Tivoli Gardens
While no one here will suggest that an amusement park is more important than the castles and other historic highlights of Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens holds first place as a city attraction for good reason. This 12 acre park is 160 years old, and has inspired both Hans Christian Anderson and Walt Disney. With shopping and dining venues, rides (NOT a century old), a lake, and park pathways, Tivoli Gardens is worth your while.
Price: Adults expect to pay from $84 to $86 for combination tours including Tivoli Gardens through the cruise lines.
Booking Advice: Admission to Tivoli Gardens is about $18, if you just want to go on your own. You can take a bus (#26) from Langelinie Terminal, or a red “S” Train from Nordhavn cruise terminal to either Vesterport station or Hovedbanegard. Food and the cost of rides (about $2.30 each) are not included in admission to the park. Cruise line combination tours that include Tivoli Gardens are 3.5 to 4 hours in length, competitively priced, and are rated as moderate in terms of physical exercise.
Rosenborg Castle
On some of these 4 hour tours, en route you'll pass the Old Stock Exchange (370 years old), Town Hall, Tivoli Gardens, and the Carlsburg Glypotek Museum before a shopping opportunity in the stores along the Stroget. Your tour of the Rosenborg Castle then begins with a view of the oldest royal gardens, the King's Garden. In the castle, you'll see the crown jewels and the royal apartments. On the return leg, some of these tours pause at the Gefion Fountain, where you'll also view the Amalienberg Palace, home to the reigning monarch and the royal family.
Price: Adults expect to payfrom $79 to $84.
Booking Advice: There are tours that do combine the Rosenborg Castle with the Tivoli Gardens through the cruise lines.Tours of the Rosenborg Castle are rated as moderate regarding physical exercise because of the walking involved. If you just want to tour the city, check out hop on/off tours offered by third party vendors for about $50 savings.
City Highlights & Canal Tours
Least expensive of the canal tours ($52) are in the evenings, and most of these tours offered by the cruise lines are combined with walking tours of the city. The evening canal tours last about an hour, and the combination tours are from 3 to 4 hours long. The sights you can expect on a typical combination walking/canal tour include the Little Mermaid Statue, the Amaliegarden, the Nyhavn Canals, medieval Copenhagen, and Christianborg Castle. At Gammel Strand, your canal cruise takes you past beautiful architecture including The Black Diamond and Our Saviour's Church.
Price: Depending on tour length and agenda, adults expect to pay from $52 to $79.
Booking Advice: Depending upon the amount of walking in the agenda of the tour you select, these excursions range from easy to moderate in terms of physical exertion. City highlights and harbour tours are offered for a bit less money through third party vendors.
Castles of North Sealand
Well loved by the royal family over the ages, you're going to see an array of castles, palaces, and elegant homes in this area. At Helsingor, you'll see Kronborg Castle, which dates back to the late 16th century and is the setting of Shakespeare's HAMLET. Following lunch, you'll then view Fredensborg Palace, which is the royal family's spring and autumn residence. Before returning, you'll visit Frederiksborg Castle, a splendid example of Renaissance architecture, which now houses the Museum of Natural History.
Price: Adults expect to pay up to $146 for 7 hour tours that include lunch.
Booking Advice: Due to the walking involved, these tours are usually rated as moderate with respect to physical exercise. If you just want to see Kronborg Castle, we suggest checking out third party vendor pricing and the agenda for “Hamlet Castle Tours.” These tend to be sugnificantly less expensive.
Bicycle Tours of Copenhagen
Since bicycling is a main way many locals navigate about Copenhagen, these tours are certainly in keeping with current city tradition AND a great way to exercise as well. Expect city tours to include seeing the Little Mermaid, parks, the harbour, Amaliegarden, the canals of Nyhavn, the King's New Square, the Royal Theatre, and The King's Garden at Rosenborg Castle.
Price: Adults expect to pay around $96 through the cruise lines.
Booking Advice: These tours are rated as physically difficult, so they are not for everyone. Also, it's expected that participants can comfortably and safely bicycle. Most tours are about 3 hours long. Check out local third party vendors online, such as www.bikecopenhagenwithmike.dk, for similar tours that are significantly less expensive.