Copenhagen City Private Walking Tour: Palaces, Harbours & Nyhavn

Walk the waterfront where Danes actually spend their time, from colourful Nyhavn to the royal palaces.

A private walking tour of Copenhagen's city centre with a professional guide, covering five major landmarks including Amalienborg Palace, Nyhavn and the Copenhagen Opera House. The two-hour route stays in the heart of the city, moving between the harbourfront and historic squares on foot. A guide speaks your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or two other languages, and the pace suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Christiansborg Palace10m
2. Kunsthal Charlottenborg5m
3. Nyhavn15m
4. Copenhagen Opera House5m
5. Amalienborg Palace15m

Explore Copenhagen's iconic waterfront sites

• Visit Højbro Plads for city views
• See Christiansborg Palace on Slotsholmen
• View the reconstructed church tower
• Walk by the Royal Danish Theatre
• Explore Kunsthal Charlottenborg and art library
• Stroll along colorful Nyhavn canal
• Visit the modern Copenhagen Opera House
• Tour Amalienborg Palace, royal residence
• See Marmorkirken (Marble Church) dome
• Relax at St. Ann’s Square park
• Discover Kongens Nytorv central square

The experience

What makes Copenhagen tick? The guide starts by answering that question at Højbro Plads, a square just off the main shopping street Strøget, where you get a direct view of Christiansborg Palace and Børsen, the former stock exchange, plus the statue of Bishop Absalon on horseback. From there the walk moves through the layers of the city: past Christiansborg Palace itself, which houses the Danish Parliament on the island of Slotsholmen (literally "The Palace Island"), then to Charlottenborg, a former royal academy that now holds the Kunsthal Charlottenborg and the Danish Art Library.

The route leans heavily on the waterfront, where you'll see why Danes are never far from the harbour. Nyhavn, with its coloured houses lining the canal, is where Hans Christian Andersen lived and wrote "The Princess and the Pea": the guide points out the exact buildings. The Copenhagen Opera House sits on the island of Holmen, one of the world's most modern opera buildings, inaugurated in 2005. Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the Royal Family, stands across the water. The guide explains who lives where. You also pass Marmorkirken (the Marble Church), built in the 1700s, whose dome offers city views on days you visit separately.

The walk covers Kongens Nytorv, the large central square ringed by historical buildings: the Magasin du Nord department store and the Hotel d'Angleterre, which has hosted Winston Churchill and Bill Clinton among many others. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The city centre is unavoidable for traffic noise, and the route stays mostly on foot through busy neighbourhoods. The guide is a professional who speaks your language, and the two-hour pace leaves the rest of your day open.

What’s included

• Professional guide in your choice of language.
• two hours of walking through Copenhagen's city centre.
• access to views of Amalienborg Palace, Nyhavn, Christiansborg Palace, the Copenhagen Opera House and Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Danish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by OURWAY Tours - Copenhagen

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want the waterfront and palace landmarks covered in two hours with a guide navigating the route, leaving time for a café stop before or after.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Danish.

What is Amalienborg Palace and who lives there now?

Amalienborg is the official residence of the Royal Family. The former queen, Margrethe, lives in the palace closest to the waterfront, while King Frederik lives opposite her with his wife Mary and their four children.

Why is Nyhavn so famous in Copenhagen?

Nyhavn is known for its colourful houses lining the canal and its history as a home to Hans Christian Andersen, who lived in three different houses there and wrote "The Princess and the Pea" in house No. 20.

What is Christiansborg Palace used for?

Christiansborg Palace, located on the island of Slotsholmen, houses the Danish Parliament and is home to both politicians and royalty.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour lasts two hours and includes a professional guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or two other languages. The guide leads you through the city centre on foot.

What should I wear and bring on this walk?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, as the tour covers city streets with unavoidable traffic noise. Dress comfortably for the weather, the tour operates in all conditions, and bring a camera, as the waterfront and palaces offer plenty of photo opportunities.