8 must see parks in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the kind of place that you'll never forget once you visit it. What once began as a fishing village is now a city that has an incredibly rich history, with old copper spires placed next to more contemporary architecture, keeping the city modern and relevant. Being home to two of the world's oldest amusement parks, 15 Michelin-star restaurants, one of the longest pedestrian-only shopping streets in the world is something to boast. And with historic buildings like Kronborg Castle, where the famous Shakespeare play Hamlet was set, Copenhagen has much to offer in terms of history, leisure and entertainment.

Did you know that Copenhagen is also a very green town? It does its part to be environmentally friendly and the city council even has plans to make it the first CO2-neutral city in the world by the year 2025. In the past, it's been voted as the European Green Capital and also has lots of public parks where locals can go to bask in the fresh air. If you live in the capital city of Denmark or are visiting for a limited time, make sure you explore some of the green spaces highlighted below.

You'll enjoy every moment you spend at Copenhagen parks, admiring floral displays, marveling at statues and more. Whether a park visit is at the beginning or the end of your day, use bounce luggage storage in Copenhagen to stow your suitcases, sports equipment, picnic baskets or any items you may use in the parks.

Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of Copenhagen was first established in the 1600s but eventually changed to its current location in the green Parkmuseerne district in 1870. Today it's part of the Natural History Museum and is owned by the University of Copenhagen. Inside this beautiful park, you'll find a diverse collection of plants of all kinds, including a section with arctic species, a rhododendron garden and some fascinating preserved plants in the herbarium.

While exploring the grounds you'll also come across a rock garden with rocks from all over Southern and Central Europe. Enjoy a tranquil little pond with ducks and water lilies that have survived since the times when central Copenhagen used to have a moat. You'll love the Butterfly House which is home to hundreds of different butterflies, and you must make time to stop by the tropical Palm House, a popular attraction added back in 1874.

In total, the gardens and the 27 glass houses that are in it house over 13,000 different species of flora. Scattered throughout the 10 hectare grounds you'll find several benches and shaded areas where you can stop and rest, allowing you to spend all afternoon outside in nature. You'll also find a library, a museum, washrooms, a shop selling plants, seeds and related tools, as well as a small eatery where you can grab snacks.

Tivoli Gardens

If you're going to visit the parks in Copenhagen then the magical Tivoli Gardens have to be on your list. It's by far one of the most famous parks in the city not only because it's an amusement park with a super fun roller coaster, ballet theatre, outdoor jazz and other contemporary music performances, but also because of its gorgeous gardens. The park has perfectly manicured flowerbeds with different themes as well as calm ponds and other natural features.

As a popular tourist attraction, you'll have to pay to get in. Llineups can be long so we recommend securing your ticket in advance. Once you're done checking out all of the cool rides, take a walk around the big green spaces, sit by the lake, or bring the kids to have even more fun on one of the several playgrounds. The park entrance has a great location close to the Copenhagen Central Station.

Locals and tourists of all ages love to spend time in this park which also puts on regular fireworks displays at night under the soothing fairytale lights. Fun fact; Tivoli Gardens was founded back in 1843 and is situated on a piece of land that was given by King Christian VIII. That makes it one of the oldest running amusement parks in the whole world.

Frederiksberg Gardens

You might hear locals calling this green space the Frederiksberg Have, and it's located just a short distance from the city center. The park encompasses the entire area surrounding the Frederiksberg Palace and is 32 hectares in size. Throughout the grounds, there are many nice spots to put down a blanket and have a picnic, and there are several running paths that you can follow as well. At the edge of the park is the Royal Horticultural Society's garden.

One of the nicest spots to stop and relax is at the Chinese Pavilion which was previously a royal teahouse dating back to about 1799. You'll find the pavilion on its own little island across a bridge. There's also an artificial waterfall made out of marble blocks and standing at 7 meters in height, plus a boating service that you can use to go around the park's canals. It's one of the best parks in Copenhagen for a romantic date with your loved one.

Once you've seen enough of Frederiksberg Garden head to Copenhagen Zoo, found right next door. You might spot some of the zoo's larger inhabitants, like the elephants, from one of the viewing areas in the park. Frederiksberg Gardens is often the venue for events and festivals, like the Midsummer Eve bonfire. Wild animals like geese, ducks, a few peacocks and a settlement of blue herons can be spotted around the park.

King's Garden

The King's Garden is sometimes referred to as the King's Park and Kongens Have. Being constructed back in the 1600s it's actually the oldest royal garden in the entirety of Denmark and the oldest park in Copenhagen. Its gardens were landscaped back when King Christian IV was the ruler and today it's sometimes used to house events and celebrations. Many of the statues that you'll spot around the park have been there for more than 400 years.

