Copenhagen Things To Do

This museum’s collection ranges from ancient Egyptian to 20th-century European art. Paintings include Van Gogh’s Bridge over the Seine (acquired in 2007) and works by Gauguin, Pissarro, and Cézanne. It also has one of the world’s best collections of Rodin sculptures outside of France.

One of the most beautiful museums in Europe, the Louisiana houses works by Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg, and Warhol. In addition to world-class temporary exhibitions, the museum is worth visiting for its stunning location overlooking the ocean. Located around 20 miles north of Copenhagen, it’s easily reachable by train.

Copenhagen’s Royal Library, designed by the Danish firm of Schmidt, Hammer & Lassen and completed in 1999, is a striking edifice of black marble and glass. It also contains one of the city’s best restaurants, Søren K, named after the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard.

The Royal Opera House opened in 2005 across the harbor from the heart of the city. The exterior of the building, by Danish architect Henning Larsen, met with mixed reviews, but everyone agrees that the interior, inspired by a conch shell, is a triumph. Twenty-five last-minute tickets (for the venue’s ballet, opera, and concert performances) are released on the day of the performance.

The bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s lovelorn character is the city’s official symbol and the country’s most-visited landmark. Be warned, though, that she’s a small and underwhelming little thing who suffers the indignity of being clambered upon by some tourists and endlessly photographed by others.

This small museum records Danish life during the Nazi occupation, including the story of how most of the country’s 8,000 Jews were helped by their neighbors to escape to neutral Sweden. Free admission.