Copenhagen with kids: the 12 things we would actually do, in every season.

Prices, ages and opening rules were checked on 28 October 2026 against each attraction's own website and the sources at the foot of this page. Prices are "from" prices and change by season and day, so check before you go; conversions use US$1 ≈ DKK 6.65 (ECB reference rate, 21 October 2026).

Is Copenhagen good for kids?

Yes, and not only because of Tivoli. Danish cities are built for children: there is a playground every few streets, cafés have high chairs and changing tables as a matter of course, and nobody minds a pram on the metro. Distances are short, so a five-year-old can walk most of the centre with a break or two. The honest downsides are the price, the short winter days and the weather, which changes fast. Plan one paid highlight a day, keep the afternoons loose, and you will have an easy trip.

The 12 best things to do in Copenhagen with kids

These are ranked by how much children enjoy them for the time and money spent, not by fame. Ages are a guide: every child is different.

1. Tivoli Gardens: the one children remember

Tivoli is a 19th-century amusement park in the middle of the city, with old wooden rides, gardens, a pantomime theatre and plenty of food. For children it is the highlight of the trip. Children under 3 get in free with a paying adult, children aged 3 to 7 pay a lower child price, and entry for everyone aged 8 and over is priced by date, from DKK 200 (about US$30) in the Christmas season. Rides are extra: you either pay per ride or buy a Ride Pass, and Ride Passes for children aged 1 to 7 are half price. Small children like the Little Dragon, the Vintage Cars and the Classic Carousel (from age 3); the classic wooden rollercoaster needs a height of 120 cm.

The catch is the calendar. Tivoli opens in seasons (Easter, summer, Halloween and Christmas) and is closed in between, including the first part of November and from 4 January until 19 March 2027. Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Tivoli is closed on 24 December. Go in the late afternoon: the lights come on at dusk, and the queues are shorter at dinner time. Our Tivoli Gardens guide explains tickets, the Ride Pass and which rides are worth the queue.

Check Tivoli entry tickets for your date (Tiqets) →

2. Copenhagen Zoo

The zoo in Frederiksberg has more than 4,000 animals, an Elephant House designed by Norman Foster, a panda house, the Arctic Ring with polar bears and a new Leopard Trail that opened in March 2026. It is open every day of the year, and in winter it is quieter and cheaper: from November to February a child ticket (ages 3 to 14) is from DKK 130 (about US$20) and an adult ticket from DKK 230 (about US$35); under-3s are free. It is quietest on weekdays before 11:00. Take the metro to Frederiksberg Allé or Fasanvej, or bus 7A, and walk on into Frederiksberg Have, the park next door, afterwards.

Check Copenhagen Zoo tickets (Tiqets) →

3. Den Blå Planet, the National Aquarium

Northern Europe's largest aquarium sits by the sea at Kastrup, about 15 minutes from the centre on the M2 metro and one stop before the airport, which makes it a good first or last afternoon. The ocean tank with hammerhead sharks is the moment most children talk about. It is open every day, until 21:00 on Mondays and in school holidays. Tickets are sold for one-hour time slots and often sell out at weekends, so book ahead. Online, children aged 3 to 11 are from DKK 116 (about US$17); under-3s are free. Note that Den Blå Planet is not included in the Copenhagen Card.

Check Blue Planet aquarium tickets (GetYourGuide) →

4. Experimentarium

A hands-on science centre in Hellerup, just north of the city, where everything is meant to be touched: water play, a giant bubble area and experiments with your own body, light and sound. It is our first pick for a rainy day with children aged about 4 to 14, and it opens every day of the year from 9:30 to 17:00 (until 14:00 on 24 and 31 December). Children aged 2 to 11 pay a child price that varies by day and season, under-2s are free, and buying online saves 10%. It is included in the Copenhagen Card. Allow three to four hours. Take an S-train to Hellerup and walk about 15 minutes, or take a bus.

5. A canal tour

An hour on the water is the easiest way to show children the city: Nyhavn, the Opera House, the Little Mermaid from the water and low bridges that make everyone duck. Boats run all year, with covered boats in winter. Sit near the front, bring a hat, and do it early in the trip so the children recognise places afterwards. The tours are included in the Copenhagen Card. Our guide to Copenhagen canal tours compares the operators.

Check canal tour times (Tiqets) →

6. Rosenborg Castle and the King's Garden

Real crown jewels in a basement treasury, a castle that looks like a fairy tale, and the King's Garden outside, which has a playground. Under-18s get in free, but they still need a ticket with a time slot, so book everyone together. Adults pay from DKK 140 online. Allow an hour inside; younger children are happiest in the treasury and the garden.

Check Rosenborg Castle tickets (Tiqets) →

7. The changing of the guard at Amalienborg

Every day at noon, the Royal Life Guards change at Amalienborg Palace, after marching through the streets from Rosenborg. It is free, takes about half an hour, and the bearskin hats do the work. Stand on the edge of the square in good time. Combine it with a walk to Nyhavn or, for older children, to the Little Mermaid by Kastellet.

