The 11 best parks and gardens to visit in Copenhagen
When it comes to parks and gardens in Copenhagen, there is a whole lot of choice at your fingertips. Taking a look at any tourist map will show you the Danish capital is criss-crossed with open nature spaces, from formal gardens at Frederiksberg to wild marshlands on Amager.
If you’re new to the city, or limited for time, I thought I’d put together this little guide. The idea is that you can pick and choose the parks and gardens which fit your needs, without having to visit each one - as I did when I first arrived in Copenhagen.
So sit back and read on to find out the 11 best (in my opinion!) parks and gardens in Copenhagen.
Kongens Have
Beautiful lawns, amazing cafes and a royal castle - what more could you ask for? Kongens Have (aka The King’s Garden) is situated right in the middle of Copenhagen and is an amazing spot for a stroll and a chance to escape the bustle of the inner city.
Whether it’s summer or winter, these are my favourite gardens. Check out my more detailed guide to The King’s Garden, the oldest royal gardens in Denmark.
2. Frederiksberg Have
A 64-hectare park just outside the city centre. Ornamental landscape gardens surround Frediksberg Palace where, alongside an amazing zoo you can find a Chinese pagoda, beautiful avenues of trees, lakes, rivers (with boat tours!) and a great cafe.
Read my full guide to Frederiksberg Have and Palace here.
3. Klampenborg Deer Park
A short train ride north of Copenhagen lies the beautiful surrounding of Jægersborg Deer Park in Klampenborg. This formally royal hunting land spans 11 kilometres of unspoiled forest and heathland, with the gorgeous setting of Øresund Straits in the background.
You can also visit the amazing Hermitage Hunting Lodge (pictured), built for Christian V to feast on his deer.
Check out my detailed guide to visiting Klampenborg Deer Park.
4. Kastellet
This pentagon-shaped Kastellet (Citadel) is one of the best-preserved fortresses in northern Europe. The interior provides a beautiful walk year-round, looking down onto the surrounding battlements, moat and outer park.
Check out my detailed guide to visiting the Kastellet fortress.
5. Valbypark
A gorgeous expanse of open space beside the sea, this is one of the largest parks in Copenhagen.
As well as a beach, which I covered in my Swimming Guide to Copenhagen, Valbypark boasts a beautiful tree-lined promenade, unique beds and wide lawns from picnics and games.
6. Amager Fælled
One of the last truly ‘wild’ spots in the Copenhagen area, Amager Fælled is an large expanse of semi-managed woodland, shrub and wetland, located to the east of the centre.
It’s perfect for a stroll, run or cycle and easy to escape the crowds for a undisturbed picnic through the maze of paths and tracks that criss-cross the land.
Find more info on walking in Amager Fælled here.
7. Søndermarken
Frederiksberg Park (mentioned above) is the perfect example of ordered, formal Rennaisance garden.
In contrast, Søndermarken sits on the other side of the road and is a less ‘manicured’ parkland, with dense woodland and wide boulevards drawing visitors towards Frederiksberg palace at the centre.
It also hosts the amazing Syd for Solen festival ever year.
8. Bispebjerg Cemetery
When the cherry blossom blooms in spring, Bispebjerg cemetery becomes an instagrammers dream!
Seriously though, even when not adorned from top to tail with pink blossom, it’s a beautiful, peaceful and reflective place for a quiet stroll.
Get more info on the brilliant blooming Bispebjerg blossoms here.
9. Botanical Gardens
Lying just beside the King’s Garden (above) and a few minutes from Nørreport station is the Botanical Gardens.
The glass house is home to 13, 000 species of plants, making it the largest collection in Denmark. It’s great to explore the building and surrounding parkland with kids, and there is a nearby cafe and Butterfly House to keep them entertained and fed!
10. Assistens Cemetery
The biggest green space in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro neighbourhood, Assistens Cemetery is the resting places for ‘great Danes’ like Hans Christian Andersen, Niels Bohr and Søren Kierkegaard.
The tranquil boulevards provide a peaceful oasis and its 25 hectares mean its easy to escape the crowds too.
The Culture Trip has a great article on why it’s a relaxing place for a stroll.
11. Fælledparken
It’s Copenhagen’s most visited park, slap bang in the centre. It was created in 1914 and designed to be a place for everyone in the city to hang out.
There are cafes, lakes, forests, athletics, playgrounds and skate parks - not to mention lying next to FC Copenhagen’s ‘Parken’ stadium and hosting large events like the Copenhagen Half Marathon.
The 11 parks, gardens and wild spaces mentioned above are just a selection of some of my personal favourites. An honourable mention should go to the beautiful Copenhagen lakes, Damhussøen to the west, the ‘green lungs’ which connect parks to one another throughout the city and the scattering of lakes and woodland that lie to the north and north-west of the city. If you have a favourite outdoor space in Copenhagen which you enjoy visiting, I’d love to hear it! Please leave your comment in the space below 👇
Getting around between these parks is of course up to you, but as with most things in Copenhagen, it’s best explored on a bike!