10 Best Sights in Copenhagen, Denmark

En route from Christianshavn to Refshaleøen is Copenhagen's legendary freetown Christiania, which was founded in 1971 when students occupied army barracks. It's now a peaceful community of nonconformists, consisting of 630 adults and 130 kids, where wall cartoons preach drugs and peace. There are a number of businesses here, including a bike shop, a smithy, a rock-music club, and several good organic eateries. When exploring Christiania, make sure to leave the central, busy part of the community to walk around on the idyllic, pedestrian paths that run through the forest, past the riding school, along the lake, and between the imaginative self-built houses. English-language tours are offered year-round on weekends at 3 pm (daily from July to September).  Many inhabitants are not fond of cameras, and picture taking is forbidden on Pusher Street.

Islands Brygge's main claim to fame is its harbor bath, which draws visitors from all over the city on summer days. The bath consists of five pools that are filled with water from the harbor and several jumping boards. In the winter there’s a club for ice swimmers, complete with a sauna.

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.

This photogenic public park is the stuff that city planning dreams are made of. Designed by Superflex and Bjarke Ingels Group, the urban park has skate ramps, barbecue grills, a green park, and much more, making it popular among skaters, young parents with kids, dog walkers, and retired people going for a stroll.

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.

Situated at the western end of the lakes that divide Copenhagen, this modern, cylindrical planetarium appears to be sliced at an angle. It's Denmark's most advanced center for popularizing astronomy and space research and promoting knowledge of natural science. The on-site IMAX theater is devoted to visual odysseys of the natural environment—below the sea, through the jungle, or into outer space. These films aren't recommended for children under age seven. Admission includes access to an IMAX movie and a 3-D movie.

With one of the most beautiful spires puncturing the sky over Copenhagen, Our Savior Church is one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. It’s possible to scale the 398 steps leading up to the top of the spire, which has stunning views over Copenhagen’s harbor and Christiania.

Established in 1859, the Copenhagen Zoo blends the old with the new. The elephant house, by acclaimed architect Norman Foster, is an elegant structure topped by two glass domes, providing its inhabitants with plenty of light and stomping ground. Modern glass enclosures for hippos and polar bears also make for spectacular viewing. But children are just as likely to gravitate to the small petting zoo and playground, which includes friendly cows, horses, rabbits, goats, and hens. The indoor rain forest has butterflies, sloths, alligators, and other tropical creatures. On sunny weekends, the line to enter can be long, so come early.

There are often extended weekend and summer opening hours.