There are plenty of beautiful spots to check out in the King's Garden, like the fragrant rose gardens and cherry blossom trees that bloom in the springtime. Of course, one of the most prominent landmarks in the gardens is King Christian IV's Palace, Rosenborg Castle, now home to the crown jewels. The castle is like something straight out of a fairytale with a moat and drawbridge.

It's pretty cool to think the park actually started out as a vegetable garden and orchard where cooks would get fresh produce to use in the kitchen of the castle. Right next to the palace is the Royal Life Guard barracks where band music can often be heard. As you walk around the grounds you'll find large stone balls added to the park by King Frederik III. Originally there were 20 of them, but today only 16 remain.

Superkilen Park

At about 30,000 square meters in size, Superkilen Park is a small park compared to some of the other parks in Copenhagen but it's still an interesting place to check out. The space was designed by a Danish planner named Bjarke Ingels and today it's a multicultural space that brings the community and people of Copenhagen together.

With people coming from more than 60 different ethnicities living in the nearby area, the park had to be designed in a way to include them all. Designers did a great job by adding different aspects from a variety of cultures with globally inspired architecture, like a kid's slide shaped like an octopus from Japan, a boxing ring coming from Thailand, and the beautiful mosaic wellspring originating from Morocco.

Everything from the park comes from somewhere different including the garbage bins, sewer vents and benches. Also close to the park, you'll find the Underground Market where locals go to shop and meet up with others, as well as the Red Square which has plenty to do in terms of entertainment.

Assistens Cemetery

Locally known as Assistens Kirkegard, this beautiful cemetery is surprisingly one of the best Copenhagen parks and a great place to go for long walks. It's one of the city's most famous parks because it's the final resting place for Hans Christian Andersen, one of the best known writers in Denmark.

Hans Christian Andersen isn't the only notable name written on the stones of the cemetery and among them, you'll also find Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher who called Copenhagen home for most of his life. See what other names you can spot if you use this cemetery as a place for peaceful walks.

Assistens Cemetery is located in the Norrebro district of Copenhagen and is easy to get to. It's situated close to a metro station and can also be reached by bike.

Faelledparken

Faelledparken is special because it's the biggest of Copenhagen's parks. You'll find it north of the Copenhagen city center in Osterbro, close to Telia Parken. This means you'll be right next to where the Danish national soccer team plays! The park dates back to sometime between 1906 and 1914 and is made up of a spacious green area and stunning woodland areas.

This large park encompasses a vast area the locals use for a variety of outdoor activities like playing football or other sports. Running and skateboarding are popular activities as well since it's also where you'll find the largest skate park in all of northern Europe. Don't feel like running around? The big green areas are great for meeting up with friends and having a quiet picnic instead, or you can make use of the outdoor chess boards on site.

As Copenhagen's largest park, you'll find lots to do for people of all ages, including a playground the kids will adore. Instead of the same kinds of toys and play structures you see everywhere else, this one is made up of miniature models of some of the most popular landmarks in the city. If it's a sunny day you'll definitely want to spend time by the beautiful lake or strolling through the flower garden.

The Deer Park

You'll have to take a train ride, drive or bike to reach The Deer Park or Dyrehaven, but it's well worth the journey. As you could have guessed by the name, this green space is known for more than its natural beauty but also because of its large deer community that roams the grounds. In total, there are about 3,000 red, fallow and sika deer that call the area home and it's actually a UNESCO World Heritage Forest.

You'll encounter many of them as you explore the walking trails and although they'll let you get pretty close, we'd like to remind you to always be careful around wild animals. You can also go biking around the property and there's a cafe found on site for when you get hungry or need refreshments.

The park was originally used as hunting grounds for royalty and in the heart of the area, you;ll find the Hermitage or Royal hunting lodge. In one of the far corners of The Deer Park, you'll also find the oldest running amusement park in the entire world called Bakken. Enjoy free admission into the amusement park but there's an entrance fee to use most of the rides.

Discovering the great parks in Copenhagen

Nothing beats picnicking on a shaded grassy area or relaxing by a small pond, and the parks in Copenhagen are the perfect place to do that. You might also get to see a beautiful castle or interesting wildlife as you explore the green spaces, and they make for fantastic places to play sports as well.

Feel like spending more time around nature? You'll love to trek the hiking trails in Copenhagen. If you want to take part in water sports, head to a nearby sandy beach. Learn all about the waterfront areas close to the city in this guide on the beaches near Copenhagen.