8. The National Museum

Entry is free for everyone under 18, and the Viking and prehistoric galleries, with bog finds and real gold, hold older children well. Be aware that the much-loved Children's Museum inside it is closed for renovation until summer 2027, so this is a better visit for children aged about 8 and up for now.

9. The Round Tower

Rundetaarn has almost no stairs: you walk up a wide, cobbled spiral ramp to a viewing platform over the rooftops of the old town. Small legs manage it, and children like racing up it. It takes about 30 minutes and is in the middle of the shopping streets.

10. Playgrounds and parks

Danish playgrounds are a reason to come in their own right, and they are free. Our favourites:

• Tårnlegepladsen (the Tower Playground) in Fælledparken, Østerbro: climbable copies of Copenhagen's famous towers, slides, sand and a scooter track. It is staffed on weekdays and has toilets.
• The King's Garden (Kongens Have), next to Rosenborg: a playground in the centre, perfect between sights.
• Frederiksberg Have, next to the zoo: lakes, ducks and space to run.

11. Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park

Dyrehavsbakken, or Bakken, sits in a deer park north of the city at Klampenborg, about 20 minutes by S-train from the centre. The main season runs in spring and summer, but in 2026 Bakken Christmas weekends run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 21 November to 20 December, with a Christmas market, a skating rink and free entry. Look out for the wild deer on the walk in.

12. The harbour baths and beaches (summer)

From June to August, the harbour baths at Islands Brygge and the beach at Amager Strandpark are where Copenhagen families spend their afternoons. Amager Strandpark has shallow water that suits small children, and it is on the M2 metro line. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer season only.

Is the Copenhagen Card worth it for families?

It can be, but only if you do the big attractions. The rules matter more than the price:

• Children aged 3 to 11 need a Copenhagen Card KIDS, from DKK 100 (about US$15) for 24 hours. Each adult can add up to two, and they must be bought in the same order as the adult card.
• Children aged 12 to 15 need a JUNIOR card. Children under 3 need no card.
• The DISCOVER card includes Tivoli entry (not rides), the zoo, Experimentarium, canal tours, Rosenborg, the National Museum and public transport, including the airport.
• It does not include Den Blå Planet.

A worked example for two adults and two children aged 3 to 11: 48-hour DISCOVER cards come to about DKK 2,000 (about US$300). Paying at the gate in winter, the zoo and Experimentarium alone come to about DKK 1,550 for the four of you, so adding Tivoli entry for the adults and a canal tour tips it in favour of the card. If you only plan Tivoli and the aquarium, buy single tickets instead, because children travel free on public transport anyway. Our Copenhagen Card calculator runs the numbers for your own plan.

Check Copenhagen Card DISCOVER prices (Tiqets) →

Getting around with children

• Children under 12 travel free: two children aged up to 11 ride free on the metro, buses and trains with each adult who has a valid ticket.
• The metro is step-free, with lifts at every station, and prams and pushchairs are welcome. The M2 line runs from the airport to the centre in about 15 minutes, day and night.
• Cycling as a family works well in summer: many bike shops rent cargo bikes with a box for two children. In winter, we would stick to the metro.
• Arriving with car seats, bags and tired children? A pre-booked transfer that meets you in arrivals at a fixed price can be easier than the metro on the first night. Our Copenhagen Airport guide compares the options.

Price a family airport transfer with child seats (Welcome Pickups) →

Where to stay in Copenhagen with kids

Families have two good choices. Vesterbro, around Tivoli and Central Station, means you can walk to Tivoli and pop back to the hotel for a nap, with trains to the airport and day trips on your doorstep. Østerbro and Frederiksberg are calmer residential areas with big parks and the zoo, a short metro ride from the centre. Book a room that really sleeps four: many central rooms marketed as family rooms are a double bed and a narrow sofa bed. We compare seven hotels with proper family rooms in the best family hotels in Copenhagen, and every area in where to stay in Copenhagen.

One hotel we would book with children aged under 12: the Scandic Palace on City Hall Square, a few minutes' walk from Tivoli, which has family rooms with two double beds.

Check Scandic Palace family rooms (Booking.com) →

Copenhagen with kids in winter and at Christmas

November to February is the quiet season. Days are short, with only about seven hours of daylight in December and sunset before 16:00, and it is usually wet and windy at a few degrees above zero rather than snowy. The upside is that the Christmas lights make the early dark feel festive, and the indoor attractions are at their best. What works:

• Christmas in Tivoli (13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027): lights, Christmas stalls and rides. Go at dusk; closed on 24 December.
• Bakken Christmas weekends (Fridays to Sundays, 21 November to 20 December 2026): a free Christmas market and skating rink in the deer park.
• The Christmas markets in the old town, with æbleskiver (round pancake puffs) that children love. Dates are in our Copenhagen Christmas markets guide.
• The zoo, Den Blå Planet and Experimentarium are open every day, including Christmas Day, with shorter hours on 24 December. What else is open over the holidays is in Christmas in Copenhagen 2026.

