Copenhagen: Canal Boat Cruise & Nyhavn Walking Tour

Old Town, Canals & the Little Mermaid in One Afternoon

You walk through Copenhagen's Old Town with a licensed guide, see the Round Tower and Cathedral, then board a 1-hour canal boat with audio commentary in your language. The 4-hour option adds Frederik's Church and the King's Garden with free entry. Groups stay under 24 people, the boat departs from Nyhavn on schedule, and the whole experience takes either 3 or 4 hours depending on which tour you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Copenhagen Old Town and Canal Cruise

• Meet guide at Lur Blowers column
• Walk past City Hall, Cathedral, Round Tower
• Tour ends at Nyhavn harbor
• Board boat for 1-hour canal cruise
• See Little Mermaid, Amalienborg, Holmen
• Listen to audio guide on boat

The experience

You're standing under the Lur Blowers column at Rådhuspladsen, and your guide is already pointing out the City Hall's red-brick facade. That's where the Copenhagen walking tour starts: right in the center, no hunting for a meeting point. From here you move through the Old Town's narrow streets, past the Round Tower and Copenhagen Cathedral, the kind of places that look smaller in photos than they do when you're actually standing in front of them. The guide talks through the history as you walk, but it doesn't feel like a lecture. It's more like someone who knows the city telling you what matters about it.

Then you reach Nyhavn, that row of painted townhouses everyone photographs, and you board a modern boat for the canal cruise. This is where the walking tour ends and the real sightseeing starts: the audio guide (in English, German, or Danish) takes over, and you drift past the old naval base at Holmen, the Little Mermaid statue, Amalienborg Palace, and the Church of Our Savior in Christianshavn. The guide won't be on the boat with you, but you've got the audio commentary and an hour to just sit and watch the water and the buildings slide past. It's the kind of pace that lets you actually absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing to the next stop.

If you book the 4-hour option, you get an extended walking tour that includes Frederik's Church (the Marble Church, with its massive copper dome) and the King's Garden by Rosenborg Castle. That means more time in the Old Town, more stories about Copenhagen's Rococo architecture and royal history, and free entry to the church, which saves you money and means you don't have to backtrack later. The group stays small, capped at 23 people per guide, so you're not herded through like a school trip. Arrive on time though. The boat waits for no one, and missing the cruise departure means losing that part of the experience.

The whole thing is wheelchair accessible, and if you're traveling with small children, strollers work fine on the walking sections. Just check your email the day before for any last-minute details, and wear shoes you can walk in for two or three hours depending on which option you choose. The canal boat cruise is the part that makes this different from a regular walking tour. It's 4x more sites than you'd see on foot alone, and it's included in the ticket price.

What’s included

• Private walking tour of Copenhagen's Old Town and Nyhavn with a 5-star licensed guide fluent in your chosen language.
• 1-hour audio-guided canal boat cruise with commentary in English, German, or Danish.
• sightseeing of the Round Tower, Copenhagen Cathedral, City Hall, Little Mermaid statue, Amalienborg Palace, Holmen naval base, and Christianshavn's Canal.
• free admission to Frederik's Church and the King's Garden (4-hour option only).
• historical facts and cultural stories about Copenhagen's landmarks and heritage.
• group size limited to 23 people per guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared tour at 3 hours: Book tickets for a 1-hour audio-guided canal cruise and a 2-hour walk through the Old Town and Nyhavn, featuring highlights such as the Round Tower, Copenhagen Cathedral and City Hall (exterior only). Expert guide: an official 5-star guide who specializes in this type of tour. The guide speaks the chosen language fluently. DKCO007Guide in English, German or Danish · 7 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 14:30

4H: Old Town, Frederik's Church & BoatGuide in English, German or Danish · 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00Lasts 4 hours: Reserve tickets for a 1-hour audio-guided canal cruise followed by an extended 3-hour walk through the Old Town and Nyhavn, with free admission to Frederik's Church and the King's New Garden. Expert guide: an official 5-star guide who specializes in this type of tour. The guide speaks the chosen language fluently. DKCO007

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 14:30

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, German and Danish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rosotravel - Denmark City Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Copenhagen's main landmarks and canals in one outing without arranging separate tickets and transport: the fixed schedule and included boat cruise are what fit everything into a single afternoon.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, German and Danish.

What's included in the 3-hour versus 4-hour tour?

The 3-hour tour covers the Old Town, Nyhavn, and the 1-hour canal cruise. The 4-hour tour adds an extended walking section with free entry to Frederik's Church and the King's Garden.

Does the guide come on the boat with you?

No. The guide escorts you to the dock and gives you the cruise ticket. The boat has an audio guide in English, German, or Danish instead.

How many people are in a typical group?

Groups are limited to 23 people per guide to ensure everyone can hear the commentary and ask questions.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the boat is also wheelchair accessible.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, strollers and prams are fine for the walking sections. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the boat cruise.

What if I'm late to the meeting point?

Arrive on time: delays can cause you to miss the boat departure from Nyhavn. The cruise schedule is fixed.

Is admission to Frederik's Church included in the 4-hour tour?

Yes, free entry is included. Dome tickets are not included, and admission is limited during mass and special events.