Copenhagen: Walking & Canal Tour with Changing of Guards

Copenhagen's Waterfront & Royal Ceremony in One Morning

You walk and ferry through Copenhagen's main sights (palaces, fortresses, the Little Mermaid, Nyhavn) with a local host who knows the stories behind them. The tour is timed to land you at Amalienborg Palace for the Changing of the Guards at noon (9:00 and 9:30 AM departures) or for a quieter guard change (later departures). Plan for a steady pace over 5–6 hours, which is what lets you fit the full route and the ceremony into one morning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Tivoli Gardens5m
2. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek5m
3. Christiansborg Palace10m
4. Copenhagen Opera Housepass by
5. Little Mermaid10m
6. Amalienborg Palace5m

Copenhagen walking and canal tour

• Meet at Copenhagen Central Station
• Stop outside Tivoli Gardens
• Pause outside Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
• Explore Christiansborg Palace area
• Visit the Black Diamond building
• Board electric harbor ferry
• Pass the Old Stock Exchange
• View Royal Danish Opera House
• Pass by Nyhavn harbor
• Disembark and walk to Gefion Fountain
• Explore Kastellet fortress
• Visit Churchill Park
• See the Marble Church
• Arrive at Amalienborg Palace
• Watch Changing of the Guards ceremony

The experience

The round analog clock inside Copenhagen Central Station ticks above the 7-Eleven. That's where you meet your local host, in the middle of the main hall, a spot almost every Dane has used at some point. From there, the walking tour moves at a steady pace through the city's heart: past Tivoli Gardens and its 1843 entrance, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek's glass dome, and Christiansborg Palace, where the Danish Parliament sits inside a building that's burned down three times and been rebuilt each time. You're not just passing landmarks. Your host shares the stories that locals actually know: how the palace reflects the city's blend of royal history and modern democracy, how Tivoli inspired Walt Disney in the 1950s. About an hour in, you board the electric harbor ferry (if it's not full, on rare weekends it can be), and the pace shifts to something slower and quieter.

The ferry glides through Copenhagen's canals for 25 minutes, and this is where the tour opens up. You see the Royal Danish Opera House rising from the harborfront: one of the most expensive ever built, with clean Scandinavian lines that reflect the water. Nyhavn slides past, those colorful 17th-century houses you've seen in a hundred photos, but from the water they're different. The reflections dance across the canal. The Old Stock Exchange, with its dragon-spire roof, passes by too (it caught fire in April 2024, but restoration is underway). If the ferry fills up or isn't running, you walk the scenic route instead, adding about 2 extra kilometers but covering the same waterfront areas on foot. Either way, you're moving through the city the way it was meant to be seen, from the water or along its edges.

After the ferry, it's back to walking. A short café stop gives your legs a rest before the final stretch to Amalienborg Palace. You pass the Little Mermaid, that modest bronze statue watching the harbor since 1913, and the Gefion Fountain with its Norse mythology and cascading water. Kastellet, the 1600s star fortress, sits quiet and green with its windmill and moat swans. The Marble Church appears, its dome inspired by St. Peter's in Rome, aligned perfectly with Amalienborg's octagonal courtyard across the square. If you're on the 9:00 or 9:30 AM tour, you arrive just as the Changing of the Guards begins at noon. Soldiers marching into the square, sometimes with the Royal Danish Band. The 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM tours catch a smaller, quieter version of the ceremony, more intimate and less theatrical. Either way, you're standing in the courtyard of the Danish royal family's official residence, watching a tradition that happens every single day.

The whole thing takes 5 to 6 hours, and it moves. Your host sets the rhythm, and the tour is designed for people who can walk at a steady pace, not a stroll, not a sprint, but the kind of pace that covers ground and lets you see things without stopping to catch your breath every five minutes. Groups stay small, which means you're not herding through the city with thirty other people. The ferry is part of Copenhagen's public harbor network, so seats can't be reserved, but on weekdays you often have it mostly to yourself. If weather or maintenance takes it out of service, the walking route simply extends, and you still see everything.

What’s included

• Your day includes meeting your local host at Copenhagen Central Station, a guided walk covering Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg Palace, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, and Kastellet fortress, a 25-minute electric harbor ferry ride through the canals (or scenic walking route if the ferry is unavailable), views of the Little Mermaid, the Marble Church, and Nyhavn, and arrival at Amalienborg Palace timed for the Changing of the Guards ceremony.
• A short café stop is built in, though food and drinks are at your own expense.
• Your host provides personal recommendations and local insights throughout.

Options for this experience

4 options

Private TourUp to 15 people · Guide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Private walk and canal tour that introduces you to Copenhagen with your own host: hidden gems, a scenic ride on the harbor ferry, and the Royal Changing of the Guards

Shared Tour (English)Up to 12 people · 09:00, 09:30 and 13:00

German Tour09:30 and 13:30

Combined canal and highlights tour (English)09:00Two tours combined: the Walk & Canal Tour from 9:00 to 12:00, a lunch break on your own, then the Highlights & Hidden Gems Tour from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Total duration: 6 hours

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (under 16)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and German

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Go like a local

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want Copenhagen's main sights and the royal guard ceremony in one morning without arranging their own route or timing. The fixed schedule is what makes fitting all of it into 5–6 hours possible. Expect a steady walking pace and about 6–7 kilometers on foot. This is not a leisurely stroll, and it's not suitable if you have walking difficulties or cardiovascular limitations.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, with 7 departure times. In German, at 09:30 and 13:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 16).

What time does the tour start?

Tours depart at 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, or 1:00 PM from Copenhagen Central Station. The 9:00 and 9:30 AM tours finish with the full Changing of the Guards at noon. Later departures see a smaller version of the ceremony.

Is the harbor ferry included?

Yes, a 25-minute electric harbor ferry ride is included. On rare occasions (mostly weekends), if the ferry is full or out of service, the tour follows the scenic canal route on foot instead, adding about 2 extra kilometers.

How long is the tour?

The tour takes 5 to 6 hours total, including the walking sections, the ferry ride, and a short café stop.

What is the walking difficulty level?

This is an intermediate-level tour requiring a steady pace. It covers about 6–7 kilometers on foot (or up to 8–9 km if the ferry is not available). It is not suitable for travelers with walking difficulties, spinal injuries, or poor cardiovascular health.

Where do we meet?

You meet inside Copenhagen Central Station, in the main hall beneath the large round analog clock next to the 7-Eleven (look for the one by the clock).

What landmarks do we visit?

The tour includes Tivoli Gardens, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Christiansborg Palace, the Royal Danish Opera House, Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid, Kastellet fortress, the Marble Church, and Amalienborg Palace. You also pass the Old Stock Exchange and Gefion Fountain.

Are meals included?

No meals are included, but there is a short café stop where you can purchase refreshments on your own.

What is the group size?

Groups are kept small to provide a more personal experience with your local host.

Can I book the ferry in advance?

No, the ferry is part of Copenhagen's public harbor network and seats cannot be reserved. On weekdays it is usually not full. Weekends can be busier.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring weather-appropriate clothing. Copenhagen weather can change quickly, so a light jacket is recommended even in warmer months.