Copenhagen Walking Tour: Highlights and Hygge w/Lunch

If you are going to get to the heart of hygge, you need to go back in time. We begin our Hygge & Happiness tour near the characteristic yellow houses of Nyboder, a famed local district. Here you’ll meet and greet your native guide and your group for the day. Your native guide is a bona fide Copenhagener who is super excited to share their knowledge of Danish culture with you, as well as local historical secrets that you won’t find in any guidebooks! And because our tours are for small groups only, your guide has plenty of time to answer any questions you may have.

Your tour takes you through the oldest parts of the city, where you experience hidden gems in the form of cobblestone-filled streets, timber-framed houses, and green refuges of calm amongst the urban sprawl. Krusemyntegade is one of the cobblestone-filled streets that just scream hygge with that old world charm. It’s a great example of how hyggelig our city can be if you just take the time to wander.

Kastellet is one of those places in Copenhagen where time seems to slow down. As we walk across the old moat and onto the fortress grounds, notice how the sounds of the city fade into the background with tales about vikings. Suddenly, it's just the crunch of gravel underfoot, the rustling of leaves, and the steady rhythm of our own pace. This is where hygge settles in without effort.

It stands on the edge of the ramparts, surrounded by soft grass and views over the city rooftops. Though it’s no longer in use, the mill feels alive in its own way, part of the rhythm of this historic place.

With vikings in our head, we’ll need to take in some of Copenhagen’s magical fairy-tale dust. Take it all in by saying hello to the iconic Little Mermaid and find out why everything is not as it seems with her.

On our way around the green oasis around the Citadel, we’ll encounter Gefion. Here you’ll hear the stories about where Copenhagen, or at least the land on which it is located, is said to have originated (Hint: It’s something we Danes consider a very dark place!) and all the stories about Norse myth that were practiced back in the Viking times.

While admiring the Gefion Fountain, hear a story about St Albans Church, that is nestled quietly in Churchillparken surrounded by gently swaying trees and peaceful paths.

As we leave St. Alban's Church we step straight into Churchillparken, a green and often overlooked patch of calm in the middle of the city. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down and just breathe. The tall trees offer shade on warm days, and in autumn, their golden leaves make everything feel soft and hushed. There’s a sense of stillness here that feels deeply hyggelig.

Standing on the grounds of Amalienborg, your eyes are naturally drawn to the majestic Marble Church just across the way. Its soaring copper-green dome commands attention, a stunning contrast to the soft sky above.

This will bring us to the spectacular Amalienborg, which today serves as the Royal Palace. We will be arriving just in time for the changing of the guards. While you are here, your guide will tell you all about the Danish royal family and we’ll also tell you secret insider stories about the Royal Guards - that only those who have been in the guard know about.

Watching the Changing of the Guard at Amalienborg isn’t just about royal tradition—it’s a moment of shared stillness in the heart of the city. As the guards pass by in their dark uniforms and bearskin hats, there’s a quiet pride in the air, a sense of belonging.

Tucked just behind Amalienborg, Amaliehaven feels like a secret garden in the middle of the city. With its symmetrical layout, bubbling fountains, and views across the water to the opera house, it’s the perfect spot to get away from the crowds of the guard change and refreshen the energy for the adventure that awaits.

Walking down Toldboden, you are greeted by spectacular views of the Copenhagen Opera House and the peaceful green of Operaparken. As you take in the shimmering water and striking architecture, your guide will lead you to a thoughtfully chosen nearby spot where a delicious lunch, full of local flavors, awaits.

Nyhavn’s colorful waterfront and lively atmosphere set the perfect stage for a hyggelig pause. As you take in the iconic canal views and charming old houses, your guide will lead you to a carefully chosen nearby spot where a mouth-watering lunch awaits.

Kongens Nytorv’s grand square and central location offer a brief, hyggelig moment as you walk past. Surrounded by elegant historic buildings and lively cafés, you catch a glimpse of everyday city life blending effortlessly with rich history.

Instead of diving into the busy crowds at the main pedestrian shopping Street, Strøget, we’ll gently brush past, choosing quieter side streets where the true hyggelig spirit of the city lives.

Here your guide will let you stretch your neck all the way back to admire the spire throning on top of what seem to be a church, but not all is what it seems in Copenhagen today. Here your guide will share Copenhageners views of religion from outside the church and tell you how this plays into our culture as well even today!

The palace serves as the Danish parliament today, so here we will stop to tell you all the secrets about Danish politics, the mind-boggling Danish welfare system and the weird Danish cultural law of Jante. A two-tiered system that provide Danes with a very high degree of trust, which have helped us earn the title as some of the happiest people in the world pretty consistently for years. Find out why, as you guide will unravel how these concepts play into Danish happiness and maybe pick up some hacks for your own.

Bibliotekshaven is a hidden oasis in central Copenhagen, offering a peaceful retreat just steps from the city’s busiest streets. As you wander through its quiet paths and manicured lawns, you’ll discover the thoughtful presence of Søren Kierkegaard’s statue - a subtle tribute to one of Denmark’s greatest thinkers.

We will pass the impressive Rundetårn, where we’ll share stories about the legendary King Christian IV and his lasting impact on Copenhagen’s architecture and character.

Ditch the urban sprawl together and escape into a beautiful green haven, The Kings Garden. Here take in the spectacular beauty and calm in the midst of the busy historical inner city. As you wander, hear the dramatic story of how the once-royal park came to be one of the first public parks in the world (Hint: It include former kings with delusions of grandeur and mental insanity and inappropriate love triangles!).

From Kongens Have, Rosenborg Castle reveals itself in all its fairy-tale beauty. As you pause in the garden, the castle’s elegant towers and red brick façades invite admiration, standing as a timeless symbol of Danish history and royal tradition.