Copenhagen With Kids: Things to Do, Hotels & Itineraries
When it comes to city breaks, Copenhagen is an excellent destination for families. With castles, playgrounds, interactive museums and easy day trips to beaches and enchanted forests, it’s one of those European long-weekenders that works just as well with children as it does without. Copenhagen as a city is compact, safe and ridiculously pretty, and also feels family-friendly right down to its roots. Cycle lanes are full of trailers ferrying around toddlers in woolly hats, there are over 125 playgrounds dotted around, public transport is easy to navigate (even with a pram), and many of the city’s main attractions include imaginative spaces designed specifically for little hands to enjoy. The vibe is definitely ‘kids are part of society – not an inconvenience’ (similar to Gothenburg, which also celebrates their smallest citizens)
In this guide to Copenhagen with kids, you’ll find the best things to do, family-friendly places to eat and where to stay in the city. I’m also sharing how we extended our trip beyond Copenhagen (if you’ve time to tag on some extra days), with beaches, dramatic chalk cliffs and vast forests
Words by Becky Pennison-Bates
Published: 23rd March 2026 | Last updated: 21st April 2026
Quick Planning Guide
Best area to stay: Christianshavn
Best family hotel: Kanalhuset
Best attraction for kids: Tivoli Gardens
Best museum for children: Experimentarium
Best dinner spot: Torvehallerne Market
Best sweet treat: La Glace
Best easy reach trip: Hornbæk beach (to stay the night with kids, check into Hotel Hornbækhus)
Where to Stay in Copenhagen With Kids
Set alongside a quiet canal in Christianshavn, Kanalhuset sits in one of Copenhagen’s prettiest neighbourhoods. Colourful houses line the waterways, cobbled streets connect tiny bridges and many of the city’s main attractions including Nyhavn, Amalienborg Palace and Strøget are within easy walking distance
The hotel offers fourteen large apartment-style rooms, which makes it particularly well suited to families. Think high ceilings, separate bedrooms, sprawling living areas and full kitchens, meaning there’s plenty space to spread out. And this is how I know I’m old – the practical touches (I’m talking washing machines and dryers, with detergent!), made me almost squeal with delight since I was travelling with children!
The interiors – wow are they cool, in that effortless, thrown together Danish way that’s almost impossible to replicate. Think vintage sideboards, flea market finds, quirky little lamps and eclectic artwork that comes together to create spaces that feel warm and lived in (rather than overly styled decor where you’re too afraid to touch anything)
What really stood out was the couldn’t-feel-more-comfortable atmosphere. Kanalhuset feels deeply embedded in the neighbourhood. During our stay we spotted a mum-and-baby group chatting over coffee while breastfeeding, a knitting circle gathered around a table and locals popping in for dinner at the restaurant, where guests sit and chat along friendly communal tables. It felt genuinely loved by residents as well as visitors just passing through
What we found at Kanalhuset was an intrinsically family-friendly, best-of-both-worlds stay. It’s a city centre spot where you have all the benefits of self-catering (huge apartment & full facilities), balanced with hotel indulgences (house keeping, delicious breakfasts, and a beautiful bar and restaurant)
More Family-friendly Hotels in Copenhagen
Things to do in Copenhagen with Kids
Copenhagen is absolutely packed with family attractions, and what makes the city special is how many are truly exciting and engaging rather than purely educational. Dusty old museums? Not on our watch!
Copenhagen’s historic amusement park feels closer to a fairytale garden than a traditional theme park. Rides are tucked between flowerbeds, lakes and glowing lanterns (visit at dusk when the lights come on for a particularly magical experience!)
Nyhavn Harbour:
The iconic colourful waterfront is lined with historic ships and lively cafés – the perfect ‘I-spy while having a coffee’ spot
Canal Boat Tour:
One of the easiest ways of getting to grips with the city whilst giving tired little legs a rest. Boats glide past rows of colourful harbourside houses, palaces and the opera house, as well as the famous Little Mermaid statue
Instead of stairs, a spiralling ramp leads up to the top. Kids love running up it (as well as hiding in the recesses before jumping out and scaring you senseless)
Children’s Traffic Playground:
A miniature city designed just for children, complete with roads, traffic lights and roundabouts. Kids can borrow bikes (and helmets – for free! Up to 130cm tall) and pedal their way through like tiny locals. One Copenhagen’s most unique (and utterly adorable) experiences for little ones
Fælledparken Playgrounds (including the Tower Playground):
One of the city’s largest and best playground areas, with climbing walls, slides, net bridges, zip lines and plenty of space to run wild (it’s even won design awards!)
