A lot of people coming to Copenhagen end up asking the same question: what’s worth seeing outside the city? Something you can reach within an hour or two, easy to turn into a fun day trip. So, inspired by that question, I put together a list of some of my favorite places nearby. I hope you’ll find something that sparks an idea for your own little adventure.
Jægersborg Dyrehave
Distance from Copenhagen: 20 minutes
Getting there: train (Klampenborg Station), car
Jægersborg Dyrehave used to be a royal hunting ground, and today it’s one of the loveliest green escapes near the city. Located in Kgs. Lyngby, it’s only about 20 minutes from Copenhagen and very easy to reach by train, bike, or car, with plenty of parking available. In 2015, the area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Right in the middle of the park sits Eremitageslottet, surrounded by a star-shaped network of paths originally designed for royal hunts. One of the most special things about Dyrehaven is the roughly 2,000 deer roaming freely around the park. They’ll still keep their distance, but spotting them along the trails never gets old.
For more details, I’ve written a separate post here.
Kronborg Castle
Distance from Copenhagen: 1 hour
Getting there: train (Helsingør Station), car
Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s often called Hamlet’s Castle, as Shakespeare used it as the setting for Hamlet, naming it Elsinore. Down in the underground passages, you’ll find the statue of Holger Danske, the legendary warrior who is said to awaken if Denmark is ever in grave danger.
Read more in a separate post here.
Helsingør
If you’re already visiting Kronborg, make sure to wander through the old town of Helsingør as well. It’s not a big place, but it’s full of charm, with cobbled streets, colorful houses, and a cozy harbor atmosphere.
Helsingborg
Want to mix things up a bit more? Hop on the ferry and cross from Denmark to Sweden. In just a short ride, you’ll find yourself in Helsingborg, which makes for a fun international detour while you’re already in the area.
Stevns Klint
Distance from Copenhagen: 1–1.5 hours
Getting there: train + bus (around 1.5 hours), car (about 1 hour)
Stevns Klint is a dramatic limestone cliff stretching 17 kilometers along the coast. It’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its geological importance and rises up to 40 meters above the sea, with visible layers of limestone, chalk, and flint formed over millions of years.
One of the highlights here is Højerup Gamle Kirke, a small church perched right at the edge of the cliff. Part of it collapsed into the sea long ago, but what remains offers beautiful views from a small balcony. While it’s not as famous as Møns Klint, it’s a wonderful place for a coastal hike.
More details here.
Møns Klint
Distance from Copenhagen: about 2 hours
Getting there: car
If you haven’t been yet, Møns Klint really deserves a visit. These towering white chalk cliffs are Denmark’s highest, with some dropping a sheer 120 meters into the turquoise sea below. The cliffs are around 70 million years old and, in 2025, they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
I’ve visited in every season, and honestly, it’s hard to say when it’s best.
Each time feels different and somehow even more beautiful than the last. You can read more here.
Roskilde
Distance from Copenhagen: 30–40 minutes
Getting there: train (25 minutes), car (40 minutes)
Roskilde is one of Denmark’s oldest cities, with roots going all the way back to the Viking Age. From the 11th century until 1443, it even served as Denmark’s capital.
Today, it’s best known for its UNESCO-listed cathedral, which houses the tombs of 39 Danish monarchs, and the Viking Ship Museum, where you can see the remains of well-preserved 11th-century ships.
Sagnlandet Lejre
Distance from Copenhagen: 50 minutes–2 hours
Getting there: train + bus (around 2 hours), car (50 minutes)
Sagnlandet Lejre is a large open-air archaeological museum that brings Danish history to life. Spread over 106 acres, it features reconstructions of an Iron Age village, a Viking marketplace, a Stone Age campsite, an 18th-century farm, and various burial sites.
As you walk through fields and pastures, you’ll meet plenty of animals along the way: goats, sheep, cows, horses, pigs, and geese. During the summer months, there are lots of hands-on activities for both kids and adults.
More here.
BonBon-Land
Distance from Copenhagen: 1 hour
Getting there: train, car
BonBon-Land translates roughly to “Candy Land” and is an amusement park in South Zealand. It opened next to the BonBon candy factory to promote the brand, similar to how Legoland started. While it may have seen better days, it’s still a fun and slightly quirky place to spend a day, especially with kids.
More details here.
Frederiksborg Castle
Distance from Copenhagen: 40–50 minutes
Getting there: train (50 minutes), car (40 minutes)
Frederiksborg Castle is one of Denmark’s most impressive castles, built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV. It sits on three small islands surrounded by a lake and gardens and now houses the National History Museum, telling over 500 years of Danish history through art and objects.
After exploring the museum, make sure to step outside and walk through the beautifully symmetrical Baroque Garden and the more relaxed English-style garden.
More here.
Knuthenborg Safaripark
Distance from Copenhagen: 1.5 hour
Getting there: car
Knuthenborg Safaripark is Northern Europe’s largest safari park and home to more than 1,000 free-roaming animals across 500 hectares. The fun part is that you drive through the park in your own car, getting surprisingly close to many of the animals.
For some areas, like the donkey enclosures, you can step out of the car. In others, you’ll pass through gates with locked windows, especially near the wolves. If you want to make it extra special, you can even book an overnight stay with views straight into the animal zones.
More here.
Dodekalitten
Distance from Copenhagen: 1.5 hour
Getting there: car
If you’re already heading to Knuthenborg, it’s worth making a small detour to see Dodekalitten, often described as Denmark’s answer to Stonehenge. The site features 12 massive granite figures arranged in a circle, each standing 7–9 meters tall, with carved heads facing inward.
More here.
Middelaldercentret
Middelaldercentret, or The Medieval Centre, is a living history museum in Nykøbing Falster that recreates life in Denmark during the late 14th and early 15th centuries. You’ll find a medieval market town complete with workshops, houses, a harbor with boats, and costumed villagers going about their daily routines.
It’s one of the most impressive medieval villages we’ve ever visited.
Read more here.
Trolls
All across Denmark, artist Thomas Dambo has hidden giant wooden trolls in forests, parks, and unexpected corners of nature. Finding them turns any outing into a small adventure, whether they’re just outside Copenhagen or a bit further afield. Each troll has its own personality, and stumbling upon one never gets old.
You can read more and find them all here.
