Things to Do in Copenhagen

Copenhagen’s Vesterbro neighborhood was once a famous rough-and-tumble red-light district. After receiving a thorough makeover, the area is now known for its fashion-forward art scene, extensive restaurant selection, and vibrant nightlife.

Walk along Vesterbrogade and Istedgade—the main streets of Copenhagen’s hippest quarter—and explore an eclectic selection of bars, restaurants, cafés, and shopping boutiques. A growing collection of brewpubs and Danish craft beer bars serve up frothy pints, while Vesterbro’s trendy Kodbyen area (a former meatpacking district) features some of the city’s coolest nightclubs, art galleries, tattoo shops, and music venues. 

 

The streets of Vesterbro are better for walking than driving, so most tours take place on foot or include transportation via bike or Segway. Food tours are another option for exploring, and typically focus on the district’s vibrant food and drink scene as well as the city’s history. Most Copenhagen tours include a stop in Vesterbro and also visit highlights such as the 17th-century Nyhavn waterfront and the famous Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) statue. 

 

 

Copenhagen Central Station and Vesterport are major stops for almost every train and bus line in the city. Vesterport is served by the S-train network, and train lines B, C, and H continue along the southern edge of the district with stops at Dybbolsbro, Carlsberg, and Valby stations. Buses 1A, 3A, and 6A also stop in Vesterbro.

 

Opening hours for Vesterbro’s shops and galleries vary by season, while many of the district’s bars and clubs stay open until the early morning. Summer is the most popular season to visit, when bars, restaurants, and sidewalk cafés can be packed with people.

 

While Vesterbro was once known for its red-light activities and bustling meatpacking industry, the city of Copenhagen has worked hard to make the district a desirable place to live close to the city center. The famous red-light district is no more, and the area’s former meatpacking industry has been replaced with hip bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. 

Originally the private collection of Carl Jacobsen, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Glyptoteket) is now one of Denmark’s best-known art museums and houses over 10,000 works within its Renaissance-inspired halls. The Glyptotek is most famous for its ancient Egyptian and Greek sculpture, although it also holds an extensive painting collection. 

The Glyptotek’s ancient art department features Greek, Egyptian, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities, while its modern art section contains a vast collection of 19th- and 20th-century French and Danish art. The modern collection features a complete series of Edgar Degas bronzes, 35 Auguste Rodin sculptures (the largest collection outside of France), Vincent van Gogh's Landscape from Saint-Rémy, and an impressive collection of French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings including Paul Cézanne's iconic Portrait of the Artist and more than 40 Paul Gauguin works. The museum itself is equally impressive and features a subtropical winter garden and café, a glass-domed conservatory, and a concert hall.

Most Copenhagen city tours stop at the Glyptotek and also visit city highlights such as Christiansborg Palace, Tivoli Gardens, and Amalienborg Palace. It’s also possible to visit on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to explore the museum at your own pace. 

The Glyptotek is located adjacent to Tivoli Gardens, a short walk from Copenhagen Central Station. It’s possible to arrive by metro or public bus, and hop-on, hop-off bus tours stop nearby at Tivoli Gardens. 

The Glyptotek is open Tuesday through Sunday. It’s possible to visit the museum year-round, although it tends to be most crowded during summer and on weekends. 

One of the most famous landmarks in Copenhagen is the statue of the Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue), located near the Nyhavn District on the city waterfront. Carl Jacobsen, founder of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, sponsored the original Little Mermaid statue and paid for it to be made by Edvard Eriksen and installed at Langelinie Pier.