Pack waterproof trousers and a warm hat for each child, plan the outdoor part of the day for late morning, and keep an indoor backup close by. Our rainy-day guide ranks the indoor options.

A 3-day Copenhagen itinerary with kids

This plan suits children aged about 4 to 10 and works in any season; swap Tivoli for the beach or Bakken when Tivoli is closed.

Day 1: the old town and the water

• Morning: a canal tour from Nyhavn or Gammel Strand, then pastries.
• Noon: the changing of the guard at Amalienborg.
• Afternoon: Rosenborg's treasury and the King's Garden playground, then the Round Tower ramp.

Day 2: animals and Tivoli

• Morning: Copenhagen Zoo, arriving at opening time, then Frederiksberg Have.
• Afternoon: back to the hotel for a rest.
• Evening: Tivoli from late afternoon, with an early dinner in the Gardens.

Day 3: sea life or science

• Morning: Den Blå Planet (book a slot) or, on a wet day, Experimentarium.
• Afternoon: Tårnlegepladsen in Fælledparken, or Amager Strandpark in summer. If you fly home today, Den Blå Planet is a few minutes from the airport.

Want every day planned for you with prices in DKK and US$? Our Copenhagen in 5 Days PDF (€9.97, about US$11.20) is a day-by-day plan you can slow down for children. For a longer family trip with LEGOLAND, see our 7-day family Denmark route.

Tips from parents who live here

• Eat early. Restaurants are happy to seat children at 17:30, and you avoid the evening rush. Food halls such as Torvehallerne and the Tivoli Food Hall suit fussy eaters.
• Do not tip: service is included in Denmark.
• Babies nap outside here. You will see prams parked outside cafés with sleeping babies in them. It is normal in Denmark; you do not have to copy it.
• Pay by card. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, including market stalls.
• Check Mondays. Several museums close on Mondays. The zoo, Den Blå Planet and Experimentarium do not.
• Book the aquarium and Tivoli for weekends and school holidays, when they fill up.

Quick answers

Is Copenhagen a good city to visit with kids?

Yes. Copenhagen is safe, flat and compact, the metro is step-free, and there are playgrounds everywhere. Tivoli, Copenhagen Zoo, Den Blå Planet aquarium and Experimentarium are the big family attractions, and two children under 12 travel free on public transport with each paying adult. The main drawbacks are high prices and short, wet winter days.

Is the Copenhagen Card worth it for a family?

It pays if you visit two or three big attractions in 48 hours, such as the zoo, Experimentarium, Tivoli entry and a canal tour. Children aged 3 to 11 need a KIDS card, from DKK 100 for 24 hours, added in the same order as the adult card (up to two per adult); under-3s need no card. It does not include Den Blå Planet aquarium, and children under 12 already travel free with an adult, so for one or two attractions single tickets are cheaper.

Do children pay on the metro in Copenhagen?

Two children aged up to 11 travel free on the metro, buses and trains when they are with an adult who has a valid ticket. Children travelling alone, and extra children beyond two per adult, pay a child fare.

Is Tivoli free for children?

Children under 3 get in free with a paying adult. Children aged 3 to 7 pay a lower child entry price, and everyone aged 8 and over pays adult entry, priced by date, from DKK 200 in the Christmas season. Rides are extra, and Ride Passes for children aged 1 to 7 are half price. Tivoli is open only in its seasons (Easter, summer, Halloween and Christmas) and is closed in between.

What can you do in Copenhagen with kids in December?

Christmas in Tivoli (13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed 24 December), the Christmas markets in the old town, Bakken's free Christmas weekends with a skating rink (21 November to 20 December 2026), and the indoor favourites: Copenhagen Zoo, Den Blå Planet and Experimentarium, which are open every day, including Christmas Day.

What is there to do in Copenhagen with kids when it rains?

Experimentarium, the hands-on science centre in Hellerup, is the best rainy-day choice, followed by Den Blå Planet aquarium and the National Museum, which is free for under-18s. The zoo also has large indoor houses for the tropics, elephants and pandas.

Sources, checked 28 October 2026: Tivoli entry, child and Ride Pass rules from Tivoli's family guide, Tivoli's trade terms and Christmas in Tivoli; zoo prices and hours from Copenhagen Zoo; aquarium prices and hours from Den Blå Planet; Experimentarium; the National Museum; Rosenborg Castle; Bakken; City of Copenhagen playgrounds; Copenhagen Card rules and prices from Copenhagen Card; children's travel rules from DSB; exchange rate from the ECB.

God tur from Team Nord Guide, nord-guide.com.

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