4 Best Sights in Centrum, Copenhagen

This museum chronicles the working class from 1870 to the present, with evocative life-size "day in the life of" exhibits, among them reconstructions of a city street and re-creations of apartments, including the home of a brewery worker, his wife, and eight children. Changing exhibits focusing on Danish and international social issues are often excellent. The exhibitions have explanatory texts in English. The museum also has a 19th-century-style café and beer hall serving old-fashioned Danish specialties and a 1950s-style coffee shop.

Trees, flowers, ponds, sculptures, and the spectacular 19th-century Palmehuset (Palm House) of tropical and subtropical plants blanket the garden's 25-plus acres. There's also an observatory and a geological museum. Take time to explore the gardens and watch the pensioners feed the birds. Some have been coming here so long that the birds actually land on their fingers.

This Renaissance structure—built by King Christian IV and one of central Copenhagen's oldest—contains impressive displays of uniforms, weapons, and armor in a 600-foot-long arched hall, exploring Denmark's military history. Children usually like this museum, but it's very much a look-but-don't-touch place. Each artifact has a label in English.

Ever since opening in 2011, this covered marketplace with vendors selling culinary specialties has been busy. Vendors range from natural wine bars to stalls selling Vietnamese sandwiches, Danish licorice, raw food, and specialty coffee. There are many stalls selling delicacies to go and fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and poultry as well.