Things to do in Copenhagen with kids: best attractions and family tips

Copenhagen is a small, flat city that works well with children because the distances are short and most big attractions sit within a few metro stops of each other. The three that decide the trip are Tivoli Gardens in the city centre, the Experimentarium science centre in Hellerup and Den Blå Planet aquarium near the airport. Add Copenhagen Zoo in Frederiksberg if you have a full day, and the free Harbour Bath at Islands Brygge when the weather is warm.

Prices below are 2026 estimates in Danish kroner; children's tickets usually apply under 12 or under 15, so check the operator's page before you buy. Opening hours change by season, and Tivoli closes outside its summer and Christmas seasons.

Most family sights cluster in three zones. The centre holds Tivoli, the National Museum, Christiansborg and the Strøget pedestrian street. North of the centre, along the coast, sit the Experimentarium in Hellerup and Den Blå Planet by the airport, both reachable on the M2 metro or the S-train. West of the centre, Frederiksberg has the zoo and the green spaces around it.

The metro is the easiest way to move with a stroller because stations have lifts. Bikes with child seats are widely rented and the city is flat, but keep children on the right side of the cycle lanes and off the road.

Buy tickets online for Tivoli, the Experimentarium and Den Blå Planet; queues at the door are longest in July and around Danish school holidays. The Copenhagen Card covers many of these sights plus public transport, and pays off if you plan three or more paid attractions in a day or two; if your trip is mostly parks, playgrounds and the harbour, skip it.

Danish food is easy for children: hot dogs from a pølser wagon, smørrebrød without the strong toppings, and bakery pastries. Most cafés have high chairs and will warm food. Tap water is safe to drink. Public toilets are common in stations, museums and department stores, and many are free.

May to September is the easiest window: long days, warm enough for the harbour baths, and Tivoli open. July is the busiest and most expensive month. December brings Tivoli's Christmas market and lights, which many families rate above the summer visit, but it is cold and dark by mid-afternoon.

Spring and autumn are quieter and cheaper, with the zoo and museums still open, though some outdoor attractions and the harbour baths close. Winter is best kept to indoor sights, and you should check opening hours for anything seasonal before you build a day around it.

Copenhagen Airport at Kastrup is about 15 minutes from the centre on the M2 metro, and Den Blå Planet is two stops from the airport, which makes it a good first or last stop with children. Trains from the airport run through the night. From the central station, most family sights are a short metro, bus or bike ride away.

If you are coming from elsewhere in Denmark, trains from Odense and Aarhus arrive at Copenhagen Central, right beside Tivoli. See the country page for rail and ferry options, and the city page for tickets and zones.