Skydebanehaven Playground
One of Copenhagen’s most charming (and impressive) playgrounds, hidden behind a dramatic old city wall. Plus during the summer there’s a splash pool for toddlers!
One of the best science museums in Europe for children (and I’ve visited a lot!). Expect giant ball runs, water tables & toys, huge bubble zones, an interactive ‘miniverse’ and countless hands-on challenges and experiments. Just do yourself a favour and set aside an entire day!
Northern Europe’s largest (and arguably most modern) aquarium, featuring touchpools, a water playground, bigger-than-you-can-believe tanks and 360 underwater tunnels – home to thousands of sealife species including electric eels, sharks, piranhas & octopus
Another attraction widely regarded as one of the continent’s finest, with a renowned ‘Arctic Ring’ enclosure where you can watch polar bears swim overhead
National Museum of Denmark
Has an fab Children’s Museum where kids can dress up, climb aboard viking ships and explore historical role play spaces
Home of the Danish royal family, no trip is complete without a visit (kind of like coming to London and missing Buckingham Palace). Top tip? Swing by to catch the daily changing of the guard (midday!)
Denmark’s most famous toy brand’s impressive flagship shop, filled with giant LEGO sculptures, limited edition kits and building stations
Where to Eat in Copenhagen with Kids
From the team behind many-Michelin-starred Noma, this casual burger restaurant manages to feel both cool and extremely family-friendly, serving the cutest little kids burger platters (plus in winter, there’s an open-air ice rink right next door)
A glass-roofed food market with stalls selling everything from smørrebrød and pastries to tacos and empanadas (the latter was our personal fave). Everyone demanding something different? No problemo! Plus there’s plenty of seating scattered around and it’s lively without being too loud
Part restaurant, part community space, come evening long shared tables fill with families who congregate to enjoy a daily-changing menu. Children eat, chat and play together – a gorgeous experience for those who really want to experience Copenhagen
A hidden rooftop restaurant set within an urban farm. Long communal tables, simple seasonal dishes and a relaxed, almost countryside feel make it surprisingly good with children who are warmly welcoming for either breakfast or lunch (they’ll even be introduced to the resident chicken & rabbits!)
Maison d’Angleterre Patisserie
The prettiest of pink bakeries serving up some of the most spectacular cakes in the city (it’s real princess stuff)
If you’re looking for a quintessentially Copenhagen-esque cosy café experience in Christianshavn (where the kids are invited), look no further. The hamburgers are epic, plus little ones are allowed to draw on the paper tablecloths
A top pick for a spot of brunch, with a committed ‘all ages’ approach. As well as a warm family welcome, expect to ‘build your own brunch’ amidst buzzy (but laidback) vibes
Is renowned for creating some of the city’s most celebrated pizzas. Known for their organic ingredients (they make their own cheese too!) even the pickiest of eaters will leave full to the brim and beaming
Copenhagen’s most famous historic cake shop, serving elaborate pastries since 1870. Chandeliers sparkle above marble counters piled with delicate cream-filled creations. The hot chocolate is not to be missed. It’s one of those places where oyu just have to accept, lunch has quietly turn into dessert
Extending your Trip Beyond Copenhagen
After a jam-packed 72 hours in Copenhagen, we picked up a hire car and drove north to Hornbæk, a relaxed seaside town about forty five minutes away. It’s a favourite summer escape for Copenhagen cool kids when the sun comes out
And after a mini two night break by the coast, we headed down south to dramatic Møns Klint. Around one hour and forty minutes from the city, it’s a total change of landscape: think proper ‘out in the wild’ energy with rugged chalk cliffs, rare wildlife and towering trees
Where to Stay & What to Do in Hornbaek with Kids
Hornbæk is one of those seaside towns that instantly makes you slow down. It’s long been a favourite with Copenhagen families, thanks to its wide sandy beach, relaxed harbour atmosphere and lovely little dining scene
Stay at: Hotel Hornbækhus, a beautiful boutique hotel that feels more like stepping into a particularly stylish Danish summer house. While it’s not child-centric, you needn’t stress about bringing the kids. Inside you’ll find gorgeous wallpapers of trailing flowers, big sash windows that flood rooms with light, vintage furniture, glowing lamps and fresh flowers everywhere
What we loved? The cosy sitting rooms that invite you to settle in for a while, playing UNO together with a drink from the bar (while the baby was free to crawl around, with many admirers watching and smiling)
Dinner was a delight. Served in traditional faellesspisning style, there is no menu – instead, huge platters are placed on long candlelit tables where everyone is invited to help themselves. While it might not suit very picky eaters (for that, there are other restaurants nearby), dishes tended to be crowd pleasers (think delicious chicken casseroles), and we loved chatting to whoever happened to be next to us. There was no pressure on the kids to sit still throughout (they were welcome to get up and wonder around) – more like dinner in a beautiful home than a formal restaurant
Our room had a king size as well as a sofa bed, plus there are cots and highchairs available, as well as bikes to borrow with baby seats. And with the beach just a three min stroll away, location wise, it was impossible to beat!
