harbour
Copenhagen Harbour is a long, continuous waterfront stretching from Nordhavn (translates as North Harbour) in the north to Sydhavnen (translates as South Harbour) in the south, forming one of Europe’s most successful urban harbour transformations. Once an industrial port filled with warehouses, shipyards and commercial docks, it has evolved into a clean, swimmable, mixed‑use harbour that blends maritime heritage with contemporary Scandinavian design.
Just 2 km and walkable from Copenhagen Central Station is the Inner Harbour. Inner Harbour is the cultural heart, home to Nyhavn’s colourful 17th‑century townhouses, and popular tourist attractions including the National Museum of Denmark, Christiansborg Palace, The Royal Danish Library – The Black Diamond, BLOX building, which houses the Danish Architecture Center, and many other cultural landmarks. Around Christianshavn, historic canals weave through residential neighbourhoods, while Islands Brygge offers harbour baths and lively promenades. Inner Harbour blends maritime heritage with contemporary Scandinavian design, forming Copenhagen’s most iconic and accessible harbour district.
Further north, Nordhavn showcases futuristic architecture, new metro stations and modern waterfront living.
To the south, Sydhavnen features new housing developments and recreational waterfronts. The entire harbour is linked by pedestrian paths, cycling routes, bridges and harbour buses, creating seamless movement between neighbourhoods.
Copenhagen Harbour is a model of sustainable urban waterfront planning, combining culture, recreation, architecture and everyday life along a single connected shoreline.
Nyhavn
Translated as “New Harbour”, Nyhavn is Copenhagen’s best‑preserved historic canal and streets, blending authentic architecture with a modern, vibrant atmosphere. Nyhavn was originally a busy commercial harbour built in the 1670s, connecting Copenhagen city to the sea.
Today, the reborn canal, lined with colourful townhouses, old wooden ships, and lively cafés and restaurants, is Copenhagen’s most iconic waterfront.
The Walk
Nyhavn is very accessible by public transport. It is a short 5-minute walk from Kongens Nytorv Transit Station and is right next to Nyhavn Ferry Wharf.
Start from Nyhavn on either side of the canal, walk towards the harbour in the southeastern direction, then on either side of Copenhagen Harbour towards Sydhavnen to reach Bryggebroen and Bryggebroen Ferry Wharf. Along the way, you may want to visit The Royal Danish Library – The Black Diamond and nearby BLOX building, which houses Danish Architecture Center.
There are 3 pedestrian bridges in this section of Copenhagen Harbour: Inderhavnsbroen, Lille Langebro, and Bryggebroen. You can use these pedestrian bridges to cross over Copenhagen Harbour to visit both sides of the harbour.
The one-way distance between Nyhavn and Bryggebroen Ferry Wharf is approximately 3 km.
Want to discover more great walking locations? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
Copenhagen Harbour is a long, continuous waterfront stretching from Nordhavn (translates as North Harbour) in the north to Sydhavnen (translates as South Harbour) in the south, forming one of Europe’s most successful urban harbour transformations.