My favorite outdoor spots in Copenhagen

Anyone else dreaming of warmer weather?

It’s February, and we just had the coldest week of the winter (so far…?). But the days are getting longer, the sun is coming out more, and it’s starting to feel like spring is on the way. And after spring comes summer!

Since I grew up in Texas, I never really appreciated warm weather; it was a given. The sun was always there. But Copenhagen is a different city in the summer. When it starts to get warmer and the sun is shining, everyone is outside. Literally just… enjoying the sun. And to be honest, that’s one of my favorite things to do here, too. The first time I came to Copenhagen was in the summer, and I think it was this outdoor-hygge that made me fall in love with the city.

So since I’ve been daydreaming… here are some places I can’t wait to go when winter subsides!

Bibliotekshaven

Det Kongelige Biblioteks Have, or the Royal Library Garden, is the definition of a hidden gem. I didn’t even know about it until this past summer. This little garden is nestled between the Royal Library (as the name would suggest) and Christiansborg Slot, the Danish parliament building. My husband knew about this place and apparently never thought to show it to me (rude!!) until we basically stumbled upon it one day. This garden is just so beautiful and picturesque! I love it.

Nyhavn/Kongens Nytorv

Okay, now the opposite of a hidden gem. Nyhavn is among the busiest spots in the summer since it’s so iconic. I still love to walk around here in the summer (ideally with some ice cream) because this area encapsulates the absolute charm of Copenhagen that I love so much. It’s also just a short walk to Broensgade Køkken (an outdoor street food market), another great spot to enjoy warm weather when we are blessed with it!

Kongens Have

Kongens Have, or the King’s Garden, is right in the middle of the city. It’s a beautiful park that also has a castle in the middle of it, so that’s cool. This is the first place I associate with “summer in Copenhagen” because when I was studying abroad here, my friends and I went to Kongens Have every single day after our classes. We’d just relax on the grass and people watch. I don’t know why that’s so enjoyable, but it really is!

Amager Strand

Okay, so Amager Strand isn’t like the white sand beaches that people travel to visit, but it is still a beach! It’s a great place to walk around and relax in the summer, and the swimming club (the blue building) gets absolutely packed once the weather gets warm.

Tivoli

Yes, Tivoli definitely counts as an outdoor space– it’s called Tivoli Gardens for a reason! Tivoli is Copenhagen’s amusement park, but it is so much more than that. Coming from the US, I had never been to an “amusement park” as beautiful as this one.

Frederiksberg Have

Another garden with a castle! This is such a novelty to me, as an American. Frederiksberg Have is a huge garden with tons of pathways to walk around. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget you’re in the middle of a city.

And more…

This is my starter list, but I could go on!! Islands Brygge, Kastellet, Dyrehaven (technically outside of the city, but still an amazing outdoor space)… Of course, we can (and should) still go outside when the weather is less than ideal, but it’s so much sweeter when you don’t need to wear a coat.

What are you looking forward to doing when spring comes?