Visit: Hornbæk itself! Pretty and pintsized, the wide sandy beach is the obvious highlight, with dunes to clamber over, ice cream kiosks, mini golf, paddleboards and plenty of space for paddling or sandcastle building in summer
Given there was snow on the ground when we visited, we enjoyed a couple of incredible sunsets looking out over the sea, and went for one morning stroll on the sand. Outside of that? We got our explore on! And found several excellent day trips in easy reach
Kronborg Castle is just 20 minutes away in Helsingor. This Shakespeare famous spot (it’s the setting of Hamlet) was surprisingly epic for children, with towers to climb, dungeons to explore, period dressing up, a colouring in area, huge Lego castle station – they were even hosting an interactive kids treasure hunt during our trip, where we had to find the castle traitor (with amazing actors, including one pretending to be a goat – Maggie was in hysterics). It’s also next door to a cool covered food market, and there’s a little beach playground a short walk away
Equally worthwhile? The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, often ranked among the best art museums in the world (but keep reading – this isn’t just highbrow stuff!). Set right on the coast, its sculpture gardens overlook the sea and it has a brilliant children’s wing where kids can experiment with art in hands-on workshops
Where to Stay & What to Do in Møns Klint with Kids
Møns Klint is one of Denmark’s most extraordinary natural landscapes, where towering white chalk cliffs rise dramatically above the Baltic Sea. Well, that’s what I’ve been told… when we visited in Feb the visibility was so bad I couldn’t see a thing! But I needed an excuse to return to Denmark in the summer anyway…
We took the opportunity to chill out, cuddle, cook and enjoy family dinners by candlelight. Luckily, we were staying in one of the world’s most beautiful Airbnbs in the nearby village of Borre, surrounded by forest and farmland. With three bedrooms, a full kitchen, cot & highchair, baby bath, potty, changing mat, even toys and books, there was absolutely everything we needed. Plus there was a super well stocked shop just down the road, and little cafe with live music – bliss!
Though usually, the cliffs themselves are the highlight. Long staircases descend to the beach below, where you can search for fossils hidden in the chalk, and paddle along the shoreline. Back at the top sits the excellent GeoCenter Mons Klint, an interactive museum explaining how the cliffs formed during the Ice Age. Children can join in with fossil hunts, try climbing activities, take a cable car and explore hands-on exhibits (think cool VR headsets etc!)
The surrounding beech forests are gorgeous for at-one-with-nature walks, and the island is part of Scandinavia’s first Dark Sky Park, meaning exceptionally clear night skies make for incredible stargazing (the airbnb has a firepit outside so you could toast marshmallows while watching the stars twinkle!)
FAQs: Copenhagen with Kids
Is Copenhagen Good with Kids?
Yes! Arguably Copenhagen is one of Europe’s most family-friendly cities thanks to it’s many parks, playgrounds, family friendly museums & attractions, hotels and excellent public transport (plus it’s super simple and speedy to get from the airport to the city centre)
How many days do you need in Copenhagen with kids?
Three days is ideal for exploring the city, before heading a little further afield if you have the time (Denmark is a dreamy road-trip destination! See above for inspiration)
Is Copenhagen Expensive with Kids?
It definitely isn’t cheap, but honestly, it wasn’t as expensive as I was expecting (I’d say a little more affordable than London on average). Plus many activities such as parks, playgrounds and harbour walks are free
When is the Best Time to Visit Copenhagen?
Spring and summer are ideal – picture gorgeously green parks and Tivoli Gardens filled with flowers. Summer also brings long daylight hours and warm beach weather – ideal if you’re planning to swing by Hornbæk
The festive season can be magical too, when Tivoli hosts one of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas markets
What’s the best way to get around Copenhagen with kids?
On the whole, Copenhagen was pretty pram-friendly with wide pavements, step-free metro stations and excellent public transport (though it’s also relatively compact so even little legs can cross lots off the itinerary without too much assistance)
The metro is fast and simple to use, while buses and harbour ferries connect most areas of the city. Or, you would look at living like a local and renting a bike with either a trailer or kids seats – countless cycle paths zigzag all over the city and are very widely used
If you plan to explore beyond Copenhagen, like Hornbæk or Møns Klint mentioned above, you’ll find renting a car is the easiest option. Driving was straightforward, and car rental not overly expensive
Themes: Holiday Cheat Sheets
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